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The Merchant of Venice

Act IV, Scene 1

Venice. A court of justice.
 
[Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others]
 
DUKE
        ,           ,  2    ,
      What, is | Anton|io here?
 
ANTONIO
        ,           ,            ,
      Ready,| so please | your grace?  (tri with prev)
 
DUKE
       2    ,    2      ,      ,          ,        ,
      I am sor|ry for thee,| thou art | come to | answer
          ,     ,      x      2   ,        ,
      A ston|y ad|versary,| an inhum|an wretch,
         ,    ,        ,       ,         ,     2->
      uncap|able | of pit|y, void,| and emp||ty
            ,     ,        ,
      From an|y dram  of merc|y.
 
ANTONIO
                                 ,          ,
                                 I | have heard
             ,            ,      T     T    .   T    ,
      Your grace | hath tane | great pains to qual|ify
           ,   2       ,           ,           ,      ,  2
      His rig|orous course:| but since | he stands | obdurate,
                  ,  ,        ,          ,      ,
      And that / no law|ful means | can car|ry me
       ,            ,        ,        ,       ,
      Out of | his en|vy's reach,| I do | oppose
          ,         ,        ,      ,         ,
      My pat|ience to | his fur|y, and | am armed
          ,        ,       ,      ,          x
      To suf|fer with | a qui|etness | of spirit,
           ,     ,     ,         ,        ,
      The ver|y tyr|anny | and rage | of his.
 
DUKE
          ,          ,         ,       ,         ,
      Go one | and call | the Jew | into | the court.
 
SALERIO
        2     ,     ,         ,         ,          ,
      He is read|y at | the door,| he comes | my lord.
 
[Enter SHYLOCK]
 
DUKE
             ,         ,          ,         ,          ,
      Make room,| and let | him stand | before | our face.
       T   T   .    T        ,              ,         ,
      Shylock the world | thinks, and | I think | so too
             ,           ,            ,       ,          x
      That thou | but leadst | this fash|ion of | thy malice
                 ,    ,        ,          ,           ,
      To the / last hour | of act,| and then |'tis thought
                ,         ,               ,     ,     ,
      Thou'lt show | thy mer|cy and re//morse more strange,
            ,          ,         ,       ,     ,
      Than is | thy strange | appar|ent cru|elty;
            ,           ,        ,          ,     ,
      And where | thou now | exactst | the pen|alty,
             ,       ,                 ,    ,           ,
      Which is | a pound | of this / poor merch|ant's flesh,
             ,         ,      ,          ,       ,
      Thou wilt | not on|ly loose | the for|feiture,
             ,            ,       ,      ,          ,
      But touched | with hum|an gent|leness | and love:
           ,        ,      ,         ,     ,
      Forgive | a moie|ty of | the prin|cipal,
        ,     2      ,        ,      ,        ,
      Glancing an | eye of | pity | on his | losses
             ,     .   T   T  T        ,         ,
      That have | of late so hud|dled on | his back,
        ,         ,        ,       ,         ,
      Enow | to press | a roy|al merch|ant down;
            ,         ,    ,       ,         ,
      And pluck | commis|era|tion of | his state
             ,      ,               ,      ,          ,
      From bras|sy bos|oms, and / rough hearts | of flint,
             ,         ,          ,        ,        ,
      From stub|born Turks | and Tar|tars nev|er trained
          ,    ,         ,       ,     ,
      To of|fices | of tend|er court|esy,
          ,        ,        ,      ,       ,
      We all | expect | a gent|le ans|wer Jew?
 
SHYLOCK
      ,     2       ,            ,          ,       ,
      I have pos|sessed your | grace of | what I | purpose,
           ,        ,     ,         ,        ,
      And by | our ho|ly Sab|bath have | I sworn
           ,         ,         ,        ,        ,
      To have | the due | and for|feit of | my bond.
          ,      ,         ,          ,       ,
      If you | deny | it, let | the dang|er light
       x            ,        ,          ,         ,
      Upon your | charter,| and your | city's | freedom.
              ,        ,        ,        ,          ,
      You'll^ask | me why | I rath|er choose | to have
           ,         ,   2     ,       ,           ,
      A weight | of car|rion flesh,| than to | receive
               ,        ,         ,         ,        ,
      Three* thous|and duc|ats? I'll | not^ans|wer that:
           ,        ,       ,        x      ,
      But say | it is | my hum|or; is it | answered?
        ,            ,          ,         ,       ,
      What if | my house | be troub|led with | a rat,
          ,         ,       .   T   T    T        ,      ->
      And I | be pleased | to give ten thous|and duc||ats
           ,         ,       ,              ,         ,
      To have | it baned?| What, are | you ans|wered yet?
            ,           ,      T   T  .  T       ,
      Some men | there^are | love not a gap|ing pig:
        ,              ,         ,        ,       ,
      Some that | are mad,| if they | behold | a cat:
           ,                    ,   ,    ,       2      ,
      And oth|ers, when the // bagpipe sings | in the nose,
       ,    2      ,           ,       ,      ,
      Cannot con|tain their | urine | for af|fection.
       ,             ,         ,         ,         ,
      Mistress | of pas|sion sways | it to | the mood
           ,         ,           ,       ,     2        ,
      Of what | it likes | or loathes,| now for your | answer:
       ,      2      ,   ,   ,                 ,
      As there is | no firm rea//son to be | rendered
            ,       ,       ,       ,       ,
      Why* he | cannot | abide | a gap|ing pig?
            ,       ,        ,     ,     ,
      Why* he | a harm|less nec|essar|y cat?
            ,       ,       ,    ,              ,
      Why* he | a wool|len bag|pipe: but | of force
             ,          ,       ,   ,       ,
      Must yield | to such | inev|itab|le shame,
       ,          ,         ,      x       ,
      As to | offend | himself | being of|fended:
       ,       T   T   T      x       2      ,
      So can | I give no | reason, nor I | will not,
        ,      2       ,     ,              ,         ,
      More than a | lodged hate,/ and a | certain | loathing
          ,       ,        ,       ,        ,
      I bear | Anton|io, that | I fol|low thus
         ,        ,        ,      ,      2       ,
      A los|ing suit | against | him? Are you | answered?
 
