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Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes,' ANTONIO,
BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SOLANIO, and others.
Duke. What! is Antonio here?
Ant. Ready, so please your grace.
Duke. I am sorry for thee: thou art come

to answer
A stony adversary," an inhuman wretch,
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

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Ant.

I have heard Your grace

hath 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, aud call the Jew into the court.
Solan. He is ready at the door : he comes,

IO

my lord.

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more

Enter SHYLOCK. Duke. Make room, and let him stand before

our face. Shylock, the world' thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy

malice To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought, Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse

strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty : And where thou now exact'st the penalty,Which is a pound of this poor merchant's

flesh, Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture, But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, 25 Forgive a moiety 10 of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late brought down such ruin on

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Enough 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.
Shy. I have possessed " your grace of what

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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 humour: is it answered ? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 45 To have it baned ? 12 What, are you answer'd

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yet?

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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 :
As there is no firm 13 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;

55 So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged bate and a certain loathing

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I bear Autonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd ?
Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling

man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. Shy. I am not bound to please thee with

mine answer. Bass. Do all men kill the things they do

not love? Shy. Hates any man the thing he would

not kill ? Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. 65 Shy. What! wouldst thou have a serpent

sting thee twice ? Ant. I pray you, think; you question with

the Jew : 14 You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main Hood 15 bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath 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 fretting 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 more offers, use no further means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will. 80

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Bass. For thy three thousand ducats here

is 17 six. Shy. 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 shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none ?

85 Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong

? You have among you many a purchased 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, 90 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 me, fie upon your law ! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgment: auswer; shall I have

it? Duke. Upon my power 19 I may dismiss this

court,
Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,
Whom I have sent for to determine this,
Come here to-day.

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