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the sprightly Gratiano pledged his faith to Nerissa, who had promised to be his, upon condition that the Lord Bassanio won her mistress. This important ceremony ended, they took an affectionate leave of their wives, and set out posthaste for Venice.

A strange idca crossed the mind of Portia, on hearing the nature of Antonio's bond to the Jew, that she could save him, not by a course of law so much as by the aptness of the thought which had struck her. She hastily called Nerissa, bidding her prepare instantly to follow their husbands to Venice. She had great work in hand, she said, but would give her intelligence of her plans when they were in her coach, which waited for them at the park gate. She then dispatched a servant with

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a letter to Padua, to her cousin Bellario, a doctor of laws, requesting his advice on the subject of Antonio's trial with the Jew, and also his aid to enable her to appear in the court as deputed by him, and to be furnished with garments for the purpose. To the care of Lorenzo and Jessica (who were invited at the request of Bassanio to remain at Belmont) she gave up the management of her house, informing them, that herself and Nerissa were going to shut them

selves up in a nunnery, and devote their time to prayer and contemplation, until the safe return of their husbands and all things thus arranged, they set out on their interesting embassy.

Shylock, when he took the bond from Antonio, had no intention of devising against his life; his only idea in case of forfeiture was, to bind him down under such restrictions, that he should never again interfere with his mercantile traffic. But circumstances of great aggravation occurred to inflame him to a more deadly revenge. He had agreed to sup with Antonio and his friends on the night when he lent the money, and received the bond, and gave into the care of his daughter Jessica the keys of his various treasures, bidding her keep a watchful lookout during his absence. On his return he found his doors open, and the house in darkness. Much surprised he called aloud, but received no answer. He obtained a light, and proceeded to his daughter's chamber, expecting to find her ill-but no trace of her was to be seen; and on examining his house, he found his coffers had been ransacked, and his gold and jewels gone. He then rushed into the streets, alarming the peaceful city with cries of "Murder! thieves!-help, save me-they are gone, they are fled-my ducats, my daughter, my jewels-gone, gone, gone!" He hastened to the Duke's palace, and from him obtained an order to search Bassanio's gondola. It was however too late; they had already set sail but Antonio assured the Duke the fair Jes sica was no part of Bassanio's cargo; and a bystander gave intimation that she had fled with young Lorenzo, a Christian. They had sailed together in another gondola ; but whither he knew not.

The poor Jew was like one distracted! His daughter fled with a Christian!-that was almost worse than the treasures which he had lost. Bu his lamentations were breathed to the winds: none

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pitied, and many made a jest of his misery. He employed at great expense various messengers to seek after her; but though they were able to trace, they could not come up with her; so that Shylock sustained loss upon loss,-disappointment upon disappointment, till he began to think himself marked out for evil fortune, and told his countryman Tubal, with bitter tears, there was no ill luck stirring but what lighted on his shoulders; no sighs but of his reathing; no tears but of his shedding ;" and to complete his misfortunes, Antonio became a bankupt: for his ships were supposed to be lost, and sudden ruin came upon him. At first Shylock only elt the news as an addition of misery, in an accumulation of pecuniary loss: but when he reflected hat the life of his bitterest enemy was thus in his ower, he began to exult; so that when Antonio was cast into prison, he waited with impatience for he day of trial.

The whole city of Venice was now thrown into onfusion. The ruin of Antonio, who was much eloved, was a cause of universal regret; and the etermined vengeance of the Jew inspired a general eeling of horror. The eventful day arrived, and the ourt was crowded, to witness this extraordinary

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trial. Bassanio appealed to Shylock, but in vain. he was immoveable. At length, a messenger from Bellario arrived, and announced a young doctor of laws from Padua, deputed by him to plead in the cause between Shylock and Antonio: when Portia, disguised as a doctor, entered the court, attended by Nerissa as her clerk. The youthful doctor had been recommended by Bellario as being wise and skilful; and the manner in which he opened the cause, and took his examination of the case, proved him not unworthy of the commendation bestowed. The bond he declared was accurately drawn; no flaw appeared on which to found any pretence of resistance to the Jew's claim. The doctor however appealed most eloquently to his compassion; Bassanio offered him his money three times told; and Gratiano, by noise, bluster, and abuse, strove to browbeat him out of his determination but all were equally ineffectual. To the doctor's appeal for mercy he merely replied "My deed's upon my head: I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond." On Gratiano he cast a sarcastic grin, saying-" Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, thou but offendest thy lungs to speak so loud." But when Bassanio offered the ducats, and the Duke urged him to receive them he vehemently exclaimed

If every ducat in six thousand ducats

Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,

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I would not draw them I would have my bond. ***

The court was filled with horror; curses wer muttered on every side; and so urgent was the re quest of Bassanio, that the learned doctor woul for once "wrest the law to his own authority," tha Shylock was alarmed lest any unexpected claus might be found to cheat him of his revenge. Bu when the simulated lawyer replied, such could no

be that no power in Venice could alter a decree established, he bowed to him with the most profound reverence, kissed the hem of his robe, and declared him to be a second Daniel come to judgment. The hopes of the spectators began to fluctuate; and when the doctor sorrowfully inquired whether Antonio had any thing to say ere his death, and he took an affectionate leave of Bassanio, allpresent were deluged with tears-all wept save Shylock; but he, impatient at delay, furiously whetted his knife on the marble pavement, drew out his scales, and stood, in eager expectation, ready to pounce upon his victim the moment that judgment should pass.

The doctor then solemnly summed up the evidence; while the Jew gasped with impatience, and at length burst out in a voice of thunder, which reverberated through the lofty pile-making every hearer shudder-" A sentence ! come, prepare !" and was darting forward to seize Antonio, when the doctor softly repelled him, saying-" Tarry, Jew! there is something else!!"

The Jew looked surprised; while all present listened in trembling anxiety-and the awful pause, which followed, seemed like the prelude of fate! No sound was heard! the very act of breathing seemed almost suspended, while the doctor in an impressive manner pointed to the bond, and the Jew's looks wandered in quick succession from that to the commanding and steady countenance of the pretended lawyer; who with a deep and chilling tone of voice, addressed him, saying "SHYLOCK, THIS BOND DOTH GIVE THEE HERE NO JOT OF BLOOD!!! Shylock staggered back, the knife and scales dropped from his hands, and he fell gasping against a pillar, while a loud shout of acclamation burst om the court, and it was a considerable time ere the trial could proceed. At length the doctor bade

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