26 Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 80 Shy I have possess'd your Grace of what I purpose; 35 40 And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn Some men there are love not a gaping pig; 50 Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your You may as well go stand upon the beach 81 His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, Shy If every ducat in six thousand ducats Shy What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd slave, s Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them. Shall I say to you, "Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs! Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds 95 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Saler. 105 My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua. Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messen Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog! And for thy life let justice be accus'd. Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith 130 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 135 And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallowed dam, Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, 141 Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud. A young and learned doctor to our court. Ner. Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's let ter. 149 [Clerk. Reads.] "Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick; but in the instant that your mes senger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant. [155 We turned o'er many books together. He is furnished with my opinion; which, bett'red with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend, comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your Grace's re- [100 quest in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a 191 Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 185 Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. IT is 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 the 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, v Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, 200 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 195 It doth appear you are a worthy judge; Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife,- 245 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. T is very true. O wise and upright judge! 250 How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Ay, his breast; So says the bond; doth it not, noble judge? "Nearest his heart;" those are the very Shy. I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond. Por. You, merchant, have you anything to say? Ant. But little; I am arm'd and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, ance 276 Of such a misery doth she cut me off. Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife 280 285 Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. 201 66 305 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 flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 311 Gra. O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shall see the act; Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more 331 335 339 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. The law hath yet another hold on you. Tarry, Jew: 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, 345 350 355 The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 360 368 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. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, 370 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. 374 You take my house when you do take the prop 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, Antonio ? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Ant. So please my lord the Duke and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods, 380 385 Antonio, gratify this gentleman; Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; 410 415 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. 445 An if your wife be not a mad-woman, 450 [SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's house.} Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Lor. The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees 15 Lor. In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont. Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith And ne'er a true one. Lor. In such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her. Jes. I would out-night you, did no body come; But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. |