Shakespeare's First Folio Part 158

Bas. For thy three thousand Ducates heere is six

Iew. If euerie Ducat in sixe thousand Ducates Were in sixe parts, and euery part a Ducate, I would not draw them, I would haue my bond?

Du. How shalt thou hope for mercie, rendring none?

Iew. What iudgement shall I dread doing no wrong?

You haue among you many a purchast slaue, Which like your a.s.ses, and your Dogs and Mules, You vse in abiect and in slauish parts, Because you bought them. Shall I say to you, Let them be free, marrie them to your heires?

Why sweate they vnder burthens? Let their beds Be made as soft as yours: and let their pallats Be season'd with such Viands: you will answer The slaues are ours. So do I answer you.

The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and I will haue it.

If you deny me; fie vpon your Law, There is no force in the decrees of Venice; I stand for iudgement, answer, Shall I haue it?

Du. Vpon my power I may dismisse this Court, Vnlesse Bellario a learned Doctor, Whom I haue sent for to determine this, Come heere to day

Sal. My Lord, heere stayes without A Messenger with Letters from the Doctor, New come from Padua

Du. Bring vs the Letters, Call the Messengers

Ba.s.s. Good cheere Anthonio. What man, corage yet: The Iew shall haue my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt loose for me one drop of blood

Ant. I am a tainted Weather of the flocke, Meetest for death, the weakest kinde of fruite Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me; You cannot better be employ'd Ba.s.sanio, Then to liue still, and write mine Epitaph.

Enter Nerrissa.

Du. Came you from Padua from Bellario?

Ner. From both.

My Lord Bellario greets your Grace

Bas. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

Iew. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there

Gra. Not on thy soale: but on thy soule harsh Iew Thou mak'st thy knife keene: but no mettall can, No, not the hangmans Axe beare halfe the keennesse Of thy sharpe enuy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Iew. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make

Gra. O be thou d.a.m.n'd, inexecrable dogge, And for thy life let iustice be accus'd: Thou almost mak'st me wauer in my faith; To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That soules of Animals infuse themselues Into the trunkes of men. Thy currish spirit Gouern'd a Wolfe, who hang'd for humane slaughter, Euen from the gallowes did his fell soule fleet; And whil'st thou layest in thy vnhallowed dam, Infus'd it selfe in thee: For thy desires Are Woluish, b.l.o.o.d.y, steru'd, and rauenous

Iew. Till thou canst raile the seale from off my bond Thou but offend'st thy Lungs to speake so loud: Repaire thy wit good youth, or it will fall To endlesse ruine. I stand heere for Law

Du. This Letter from Bellario doth commend A yong and Learned Doctor in our Court; Where is he?

Ner. He attendeth heere hard by To know your answer, whether you'l admit him

Du. With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go giue him curteous conduct to this place, Meane time the Court shall heare Bellarioes Letter.

Your Grace shall vnderstand, that at the receite of your Letter I am very sicke: but in the instant that your messenger came, in louing visitation, was with me a yong Doctor of Rome, his name is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in Controuersie, betweene the Iew and Anthonio the Merchant: We turn'd ore many Bookes together: hee is furnished with my opinion, which bettred with his owne learning, the greatnesse whereof I cannot enough commend, comes with him at my importunity, to fill vp your Graces request in my sted. I beseech you, let his lacke of years be no impediment to let him lacke a reuerend estimation: for I neuer knewe so yong a body, with so old a head. I leaue him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

Enter Portia for Balthazar.

Duke. You heare the learn'd Bellario what he writes, And heere (I take it) is the Doctor come.

Giue me your hand: Came you from old Bellario?

Por. I did my Lord

Du. You are welcome: take your place; Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the Court

Por. I am enformed throughly of the cause.

Which is the Merchant heere? and which the Iew?

Du. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth

Por. Is your name Shylocke?

Iew. Shylocke is my name

Por. Of a strange nature is the sute you follow, Yet in such rule, that the Venetian Law Cannot impugne you as you do proceed.

You stand within his danger, do you not?

Ant. I, so he sayes

Por. Do you confesse the bond?

Ant. I do

Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull

Iew. On what compulsion must I ? Tell me that

Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen Vpon the place beneath. It is twice blest, It blesseth him that giues, and him that takes, 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes The throned Monarch better then his Crowne.

His Scepter shewes the force of temporall power, The attribute to awe and Maiestie, Wherein doth sit the dread and feare of Kings: But mercy is aboue this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, It is an attribute to G.o.d himselfe; And earthly power doth then shew likest G.o.ds When mercie seasons Iustice. Therefore Iew, Though Iustice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of Iustice, none of vs Should see saluation: we do pray for mercie, And that same prayer, doth teach vs all to render The deeds of mercie. I haue spoke thus much To mittigate the iustice of thy plea: Which if thou follow, this strict course of Venice Must needes giue sentence 'gainst the Merchant there

Shy. My deeds vpon my head, I craue the Law, The penaltie and forfeite of my bond

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bas. Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court, Yea, twice the summe, if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times ore, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appeare That malice beares downe truth. And I beseech you Wrest once the Law to your authority.

To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curbe this cruell diuell of his will

Por. It must not be, there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a President, And many an error by the same example, Will rush into the state: It cannot be

Iew. A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel.

O wise young Iudge, how do I honour thee

Por. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond

Iew. Heere 'tis most reuerend Doctor, heere it is

Por. Shylocke, there's thrice thy monie offered thee

Shy. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen: Shall I lay periurie vpon my soule?

No not for Venice

Por. Why this bond is forfeit, And lawfully by this the Iew may claime A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Neerest the Merchants heart; be mercifull, Take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond

Iew. When it is paid according to the tenure.

It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge: You know the Law, your exposition Hath beene most sound. I charge you by the Law, Whereof you are a well-deseruing pillar, Proceede to iudgement: By my soule I sweare, There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay heere on my bond

An. Most heartily I do beseech the Court To giue the iudgement

Por. Why then thus it is: You must prepare your bosome for his knife

Iew. O n.o.ble Iudge, O excellent yong man

Por. For the intent and purpose of the Law Hath full relation to the penaltie, Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond