n to comert neana a o And speak, between the cbange of man and boy, I Lor. Will you cover then, Siri Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion ! Like a fine bragging youth : and tell quaint lies, Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in How honourable ladies sought my love, an instant ! I pray thee, understand a plain Which I denying, they fell sick and died ; man in bis plain meaning : go to thy fellows: I could not do with all ;-then I'll repeut, bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them: and we will come in to dinner. And twenty of these pupy lies I'll tell, Laun. For the table, Sir, it shall be served That men shall swear, I have discontinuedig; for the meat, Sir, it shall be covered : for school your coming in to dinner, Sir, why, let it be as Above a twelvemonth :--I have within my mind humours and conceits shall govern. A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, [Erit LAUNCELOT. Which I will practise. Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are Ner. Why, shall we turn to men ? suited ! Por. Fie ! what a question's that, The fool batb planted in his memory If thou wert near a lewd interpreter? An army of good words; And I do know But come, I'll tell tbee all my whole device A many fools, tbat stand in better place, When I am in my coach, which stays for us Garnish'd like bim, that for a tricksy word At the park gate ; and therefore baste away, Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica ? For we must measure twenty miles to-day. And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, (Ereunt. How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife? Jes. Past all expressing : It is very meet, For, having such a blessing in bis lady, He ands the joys of heaven here on earth : Laun. Yes, truly :-for, look you, the sins of And, if on earth be do not mean it, it the father are to be laid bpoa the children ;Is reason he should never come to heaven. therefore, I promise you, I fear you. I was Why, if two gods should play some heavenly always plain with you, and so now I speak my match, agitation of the matter : Therefore, be of good And on the wager lay two earthly women, cheer ; for, truly, I think, you are damn'd. And Portia one, there must be something else There is but one bope in it that can do you any Pawn'd with the other ; for the poor rude world good : and that is but a kind of bastard hope | Hath not her fellow. neither. Lor. Even such a husband Laun. Marry, you may partly hope that your Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. father got you not, that you are not the Jew's Lor. I will anon; first, let us go to dinner. daughter. Jes. Nay, let me praise you, wbile I bave a Jes. That were a kind of bastard hope, in. stomach. deed; so the sins of my mother should be visited Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for tableupon me. talk; Laun. Truly then I fear you are damn'd both Then howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other by father and mother : thus when I shun Scyila, things yonr father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother: I shall digest it. well, you are gone both ways. Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Ereunt. Jes. I shall be saved by my husband : he bath made me a Christian. Laun. Truly the more to blame he: we were Christians enough before ; e'en as many as ACT IV. could well live, one by another: This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs ; if we SCENE 1.-Venice.-A Court of Justice. grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher ou the coals for money. Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALARINO, SALANIO, Enter LORENZO. and others. Jes. I'll tell my busband, Launcelot, what Duke. What, is Antonio here? you say ; bere he comes. Ant. Ready, 80 please your grace. Lor: Í shall grow jealous of you shortly, I Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into corners. to answer Jes. Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo ; A stopy adversary, an inhuman wretch Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there Uncapable of pity, void and einpty is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a From any dram of mercy. Jew's daughter : and he says you are no good Ant. I have beard, member of the commonwealth ; for, in convert. Your grace bath ta'en great pains to qualify ing Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork. His rigorous course : but since he stands ob. Lor. I shall answer that better to the com durate, monwealth. than you can the getting up of the And that no lawful means can carry me negro's belly : the Moor is with child by you, Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose Launcelot, My patience to his fury; and am arm'd Laun. It is inuch, that the Moor should be To suffer with a quietness of spirit, more than reason : but if she be less than an The very tyranny and rage of his. honest woman, she is, indeed, more than I took Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the her for. court. Lor. How every fool can play upon the word ! Salan. He's ready at the door: he comes, my I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn lord. into silence ; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots.-Go in, sirrah ; bid Enter SHYLOCK. them prepare for dinner. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before Laun. That is done, Sir; they have all sto our face. machs. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, Lor. Goodly lord, what a wil-snapper are that thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice you I then bid them prepare dinner. To the last hour of act ; and then), 'lis thought, Laun. That is done too, Sir; only, cover is the word. • Hatred. Thou'll show thy mercy, and remorse, more | Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no strange wrong! Than is thy strange apparent + cruelty : You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Aud where toou now exact'st the penalty, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and (Which is a pound of this poor inerchant's mules, flesh,) You use in ab,ect and in slavish parts, Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, Because you bought them :-Shall I say to yon, But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs ? Forgive a moiety of the principal ; Wby sweat they under burdens ? let their beds Glaucing an eye of pity on his losses, Be made as soft as your's, and let their palates That have of late so buddled on his back ; Be season'd with such viands? You will an. Enough to press a royal merchant down, swer, And pluck commiseration of his state The slaves are our's : So do I answer you: From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of fint, The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train' dIs dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it : To offices of tender courtesy. If you deny me, fie upou your law ! We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. There is no force in the decrees of Venice ; Shy. I bave possess'd your grace of what II stand for judgment : answer; shall I bave it purpose ; Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, court, To have the duc and forfeit of my bond : Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Salar. My lord, bere stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, Duke. Bring us the letters ; Call the mes. What if my house be troubled with a rat, senger. And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, To have it baned ? What, are you answer'd yet? | courage yet! Soine men there are, love not a gaping pig ; | The Jew sball have my flesh, blood, bones, aud Some, that are mad, if they behold a cat ; all, And others, when the bagpipe sings i'the nose, | Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Cannot contain their urine ; For atfection, il Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit. of what it likes, or loaths : Now, for your an. Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me : swer: You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. Why he, a swollen bagpipe; but of force Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario ? Must yield to such inevitable shame, Ner. From both, my lord : Bellario greets As to offend, bimself being ofteuded; your grace. (Presents a letter. So can I give no reason, nor I will not, Bass. Wby dost thou whet tby knife so ear. More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing, nestly? I bear Antonio, that I follow thus Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd ? there. Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, barsh To excuse the current of thy cruelty. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my Thou mak'st thy knife keen : but no metal can. answer. No, not the bangman's ax, bear half the keenBuss. Do all men kill the things they do not ness love 7 of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee ? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to kill? make. Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Gra, Oh ! be thou damn'd, inexorable dog ! Shy. What, wonld'st thou have a serpent And for thy life let justice be accus'd. sting thee twice? Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, Ant. I pray you, think you question ** with To hold opinion with Pythagoras, the Jew : That souls of animals infuse themselves You may as well go stand upon the beach, Into the trunks of men : thy currisb spirit, And bid the main flood bate bis usual height; Goveru'd a wolf; who, hang'd for buman You may as well use question with the wolf, slaughter, Why he bath made the ewe bleat for the lamb: | Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, You may as well forbid the mountain pines And, while thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, Iufus'd itself in thee ; for thy desires When they are fretted with the gosts of heaven : Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenons. You may as well do any thing inost bard, Shy. 'rill thou can'st rail the seal from off my As seek to soften that (than which what's bond, barder?) Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud : His Jewish heart :Therefore, I do beseech you. | Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall Make no more offers, use no further ineaus, To cureless ruit.I stand bere for law. But, with all brief and plain conveniency, Duke. This letter from Bellario doth com. Let me have judgment, and the Jew bis will. mend Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is A young and learned doctor to our court :six. Where is he? Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats, Ver. He attendeth here hard by, Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. I would not draw them, I would have my bond. Duke. With all my heart :--some three or Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, reu four of you, d'ring none ? Go, give him courteous conduct to tbis place. Meau time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. • Mity. Seeming.. * Whereas. (Clerk, reads.) Your grace shall wwder. Particular fancy. Prejudice Cu stand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am 5. Conra. I very sick: but in the instant that your mes. an I give dy'd hate, 1ow ibus answer'd? Jew, senger came, in loving visitation was with Por. It must not be ; there is no power in me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Bal-Can aller a decree established: (Venice. thasar : I acquainted him with the cause in 'Twill be recorded for a precedent ; controversy between the Jew and Antonio the And many an error, by the same example, merchant : we turned o'er many books toge-Will rush into the state: it cannot be. ther: he is furnish'd with my opinion ; which | Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a better'd with his own learning, (the great Damiell ness whereof I cannot enough commend,)|O wise young judge, how do I honour theo! comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. your grace's request in my stead. I beseech Shy. Here 'lis, most reverend doctor, bere it is. you, let this lack of years be no impediment Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money vfter'd to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I thee. never knew so young a body with co old a Shy. Au oath, an oath, I have an oath in head. I leave him to your gracious accep. heaven: tance, whose trial shall better publish his Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ? commendation. No, not for Venice. Duke. Yon hear the learn'd Bellario, what he Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; writes : And lawfully, by this, the Jew may claim And bere, I take it, is the doctor come. A pound of Desh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart :- Be merciful : Enter Portia, dressed like a Doctor of laws. Take thrice thy money ; bid me tear the bond. Give me your hand : Came you from old Bel Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.lario? It doth appear, you are a worthy judge ; Por. I did, my lord. You know the law, your exposition Duke. You are welcome : take your place. Hath been most sound : I charge you by the law, Are you acquainted with the difference Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, That holds tbis present question in the court ? Proceed to judgment : by my soul I swear, Por. I am informed througbly of the cause, There is no power in the tongue of man Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew? To alter me: I stay here on my boud. Duke. Antonio and old Shylock both stand | Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court forth. To give tbe judgment. Por. Is your name Shylock ? Por. Wby then, thus it is, Shy. Sbylock is my name. You must prepare your bosom for his knife : Por. or a strange nature is the suit you follow; Shy. O noble judge ! O excellent young man ! Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Por. For the intent and purpose of the law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. Hath full relation to the penalty, You stand within his danger, do you not ? Which here appeareth due upon the bond. [TO ANTONIO, Shy. 'Tis very true; o wise and upright Aut. Ay, so he says. judge! Por. Do you confess the bond ? How much more elder att thou than thy looks! Ant. I do. Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Por, Then must the Jew be merciful. Shy. Ay, bis breast : Shy. On what compulsion must I ? tell me : So says tbe bond ;-Doth it not, noble judge 1 that. Nearest bis heart, those are the very words. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; Por. It is so. Are there balance bere, to weigh It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven The fesb. U pou the place beneath : it is twice bless'd; Shy. I bave them ready. It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes : Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your "Tis mightiest in the mightiest ; it becomes cbarge, The throned monarch better than his crown: To stop his wounds, lest be do bleed to death. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond ? The attribute to awe and majesty, Por. It is not so express'd; But what of tbat? Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings: "Twere good you do so much for charity. But mercy is above this sceptred sway, Shy. I cannot fiud it; 'tis not in the bond. It is enthroned in the bearts of kings, Por. Come, mercbant, have you any thing to It is an attribute to God himself ; say ? And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well preWhen mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, par'd. Though justice be thy plea, consider this, Give me your band, Bassanio ; fare you well! That, in the course of justice, none of us Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you ; For herein fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom : it is still her use, To let the wretched man outlive bis wealth, To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, To mitigate the justice of tby plea ; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice An age of poverty ; from wbicb lingering peMust needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant of such a misery doth sbe cut me off. Cuance there. Commend me to your bonourable wife : Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the Tell her the process of Antonio's end, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death : Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? | And, when tbe tale is told, bid her be judge, Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the Whether Bassanio bad not once a love. court; Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, Yea, twice the sum : if that will not suffice, And he repents not that he pays your debt; I will be bound to pay it ten times u'er, For, if the Jew do but cut deep enough, On forfeit of my bands, my head, iny heart : I'll pay it instantly, with all my heart. If this will not suflice, it must appear Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, That malice bears down truth. And I beseech Which is as dear to me as life itself : But life itsell, my wife, and all the world, you, Wrest once the law to your authority : Are not with me esteem'd above thy life : I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. for that, lif she were by to hear you make the offer. flaw, Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love ; In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st : For it appears by manifest proceeding, Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; Thou hast contriv'd against the very life The wish would make else an uuquiet bouse. of the defendant ; and thou hast incurr'd Shy. These be the Christian busbands : 1The dauger forinerly by nie rehears'd. have a daughter Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the doke. 'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas 1 Gra. Beg, that thou may'st bave leave to bang Had been her husband, rather than a Christian !! thyself : Aside. And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. Thou hast uot left the value of a cord : Por. A pound of that same merchant's Desh Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's is thine ; charge. The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of Shy. Most rightful judge! our spirit, For balf thy wealth, it is Antonio's; Por. Ay, for the state ; uot for Autobio. that: The words expressly are, a pound of flesh: 1 You take my house, when you do take the prop Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of That doth sustain my house ; you take my life, flesh; When you do take the means whereby I live. Butin the cutting it, if thou dost shed Por. Wbat mercy can you render him, AuOne drop of Christian blood, thy lands and tonio ? goods Gra, A balter gratis ; nothing else ; for God's Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate sake. Unto the state of Venice. Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the Gra. O upright judge !-Mark, Jew ;--0 court, learned judge! To quit the fine for one half of his goods ; Shy. Is that the law ? I am content, so he will let me have Por. Thyself shalt see the act : The other half in use,-to render it, : rootilicementeria For, as thon urgest justice, be assur'd, Upon bis death, unto the gentleman Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir'st. That lately stole his daughter: Gra. O learned jndge !--- Mark, Jew ;-a learn. Two things provided more,—That, for this faed judge ! vour, Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond He presently become a Christian ; thrice, The other, tbat he do record a gift, And let the Cbristian go. Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Bass. Here is the money. Uuto bis son Lorenzo and his daughter. Por. Soft! Chaste: Duke. He shall do this ; or else I do recant The Jew shall have all justice soft!--no | The pardon, tbat I late pronounced here. He shall have nothing but the penalty. Por. Art thou contented, Jew, wbat dost Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned thou say ? judge! Shy. I am content. Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift, flesh. Shy, I pray you, give me leave to go from Shed thou no blood ; nor cut thou less, nor hence ; more, I am not well ; send the deed after me, But just a pound of flesh : if thon tak'st more, And I will sign it. Or less, than a just pound,-be it but so much ! Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Gra. In christening thou shalt bave two god. Or the division of the twentieth part fathers; of one poor scruple ; nay, if the scale do turn Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten But in the estimation of a hair, more. Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. | To bring thee to the gailows, got the font. Gra. A second Daniel, a Dauiel, Jew! [Erit SHYLOCK. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Duke. Sir, I entreat you bome with me to Por. Why doth the Jew pause ? take the for dinner feiture. Por. I bumbly do desire your grace of pardon ; Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. I I must away this night toward Padua, Bass. I have it ready for thee; bere it is. And it is meet, I presently set forth. l'or. He hath refus'd it in the open court; Duke. I am sorry, that your leisure serves He shall have merely justice and his bond. you not. Gra. A Daniel, still say I ; a second Daniel - | Antonio, gratify this gentleman ; I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. Shy. Sball I not have barely my principal ? (Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfei Bass. Most worthy gentleuian, I and my ture friend, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Have, by your wisdom, been this day acquitted Shy. Why then the devil give bim good of it! of grievous penalties ; in lieu whereof, I'll stay no longer question. Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, Por. Tarry, Jew; We freely cope your courteous pains witbal. Tbe law bath yet another hold on you. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, It is enacted in the laws of Venice, in love and service to you evermore. If it be prov'd against an alien, Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied ; That by direct or indirect attempts, And I, delivering you, am satisfied, He seek the life of any citizen, And therein do account myself well paid ; The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, My mind was never yet more mercenary. Shall seize one half his goods; the other half I pray you, know me, when we meet again ; Comes to the privy coffer of the state ; I wish you well, and so I take my leave. And the offender's life lies in the incicy 1 Bass. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. further ; Por. Their gifts. not a mad Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, ACT V SCENE 1.-Belmont.-Avenue to Vorria' Not to deny me, and to pardon me. House. Por. You press nie far, and therefore I will yield, Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your Lor, The moon sbines brigbt :- In such a sake ; night as this, And, for your love, I'll take this ring from When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, you : And they did make no noise ; in such a night, Do not draw back your band; l'll take no Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, more ; And sigh'd bis soul toward the Grecian tents, And you in love shall not deny me this. Where Cressid lay that night. Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew; And ran dismay'd away. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on Lor. In such a night, the value. Stood Dido with a willow in her hand The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Upon the wild sea-banks, and way'd her love And find it out by proclamation ; To come agaiu to Carthage. Jes. In such a night, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And if your wife be not a mad woman, And ne'er a true one. And know how well I have desery'd this rin Lor. And in such a night, She would not hold out enemy for ever, | Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! Slander her love and he forgave it her. (Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA. Jes. I would out-night you, did no budy Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the come: But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. night? can'st, Steph. A friend. Unto Antonio's house :-away, make haste. Lor. A friend? what frieud ? your name, I (Erit GRATIANO. pray you, friend? Come, you and I will thither presently ; Steph. Stephano is my name ; and I bring And in the morning early will we both word, Fly toward Belmont : Come, Antonio. My mistress will before the break of day By boly crosses, where she kneels and prays SCENE 11.-The same.- A Street. For happy wedlock bours. Lor. Who comes with her ? Sleph. None, but a boly hermit, and her maid. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him I pray you, is my master yet return'd? this deed, Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from And let him sign it ; we'll away to night, him.And be a day before our husbands bome : But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house. Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken: Enter LAUNCELOT. Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola ! Laun. Sola ! did you see master Lorenzo, and Por. That cannot be : mistiess Lorenzo ! sola, sola ! This ring I do accept most thankfully, Lor. Leave hollaing, man ; here. And so, I pray you, tell himn : Furthermore, Laun. Sola ! where where ? I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's Lor. Here. house. Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my Gra. That will I do. master, with his horn full of good news ; iny Ner. Sir, I would speak with you : inaster will be here ere morning. (Exit. I'll see if I can get my husband's ring. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect [To PORTIA. their coming. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. And yet no matter ;-Why should we go in? Por. Tbou may'st, I warrant: We shall have My friend Stepbano, siguify, I pray you, old swearing, Witbin the bouse, your mistress is at hand; That they did give the rings away to men; And bring your music forth into the air. But we'll outlace them, and outswear them too. [Exit STEPHANO, Away, make baste; thou know'st where I will How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this tarry. bank! Ner. Come, good Sir, will you show me to Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music this house ? (Exeunt. Creep in our ears ; soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony. • Reflection. I sit, Jessica : Louk, how the floor of heaveu |