Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub
[graphic][merged small]

GRA. BEG THAT THOU MAYST HAVE LEAVE TO HANG THYSELF;
AND YET. THY WEALTH BEING FORFEIT TO THE STATE;
THOU HAST NOT LEFT THE VALUE OF A CORD,
THEREFORE THOU MUST BE HANGD AT THE STATES CHARGE
Act IV. Sc.1

London. Published by F. C & J. Rivington and Partners. Feb 1823.

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;

I am content, so he will let me have

The other half in use, - to render it,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman

That lately stole his daughter;

He presently become a Christian;

The other, that he do record a gift,

Two things provided more, - That, for this favour,

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,

Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant

The pardon, that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost thou say?

Shy. I am content.

Por.

Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;

I am not well; send the deed after me,

And I will sign it.

Duke.

Get thee gone, but do it.

Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more2, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

[Exit SHYLOCк.

Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon;

I must away this night toward Padua,

And it is meet, I presently set forth.

Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves you not.

Antonio, gratify this gentleman;

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train.

Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend,

Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted

thou should'st have had ten more,] i. e. a jury of twelve

men, to condemn thee to be hanged.

Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied:
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further;
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you : Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this.

Bass. This ring, good sir, - alas, it is a trifle;
I will not shame myself to give you this.
Por. I will have nothing else but only this;

And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the

value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,

And find it out by proclamation;

Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:

You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks,

You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

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.

An if your wife be not a mad woman,

And know how well I have deserv'd this ring,

She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.

Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment.
Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st,
Unto Antonio's house: - away, make haste.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: Come, Antonio.

[Exit GRATIANO.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The same. A Street.

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,

And let him sign it; we'll away to-night,

And be a day before our husbands home:

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken :

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice3,
Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat

Your company at dinner.

Por.

That cannot be:

This ring I do accept most thankfully,

And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore,

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.

Gra. That will I do.

3

VOL. III.

upon more advice,] i. e. more reflection.

G

« ÎnapoiContinuă »