was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his com mendation.

Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes:

And here, I take it, is the doctor come.Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws. Give me your hand: Came you from old BelPor. I did, my lord.

[lario? Duke. You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference' That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand Por. Is your name Shylock? [forth. Shy. Shylock is my name. Por.Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.-You stand within his dangert, do you not? [TO ANTONIO.

*

Ant. Ay, so he says. Por.

Do you confess the bond?

Ant. I do.
Por.
Then must the Jew be merciful,
Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,―
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Shy. My deeds upon my head! Icrave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?

• Oppose.

Bass. Yes,here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the sum: if that will not saffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:
If this will not suffice, it must appear [you
That malice bears down truth. And I beseech
Wrest once the law to your authority:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.
Por. It must not be; there is no power in
Can alter a decree established: [Venice
Twill be recorded for a precedent;
And many an error, by the same example,
Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a
Daniel!-

O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy.Here'tis,most reverend doctor,here it is.
Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money
offer'd thee.
[heaven
Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.

Por.
Why, this bond is forfeit ;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart:-Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Shy.When it is paid according to the tenour.-
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your exposition (law,
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Por. Why then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife: Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Por. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast: So says the bond;-Doth it not, noble judge?Nearest his heart, those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to The flesh. [weigh Shy. I have them ready. [your charge, Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? Por. It is not so express'd; But what of that "Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say?

[par'de

Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well pre Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein fortune shows herself more kind

+ Reach or control.

Than is her custom: it is still her use,
To let the wretched man out-live his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
An age of poverty; from which lingering pe-
Of such a misery doth she cut me off. [nance
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Tell her the process of Antonio's end,

Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you. [for that,
Por. Your wife would give you little thanks
If she were by, to hear you make the offer.
Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love;
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
Shy. These be the christian husbands: I
have a daughter;

Would, any of the stock of Barabbas
Had been her husband rather than a Christian!
[Aside.
We trifle time; pray thee, pursue sentence.
Por. A pound of that same merchant's
flesh is thine;

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
Shy. Most rightful judge! [his breast;
Por. And you must cut this flesh from off
The law allows it, and the court awards it.
Shy. Most learned judge!-A sentence;
come, prepare.
[else.-
Por. Tarry a little;-there is something
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are, a pound of flesh:.
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed [flesh;
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate [goods
Unto the state of Venice. [learned judge!
Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;-0
Shy. Is that the law?

Por. Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thon urgest justice, be assur❜d, Thou shalt have justice, more than thon desirest. [learned judge! Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew;-a Shy. I take this offer then;-pay the bond And let the Christian go. [thrice, Bass. Here is the money. Por. Soft; [haste;-The Jew shall have all justice;-soft!-no He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! [flesh. Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,

But just a pound of flesh: if thou takest more,

Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy, in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,-
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.
Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy
forfeiture.

Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court;
He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!--
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal?
Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the for
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. [feiture,
Shy. Why then the devil give him good of
I'll stay no longer question.
[it!

Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice,If it be prov'd against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts, He seek the life of any citizen, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender's life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st: For it appears by manifest proceeding, That, indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to

hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. [our spirit,

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not

that:

[prop You take my house, when you do take the That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antenio?

Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else; for God's sake. [the court, Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use,-to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter : [favour, Two things provided more,-That, for this He presently become a Christian;

The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon, that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost Shy. I am content. [thou say? Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from I am not well; send the deed after me, [hence; And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; [more, Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. [pardon; Por. I humbly do desire your grace of I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet, I presently set forth.

Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves Antonio, gratify this gentleman; [you not. For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train. Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend,

Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied;
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you
further;

Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me. [yield.
Por. You press me far, and therefore I will
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your
sake;
[you :-
And, for your love, I'll take this ring from
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;
And you in love shall not deny me this.

Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation:
Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks, You teach me how a beggar should be answer❜d. Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by

my wife;

And, when she put it on, she made me vow,
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save
their gifts.

An if your wife he not a mad woman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
[Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.
Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandement.
Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio's house:-away, make haste.
[Exit GRATIANO.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: Come,Antonio. [Exeunt.
SCENE II. The same. A Street.
Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.
Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give
him this deed,

And let him sign it; we'll away to-night,
And be a day before our husbands home:
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken: My lord Bassanio, upon more advice*, Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Your company at dinner.

Por. That cannot be: This ring I do accept most thankfully And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you:I'll see if I can get my husband's ring,

[TO PORTIA. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. Por. Thou mayst, I warrant: We shall have

old swearing,

That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry.

Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house? [Exeunt.

House.

Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

Where Cressid lay that night.

Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the Steph. A friend. [night? Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? [word, Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours.

Lor.

Who comes with her?

Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. is

pray you, my master yet return'd? Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him.

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
Enter LAUNCELOT.

Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola!
Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo! sola, sola!

Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here.
Laun. Sola! where? where?
Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news ; my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect

their coming.

And yet no matter;-Why should we go in? My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand; -And bring your music forth into the air.[Exit STEPHANO. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! [sic Here will we sit, and let the sounds of muCreep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night,

Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica : Look, how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold;
There's not the smallest orb, which thou be-
hold'st,

But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubims:
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-
Enter Musicians.

Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress
And draw her home with music.
[ear,

Jes. I am never merry, when I hear sweet
music.
[Music.
Lor. The reason is, your spirits are atten-

tive:

For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neigh-
ing loud,

Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,
By the sweet power of music: Therefore,
the poet

Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones,
and floods;
[rage.
Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of
But music for the time doth change his

How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. [less :

Por. So doth the greater glory dim the A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music ! hark !

Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house.

Por. Nothing is good, I see, without re

spect ; [day. Methinks, it sounds much sweeter than by Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, ma