Duke. Bring us the letters, call the messenger. Baff. Good cheer, Anthonio; what, man, courage

yet:

The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all,
Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
Ant. I am a tainted weather of the flock,
Meeteft for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me.
You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,
Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.

Enter Nerissa, dress'd like a Lawyer's Clerk.

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your

Grace.

Baff. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there.
Gra. Not on thy foale, but on thy foul, harsh

Few,

Thou mak'st thy knife keen; for no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness
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, inexorable dog,

And for thy life let justice be accus'd!
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
That fouls of animals infuse themselves ...
Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit

6 Not on thy foale, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,] This loft jingle Mr. Theobald found again; but knew not what to make of it when he had it, as appears by his paraphrafe, The thou thinkest that thou art whetting thy knife on the foale of thy shoe, yet it is upon thy soul, thy immortal part. Absurd! the conceit is, that to his knife. his foul was so hard that it had given an edge

Govern'd

Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd it self in thee: for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.

Shy. 'Till thou canst rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak fo loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

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

you Go give him courteous conduct to this place: Mean time, the Court shall hear Bellario's letter.

YOUR Grace shall understand, that, at the receipt

of your letter, I am very fick: but at the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his Name is Balthafar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversie between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered 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 ftead. 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 bead. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publisk bis commendation.

Enter Portia, dress'd like a Doctor of Laws.

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

M 3

And here, I take it, is the Doctor come:
Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario?
Por. I did, my lord.

Duke. You're 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 cafe.
Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew?
Duke. Anthonio 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 fuch rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. You stand within his danger, do you not? [To Anth. Ant. Ay, fo 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 heav'n • Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd; • It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. • 'Tis mightieft in the mightiest; it becomes • The throned monarch better than his Crown: • His scepter shews the force of temporal pow'r, • The attribute to awe and majesty,

• Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of Kings;

• But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,

• It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings;

• It is an attribute to God himself;

• And earthly power doth then shew likest God's,

• When mercy seasons justice.

Therefore, Jew,

Tho' justice be thy plea, confider this,

That in the course of justice none of us

Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy;

And

And that fame pray'r 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
Muft needs give fentence '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 mony?
Baff. Yes, here I tender it for him in the Court,
Yea, twice the sum; if that will not fuffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not fuffice, it must appear

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,

Wreft 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 pow'r in Venice,

Can alter a decree established.

'Twill be recorded for a precedent;
And many an error, by the fame example,
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.

Sky. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel.
O wife young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, most rev'rend Doctor, here it is.
Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy mony offer'd thee,
Shy. An oath, an oath, -I have an oath in heav'n.

Shall I lay perjury upon my foul?
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 mony, bid me tear the bond.

7 That malice bears down truth.] By truth is here meant the seafonable offers of accommodation which had been made.

M 4

Shy.

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenour.
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law: your expofition
Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment. By my foul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.

Ant. Moft heartily I do beseech the Court
To give the judgment.

Por. Why, then thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

e

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 wife 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 scales, to weigh the flesh?
Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your

charge,

To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.
Shy. Is it fo nominated in the bond?
Por. It is not so exprefs'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?
Ant. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.

Give me your hand, Bassanio, fare you well!
Grieve not, that I am fall'n to this for you:
" For herein fortune thews herself more kind,
" Than is her cuftom. It is still her use,

"Το