BASSANIO
        T   .  T  T        ,        ,       ,
      This is no ans|wer thou | unfeel|ing man,
        2    ,         ,        ,        ,     ,
      To excuse | the cur|rent of | thy cru|elty.
 
SHYLOCK
       2    ,      ,           ,     ,               ,
      I am not | bound to | please thee / with my | answers.
 
BASSANIO
       .  T   T    T           ,           ,         ,
      Do all men kill | the things | they do | not love?
 
SHYLOCK
        T   Tx   T          ,      .   T    T    T
      Hates any man | the thing | he would not kill?
 
BASSANIO
       ,          ,         ,        ,         ,
      Every | offense | is not | a hate | at first.
 
SHYLOCK
               ,             ,        ,        ,            ,
      What* wouldst | thou have | a serp|ent sting | thee twice?
 
ANTONIO
          ,          ,           ,         ,         ,
      I pray | you think | you ques|tion with | the Jew:
           ,         ,         ,       ,          ,
      You may | as well | go stand | upon | the beach,
           ,     .    T    T     T         ,  2     ,
      And bid | the main flood bate | his us|ual height,
           ,     .   T   T    T         ,          ,
      You may | as well use ques|tion with | the wolf,
           ,      ,               ,
      The ewe | bleat for | the lamb:  \\
           ,         ,        ,          ,         ,
      You may | as well | forbid | the mount|ain pines
          ,            ,      ,      2       T   T   T
      To wag | their high | tops, and to | make no noise
             ,          ,        ,          ,           x
      When they | are fret|ted with | the gusts | of heaven:
           ,         ,        ,            ,    ,
      You may | as well | do an|ything / most hard,
           ,         ,       ,           ,               x
      As seek | to soft|en that,| than which | what's^harder?
           ,        ,       ,      2     ,      ,
      His Jew|ish heart.| Therefore I | do be|seech you
            ,         ,        ,         ,        ,
      Make^no | more^of|fers, use | no farth|er means,  ??
                  ,    ,           ,         ,      ,
      But with / all brief | and plain | conven|iency
            ,          ,         ,         ,          ,
      Let* me | have judg|ment, and | the Jew | his will.
 
BASSANIO
                  ,     ,        ,        ,        ,
      For thy / three thous|and duc|ats here | is six.
 
SHYLOCK
          ,      ,    2     ,      ,         ,
      If eve|ry duc|at in five | thousand | ducats
          2    ,      ,           ,        ,       ,
      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 mer|cy, rende|ring none?
 
SHYLOCK
             ,         ,         ,       Tx   T   T
      What judg|ment shall | I dread | doing no wrong?
            ,       ,         ,        ,          ,
      You have | among | you ma|ny a purch|ased slave,
              ,          ,       ,           ,          ,
      Which^like | your ass|es, and | your dogs | and mules,
           ,        ,   ,             ,        ,
      You use | in ab|ject and | in slav|ish parts,
          ,            ,             ,        ,        ,
      Because | you bought | them. Shall | I say | to you,
       ,              ,     ,        ,              ,
      Let them | be free,| marry | them to | your heirs?
             ,           ,       ,        ,            ,
      Why* sweat | they und|er burd|ens? Let | their beds
           ,         ,         ,          ,             x
      Be made | as soft | as yours:| and let | their palates
           ,                ,   ,        ,          ,      2->
      Be seas|oned with / such vi|ands: you | will ans||wer
             ,           ,            ,  ,       ,
      The slaves | are ours.| So do / I ans|wer you,
            ,          ,           ,       ,        ,
      The pound | of flesh | which I | demand | of him
           ,        ,            ,        ,            x
      Is dear|ly bought,| 'tis mine | and I | will have it.
          ,       ,        ,      ,          ,
      If you | deny | me; fie | upon | your law.
                  ,   ,      ,    2     ,         ,
      There is / no force | in the de|crees of | Venice.
          ,           ,         ,         ,           x
      I stand | for judg|ment, ans|wer, shall | I have it?
 
DUKE
        ,         x        ,        ,            ,
      Upon | my power | I may | dismiss | this court,
          ,        ,   ,        ,       ,
      Unless | Bellar|io | a learned | doctor,
           ,          ,     ,          ,         ,
      Whom I | have sent | for to | deter|mine this,
             ,       ,
      Come^here | today.
 
SALERIO
                             ,            ,          ,
                        My lord,| here* stays | without
         ,      ,            x        ,         ,
      A mes|senger | with letters | from the | doctor,
             ,          ,
      New* come | from Pad|ua.  \\
 
DUKE
        ,             ,         ,         ,       ,
      Bring us | the let|ter, call | the mes|sengers.
 
