Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, 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 heaven, so she could Entreat some power 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 have a daughter: 'Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. [Aside. 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. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shall see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assured, 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 money. Soft; 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! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Gra. A Daniel, still say I;-a second Daniel! Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; It is enacted in the laws of Venice,- The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Gra. Beg, that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hanged at the state's charge. 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? That, for this favor, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possessed, 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? 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 god-fathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst 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 Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further; Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves; I'll wear them for your sake; And for your love, I'll take this ring from you.— Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this. 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, Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; 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 deserved 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 canst, Come, you and I will thither presently; [Exit GRATIANO. SCENE II. The same. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. [Exeunt. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it. We'll away to-night, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken. Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Por. That cannot be: This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him. Furthermore, Sir, I would speak with you. I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [TO PORTIA. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. Por. Thou may'st, I warrant. We shall have old swearing, Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. Belmont. 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, |