Duke. What, is Antonio here? Ant. Ready, so please your Grace. 003 Duke. I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch 005 Uncapable of pity, void and empty 006 From any dram of mercy. Ant. I have heard 007 Your Grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me 010 Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm’d To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his. Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into the court. 015 Saler. He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord. Enter Shylock. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our face Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act; and then ’tis thought 020 Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; 022 And where thou now exact’st the penalty, Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, 024 Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, 025 But, touch’d with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back, 029 Enow to press a royal merchant down, 030 And pluck commiseration of his state 031 From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train’d To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 035 Shy. I have possess’d your Grace of what I purpose; 036 And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond: If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom. 040 You’ll ask me, why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion-flesh than to receive 042 Three thousand ducats: I’ll not answer that: 043 But, say, it is my humour: is it answer’d? What if my house be troubled with a rat, 045 And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 046 To have it baned? What, are you answer’d yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig; Some, that are mad if they behold a cat; 049 And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose, 050 Cannot contain their urine: for affection, Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer: As there is no firm reason to be render’d, Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; 055 Why he, a harmless necessary cat; 056 Why he, a woollen bag-pipe; but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame 058 As to offend, himself being offended; So can I give no reason, nor I will not, 060 More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer’d? Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. 065 Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answers. 066 Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? 070 Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew: You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; 073 You may as well use question with the wolf, 074 Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; 075 You may as well forbid the mountain pines 076 To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, 077 When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard, 079 As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— 080 His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgement and the Jew his will. Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here is six. 085 Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond. Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? Shy. What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? 090 You have among you many a purchased slave, 091 Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, 092 You use in abject and in slavish parts, 093 Because you bought them: shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? 095 Why sweat they under burthens? 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, 100 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 judgement: answer; shall I have it? Duke. Upon my power I may dismiss this court, 105 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Saler. 107 My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua. 110 Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, 115 Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit 116 Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me: You cannot better be employ’d, Bassanio, 118 Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer’s clerk. 119 Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? 120 Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace. [Presenting a letter. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? 122 Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. 123 Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, 124 Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, 125 No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? 127 Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. 128 Gra. O, be thou damn’d, inexecrable dog! And for thy life let justice be accused. 130 Thou almost makest me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit 134 Govern’d a wolf, who, hang’d for human slaughter, 135 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 136 And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallow’d dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires 138 Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous. Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, 140 Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud: Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall 142 To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend 144 A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he? Ner. 145 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. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. 150 Clerk. [reads] Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his 153 name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o’er many 155 books together: he is furnished with my opinion; which, bettered 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 160 body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. Duke. You hear the learn’d Bellario, what he writes: 163 And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter Portia for Balthasar. 164 Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my lord. Duke. 165 You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Por. I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? 170 Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Por. Is your name Shylock? Shy. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule that the Venetian law 174 Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. 175 You stand within his danger, do you not? Ant. Ay, so he says. Por. Do you confess the bond? Ant. 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, 180 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 181 Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes: ’Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; 185 His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, 190 It is an attribute to God himself; 191 And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us 195 Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea; 199 Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 200 Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there. Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; 205 Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appear 209 That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, 210 Wrest once the law to your authority: To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will. Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 215 ’Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be. Shy. A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Daniel! 219 O wise young judge, how I do honour thee! 220 Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. 222 Por. Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offer’d thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? 225 No, not for Venice. Por. 225 Why, this bond is forfeit; 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. 230 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, 235 Proceed to judgement: by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay here on my bond. Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgement. Por. Why then, thus it is: 240 You must prepare your bosom for his knife. 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. 245 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?— ‘Nearest his heart:’ those are the very words. 250 Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, 253 To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 254 Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? 255 Por. It is not so express’d: but what of that? ’Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; ’tis not in the bond. 258 Por. You, merchant, have you any thing to say? Ant. But little: I am arm’d and well prepared. 260 Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein Fortune shows herself more kind 263 Than is her custom: it is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, 265 To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty; from which lingering penance 267 Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife: Tell her the process of Antonio’s end; 270 Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge 272 Whether Bassanio had not once a love. 273 Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; 275 For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, 276 I’ll pay it presently 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, 280 Are not with me esteem’d above thy life: 281 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all 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. 285 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. Ner. ’Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. 290 Shy. These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas 292 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: 295 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! 300 Por. Tarry a little; there is something else. 301 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh:’ 303 Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed 305 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 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 shalt see the act: 310 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge! 313 Shy. I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Here is the money. 315 Por. 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. 320 Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less nor more 321 But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut’st more 322 Or less than a just pound, be it but so much 323 As makes it light or heavy in the substance, 324 Or the division of the twentieth part 325 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! 329 Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. 330 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 refused it in the open court: 334 He shall have merely justice and his bond. 335 Gra. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 337 Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, 339 To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. 340 Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! 341 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, 344 If it be proved against an alien 345 That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive 348 Shall seize one half his goods; the other half 349 Comes to the privy coffer of the state; 350 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, 355 Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr’d 357 The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. Gra. Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: 360 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. 363 Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: 365 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: 370 You take my house, when you do take the That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? 374 Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God’s sake. 375 Ant. So please my lord the Duke and all the court 376 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, 379 Upon his death, unto the gentleman 380 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, 384 Here in the court, of all he dies possess’d, 385 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. 390 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. 393 Gra. In christening shalt thou have two godfathers: Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, 395 To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [Exit Shylock. 396 Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. 397 Por. I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon: I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth. 400 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 and his train. 403 Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted 405 Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, We freely cope your courteous pains withal. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore. 410 Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; And I, delivering you, am satisfied And therein do account myself well paid: 413 My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you, know me when we meet again: 415 I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, 418 Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, Not to deny me, and to pardon me. 420 Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. 421 Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake; [To Ant. 422 And, for your love, I’ll take this ring from you [To Bass.]: Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this. 425 Bass. This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle! I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now methinks I have a mind to it. 429 Bass. There’s more depends on this than on the value. 430 The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation: Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now methinks 435 You teach me how a beggar should be answer’d. Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And when she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. Por. That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts. 440 An if your wife be not a mad-woman, 441 And know how well I have deserved the ring, 442 She would not hold out enemy for ever, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. Ant. My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: 445 Let his deservings and my love withal 446 Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandment. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, 449 Unto Antonio’s house: away! make haste. [Exit Gratiano. 450 Come, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. [Exeunt.