The Merchant of Venice

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:
’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, 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.

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 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 offer’d 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 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.

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 bare your bosom. Shylock

Ay, his breast:
So says the bond: doth 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; ’tis not in the bond. Portia You, merchant, have you any thing to say? Antonio

But little: I am arm’d and well prepared.
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 lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honourable wife:
Tell her the process of Antonio’s end;
Say how I loved 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 presently 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 thy 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, whom, I protest, I love:
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

Nerissa

’Tis 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 Barrabas
Had been her husband rather than a Christian! Aside.
We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.

Portia

A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine:
The court awards it, and the law doth 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