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Is dearly bought, is mine, and I will have it:
If you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice:

I stand for judgment: answer; fhall I have it?
Duke. Upon my power, I may difmifs this court,
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Whom I have fent for to determine this,

Come here to-day.

Sala. My lord, here stays without

A meffenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the meffenger.

Baff. Good cheer, Anthonio! What, man? courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lofe for me one drop of blood.

Anth. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and fo let me : You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.

Enter Neriffa, dress'd like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both my lord: Bellario greets your grace. Baff. Why doft thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. Gra. Not on thy foal, but on thy foul, harfh Jew, Thou mak'ft thy knife keen: but no metal can, No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness Of thy fharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? Shy. No, none that thou haft wit enough to make. Gra: O, be thou damn'd, inexorable dog!

And for thy life let juftice be accus'd.

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Thou almost mak'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That fouls of animals infuse themselves

Into the trunks of men: thy currifh fpirit
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires

Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd and ravenous.

Shy. 'Till thou can'st rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud : Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin.-I ftand here for law.

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our court:Where is he?

A

Ner. He attendeth here hard by,

To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke. With all my heart :-fome three or four of you,
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.-
Mean time, the court fhall hear Bellario's letter.

Your grace fhall 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: I acquainted him with the cause in controverfy between the few and Anthonio the merchant : we turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, bettered with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's requeft in my ftead. I be feech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew fo young a body with Jo old an bead. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial Jhall better publish his commendation.

Enter

Enter Portia, drefs'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 are welcome; take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this present question in the court?

Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Por. Is you name Shylock?

Shy. Shylock is my name.

Por. Of a strange 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?

Anth. Ay, fo he says.

Por. Do you confefs the bond?

Anth. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

[To Anth.

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 heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blefs'd;
It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His scepter fhews the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

impugn]-obstruct.

You ftand within bis danger,]-You admit the debt, and that you have incurred the penalty annexed to it.

atibute]-appendant.

Wherein

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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 power doth then fhew likeft God's,
When mercy feafons juftice: Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, confider this,-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should fee falvation; we do pray for mercy;

And that fame prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,
To mitigate the juftice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice
Muft needs give fentence 'gainft 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?

Baff. 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 this will not fuffice, it must appear

That malice bears down "truth. And I befeech 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 established:

'Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the fame example,

Will rufh into the ftate: it cannot be.

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

O wife young judge, how do I honour thee!

truth.]-the ftrict rule of equity.

Por.

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 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
Neareft 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 most found: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deferving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my foul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay 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.

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