Duke.
Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

Ner.
From both, my lord: Bellario greets your Grace.

Bass.
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

Shy.
To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there.

Gra.
^{6 note}Not on thy soale, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen; for no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, 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,
That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit

Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd it self in thee: for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.

Shy.
'Till thou canst 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:
Mean time, the Court shall hear Bellario's letter.

Your Grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but at the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his Name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversie between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him at my importunity, to fill up your Grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, to let him lack a reverend estimation: For I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

Duke.
You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes,

And here, I take it, is the Doctor come:
Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario?

Por.
I did, my lord.

Duke.
You're 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 case.
Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew?

Duke.
Anthonio 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? [To Anth.

Ant.
Ay, so he says.

Por.
Do you confess the bond?

Ant.
I do.

Por.
Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy.
On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

&plquo;Por.
&plquo;The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
&plquo;It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heav'n
&plquo;Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd;
&plquo;It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
&plquo;'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
&plquo;The throned monarch better than his Crown:
&plquo;His scepter shews the force of temporal pow'r,
&plquo;The attribute to awe and majesty,
&plquo;Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of Kings;
&plquo;But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,
&plquo;It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings;
&plquo;It is an attribute to God himself;
&plquo;And earthly power doth then shew likest God's,
&plquo;When mercy seasons justice.&prquo; Therefore, Jew,
Tho' 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 pray'r doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which, if thou follow, this strict Court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Shy.
My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por.
Is he not able to discharge the mony?

Bass.
Yes, here I tender it for him in the Court,
Yea, twice the sum; if that will not suffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not suffice, it must appear
^{7 note}That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority.
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por.
It must not be; there is no pow'r in Venice,
Can alter a decree established.
'Twill be recorded for a precedent;
And many an error, by the same example,
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.

Shy.
A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel.
O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!

Por.
I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

Shy.
Here 'tis, most rev'rend Doctor, here it is.

Por.
Shylock, there's thrice thy mony offer'd thee.

Shy.
An oath, an oath,—I have an oath in heav'n.
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.

Por.
Why, this bond is forfeit;
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful,
Take thrice thy mony, bid me tear the bond.

Shy.
When it is paid according to the tenour.
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law: your exposition
Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment. By my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.

Ant.
Most heartily I do beseech the Court
To give the judgment.

Por.
Why, then thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Shy.
O noble judge! O excellent young man!

Por.
For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shy.
'Tis very true. O wise and upright judge,
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

Por.
Therefore lay bare your bosom.

Shy.
Ay, his breast;
So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge?
Nearest his heart, those are the very words.

Por.
It is so. Are there scales, to weigh the flesh?

Shy.
I have them ready.

Por.
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.

Shy.
Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por.
It is not so express'd; but what of that?
'Twere good, you do so much for charity.

Shy.
I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

Por.
Come, merchant, have you any thing to say?

Ant.
But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.
Give me your hand, Bassanio, fare you well!
Grieve not, that I am fall'n to this for you:
&wlquo;For herein fortune shews herself more kind,
&wlquo;Than is her custom. It is still her use,

&wlquo;To let the wretched man out-live his wealth,
&wlquo;To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
&wlquo;An age of poverty:&wrquo; From which ling'ring penance
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife;
Tell her the process of Anthonio's end;
Say, how I lov'd you; speak me fair in death:
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you, that you shall lose your friend;
And he repents not, that he pays your debt;
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Bass.
Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life it self;
But life it self, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem'd above thy life.
I would lose all; ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.

Por.
Your wife would give you little thanks for that,
If she were by to hear you make the offer.

Gra.
I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love;
I would, she were in heav'n, so she could
Intreat some Pow'r to change this currish Jew.

Ner.
'Tis well, you offer it behind her back;
The wish would make else an unquiet house.

Shy.
These be the christian husbands. I've a daughter;
'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas
Had been her husband, rather than a christian! [Aside.
We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.

Por.
A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine,
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;

The law allows it, and the Court awards it.

Shy.
Most learned judge! a sentence: come, prepare.

Por.
Tarry a little, there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expresly are, a pound of flesh.
Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of christian blood; thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.

Gra.
O upright judge! mark, Jew; O learned judge!

Shy.
Is that the law?

Por.
Thy self shalt see the Act:
For as thou urgest justice, be assur'd,
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'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.

Bass.
Here is the mony.

Por.
The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste;
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Gra.
O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

Por.
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh;
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more
Or less than a just pound, be't but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
On the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Gra.
A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por.
Why doth the Jew pause? take the forfeiture.

Shy.
Give me my principal, and let me go.

Bass.
I have it ready for thee; here it is.

Por.
He hath refus'd it in the open Court;
He shall have meerly justice, and his bond.

Gra.
A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

Shy.
Shall I not barely have my principal?

Por.
Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

Shy.
Why, then the devil give him good of it!
I'll stay no longer question.

Por.
Tarry, Jew.
The law hath yet another hold on you:
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be prov'd against an alien,
That by direct, or indirect, attempts
He seeks the life of any citizen,
The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize on 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
^{8 note}The danger formerly ^note by me rehears'd.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.

Gra.
Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thy self;
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.

Duke.
That thou may'st see the diff'rence of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Anthonio's;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Por.
Ay, for the state; not for Anthonio.

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, Anthonio?

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.
Two things provided more, that for this favour
He presently become a christian;
The other, that he do record a Gift
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 christ'ning thou shalt have two godfathers.
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 intreat you home with me to dinner.

Por.
I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon;
I must away this night to Padua,
And it is meet, I presently set forth.

Duke.
I'm sorry, that your leisure serves you not.
Anthonio, gratify this gentleman;
For in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exit Duke and his train.

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