BASSANIO
              ,        ,   2    ,           ,       ,
      Good* cheer | Anton|io, what | man, cour|age yet:
           ,            ,         ,       T      T     .   T
      The Jew | shall have | my flesh,| blood, bones, and all,
            ,            ,         ,    T    T   .   T
      Ere thou | shalt lose | for me | one drop of blood.
 
ANTONIO
      ,          ,        ,      ,         ,
      I am | a taint|ed weth|er of | the flock,
        ,             ,           ,        ,         ,
      Meetest | for death,| the weak|est kind | of fruit
        ,     ,         2         ,           T  T   T
      Drops earl/iest to the | ground, and | so let me;
         2    ,     ,        ,       ,        ,  2
      You cannot | better | be em|ployed Bas|sanio,
                  ,    ,           ,           ,    ,
      Than to / live still,| and write | mine ep|itaph.
 
[Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk]
 
DUKE
        ,              ,       ,        ,   3 3
      Came you | from Pad|ua from | Bellar|io?
 
NERISSA
                                                      ,
                                               From both.
           ,        ,   ,      T     T    T
      My lord | Bellar|io | greets your grace.
 
BASSANIO
            ,           ,          ,          ,      ,
      Why dost | thou whet | thy knife | so earn|estly?
 
SHYLOCK
          ,         ,       ,        2       ,         ,
      To cut | the for|feiture | from that bank|rupt^there.
 
GRATIANO
       ,             ,     ,    2        T    T    T
      Not on | thy sole:| but on thy | soul harsh Jew
             ,           ,       ,          T   Tx   T
      Thou makst | thy knife | keen, but | no metal can,
       T   T   .    T         ,            ,          ,       ->
      No, not the hang|man's axe | bear* half | the keen||ness
        2        ,    ,            ,    x         ,
      Of thy / sharp en|vy. Can / no prayers | pierce thee?
 
SHYLOCK
       ,    ,                      ,       ,          ,
      No, none / that thou | hast wit | enough | to make.
 
GRATIANO
         ,           ,        ,   ,       ,
      O be | thou damned,| inex|ecra|ble dog,
           ,          ,          ,       ,       ,
      And for | thy life | let just|ice be | accused:
            ,        ,         ,      ,        ,
      Thou al|most makst | me wav|er in | my faith;
           ,      ,        ,       ,     ,
      To hold | opin|ion with | Pytha|goras,
             ,         ,    ,        ,           ,
      That souls | of an|imals | infuse | themselves
       ,            ,         ,         ,          x
      Into | the trunks | of men.| Thy cur|rish spirit
       ,      2      ,            ,          ,         ,
      Governed a | wolf, who | hanged for | human | slaughter,
       x       2       ,         ,          T    T    T
      Even from the | gallows | did his | fell soul fleet;
       T      T     T         x            ,         ,
      And, whilst thou | layst in thy | unhal|lowed dam,
          ,         ,         ,         ,        ,
      Infused | itself | in thee:| for thy | desires
            ,         ,         ,           ,     ,
      Are wolv|ish, blood|y, starved,| and rav|enous.
 
SHYLOCK
             ,            ,          ,          ,         ,
      Till thou | canst rail | the seal | from off | my bond
            ,         ,           ,          ,          ,
      Thou but | offendst | thy lungs | to speak | so loud:
          ,         ,           ,         ,          ,
      Repair | thy wit | good^youth,| or it | will fall
           ,         x    T   T     T         ,
      To cure|less ruin.| I stand here | for law.
 
DUKE
            ,        ,        ,  2    ,         ,
      This let|ter from | Bellar|io doth | commend
          ,           ,       ,       ,         ,
      A young | and learn|ed doc|tor to | our court;
        ,    ,
      Where is / he?
 
NERISSA
                        2     ,       T    T   T
                      He at|tendeth here hard by
           ,          ,         ,         ,          x
      To know | your ans|wer, wheth|er you'll | admit him.
 
DUKE
            ,         ,            ,          ,        ,
      With all | my heart.| Some three | or four | of you
           ,          ,    2     ,       ,          ,
      Go give | him court|eous cond|uct to | this place.
            ,          ,             ,        ,   2      x
      Meantime | the court | shall hear | Bellar|io's letter.
 
CLERK
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 Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy, between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned ore 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.
 
DUKE
            ,           ,          ,   2   ,          ,
      You hear | the learned | Bellar|io what | he writes,
            ,        ,         ,        ,        ,
      And here |(I take | it) is | the doc|tor come.
        ,    2         ,     ,                ,       , 2
      Give me your | hand: Come / you from | old Bel|lario?
 
PORTIA
         ,         ,
      I did | my lord.
 
DUKE
                         2     ,          ,           ,
                      You are wel|come: take | your place;
           ,         ,        ,         ,      ,
      Are you | acquaint|ed with | the dif|ference
             ,            ,        ,        ,         ,
      That holds | this pres|ent quest|ion in | the court.
 
PORTIA
         ,       ,       ,       ,     2      ,
      I am | inform|ed thor|oughly | of the cause.
        ,              ,         ,          ,          ,
      Which is | the merch|ant here?| And which | the Jew?
 
DUKE
         ,    2     ,     ,           T    T     T
      Anton|io and old | Shylock*,| both stand forth.
 
PORTIA
           ,      T   T   T
      Is your | name Shylock?
 
SHYLOCK
                               ,      2          ,
                              Shylock* is | my name.
 
