Every Girl's Library Part 6

_Ba.s.s._ Here is the money.

_Por._ Soft!

The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: He shall have nothing but the penalty.

_Gra._ O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

_Por._ Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more 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, Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

_Gra._ A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!

Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.

_Por._ Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.

_Shy._ Give me my princ.i.p.al, and let me go.

_Ba.s.s._ 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.

_Shy._ Shall I not have barely my princ.i.p.al?

_Por._ Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

_Shy._ Why, then the devil give him good of it!

I'll stay no longer question.

_Por._ Tarry, Jew: 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 contrive 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 incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehea.r.s.ed.

Down therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

_Gra._ Beg that thou mayst 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 hang'd 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 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 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 G.o.d'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, 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.

_Duke._ He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late p.r.o.nounced 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, And I will sign it.

_Duke._ Get thee gone, but do it.

_Gra._ In christening shalt thou have two G.o.d-fathers: Had I been judge, thou shouldst 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 and his train._

_Ba.s.s._ 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.

_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.

_Ba.s.s._ Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you.

Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

_Por._ You press me far, and therefore I will yield.

[_To Ant._] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;

[_To Ba.s.s._] And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you: Do not draw back your hand: I'll take, no more; And you in love shall not deny me this.

_Ba.s.s._ This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle!

I will not shame myself to give you this.

_Por._ I will have nothing else but only this; And now methinks I have a mind to it.

_Ba.s.s._ There's more depends on this than on the value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation: Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

_Por._ I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now methinks You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.