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To mitigate the juftice 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 money?

Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, thrice the fum. If that will not fuffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not fuffice, it must appear

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wreft 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 power in

Venice

Can alter a decree eftablished:

"Twill be recorded for a precedent';

And many an error, by the fame example,
Will rush into the ftate::-it cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a
Daniel!-

O wife young judge, how do I honor thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

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Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd

thee.

Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my foul?

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 money; bid me tear the bond.

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.--
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law: your expofition

Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my foul I fwear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

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Ant. Moft heartily I do befeech the court To give the judgment.

Por. Why then, thus it is.

You must prepare your bofom 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.

Shy. 'Tis very true: O wife and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore, lay bare your bofom.

Shy. Ay, his breast:

So fays the bond ;-Doth it not, noble judge ?— Nearest his heart, thofe are the very words.

Por. It is fo. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh?

Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge,

To ftop his wounds, left he do bleed to death.

Shy. Is it fo nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not fo exprefs'd; But what of that? 'Twere good, you do fo much for charity.

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

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

Ant. But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.

Give me your hand, Baffanio; fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is ftill her use,
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,

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To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brów,
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of fuch a mifery doth the cut me off.
Commend me to your honorable wife :
Tell her the process of Antonio's end;
Say, how I lov'd you, fpeak me fair in death
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Baffanio had not once a love.

Repent not you that you fhall lofe 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.

Shy, We trifle time; I pray thee pursue sentence]

Por. A pound of that fame merchant's flefli is thine;

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
Sky Moft rightful judge!

And you
you must cut this flesh from off his

Por. And

breaft;

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

Shy.

Moft learned judge!-A fentence; come prepare.

Por. Tarry a little; there is fomething 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 the pound of flesh :

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But,

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. Thyfelf fhalt fee the act:

For, as thou urgest justice, be affur'd

Thou shalt have justice, 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.

Bass. Here is the money.

Por. Soft;

The Jew fhall 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 lefs, nor more, But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Or lefs, than a juft pound,-be it but fo much As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance,

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