Than is her custom: it is still her use, To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love ; 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! [Aside. We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. 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, pre pare. Por. Tarry a little ;-there is something else.This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are, a pound of flesh; 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 shalt see the act, For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. 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 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 good's are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.. G 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,- That by direct, or indirect attempts, 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, 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: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. 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, Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the court, 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 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 christening thou shalt have two god-fathers; 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. Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied, 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 attempt you further; Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Bas. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; 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, |