Shy. 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 prov'd against an alien, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, 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. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? 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, Two things provided more, that, for this favour, 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 eise 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. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening 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 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, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and Train. Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore. Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied; And therein do account myself well paid: I pray you, know me, when we meet again: I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bass. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you farther: 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. 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, 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 Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. SCENE II. The Same. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. [Exeunt. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And be a day before our husbands home. Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair Sir, you are well o'erta'en. My lord Bassanio, upon more advice, Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat Por. That cannot be. His ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do. Ner. Sir, I would speack with you. I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. [TO PORTIA. Por. Thou may'st, I warrant. We shall have old swearing, That they did give the rings away to men; But we 'll outface them, and outswear them too. Away! make haste: thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good Sir; will you show me to this house? [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Belmont. The Avenue to PORTIA'S House. Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Lor. The moon shines bright. — In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise; in such a night, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night. Jes. In such a night, And ran dismay'd away. Lor. In such a night, Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and way'd her love To come again to Carthage. Jes. Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs That did renew old son. Lor. In such a night, In such a night, Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her. Jes. I would out-night you, did no body come; But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? |