To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say ? To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death; Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, 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 Shy. These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter; 'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. [Aside. 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! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge!-A sentence; come, pre pare. Por. Tarry a little ;-there is something else.- One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge !—Mark, Jew;-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd, Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew ;-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Here is the money. Por. Soft; The Jew shall have all justice;-soft!—no haste ;- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! : Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn 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 forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. 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, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life 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 thy self: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. prop, That doth sustain my house; you take my life, Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? The other half in use,-to render it, Two things provided more,―That, for this favour, 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 thou say? Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; I am not well; send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon; I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet, I presently set forth. |