DUKE
What, is Antonio here?
ANTONIO
Ready, so please your Grace.
DUKE
I am sorry for , art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch,
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.
ANTONIO
I have heard
Your Grace ta’en great pains to qualify
His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate,
And that no lawful means can carry me
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.
SALARINO
He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord.
DUKE
Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That but leadest this fashion of malice
To the last hour of act, and then, thought,
Thou’lt show mercy and remorse more strange
Than is strange apparent cruelty;
And where now exacts the penalty,
Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,
wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
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,
Enow to press a royal merchant down,
And pluck commiseration of his state
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.
SHYLOCK
I have possess’d your Grace of what I purpose,
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!
You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that,
But say it is my . Is it answer’d?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleas’d to give ten thousand ducats
To have it ban’d? What, are you answer’d yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose,
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,
Why he a harmless necessary cat,
Why he a woollen bagpipe, but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended,
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodg’d hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answered?
BASSANIO
This is no answer, unfeeling man,
To excuse the current of cruelty.
SHYLOCK
I am not bound to please with my answer.
BASSANIO
Do all men kill the things they do not love?
SHYLOCK
Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
BASSANIO
Every offence is not a hate at first.
SHYLOCK
What, have a serpent sting twice?
ANTONIO
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;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops and to make no noise
When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well do anything most hard
As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?—
His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you,
Make no moe offers, use no farther means,
But with all brief and plain conveniency.
Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
BASSANIO
For three thousand ducats here is six.
SHYLOCK
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 hope for mercy, rend’ring none?
SHYLOCK
What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchas’d 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
“Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burdens? 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
Is dearly bought; 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 judgment. 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 today.
SALARINO
My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor,
New come from Padua.
DUKE
Bring us the letters. Call the messenger.
BASSANIO
Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all,
lose for me one drop of blood.
ANTONIO
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 employ’d, Bassanio,
Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.
DUKE
Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
NERISSA
From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace.
BASSANIO
Why whet knife so earnestly?
SHYLOCK
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
GRATIANO
Not on sole but on soul, harsh Jew,
mak’st knife keen. But no metal can,
No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness
Of sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce ?
SHYLOCK
No, none that wit enough to make.
GRATIANO
O, be damn’d, inexecrable dog!
And for life let justice be accus’d;
almost mak’st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras
That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men. currish spirit
Govern’d a wolf who, hang’d for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And whilst layest in unhallowed dam,
Infus’d itself in ; for desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starv’d and ravenous.
SHYLOCK
Till canst rail the seal from off my bond,
but offend’st lungs to speak so loud.
Repair wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
DUKE
This letter from Bellario commend
A young and learned doctor to our court.
Where is he?
NERISSA
He attendeth here hard by,
To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.
DUKE OF VENICE
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.
DUKE OF VENICE
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 turn’d 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 lack a reverend 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.
DUKE OF VENICE
You hear the learn’d Bellario what he writes,
And here, I take it, is the doctor come.
DUKE OF VENICE
Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?
PORTIA
I did, my lord.
DUKE
You are welcome. Take your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?
PORTIA
I am informed throughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here? And which the Jew?
DUKE
Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
PORTIA
Is your name Shylock?
SHYLOCK
Shylock is my name.
PORTIA
Of a strange nature is the suit you follow,
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
You stand within his danger, do you not?
ANTONIO
Ay, so he says.
PORTIA
Do you confess the bond?
ANTONIO
I do.
PORTIA
Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK
On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
PORTIA
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest,
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of plea,
Which if follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.
SHYLOCK
My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
PORTIA
Is he not able to discharge the money?
BASSANIO
Yes, here I tender it for him in the court,
Yea, twice the sum, if that will not suffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not suffice, it must appear
That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority.
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will.
PORTIA
It must not be, there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established;
’Twill be recorded for a precedent,
And many an error by the same example
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.
SHYLOCK
A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge, how I do honour !
PORTIA
I pray you let me look upon the bond.
SHYLOCK
Here , most reverend doctor, here it is.
PORTIA
Shylock, there’s thrice money offered .
SHYLOCK
An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven.
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.
PORTIA
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 money; bid me tear the bond.
SHYLOCK
When it is paid according to the tenour.
It appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law; your exposition
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.
ANTONIO
Most heartily I do beseech the court
To give the judgment.
PORTIA
Why then, thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
SHYLOCK
O noble judge! O excellent young man!
PORTIA
For the intent and purpose of the law
full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHYLOCK
very true. O wise and upright judge,
How much more elder art than looks!
PORTIA
Therefore lay bare your bosom.
SHYLOCK
Ay, his breast
So says the bond, it not, noble judge?
“Nearest his heart”: those are the very words.