PORTIA
        2     ,       ,        ,         ,         ,
      Of a strange | nature | is the | suit you | follow,
                 ,    ,      ,           ,       ,
      Yet in / such rule,| that the | Vene|tian law
       ,           ,         ,        ,        ,
      Cannot | impugn | you as | you do | proceed.
            ,         ,         ,        ,        ,
      You stand | within | his dang|er, do | you not?
 
ANTONIO
       T    T  .   T
      Aye, so he says.
 
PORTIA
                        ,            ,          ,
                       Do you | confess | the bond?
 
ANTONIO
         ,
      I do.
 
PORTIA
                  ,         ,        ,     ,
           Then must | the Jew | be mer|ciful.
 
SHYLOCK
           ,         ,        ,         ,         ,
      On what | compuls|ion must | I? Tell | me that.
 
PORTIA
            ,    ,       ,           ,      ,
      The qual|ity | of mer|cy is / not strained,
           ,        ,         ,       ,            x
      It drop|peth as | the gent|le rain | from heaven
        ,          ,         ,               ,      ,
      Upon | the place | beneath.| It is / twice blessed,
           ,        ,           ,          ,           ,
      It bles|seth him | that gives,| and him | that takes,
             ,    2    ,         ,    2     ,       ,
      'Tis might|iest in | the might|iest, it | becomes
            ,       ,        ,        ,          ,
      The thron|ed mon|arch bet|ter than | his crown.
            ,        ,           ,          ,    2    x
      His scep|ter shows | the force | of temp|oral power,
           ,      ,        ,         ,    ,
      The at|tribute | to awe | and maj|esty,
            ,         ,          ,           ,         ,
      Wherein | doth sit | the dread | and fear | of kings:
           ,      ,      ,           ,          ,
      But mer|cy is | above | this scep|tered sway,
          ,       ,       ,         ,           ,
      It is | enthron|ed in | the hearts | of kings,
          ,       ,      ,        ,         ,
      It is | an at|tribute | to God | himself;
            ,        x                   ,   ,        ,
      And earth|ly power | doth^then / show lik|est God's
            ,       ,        ,         ,         ,
      When mer|cy seas|ons just|ice. There|fore Jew,
               ,       ,         ,        ,       ,
      Though just|ice be | thy plea,| consid|er this,
        ,              ,          ,         ,        ,
      That in | the course | of just|ice, none | of us
              ,        ,        ,        ,         ,     ->
      Should see | salva|tion: we | do pray | for mer||cy,
         2         ,     ,               x      ,         ,
      And that / same prayer,| doth teach us | all to | render
            ,         ,      ,          ,            ,
      The deeds | of mer|cy. I | have spoke | thus^much
          ,     ,          ,       ,         ,
      To mit|igate | the just|ice of | thy plea:
        ,     2        ,               ,       ,         ,
      Which if thou | follow,| this strict | court of | Venice
             ,            ,           ,           ,         ,
      Must needs | give^sent|ence 'gainst | the merch|ant there.
 
SHYLOCK
           ,       ,         ,        ,          ,
      My deeds | upon | my head,| I crave | the law,
           ,     ,        ,        ,        ,
      The pen|alty | and for|feit of | my bond.
 
PORTIA
       ,       ,    x              ,          ,
      Is he | not able / to dis|charge the | money?
 
BASSANIO
       T     T  T     ,   2      ,          2      ,
      Yes, here I | tender it | for him | in the court,
       T     T    .   T         ,          ,      x
      Yea, twice the sum,| if that | will not | suffice,
      ,             ,           x      T    T    T
      I will | be bound | to pay it | ten times ore,
          ,        ,        ,          ,         ,
      On for|feit of | my hands,| my head,| my heart:
           ,          ,         ,         ,        ,
      If this | will not | suffice,| it must | appear
              x       T     T    T      ,   2     ,
      That malice | bears down truth.| And I be|seech you
        T     T   .   T         ,        ,    ,
      Wrest once the law | to your | author|ity.
          ,   .   T     T     T      ,        ,
      To do | a great right, do | a lit|tle wrong,
            ,          ,      ,      ,         ,
      And curb | this cru|el dev|il of | his will.
 
PORTIA
       .   T   T   T     ,         ,  ,            ,    ->
      It must not be;| there is | no pow/er in || Venice
           ,    3 3    ,       ,      ,
      Can alt|er a decree | estab|lished:
              ,       ,      ,        ,     ,
      'Twill be | record|ed for | a prec|edent,
           ,   2    ,      ,         ,      x
      And ma|ny an er|ror by | the same example,
             ,       ,         ,         ,       ,
      Will rush | into | the state:| it can|not be.
 
SHYLOCK
         ,        ,         ,         ,       ,      ->
      A Dan|iel come | to judg|ment, yea | a Dan||iel.
      ,     T    T     T      ,   2      ,   2
      O | wise young judge,| how I do | honor thee.
 
PORTIA
          ,         ,         ,      ,          ,
      I pray | you let | me look | upon | the bond.
 
SHYLOCK
             ,           ,        ,         ,        ,
      Here 'tis | most reve|rend doc|tor, here | it is.
 
PORTIA
       T   T      T         ,          ,       ,     2
      Shylock, there's | thrice thy | money | offered thee.
 
SHYLOCK
           ,         ,        ,         ,          x
      An oath,| an oath,| I have | an oath | in heaven:
            ,    ,   ,           ,         ,
      Shall I | lay per/jury | upon | my soul?
       T  T   .   T     2
      No not for Ven|ice.
 
