It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er And I beseech you, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established; "Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state. It cannot be. 1 1. e. malice oppressed honesty; a true man, in old language, is an honest We now call the jury good men and true. man. Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!— O wise young judge, how do I honor thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. Por. 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. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court Por. Why, then, thus it is. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true. O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast; So says the bond.-Doth it not, noble judge?— Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh The flesh? Το Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? Por. It is not so expressed; 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 say Commend me to your honorable wife. Say, how I loved you; speak me fair in death; Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, Here to this devil, to deliver you. ? Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. 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. Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Aside. We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is 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.- Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; 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 shall see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assured, Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. judge! Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Por. Here is the money. 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! Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh: Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more, But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak'st more, Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? feiture. Take thy for Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Gra. A Daniel, still say I;-a second Daniel! Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, |