PORTIA
It is so. Are there balance here to weigh
The flesh?
SHYLOCK
I have them ready.
PORTIA
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
SHYLOCK
Is it so nominated in the bond?
PORTIA
It is not so express’d, but what of that?
’Twere good you do so much for charity.
SHYLOCK
I cannot find it; not in the bond.
PORTIA
You, merchant, have you anything to say?
ANTONIO
But little. I am arm’d and well prepar’d.
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
Than is her custom: it is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance
Of such misery she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife,
Tell her the process of Antonio’s end,
Say how I lov’d you, speak me fair in death.
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent but you that you shall lose your friend
And he repents not that he pays your debt.
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart.
BASSANIO
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,
Are not with me esteem’d above 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 who I protest I love.
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
NERISSA
well you offer it behind her back,
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
SHYLOCK
These be the Christian husbands! I have a daughter—
Would any of the stock of Barabbas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian!
We trifle time, I pray , pursue sentence.
PORTIA
A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is ,
The court awards it and the law give it.
SHYLOCK
Most rightful judge!
PORTIA
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast.
The law allows it and the court awards it.
SHYLOCK
Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare.
PORTIA
Tarry a little, there is something else.
This bond give here no jot of blood.
The words expressly are “a pound of flesh”:
Take then bond, take pound of flesh,
But in the cutting it, if shed
One drop of Christian blood, lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.
GRATIANO
O upright judge! Mark, Jew. O learned judge!
SHYLOCK
Is that the law?
PORTIA
Thyself see the act.
For, as urgest justice, be assur’d
have justice more than desir’st.
GRATIANO
O learned judge! Mark, Jew, a learned judge!
SHYLOCK
I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice
And let the Christian go.
BASSANIO
Here is the money.
PORTIA
Soft!
The Jew shall have all justice. Soft! no haste!
He shall have nothing but the penalty.
GRATIANO
O Jew, an upright judge, a learned judge!
PORTIA
Therefore prepare to cut off the flesh.
Shed no blood, nor cut less nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if tak’st more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
diest, and all goods are confiscate.
GRATIANO
A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.
PORTIA
Why the Jew pause? Take forfeiture.
SHYLOCK
Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO
I have it ready for . Here it is.
PORTIA
He refus’d it in the open court,
He shall have merely justice and his bond.
GRATIANO
A Daniel still say I, a second Daniel!
I thank , Jew, for teaching me that word.
SHYLOCK
Shall I not have barely my principal?
PORTIA
have nothing but the forfeiture
To be so taken at peril, Jew.
SHYLOCK
Why, then the devil give him good of it!
I’ll stay no longer question.
PORTIA
Tarry, Jew.
The law yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be proved against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party ’gainst the which he contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state,
And the offender’s life lies in the mercy
Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice.
In which predicament I say stand’st;
For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and incurr’d
The danger formerly by me rehears’d.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.
GRATIANO
Beg that mayst have leave to hang thyself,
And yet, wealth being forfeit to the state,
not left the value of a cord;
Therefore must be hang’d at the state’s charge.
DUKE
That see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon life before ask it.
For half wealth, it is Antonio’s;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
PORTIA
Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
SHYLOCK
Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that.
You take my house when you do take the prop
That sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.
PORTIA
What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
GRATIANO
A halter gratis, nothing else, for God’s sake!
ANTONIO
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 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.
PORTIA
Art contented, Jew? What say?
SHYLOCK
I am content.
PORTIA
Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
SHYLOCK
I pray you give me leave to go from ;
I am not well; send the deed after me
And I will sign it.
DUKE
Get gone, but do it.
GRATIANO
In christ’ning have two god-fathers.
Had I been judge, have had ten more,
To bring to the gallows, not to the font.
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 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.
BASSANIO
Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew
We freely cope your courteous pains .
ANTONIO
And stand indebted, over and above
In love and service to you evermore.
PORTIA
He is well paid that is well satisfied,
And I delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid,
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you know me when we meet again,
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
BASSANIO
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further.
Take some remembrance of us as a tribute,
Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
PORTIA
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake.
And, for your love, I’ll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.
BASSANIO
This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle,
I will not shame myself to give you this.
PORTIA
I will have nothing else but only this,
And now I have a mind to it.
BASSANIO
There’s more depends on this than on the value.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation,
Only for this I pray you pardon me.
PORTIA
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
You taught me first to beg, and now
You teach me how a beggar should be answer’d.
BASSANIO
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.
PORTIA
That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
And if your wife be not a mad-woman,
And know how well I have deserv’d this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
ANTONIO
My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.
Let his deservings and my love
Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandment.
BASSANIO
Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
Give him the ring, and bring him if canst
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
BASSANIO
Come, you and I will ,
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.