Shy.

Here 't is, most reverend doctor; here it is.

Por.

[Gives bond to Portia.

Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee.

Shy.

An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

Why, this bond is forfeit ;

Por.

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

Nearest the merchant's heart : - Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

Shy.

When it is paid according to the tenour.
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law; your exposition

Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

Por.

For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shy.

'T is very true: O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

Por.

Therefore, lay bare your bosom.

Ay, his breast:

Shy. [Takes bond from Portia.

So says the bond;- Doth it not, noble judge ?.
Nearest his heart,—those are the very words.

Por.

[Returns bond to Portia.

Are there balance here to weigh the flesh ?

It is so.

I have them ready.

Shy.

Por.

Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

Shy. [Takes bond from Portia.

Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por.

It is not so expressed; but what of that? 'T were good you do so much for charity.

Shy.

I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond.

[Returns bond to Portia.

Come, merchant, have you anything to say?

Ant.

But little; I am armed, and well prepared.-
Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!

[Portia leaves desk, crosses to the Duke, confers
with him, and shows bond.

Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you,
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom : it is still her use
To let the wretchèd man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which ling'ring penance
Of such a misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Tell her the process of Antonio's end;

Say, how I loved you, speak 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 shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Bass.

Antonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as dear to me as life itself;
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteemed above thy life;
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you.

[During this speech Portia returns to desk.

Gra.

I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love;

I would she were in heaven, so she could

Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.