PORTIA
                                ,      ,        ,
                          Why this | bond is | forfeit,
           ,      ,        ,         ,          ,
      And law|fully | by this | the Jew | may claim
          ,          ,         ,       ,         ,
      A pound | of flesh,| to be | by him | cut^off
        ,             ,           ,         ,     ,
      Nearest | the merch|ant's heart;| Be mer|ciful,
               ,          ,       ,         ,          ,
      Take* thrice | thy mon|ey, bid | me tear | the bond. ??
 
SHYLOCK
        ,    2       ,      ,         ,        ,
      When it is | paid ac|cording | to the | tenor.
           ,        ,         ,        ,       ,
      It doth | appear | you are | a worth|y judge:
            ,         ,          ,    ,    ,
      You know | the law,| your ex|posi|tion
             ,           ,          ,          ,        ,
      Hath been | most^sound.| I charge | you by | the law,
            ,        ,        ,       ,         x
      Whereof | you are | a well-|deserv|ing pillar,
           ,         ,         ,        ,        ,
      Proceed | to judg|ment: by | my soul | I swear,
                  ,  ,      ,          ,         ,
      There is / no pow|er in | the tongue | of man
          ,      ,       ,          ,        ,
      To alt|er me:| I stay | here^on | my bond.
 
ANTONIO
             ,     ,      ,       ,           ,
      Most heart|ily | I do | beseech | the court
           ,          ,
      To give | the judg|ment.
 
PORTIA
                                ,           ,        ,
                               Why | then thus | it is:
            ,         ,          ,      ,          ,
      You must | prepare | your bos|om for | his knife.
 
SHYLOCK
         ,       ,        ,             ,    ,
      O nob|le judge,| O ex|cellent / young man.
 
PORTIA
       ,            ,         ,        ,        ,
      For the | intent | and pur|pose of | the law
             ,       ,       ,        ,     ,
      Hath full | rela|tion to | the pen|alty,
              ,        ,       ,      ,          ,
      Which here | appear|eth due | upon | the bond.
 
SHYLOCK
            ,      ,        ,     .  T   T     T
      'Tis ver|y true:| O wise | and upright judge,
            ,          ,      ,      ,               ,
      How much | more^eld|er art | thou than | thy looks?
 
PORTIA
             ,           ,          ,
      Therefore | lay* bare | your bos|om.
 
SHYLOCK
                                            ,           ,
                                           Aye,| his breast,
       T   T   .    T      T   .  T   T       ,
      So says the bond,| doth it not nob|le judge?
        ,             ,       ,              ,      ,
      Nearest | his heart,| those are | the ver|y words.
 
PORTIA
        2    ,      2       ,         ,         ,           ,
      It is so.| Are there bal|ance here | to weigh | the flesh?
 
SHYLOCK
          ,           ,
      I have | them read|y.  \\
 
PORTIA
            ,         ,        ,        ,           ,
      Have by | some sur|geon Shy|lock^on | your charge
           ,           ,           ,        ,          ,
      To stop | his wounds,| lest^he | do bleed | to death.
 
SHYLOCK
               ,  ,     ,     ,         ,
      Is it / so nom|inat|ed in | the bond?
 
PORTIA
               ,   ,        ,            ,         ,
      It is / not so | expressed:| but what | of that?
               ,         ,        ,          ,    ,
      'Twere good | you do | so much | for char|ity.
 
SHYLOCK
         ,        ,          ,     ,             ,
      I can|not find | it, 'tis | not in | the bond.
 
PORTIA
       ,    ,                    ,    ,         ,
      You merch/ant, have | you an|ything | to say?
 
ANTONIO
           ,       ,        ,           ,         ,
      But lit|tle: I | am armed | and well | prepared.
        ,              ,        ,   2    ,          ,
      Give me | your hand | Bassan|io, fare | you well.
         ,    ,                   x          ,         ,
      Grieve not / that I | am fallen | to this | for you:
            ,       ,        ,          ,            ,
      For here|in Fort|une shows | herself | more* kind
            ,         ,       ,        ,          ,
      Than is | her cust|om. It | is still | her use
          ,           ,       ,         ,           ,
      To let | the wretch|ed man | outlive | his wealth,
           ,          ,       ,          ,         ,
      To view | with hol|low eye,| and wrink|led brow
          ,        ,   2      ,            ,   2     ,       ->
      An age | of pov|erty. From | which ling|ering pen||ance
             ,    ,        ,         ,        ,
      Of / such mise|ry, doth | she cut | me off:
           ,        ,         ,    ,       ,
      Commend | me to | your hon|ora|ble wife,
            ,          ,       ,      ,   2    ,
      Tell her | the proc|ess of | Anton|io's end:
            ,        ,            ,          ,         ,
      Say* how | I loved | you; speak | me fair | in death:
            ,          ,         ,         ,         ,
      And when | the tale | is told,| bid^her | be judge,
        ,           ,   2  ,           ,        ,
      Whether | Bassan|io 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 pres|ently,| with all | my heart.
 
BASSANIO
         ,   2  ,       ,        ,       ,
      Anton|io, I | am mar|ried 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 | esteemed | above | thy life.
                  ,   ,          ,      ,          ,
      I would / lose all,| aye* sac|rifice | them all
        T   .   T   T       ,      ,      ,
      Here to this dev|il, to | deliv|er you.
 
PORTIA
             ,            ,         ,         ,           ,
      Your wife | would give | you lit|tle thanks | for that
          ,          ,        ,          ,         ,      ->
      If she | were by | to hear | you make | the of||fer.
 
GRATIANO
      ,       2    ,         ,        ,        ,
      I | have a wife | whom I | protest | I love,
          ,           ,         ,       ,    ,
      I would | she were | in heav|en, so | she could
           ,      T   Tx    .    T           ,        ,
      Entreat | some power to change | this cur|rish Jew.
 
NERISSA
             ,         ,      ,       ,          ,
      'Tis well | you of|fer it | behind | her back,
            ,            ,      ,          ,       ,
      The wish | would make | else an | unqui|et house.
 
SHYLOCK
        ,     2         ,         ,         ,     2      ,
      These be the | Christian | husbands.| I have a | daughter
        ,    ,     2        ,     2     ,
      Would an|y of the | stock of Bar|rabas
            ,          ,          ,       ,         ,     ,
      Had been || her hus|band, rath|er than | a Christ|ian,
           ,       ,        ,        2    ,      ,
      We trif|le time,| I pray | thee pursue | sentence.
 
PORTIA
          ,                 ,    ,           ,          ,
      A pound | of that / same merch|ant's flesh | is thine,
            ,        ,          ,         ,             x
      The court | awards | it, and | the law | doth give it.
 
SHYLOCK
             ,         ,
      Most^right|ful judge.  (cut off)
 
PORTIA
           ,          ,           ,           ,           ,
      And you | must cut | this flesh | from off | his breast,
           ,        ,         ,          ,           x
      The law | allows | it, and | the court | awards it.
 
SHYLOCK
             ,        ,         ,          ,         ,
      Most^learn|ed judge,| a sent|ence, come | prepare.
 
PORTIA
       ,         ,         ,          ,          ,
      Tarry | a lit|tle, there | is some|thing else,
             ,           ,           ,     T  T   .   T
      This bond | doth^give | thee here | no jot of blood,
            ,         ,       ,        ,          ,
      The words | express|ly are | a pound | of flesh:
        T    T    .    T      ,               ,          ,
      Take then thy* bond,| take thou | thy pound | of flesh,
       ,            ,        ,    .   T    T    T
      But in | the cut|ting it,| if thou dost shed
       T    T   .    T         ,           ,           ,
      One drop of Christ|ian blood,| thy lands | and goods
       ,             ,        ,         ,     ,
      Are by | the laws | of Ven|ice, conf|iscate
       ,  2        ,         ,    2
      Unto the | state of | Venice.
 
GRATIANO
                                          T  T     T
                                     O | upright judge,
        T   T   T     ,        ___    oo
      Mark Jew, O | learned | judge.|
 
SHYLOCK
           ,         ,
      Is that | the law?
 
PORTIA
                              ,           ,         ,
                         Thyself | shalt see | the act:
           ,          ,       ,        ,       ,
      For as | thou urge|st just|ice, be | assured
             ,            ,        ,           ,       ,      2->
      Thou shalt | have just|ice more | than thou | desir||est.
 
GRATIANO
            x       T      T   T        ,        ,
      O learned | judge, mark Jew,| a learn|ed judge.
 
SHYLOCK
          ,          ,       ,     T   .    T     T
      I take | this^of|fer then,| pay the bond thrice,
           ,          ,         ,
      And let | the Chris|tian go.
 
BASSANIO
                                     ,    2       ,
                                   Here is the | money.
 
PORTIA
        ,        ,              ,    ,        ,    ,   ,
      Soft, the Jew shall have all justice, soft, no haste, ????
       ,           ,    ,                ,     ,
      He shall | have noth/ing but |the pen|alty.
 
GRATIANO
         ,     .  T  T     T         ,        ,
      O Jew,| an upright judge,| a learn|ed judge.
 
PORTIA
             ,         ,      T   .  T   T          ,
      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 / takst more
           ,               ,    ,       2    ,         ,
      Or less | than a / just pound,| be it but | so much
              x       ,          ,      ,        ,
      As makes it | light or | heavy | in the | substance,
       ,          ,       ,         ,    2     ,
      Or the | divis|ion of | the twen|tieth part
       .  T    T    T        ,      2      ,          ,
      Of one poor scrup|le, nay | if the scale | do turn
           ,        ,    ,       ,       ,
      But in | the est|ima|tion of | a hair,
             x          ,          ,           ,      ,
      Thou diest,| and all | thy goods | are conf|iscate.
 
GRATIANO
         ,       ,    ,      ,       ,
      A sec|ond Dan|iel,| a Dan|iel Jew,
           ,    ,        ,          ,        ,
      Now in|fidel | I have | thee on | the hip.
 
PORTIA
            ,     .   T    T      T         ,       ,
      Why doth | the Jew pause, take | thy for|feiture.
 
SHYLOCK
        ,            ,     ,         ,        ,
      Give me | my prin|cipal | and let | me go.
 
BASSANIO
          ,         ,     ,            ,        ,
      I have | it read|y for | thee, here | it is.
 
PORTIA
       ,            ,         ,        ,      ,
      He hath | refused | it in | the op|en court,
           ,            ,       ,       ,          ,
      He shall | have mere|ly just|ice and | his bond.
 
GRATIANO
         ,        ,         ,      ,       ,      2->
      A Dan|iel still | say I,| a sec|ond Dan||iel,
          ,           ,          ,        ,          ,
      I thank | thee Jew | for teach|ing me | that word.
 
SHYLOCK
            ,    T    T    T    2     ,     ,
      Shall I | not have bare|ly my prin|cipal?
 
