Are you acquainted with the difference, Shy. Shylock is my name. you Por. Of a ftrange nature is the suit Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. You ftand within his danger, do you not? Ant. Ay, fo he fays. Por. Do you confefs the bond? Ant. I do. Por. Then muft the Jew be merciful. follow; [To Anth. Shy. On what compulfion muft I? 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 mony? And I beseech you, 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, 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, moft 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 Jew may claim Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law,. To give the judgment. Por. Why, then thus it is: G 4 Shy.. 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! 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 flefh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by fome furgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop 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 fo much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, ; Commend me to your honourable wife ; The Merchant of VENICE. ot with me esteem'd above thy life. ald lofe all; ay, facrifice them all to this devil, to deliver you. 153 . Your wife would give you little thanks for that, e were by to hear you make the offer. a. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love; y. These be the chriftian husbands. I've a daughter; ld, any of the stock of Barrabas been her husband, rather than a christian ! rifle time; I pray thee, purfue fentence. [Afide. r. A pound of that fame merchant's flesh is thine,. Court awards it, and the law doth give it. y. Moft rightful judge! r. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; law allows it, and the Court awards it. y. Moft learned judge! a fentence: come, prepare. r. Tarry a little, there is fomething else.. bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; words exprefly are, a pound of flesh. n take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; in the cutting it, if thou doft shed drop of chriftian blood; thy lands and goods by the laws of Venice, confifcate o the ftate of Venice. ra. O upright judge! mark, Jew; O learned judge? y. Is that the law? or. Thy felf fhalt see the A&t: as thou urgeft juftice, be affur'd, u fhalt have juftice, more than thou defir'st: ra. O learned judge! mark, Jew; a learned judge? by. I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice, let the chriftian go. aff. Here is the mony. or. The Jew fhall have all juftice; foft! no hafte; fhall have nothing but the penalty. Fra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! G 5 Por Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh; Thou dieft, and all thy goods are confiscate. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take the forfeiture. Gra. A Daniel, ftill fay I; a fecond Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal? Por. Thou fhalt 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 ftay no longer question. 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, 'gainft the which he doth contrive, life Down, |