Bass. Ev'ry offence is not a hate, at first. Shy. What, would'st thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

go stand

Anth. I pray you, think, you question with a Jew. You may as well upon the beach, And bid the main flood 'bate his usual height. You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb. You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, When they are fretted with the gusts of heav'n. You may as well do any thing most hard, As seek to soften that, (than which, what's harder?) His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no further means; But, with all brief and plain conveniency, Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. Bass. Forthy three thousand ducats here are six. Shy. If ev'ry ducat in six thousand ducats, Were in six parts, and ev'ry part a ducat,

I would not draw them, I would have my bond. Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, ren[wrong?

d'ring none?

Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish part,

Because you bought them. Shall I say to you,

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be season'd with such viands. You will answer,
The slaves are ours. So do I answer you;
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, 'tis mine, and I will have it.
If you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice ;

I stand for judgment; answer.

Shall I have it?

Duke. Upon my pow'r I may dismiss this court,

Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Whom I have sent for, to determine this,

Come here to-day.

Sal. My lord, here stays, without,

A messenger, with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters, call the messenger.
Bass. Good cheer, Anthonio! What, man, cou-

rage yet;

The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

Anth. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.

Enter NERISSA, dress'd like a Lawyer's Clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.

nestly?

Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so ear[there. Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt, Gra. Not on thy soale, (59) but on thy soul,

harsh Jew,

[thee? Thou makʼst thy knife keen.—Can no pray'rs pierce Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexorable dog, [make. And for thy life let justice be accurs'd! Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Ev'n from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, Infused itself in thee: for thy desires Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous.

Shy. 'Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,

(59) On thy soale. In observing the prototype of Shylock attentively, his action as of whetting his knife on the soale of his shoe is plainly perceptible; the shoe being situate at the most northern part of the moon's disk.

Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

A

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?

Ner. He attendeth here, hard by,

To know your answer whether you'll admit him. Duke. With all my heart some three or four of

you.

Go give him courteous conduct to this place: Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

YOUR Grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick; but at the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name his Balthasar; I acquainted him with the cause in controversy, between the Jew and Anthonio, the merchant. We turned o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion, which, bartered with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend) comes with him at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request, in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment, to let him lack a reverend estimation; For I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial should better publish his commendation.

Enter PORTIA, dress'd like a Doctor of Laws. Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he And here, I take it, is the doctor come. [writes, Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord.

Duke. You're welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference,

That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am inform'd thoroughly of the case. Which is the merchant here? and which the Jew? Duke. Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand Por. Is your name Shylock?

Shy. Shylock is my name.

[forth.

Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, Yet in such rule that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

You stand within his danger do you not? [To An. Anth. Ay, so he says.

Por. Do you confess the bond?

Anth. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd! It droppeth as the gentle rain from heav'n, Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His scepter shews the force of temporal pow i,