PORTIA
             ,            ,       ,         ,       ,
      Thou shalt | have noth|ing but | the for|feiture,
          ,       ,      ,        ,      ,
      To be | so tak|en at | thy per|il Jew.
 
SHYLOCK
            ,         ,       ,          ,        ,
      Why then | the dev|il give | him good | of it:
             ,         ,       ,
      I'll stay | no long|er quest|ion.
 
PORTIA
                                         ,      ,
                                        Tar|ry Jew,
           ,          ,       ,       ,        ,
      The law | hath yet | anoth|er hold | on you.
          ,      ,      ,         ,          x
      It is | enact|ed in | the laws | of Venice,
          ,         ,         ,         ,   ,
      If it | be proved | against | an al|ien,
            ,       ,        ,     ,         ,
      That by | direct | or in|direct | attempts
           ,          ,        ,    ,    ,
      He seek | the life | of an|y cit|izen,
            ,        ,           ,          ,         ,
      The part|y 'gainst | the which | he doth | contrive,
              ,      T    T   .    T          ,       ,
      Shall seize | one half his goods,| the oth|er half
        ,              ,     ,       ,         ,
      Comes to | the priv|y cof|fer of | the state,
       ,     2    ,           ,    ,              ,
      And the of|fender's | life lies / in the | mercy
                 ,   ,         ,          ,       ,
      Of the / duke on|ly, 'gainst | all oth|er voice.
           ,         ,     ,       ,            ,
      In which | predic|ament | I say | thou standst:
       ,    2     ,         ,     ,        ,
      For it ap|pears by | mani|fest pro|ceeding,
            ,     ,       ,        ,      ,
      That in|direct|ly, and | direct|ly too,
             ,          ,         ,          ,      ,
      Thou hast | contrived | against | the ver|y life
       ,          ,         ,           ,         ,
      Of the | defen|dant: and | thou hast | incurred
            ,      ,      ,       ,        ,
      The dang|er form|erly | by me | rehearsed.
        ,     ,               ,   ,                ,
      Down there/fore, and | beg mer/cy of | the duke.
 
GRATIANO
       ,                ,            ,          ,         ,
      Beg that | thou mayst | have leave | to hang | thyself,
           ,           ,       2    ,        ,         ,
      And yet | thy wealth | being for|feit to | the state,
             ,          ,         ,      ,       ,
      Thou hast | not left | the val|ue of | a cord,
             ,           ,          ,                 ,       ,
      Therefore | thou must | be hanged | at the / state's charge.
 
DUKE
             ,           ,          ,          ,          x
      That thou | shalt see | the diffe|rence of | our spirit,
         ,        ,          ,        ,            x
      I pard|on thee | thy life | before | thou ask it:
            ,           ,         ,      ,    ,
      For half | thy wealth,| it is | Anton|io's,
           ,       ,      ,              ,        ,
      The oth|er half | comes to | the gene|ral state,
              ,      ,          ,        ,       ,
      Which humb|leness | may drive | unto | a fine.
 
PORTIA
       ,              ,      ,           ,   ,
      Aye for | the state,| not for | Anton|io.
 
SHYLOCK
       T     T   .   T         ,      ,            ,
      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.
 
PORTIA
            ,      ,           x      ,       ,  2
      What mer|cy can | you render | him, An|tonio?
 
GRATIANO
          ,        x       ,         T   .    T     T
      A halt|er gratis,| nothing | else for God's sake.
 
ANTONIO
            ,          ,          ,         ,          ,
      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 oth|er half | in use,| to rend|er it
        ,          ,      ,           ,     ,
      Upon | his death,| unto | the gent|leman
             ,       ,           ,
      That late|ly stole | his daught|er.  \\
              ,         ,       ,        2      ,     ,
      Two* things | provi|ded more,| that for this | favor
           ,      ,       ,        ,      ,
      He pres|ently | become | a Chris|tian:
           ,        ,        ,       ,        ,
      The oth|er, that | he do | record | a gift
        ,             ,         ,         ,          ,
      Here in | the court | of all | he dies | possessed
       ,  2       ,      ,       ,          ,
      Unto his | son Lo|renzo,| and his | daughter.
 
DUKE
                  ,   ,         ,       ,       ,
      He shall / do this,| or else | I do | recant
           ,        ,        ,         ,        ,
      The pard|on that | I late | pronoun|ced here.
 
PORTIA
            ,         ,      ,           ,          ,
      Art thou | content|ed Jew?| What dost | thou say?
 
SHYLOCK
         ,        ,
      I am | content.
 
PORTIA
                        T      T  .   T         ,
                      Clerk, draw a deed | of gift.
 
SHYLOCK
          ,          ,         ,         ,          ,
      I pray | you give | me leave | to go | from hence,
              ,    ,      ,          ,   ,
      I am / not well,| send the | deed aft/er me,
          ,          ,
      And I | will sign | it.
 
DUKE
                               ,           ,          x
                              Get | thee gone,| but do it.
 
GRATIANO
            ,     2     ,                  ,   ,     ,
      In christ|ening shalt | thou have / two god-|fathers,
          ,          ,              ,                  ,    ,
      Had I | been judge,| thou shouldst | have had / ten more,
           ,           ,        ,         ,          ,
      To bring | thee to | the gal|lows, not | the font.
 
[Exit SHYLOCK]
 
DUKE
       ,   2     ,           ,          ,       ,
      Sir I en|treat you | home with | me to | dinner.
 
