His Jewish heart: therefore I do beseech you, I would not draw them; I would have my bond! Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none? Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them; shall I say to you, There is no force in the decrees of Venice. - answer, shall I have it? Duke. Upon my power, I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day. Sala. 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, 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, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me; You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. [Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.] Duke. Come you from Padua, from Bellario? Nerissa. From both, my lord; Bellario greets your grace. Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make! * * for thy life let justice be accused. That souls of animals infuse themselves Are wolfish, bloody, starved and ravenous! Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, 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. Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend Ner. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. [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 name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, the merchant: we turned over many 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 have a reverent estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation." * Pythagoras, one of the ancient Grecian philosophers, taught that the soul, after quitting the human body, entered into that of a beast; and that the souls of beasts entered, after death, into the bodies of men. This doctrine is called "metempsychosis," or a change of nature. It was on account of his belief in this doctrine that Pythagoras expressly prohibited animal food, and considered it no less a crime to kill a worm or a mouse than to cause the death of a man. You hear the learned Bellario what he writes; [Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws.] Give me your hand; came you from old Bellario? Portia. I did, my lord. Duke. You are welcome; take your place. That holds this present question in the court? Shy. Shylock is my name. 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. [To Ant.] 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 strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes: 'T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown: His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and, majesty, Wherein doth sit the fear and dread of kings; But mercy is above the sceptered sway, It is enthronéd in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Par. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, That malice bears down truth: and I beseech you, To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel [mischief] of his will. Por. It must not be. There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: "T will 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 judgment! yea, a Daniel 'O, wise young judge, how do I honor thee! Por. I pray you let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 't is, most reverend doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. Shy. An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven' Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful; Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Por, Why, then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife Shy. O, noble judge! O, excellent young man! Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. T is very true. O, wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore lay bare Shy. Ay, his breast; So says the bond; your bosom. doth it not, noble judge? Nearest his heart; those are the very words. Por. It is so. Are there balances here, to weigh The flesh ? Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? Por. It is not so expressed; but what of that? 'T were good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you anything to say? Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife 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. |