Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first.

Shy. What would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew:

You may as well go stand upon the beach,'

And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops, and to make no noise,
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven ;
You may as well do anything most hard,

As seek to soften that-than which what's harder?—
His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,
Make no more offers, use no further means,
But with all brief and plain conveniency
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
Bass. For thy three thousand ducats, here is six.
Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats

Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,

I would not draw them; I would have my

bond.

Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

Is dearly bought; 'tis mine, and I will have it.

If

you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

I stand for judgment: answer, shall I have it?
Duke. Upon my power I may dismiss this court,

Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Whom I have sent for to determine this,
Come here to-day.

Solan.

My lord, here stays without

A messenger with letters from the doctor,

New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger.

Enter NERISSA.

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.
[Presenting a letter.

Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend
A young and learned doctor to our court.
Where is he?
Ner.
He attendeth here hard by,
To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke. With all my heart.-Some three or four of
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

Enter PORTIA.

Give me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?
Por. I did, my lord.

Duke.

you,

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 forth. Por. Is your name Shylock?

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 danger, do you not? [To Antonio.
Ant. Ay, so he says.

Por.

Ant. I do.

Do you confess the bond?

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 sceptr'd 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 spoken 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! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum : if that will not suffice, 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 That malice bears down truth. Wrest once the law to your authority; To do a great right do a little wrong;

And I beseech you,

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established :

"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 offered thee.
Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
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

Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
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 weigh
The flesh?

Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not so expressed: but what of that? "Twere good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
Por. You, merchant, have you anything to say?
Ant. But little : I am armed and well prepared.-
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
Than is her custom: it is still her use,

To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.

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 presently 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.

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

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. [Aside.] These be the Christian husbands! I have a daughter;

Would any

of the stock of Barrabas

Had been her husband, rather than a Christian !
[Aloud.] We trifle time: I 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!

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, prepare.
Por. Tarry a little ;—there is something else.-