The law allows it, and the Court awards it. Shy. Moft learned judge! a fentence: come, pre pare. Por. Tarry a little, there is fomething else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words exprefly are, a pound of flesh. Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou doft fhed One drop of chriftian blood; thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confifcate Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge! mark, Jew; O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thy felf fhalt fee the Act: For as thou urgeft juftice, be affur'd, Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'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. Ball. Here is the mony. Por. The Jew fhall have all juftice; foft! no hafte; He fhall have nothing but the penalty. Gra. O few! an upright judge, a learned judge! Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh; Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou lefs, nor more, But juft a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more Or less than a juft pound, be't but so much As makes it light or heavy in the substance, On the divifion of the twentieth Of one poor fcruple; nay, if the fcale turn But in the estimation of a hair, Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A fecond Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! part Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take the forfeiture. Shy. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Gra. A Daniel, ftill say I; a second Daniel! Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew. The law hath yet another hold on you: It is enacted in the laws of Venice, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Gra. Beg, that thou may'ft have leave to hang And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. 8 The danger FORMERLY by me rehears'd] This danger was a judicial penalty, which the speaker had just before recited, in the very terms and formality of the law it felf: we should therefore read FORMALLY. Duke. Duke. That thou may'ft fee the diff'rence of our fpirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Anthonio. Por. What mercy can you render him, Anthonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing elfe, for God's fake. Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the Court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content; fo he will let me have The other half in use, to render it Two things provided more, that for this favour The other, that he do record a Gift Here in the Court, of all he dies poffefs'd, Unto his fon Lorenzo and his daughter. Duke. He fhall do this, or elfe I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say? Por. Clerk, draw a Deed of gift. Shy. I pray you give me leave to go from hence; I am not well; fend the Deed after me, And I will fign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In chrift'ning thou fhalt have two godfathers. Had I been judge, thou fhould't have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit Shylock. Duke. Duke. Sir, I intreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do defire your Grace of pardon; I muft away this night to Padua, And it is meet, I prefently fet forth. Duke. I'm forry, that your leifure ferves you not. Anthonio, gratify this gentleman; For in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exit Duke and his train. S CE NE III. Baff. Moft worthy gentleman! I and my friend Por. He is well paid, that is well fatisfy'd; Baff. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you further. Por. You prefs me far, and therefore I will yield. Baff. This ring, good Sir, alas, it is a trifle; Baff. Baff. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Por. I fee, Sir, you are liberal in offers; Baff. Good Sir, this ring was giv'n me by my wife. Por. That 'fcufe ferves many men to fave their gifts; And if your wife be not a mad woman, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exit with Neriffa. Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Let his defervings, and my love withal, Be valu'd 'gainft your wife's commandement. Baff. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st, Unto Anthonio's houfe: away, make hafte. [Exit Gra. Come, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont; come, Anthonio. · Re-enter Portia and Neriffa. [Exeunt. Por. Enquire the Jew's houfe out, give him this And let him fign it; we'll away to night, 9 There's more depends on this, than on the value.] So the old Quarto reads, and it is right. Enter |