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in six parts； and every part a ducat； I would not draw them； I would have
my bond。 DUKE OF VENICE。 How shalt thou 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； fike 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； 'tis mine； and I will have it。 If you deny
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me； fie upon your law！ There is no force in the decrees of Venice。 I stand
for judgment； answer； shall I have it？ DUKE OF VENICE。 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。 SALERIO。 My lord；
here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor； New come
from Padua。 DUKE OF VENICE。 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； Ere thou shalt 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。
Enter NERISSA dressed like a lawyer's clerk
DUKE OF VENICE。 Came you from Padua； from Bellario？
NERISSA。 From both； my lord。 Bellario greets your Grace。 ＇Presents a
letter＇ BASSANIO。 Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly？
SHYLOCK。 To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there。 GRATIANO。
Not on thy sole； but on thy soul； harsh Jew； Thou mak'st thy knife keen；
but no metal can； No； not the hangman's axe； bear half the keenness Of thy
sharp envy。 Can no prayers pierce thee？ SHYLOCK。 No； none that thou
hast wit enough to make。 GRATIANO。 O； be thou damn'd； inexecrable
dog！ And for thy life let justice be accus'd。 Thou almost mak'st me waver
in my faith； To hold opinion with Pythagoras That souls of animals infuse
themselves Into the trunks of men。 Thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf who；
hang'd for human slaughter； Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet；
And； whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam； Infus'd itself in thee； for
thy desires Are wolfish； bloody； starv'd and ravenous。 SHYLOCK。 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 OF VENICE。 This letter from Bellario doth
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
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
court shall hear Bellario's letter。 CLERK。 ＇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 turn'd
o'er 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。'
Enter PORTIA for BALTHAZAR； dressed like a Doctor of Laws
DUKE OF VENICE。 YOU hear the learn'd Bellario； what he writes；
And here； I take it； is the doctor come。 Give me your hand； come you from
old Bellario？ PORTIA。 I did； my lord。 DUKE OF VENICE。 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 OF VENICE。 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。 'Tis
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 doth 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 doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice。 Therefore； Jew； Though justice be thy plea；
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consider this… That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation；
we do pray for mercy； And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The
deeds of mercy。 I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea；
Which if thou 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。 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 o'er 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 thee！
PORTIA。 I pray you； let me look upon the bond。 SHYLOCK。 Here 'tis；
most reverend Doctor； here it is。 PORTIA。 Shylock； there's thrice thy
money off'red thee。 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 thy money； bid me tear the bond。 SHYLOCK。 When it is paid
according to the tenour。 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。 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 Hath full relation to the
penalty； Which here appeareth due upon the bond。 SHYLOCK。 'Tis very
true。 O wise and upright judge； How much more elder art thou than thy
looks！ PORTIA。 Therefore； lay bar