Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws.

Duke. 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 's question in the court?
Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here and which the Jew?
Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por. Is your name Shylock?

Shy.

Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ; Yet in such rule that the Venetian law

Cannot 19

impugn you, as you do proceed.— You stand 20 within his danger, do you not?

21

Shy. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not o1 strained;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The 22attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings,
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God Himself:

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And 23 that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much 21 To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. Shy. 25 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 26 tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart :
If this will not suffice, it must appear

That malice bears down "truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right, do a little wrong;

And curb this cruel monster of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established:

And many an error, by the same example,

Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a Daniel ! O wise 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 offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven : Shall I lay "perjury upon my soul?

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.

30

Shy. When it is paid according to the 3o tenour.
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law, your 31 exposition

Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,

Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.

Por.

Why then, thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom 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 wise and upright judge!
How much 32 more elder art thou than thy looks!
Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom.

Shy.
Ay, his breast:
So says the bond; doth it not, noble judge?—
Nearest his heart, those are the very words.

Por. It is so. Are there 33 balance here to weigh
The flesh?

Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

:

Por. It is not so express'd but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
Por. Come, merchant, have you anything to say?
Ant. But little : I am arm'd and well prepared.
Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare-you-well!
Commend me to your honourable wife;
Tell her the process of Antonio's end;

Say how I loved you; speak me fair in death.

Shy. We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence. 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.
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 :

Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods

Are, by the laws of Venice, 35 confiscate

Unto the state of Venice.

36 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 assured

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.

Por. Soft!

Here is the money.

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!
Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more,
But just a pound of flesh : if thou tak'st more
Or less, than just a pound, be it but so much
As makes it light, or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part

Of one poor 37 scruple; nay, if the scale do turn
But in the 38 estimation of a hair,

Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!

Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por. He hath refused it in the open court:
He shall have merely justice and his bond.

Gra. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel !
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word,
Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal?

Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture. The law hath yet another hold on you.

It is enacted in the laws of Venice,

39

If it be proved against an alien,