O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
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?

No, not for Venice.

Por. 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. Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.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, Proceed to judgment: 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 judgment.

Por.

Why then, thus it is.
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.
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.
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,

'Would any of the stock of Barabbas

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;

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.

Por. 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
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.

Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew;—O learn. ed judge!

Shy. Is that the law?

Por.

Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd,

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew;—a learned judge!

Shy. I take this offer then ;-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.

Bass.

Por. Soft;

Here is the money.

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. Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more, But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much

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.
Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our

spirit,

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
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:
You take my house, when you do take the prop
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?
Gra. A haltergratis; nothing else, for God's sake.
Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the
court,

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,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman
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,

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
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 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.

Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god.

fathers;