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? Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, 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, 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. 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 Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Por. Why then, thus it is. 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 ? - Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Por. It is not so express'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? Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death; Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, 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. These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter; 'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Aside. 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. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. 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 assur'd, Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. Gra. O learned judge ! - Mark, Jew; a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then; - pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Por. Soft; Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice; - soft; - no haste;- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge ! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. 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. Tarry, Jew; The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thy self: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. Por. Ay, for the state;1 not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: 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. 1 Ay, for the state; &c.] That is, the state's moiety may be commuted for a fine, but not Antonio's. MALONE. |