Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer.
Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love?
Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Bass. Every offense is not a hate at first.

Shy. What, wouldst 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.

say

Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?
Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchased slave,
Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules,
You use in abject and in slavish parts,
Because you bought them: - Shall I
to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burdens? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be seasoned with such viands?
You will answer,
The slaves are ours: So do I answer you:
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, 't is 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. [Presents 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 you,
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 are welcome:

Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this present question in the court?

Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and 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?

Ant. Ay, so he says.

Por. Do you confess the bond?
Ant. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

[TO ANTONIO.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
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 sceptered 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 spoke 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. And I beseech you
Wrest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel villain of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice

Can alter a decree established;

"T will 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! wise young judge, how do I honor thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 't is, 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 tenor.
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:

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 the heart, those are the very words.

Por. It is so.

Are there balances 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 should bleed to death.

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not so expressed; but what of that? "T were good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond.
Por. Come, 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 a misery doth she cut me off.

Shy. 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, pre

―

pare.
Por, Tarry a little ; there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are, a pound of flesh :

Then take 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

Are, by the laws of Venice, con'fiscate

Unto the state of Venice.

Gra. O learned judge! ·

Shy. I take this offer then,

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 assured

Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest.

And let the Christian go.

Bass. Here is the money.
Por. Soft.

Mark, Jew; a learnëd judge !

pay the bond thrice,

--