Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Bal-And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them

Lor.

I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with | Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter: Hath not her fellow. Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, I think, you are damn'd. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither.

Jes. And what hope is that, I pray thee? Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter.

Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed ; so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me. Laun. Truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother; well, you are gone both ways.

Jes. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath

made me a Christian.

Laun. Truly, the more to blame he: we were Christians enough before; e'en as many as could well live, one by another: This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money.

Enter Lorenzo.

Jes. I'll fell my husband, Launcelot, what you say; here he comes.

Lor. I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners.

Even such a husband
Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife.
Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.
Lor. I will anon; first, let us go to dinner.
Jes. Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach.
Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk
Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st,'mong other things
I shall digest it.
Jes.
Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I Venice. A Court of Justice.

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes; Antonio, Bassa-
nio, Gratiano, Salarino, Salania, and others.
Duke. What, is Antonio here ?

Ant. Ready, so please your grace."
Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to an-
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

Ant.

I have heard,

fswer

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obduratę, And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm'd Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo; Laun-To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, celot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork.

The very tyranny and rage of his.

Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court,
Salan. He's ready at the door: he comes, my lord.
Enter Shylock.

Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our
face.-

Lor. I shall answer that better to the commonwealth, than you can the getting up of the negro's belly; the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot, Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, Laun. It is much, that the Moor should be more That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice than reason but if she be less than an honest wo-To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought, man, she is, indeed, more than I took her for.

Lor. How every fool can play upon the word! I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots.-Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner.

Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. Lor. Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then bid them prepare dinner.

Laun. That is done too, sir: only, cover is the word.

Lor. Will you cover then, sir?

Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty.
Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt
thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an in-
stant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his
plain meaning; go to thy fellows; bid them cover
the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in
to dinner.

Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in;
for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your
coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours
and conceits shall govern.
[Exit Launcelot.
Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited!
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words; And I do know
A many fools, that stand in better place,
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica ?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife?
Jes. Past all expressing: It is very meet,
The lord Bassanio live an upright life;
For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is reason he should never come to heaven.
Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,
And Portia one, there must be something else

Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse, more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty:
And where thou now exact'st the penalty,
(Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,)
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,
But touch'd with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal;
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back;
Enough to press a royal merchant down,
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks, and Tartars, never train'd
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I pur-
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn,
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter, and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive ...
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:
But, say, it is my humour; Is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,.
And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats
To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd yet?
Some men there are, love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contain their urine; for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood

poses

Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a swollen bagpipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame,
As to offend, himself being offended;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,

That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires

Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.
Shy. Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my
bond,

Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so 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.-;
Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

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 any thing most hard, As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick but in [Clerk reads.] Your grace shall understand, that, His Jewish heart:-Therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no further means, the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitBut, with all brief and plain conveniency, ation was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthazar: I acquainted him with the cause Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merBass. For tby three thousand ducats here is six. chant: we turned o'er many books together: he is Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them, I would have my bond. own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring fill up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to [wrong? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules,cious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his a body with so old a head. I leave him to your graYou use in abject and in slavish parts, commendation. Because you bought them :-Shall I say 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 season'd 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, is mine, and I will have it: If you deny me, fye upon your law!

none?

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.

Salar.

My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messenger.
Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man? cou-
rage 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 wether of the flock,
Meetest 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,

Duke. You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes:

And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws.
Give me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?
Por. I did, my lord..
Duke.
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?

Ant. Ay, so he says,

Por.
Ant. I do.

Por.

[To Antonio.

Do you confess the bond?

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 scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.
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?
Sky. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
there.
[Jew, But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,
Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen: but no metal can, It is an attribute to God himself;
No, not the hangman's axe, 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,

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,

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;

Why, this bond is forfeit ; The law allows it, and the court awards it.

If it be prov'd against an alien,*
That by direct, or indirect attempts,
He seek the life of any citizen,

The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st:
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That, indirectly, and directly too,

Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke..

Gra. Beg that thou may'st 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 hang'd at the state's
charge.
[spirit,
Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our
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 numbleness may drive unto a fine.

Por. Ay, for the state; 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.
Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ?
Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else; for God's
sake.
[court,
Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the
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;

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.

[Exit Gratiano.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both

Two things provided more,That for this favour, Fly toward Belmont: Come, Antonio.

He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift,

Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.
Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant

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

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.

SCENE II.-The same. A Street.

Enter Portia and Nerissa.

[Exeunt.

Gra, In christening, thou shalt have two god-Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat fathers;

Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
[Exit Shylock.
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;
Fot, 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
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,

SCENE 1.-Belmont. Avenue to Portia's House.
Enter Lorenzo and Jessica.

Lor. The moon shines bright:-In such a night
as this,

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise; in such a night,

further;

M