Duke. I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy. Ant. I have heard, Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify 8 Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm'd The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. Salan. He's ready at the door he comes, my lord. Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face. And where thou now exact'st the penalty, But touch'd with human gentleness and love, [8] Envy in this place means hatred or malice. STEEVENS. [9] We are not to imagine the word royal to be only a ranting sounding ep. ithet. It is used with great propriety, and shows the poet well acquainted with the history of the people whom he here brings upon the stage. For when the French and Venetians,in the beginning of the 13th century, had won Constantinople, the French, under the emperor Henty, endeavoured to extend their conquests into the provinces of the Grecian empire on the Terra firma ; while the Venetians, who were masters of the sea, gave liberty to any subjects of the republic, who would fit out vessels, to make themselves masters of the isles of the Archipelago, and other maritime places; and to enjoy their conquests in sovereignty; only doing homage to the republic for their several principalities. By virtue of this licence, the Sanudo's, the Justiniani, the Gri. maldi,the Summaripo's,and others,all Venetian merchants, erected principalities in several places of the Archipelago, which their descendants enjoyed for many generations, and thereby became truly and properly royal merchants. Which indeed was the title generally given them all over Europe. Hence, the most eminent of our own merchants (while public spirit resided amongst them,and before it was aped by faction) were called royal merchants. WARB. This epithet was in our poet's time more striking and better understood, because Gresham was then dignified with the title of the royal merchant. JOH. And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose; Of what it likes, or loaths: Now, for your answer: Why he cannot abide a gaping pig ; Why he, a harmless necessary cat ; Why he, a swollen bag-pipe; but of force As to offend, himself being offended; More than a lodg'd hate, and a certain loathing, A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? To excuse the current of thy cruelty. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answers. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy.What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice? [1] The Jew being asked a question which the law does not require him to answer,stands upon his right, and refuses; but afterwards gratifies his own malignity by such answers as he knows will aggravate the pain of the in quirer. I will not answer, says he, as to a legal or serious question, but since you want an answer, will this serve you? JOHNSON. Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew: As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?) Because you bought them :-Shall I say to you, There is no force in the decrees of Venice : I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Salar. My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, [2] This argument, considered as used to the particular persons, seems conclusive. I see not how Venetians or Englishmen, while they practise the purchase and sale of slaves, can much enforce or demand the law of Doing to others as we would that they should do to us. JOHNSON. Duke. Bring us the letters; Call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man? courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me : You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Come you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord: Bellario greets your grace. [Presents a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? That souls of animals infuse themselves Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court :- Ner. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, 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 shall hear Bellario's letter. [Clerk reads.] Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd 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 stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws. 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? Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn3 you, as you do proceed.— You stand within his danger, do you not? Ant. Ay, so he says. Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. [7% ANT. Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. [3] To impugn, is to oppose, to controvert. STEEVENS. [4] In composing these beautiful lines, it is probable that Shakspeare recollected the following verse in Ecclesiasticus, XXXV. 20: "Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought." DOUCE. |