Shylock. Is it so nominated in the bond? Shylock. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, Bassanio. Antonio, I am married to a wife Are not with me esteemed above thy life: I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you. Portia. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gratiano. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: 220 225 230 235 240 345 226. it is still her use, it is ever her 236. Repent but you: that is, if, only, custom. 230. misery. Accent thus: miser'y. 233. speak me fair, speak well of me. 235. love, lover, dear friend; that is, Antonio himself. you regret, etc. 239. presently, immediately. 241. Which: for who. In Shakespeare's time, which was applicable to persons as well as to things. I would she were in heaven, so she could Nerissa. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back ; The wish would make else an unquiet house. Shylock. [Aside] These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian !- Portia. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine. 25C 255 260 Portia. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shylock. Most learnéd judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! Portia. Tarry a little; there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are "a pound of flesh :" Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gratiano. O upright judge!—Mark, Jew :-O learned judge! Shylock. Is that the law? Portia. Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gratiano. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew:-a learned judge! And let the Christian go. 265 270 275 Bassanio. Here is the money. 280 Portia. Soft! The Jew shall have all justice; soft!—no haste :- Gratiano. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! 285 270. confiscate, confiscated. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. 290 295 Portia. Why doth the Jew pause?-Take thy forfeiture. He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gratiano. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel ! Shylock. Why, then the devil give him good of it! The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 288. a just pound, an exact pound. 289. in the substance, in the gross weight. 295. on the hip. This expression is taken from the language of wrestling; it indicates the mastery which one of the wrestlers has over the other. 300 305 310 315 For it appears, by manifest proceeding, Thou hast contrived against the very life The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gratiano. 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; 320 325 Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's charge. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, 330 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Portia. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. 335 Shylock. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: Portia. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman Two things provided more, that, for this favor, The other, that he do record a gift, 340 345 350 Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant* The pardon that I late pronounced here. Portia. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say? Portia. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shylock. 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. Gratiano. In christening shalt thou have two godfathers. [Exit Shylock. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Portia. 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 and his train. Bassanio. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Portia. He is well paid that is well satisfied; 355 360 365 370 375 380 |