Are you acquainted with the difference, Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Or a flrange nature is the fait 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? [To Anth. Anth. Ay, fo he fays. Por. Do you confefs the bond? Anth. I do. Pro. Then must the Jew be merciful, Shy. On what compulfion muft 17 tell me that. Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of Kings; And earthly power doth then fhew likeft God's, Which, if thou follow, this ftrict Court of Venice Por. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Por. It must not be; there is no pow'r in Venice, "Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the fame example, Shy. 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 money 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 Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law, Por. Why, then thus it is : You must prepare your bosom for his knife. G 4 Shy. Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. Ay, his breast; So fays the bond, doth it not, noble judge? 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 ftop his wounds, left he fhould 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 so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to fay A Anth. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepar'd. Give me your hand, Baffazio, fare you well! Grieve not, that I am fall'n to this for you: For herein fortune fhews herfelf more kind, Than is her cuftom. It is ftill her use, 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 Of fuch a mifery doth the cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife; Tell her the process 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 Bafanio had not once a love. Repent not you, that 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 inflantly with all my heart. you Baff. Anthonio, I am married to a wife, friend; Are Are not with me esteem'd above thy life. Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If the were by to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom I proteft, I love; I would, fhe were in heaven, so she could Intreat fome Pow'r to change this currish Jew.. Ner. "Tis well, you offer it behind her back; The wish would make elfe an unquiet house. Shy. These be the chriftian husbands. I've a daughter; 'Would, any of the stock of Barrabas 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 law allows it, and the Court awards it. Shy. Moft learned judge! a fentence: come, prepare. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; One drop of chriftian blood; thy lands and goods Ur to the ftate of Venice. Gra. O upright judge! mark, Jew; O learned judge? Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyfelf fhalt see the A&t: For as thou urgeft juftice, be affur'd, Thou shalt have juftice, more than thou defir'st. Gra. O learned judge! mark, few, a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice, And let the chriftian go, Baff. Here is the money. Por. The Jew fhall have all juftice; foft! no hafte; He fhall have nothing but the penalty. G 5 Gra. Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confifcate. Por. Why doth the Jew paufe? take the forfeiture. Por. Thou fhalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be fo taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer queftion. Por. Tarry, Jew. The law hath yet another hold on you: It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be prov'd against an alien, That by direct or indirect attempts He feeks the life of any citizen, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Of |