YOUR Grace fall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick; but at the inftant that your messenger came, in loving vifitation? was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthafar; acquainted him with the cause in controversy, between the Jew and Anthonio, the merchant. We turned o'er many books together; he is furnished with my opinion, which, bartered 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 flead. I b feech let his lack of years be no impediment, to let him lack a reverend eftimation; for I never knew fo young a body with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whoje trial fhall better publifh bis commendation.

you

Enter PORTIA, dress'd like a Doctor of Laws.

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 prefent queftion in the court? Por. I am inform'd thoroughly of the cafe. 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 frange nature is the fuit you follow, Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

You ftand within his danger, do you not? [To Anth. Anth. Ay, fo he fays.

Por. Do you

Anth. I do.

confefs the bond?

Por. Then muft the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulfion muft I? Tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav'n, Upon the place beneath. It is twice blefs'd; It b'effe h him that gives, and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightieft: it becomes

The

The throned monarch better than his crown:
His fcepter fhews the force of temporal pow'r,
The attribute to awe and majefty,

Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this fcepter'd fway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly pow'r doth then fhew likeft Heav'n's,
When mercy feafons juftice. Therefore, Jew,
Tho' justice be thy plea, confider this,
That, in the courfe of justice, none of us
Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy
And that fame pray'r doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have fpoke thus much,
To mitigate the juftice of thy plea;

Which, if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice
Muft needs give fentence '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? Baf Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice 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 that will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. Wreft once the law to your authority; To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will.

And I beseech you,

Por. 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 fame example,
Will ruth into the ftate. It cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel.
O wife young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee.
Shy. An oath, an oath-I have an oath in Heav'n.
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 tenour.
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-deferving pillar,
Proceed to judgment.. By my foul I fwear,
There is no power in the tongue of man,
To alter me. I ftay here on my bond.

Anth. 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. '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 fcales, to weigh the flesh ?
Shy. I have them ready.

Par. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To ftop his wounds, left he fhould 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 say? Anth. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Baffanio; fare you well!: Grieve not that I am fall'n to this for you:: For herein fortune fhews herself more kind,, Than is her cuftom. It is ftill her ufe, To let the wretched man out-live his wealth; To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, An age of poverty: from which ling'ring penance

Of

Of fuch mifery doth fhe cut me off,
Commend me to your honourable wife;
Tell her the procefs of Anthonio's end;

Say, how I lov'd you; fpeak me fair in death:
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bafanio 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 inftantly, with all my heart.
Baff. Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteemed above thy life.

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

Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love; I would fhe were in Heav'n, fo fhe could Intreat fome pow'r to change this currish Jew. Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back:

The wifh would make elfe an unquiet houfe.

Shy. These be the chriftian husbands! I've a daughWould any of the stock of Barrabbas

Had been her husband, rather than a christian!

We trifle time; I pray thee, purfue fentence.

[ter; [Afide.

Por. A pound of that fame merchant's flesh is thine, The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Moft rightful judge!

Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast, 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 exprefsly are, a pound of flesh.
Then take thy bond, take thou the pound of flesh
But, in the cutting it, if thou doft fhed

One drop of chriftian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confifcated

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 urgeft juftice, be affur'd,

Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'ft.

E 3

Gra.

Gra. O learned judge! mark, Jew, a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer, then, pay the bond thrice. And let the chriftian go.

Baff. Here is the money.

Por. The Jew fhall have all juftice; foft! no hafte; He fhall 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 takʼit more,
Or lefs, than a just pound, be't but fo much
As makes it light or heavy in the fubftance,
On the divifion of the twentieth part,

Of one poor fcruple; nay, if the scale turn
But in the estimation of a hair,

Thou dy'ft, and all thy goods are confifcate.
Gra. A fecond Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por. Why doth the Jew paufe? take the forfeiture.
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bag. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court;
He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Gra. A Daniel, ftill fay I; a fecond 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 fo taken at thy peril, Jew.

Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll ftay 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 feeks the life of any citizen,

The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall feize 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 fay, thou stand'st.
For it appears, by manife proceeding,

That