Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 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. To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. 'Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Aside. We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. 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.- One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. 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 thoù desir'st. 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. Here is the money. 'Por. Soft; 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! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfei ture.J 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, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. That by direct, or indirect attempts, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: You take my house, when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. Ant. So please my lord, the duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have That lately stole his daughter. Two things provided more,-That, for this vour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon, that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you give me leave to go from hence; I am not well; send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit. Shylock. Duke. Sir, I intreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon; I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet, I presently set forth. Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not Antonio, gratify this gentleman: For, in my mind you are much bound to him. [Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes and Train. Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied; Bass. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you fur ther; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you: Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shail not deny me this. Bass. This ring, good Sir,-Alas, it is a trifle ; I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Por. I see, Sir, you are liberal in offers: And, when she put it on she made me vow, An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserved this ring, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandement. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house :-Away, make haste. [Exit Gratiano. Come, you and I will thither presently; SCENE II-The same.-A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. [Exeunt. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it; we'll away to night, Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken : My lord Bassanio, upon more advice |