Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'ft in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd it felf in thee: for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous.
Shy. 'Till thou canft 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
A young and learned doctor to our Court.
Where is he?

Ner. He attendeth here hard by

To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four of

you

Go give him courteous conduct to this place:
Mean time, the Court fhall hear Bellario's letter.

YOUR Grace fall understand, that, at the receipt

of your letter, I am very fuck: 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 caufe in controverfie between the Jew and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnished 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 request in my ftead. I beseech 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 fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publifh bis commendation.

Enter Portia, drefs'd like a Doctor of Laws.
Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes,

M 3

And

And here, I take it, is the Doctor come:
Give me your hand.

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 present question in the Court? Por. I am informed throughly of the case. 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 ftrange nature is the fuit you

Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you, as you

do proceed.

follow;

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

Por. Do you confefs the bond?

Ant. I do.

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 bless'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 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 power doth then shew likeft God's, When mercy feafons juftice.' Therefore, Jew, Tho' juftice be thy plea, confider this, That in the courfe of juftice none of us Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy;

And

And that fame pray'r 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 sentence '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 mony? Baff. Yes, here I tender it for him in the Court, Yea, twice the fum; 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 fuffice, it must appear 7 That malice bears down truth. And I beseech 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 pow'r 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 state. It cannot be.

Sky. 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 rev'rend Doctor, here it is.
Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy mony offer'd 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 few may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful,

Take thrice thy mony, bid me tear the bond.

7 That malice bears down truth.] By truth is here meant the realonable offers of accommodation which had been made.

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 swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I ftay here on my bond.
Ant. 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.

Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your
charge,

To stop his wounds, left he should 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? Ant. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Bassanio, 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 use,

" To

"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
"Anage
Of fuch a 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 Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you, that you fhall lofe your
And he repents not, that he pays your debt;
For if the few do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it inftantly with all my heart.

friend;

Ball. Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life it felf;
But life it felf, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me efteem'd above thy life.
I would lofe all; ay, facrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.

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, so she could
Intreat fome Pow'r to change this currifh Jew.
Ner. 'Tis well, you offer it behind her back;
The wifh would make elfe an unquiet houfe.
Shy. These be the chriftian husbands.
daughter;

'Would, any of the ftock of Barrabas

I've a

Had been her husband, rather than a chriftian! [Afide. We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.

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 breaft;

The