When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Portia. Is he not able to discharge the money? I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest* once the law to your authority: 155 160 165 To do a great right, do a little wrong, 170 And curb this cruel devil of his will. Portia. 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 Shylock. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! Portia. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. 155. that same prayer: that is, the petition "forgive us our debts," etc. 156. spoke, spoken, 158. which if thou follow: that is, if you persist in adhering to the law of your plea. "Which" is the object of follow. 162. discharge the money: that is, the 168. truth, honor, honesty. 175 180 Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. Portia. Why, this bond is forfeit ; 183 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, To alter me: I stay here on my bond. Antonio. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Portia. Why, then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shylock. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Portia. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shylock. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 130 195 200 205 Ay, his breast: 212 So says the bond-doth it not, noble judge?- Shylock. I have them ready. Portia. Have by some surgeon,* Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 219 Shylock. Is it so nominated in the bond? Shylock. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, An age of poverty; from which lingering penance 220 225 230 Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, Bassanio. Antonio, I am married to a wife Are not with me esteemed above thy life: I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. Portia. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gratiano. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: 226. it is still her use, it is ever her 236. Repent but you: that is, if, only, custom. 230: misery. Accent thus: misery. 233. speak me fair, speak well of me. 235. love, lover, dear friend; that is, Antonio himself. you regret, etc. 239. presently, immediately. 241. Which for who. In Shakespeare's time, which was applicable to persons as well as to things. 235 240 345 I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. Nerissa. "Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. Shylock. [Aside] These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian!— The court awards it, and the law doth give it. 25c 255 Portia. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine. 260 Portia. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shylock. Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! Portia. 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 :" Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; 265 But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gratiano. O upright judge!—Mark, Jew :-O learned judge! 270 Thyself shalt see the act: 275 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gratiano. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew:-a learned judge! And let the Christian go. Bassanio. Here is the money. 280 Portia. Soft! The Jew shall have all justice; soft!-no haste :— Gratiano. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! 285 270. confiscate, confiscated. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Portia. Why doth the Jew pause?-Take thy forfeiture. He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gratiano. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shylock. Shall I not have barely my principal? Portia. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shylock. Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 288. a just pound, an exact pound. 289. in the substance, in the gross weight. 295. on the hip. This expression is taken from the language of wrestling; it indicates the mastery which one of the wrestlers has over the other. 290 295 300 305 310 315 |