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Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate

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 assur'd,

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou 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.

Por. Soft;

Here is the money.

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 takʼst 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
But in the estimation of a hair,—

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? take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refus'd 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.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,-
If it be prov'd against an alien,
That by direct, or indirect attempts,
He seek the life of any citizen,

The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st:
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That, indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.

Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

Gra. Beg that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself:

And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

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:
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's ;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
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.

1 Ay, for the state; &c.] that is, the state's moiety may be commuted for a fine, but not Antonio's. MALONE.

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GRA. BEG THAT THOU MAYST HAVE LEAVE TO HANG THYSELF;

AND YET. THY WEALTH BEING FORFEIT TO THE STATE;

THOU HAST NOT LEFT THE VALUE OF A CORD;
THEREFORE THOU MUST BE HANGD AT THE STATES CHARGE.
Act IV. Sc.1.

London, Published by F. C&J. Rivington, and Partners, Feb 1823.

E

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

The other half in use,―to render it,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter;

Two things provided more, - That, for this favour,
He presently become a Christian ;

The other, that he do record a gift,

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

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.

2

Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers; Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

[Exit SHYLOCK, Duke. Sir, I entreat 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. Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend, Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted

2

thou should'st have had ten more,] i̟.e. a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged.

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