So says the bond :-doth it not, noble judge?— Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do' bleed to death. Shy. Is it so nominated in the bonds? Por. It is not so express'd; but what of that? "Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I cannot find it: 'tis not in the bond. Por. You, merchant', have you any thing to say? Ant. But little: I am arm'd, and well prepard.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 out-live 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 lov'd you, speak me fair in death; I'll pay it instantly' with all my heart. 7 Bass. Antonio, I am married to a wife, lest he Do-] "Lest he should,” folio, 1623. DO 8 Is it so nominated in the bond?] So the two 4to. editions. The folio, 1623, puts it, poorly, as a mere assertion, " It is not nominated," &c. 9 You, merchant,] "Come, merchant," folio, 1623. 10 Repent NOT you that you shall lose your friend,] It may admit of doubt whether this reading, which is that of the folio, or "Repent but you,” of the two quartos, ought to be adopted. The folio is perhaps more consistent with what Antonio says above, and therefore we are inclined to prefer that reading. I'll pay it INSTANTLY-] Roberts's 4to, presently. Which is as dear to me as life itself; But life itself, my wife, and all the world, Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by to hear you make the offer. Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: I would she were in heaven, so she could Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; Shy. These be the Christian husbands! I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge!—A sentence! come, prepare! Por. Tarry a little there is something else.— Take then thy bond', take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. Oupright judge!-Mark, Jew:-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shalt see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd, 2 Take then thy bond,] The folio, 1623, " Then take," &c. Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Bass. Por. Soft! Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice;-soft!-no haste:- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!— Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it. Por. Tarry, Jew: The law hath yet another hold on you. 3 - be it so much] Both 4tos. have "Be it but so much," to the injury of the metre. In the preceding line, the 4to. by Roberts reads, “If thou cut'st more." I'll stay no longer question.] So the folio and 4to. by Heyes. That by Roberts has," I'll stay no longer here in question." It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be prov'd against an alien, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself; Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. Por. Ay, for the state; not for Antonio. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God'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 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, 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. The pardon, that I late pronounced here. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say? Shy. I am content. Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, Get thee gone, but do it. And I will sign it. Duke. Gra. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers: Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten 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 you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and 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 your courteous pains withal. Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore. 5- not the font.] So the 4to. by Roberts. That by Heyes, and the first folio, read "not to the font," to the injury of the metre. 6 home with me] The folio reads, "with me home." |