Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learnèd judge!

Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor

more,

35

But just a pound of flesh if thou cutt'st more 300
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,-36

Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.37
Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy
forfeiture.

305

Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. 310 Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refused it in the open court: He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gra. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 315 Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ? Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,

To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

Shy. Why then the fiend give him good of

it!

I'll stay no longer question.

320

Tarry, Jew:

Por.
The law hath 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 doth contrive3
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, thou stand'st:
For it appears, by manifest proceeding,
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurred
The danger formerly by me rehearsed.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.
Gra. Beg that thou may'st have leave to
hang thyself:

And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's
charge.

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of

our spirits,

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 39 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

325

330

335

340

345

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 halter gratis; nothing else, for
Heaven'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 40 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.

350

355

360

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant 365

The pardon that I late pronounced here.
Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost
thou say?

Shy. I am content.

Por.

gift.

Clerk, draw a deed of

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.

370

Get thee gone, but do it.

Gra. In christening thou shalt have wot godfathers:

Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten

42

more,"

To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

[Exit Shylock. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

Por. 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
43
you not.-

44

Antonio, gratify this gentleman;

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.
Exeunt Duke and his train.
Bass. 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 5 your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

45

Por. 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.

46

[Exeunt.

375

380

385

390