PORTIA
          ,      ,       ,           ,           x
      I humb|ly do | desire | your grace | of pardon,
          ,      ,           ,             ,   ,
      I must | away | this night | toward Pad|ua,
           ,        ,        ,           ,    ,
      And it | is meet | I pres|ently / set forth.
 
DUKE
       2    ,       ,           ,         ,          ,
      I am sor|ry that | your leis|ure serves | you not:
         ,   2    ,    ,          ,     ,
      Anton|io, grat|ify | this gent|leman,
           ,        ,                ,    ,         ,
      For in | my mind | you are / much bound | to him.
 
[Exeunt Duke and his train]
 
BASSANIO
             ,       ,     ,    ,             ,
      Most worth|y gent|leman,| I and | my friend
            ,         ,        ,          ,        ,      2->
      Have by | your wis|dom been | this day | acquit||ted
           ,        ,      ,         ,          ,
      Of griev|ous pen|alties,| in lieu | whereof,
               ,        ,       ,       ,        ,
      Three* thous|and duc|ats due | unto | the Jew
           ,       ,           ,    2     ,         ,
      We free|ly cope | your court|eous pains | withal.
 
ANTONIO
            ,         ,      ,     ,       ,
      And stand | indebt|ed ov|er and | above
           ,         ,             ,   ,     ,
      In love | and serv|ice to / you ev|ermore.
 
PORTIA
                ,    ,                ,   ,      ,
      He is / well paid | that is / well sat|isfied,
          ,      ,    2    ,        ,      ,
      And I | deliv|ering you,| am sat|isfied,
            ,       ,       ,      .  T    T    T
      And there|in do | account | myself well paid,
           ,         ,      ,          ,      x
      My mind | was nev|er yet | more mer|cenary.
          ,          ,         ,         ,       ,
      I pray | you know | me when | we meet | again,
          ,          ,         ,       ,         ,
      I wish | you well,| and so | I take | my leave.
 
BASSANIO
             ,         ,     ,     2     ,           ,
      Dear* sir,| of force | I must^at|tempt you | further,
        ,      2    ,           ,       ,       ,
      Take some re|membrance | of us | as a | tribute,
       ,    2     T     T    .   T       ,          ,
      Not as a | fee: grant me* two | things, I | pray you
       ,          ,        ,        ,       ,
      Not to | deny | me, and | to pard|on me.
 
PORTIA
            ,         ,          ,        ,          ,
      You press | me far,| and there|fore I | will yield,
        ,               ,            ,                 ,    ,
      Give me | your gloves,| I'll wear | them for / your sake,
           ,           ,           ,           ,          ,
      And for | your love | I'll take | this ring | from you,
       .  T    T    T           ,           ,         ,
      Do not draw back | your hand,| I'll take | no more,
           ,         ,           ,       ,        ,
      And you | in love | shall not | deny | me this?
 
BASSANIO
             ,          ,      ,        ,        x
      This ring | good sir,| alas | it is | a trifle,
                ,    ,         ,         ,          ,
      I will / not shame | myself | to give | you this.
 
PORTIA
          ,           ,        ,         ,      ,
      I will | have noth|ing else | but on|ly this,
           ,         ,         ,        ,      2
      And now | methinks | I have | a mind | to it.
 
BASSANIO
      <-    ,         ,       ,          ,          ,        ,
         There's || more de|pends on | this than | on the | value,
            ,        ,          x       ,        ,
      The dear|est ring | in Venice | will I | give you,
            ,        ,         ,     ,   ,
      And find | it out | by proc|lama|tion,
       ,           ,        ,          ,      ,
      Only | for this | I pray | you pard|on me.
 
PORTIA
         ,         ,         ,   2    ,    ,
      I see | sir you | are lib|eral in | offers,
             ,          ,         ,         ,         ,
      You taught | me first | to beg,| and now | methinks
            ,         ,       ,         ,         ,        2->
      You teach | me how | a beg|gar should | be ans||wered.
 
BASSANIO
            ,           ,          x         ,        ,
      Good sir,| this ring | was given | me by | my wife,
            ,         ,        ,         ,        ,
      And when | she put | it on,| she made | me vow
           ,            ,        ,          ,            x
      That I | should neith|er sell,| nor give,| nor lose it.
 
PORTIA
              ,        T    Tx   T         ,            ,
      That 'scuse | serves many men | to save | their gifts,
           ,          ,        ,       ,   ,
      And if | your wife | be not | a mad|woman,
            ,          ,        ,         ,           ,
      And know | how well | I have | deserved | the ring,
                   ,    ,         ,   ,         x
      She would / not hold | out^en|emy | for ever
           ,     2    ,         ,      ,          ,
      For giv|ing it to | me: Well,| peace be | with you.
 
[Exeunt Portia and Nerissa]
 
ANTONIO
           ,        ,       ,          ,          ,
      My Lord | Bassan|io, let | him have | the ring,
           ,        ,        ,         ,        ,
      Let^his | deserv|ings and | my love | withal
       ,  ,           ,             ,         ,
      Be val/ued a|gainst your | wife's com|mandment.
 
BASSANIO
       ,      ,       ,         ,     ,
      Go Gra|tiano,| run and | over|take him,
        ,              ,          ,          ,          ,
      Give him | the ring,| and bring | him if | thou canst,
       ,        ,   2     ,     . T     T    T
      Unto | Anton|io's house,| away, make haste.
 
[Exit Gratiano]
        T    T   .  T          ,        ,      ,
      Come, you and I | will thith|er pres|ently,
           ,         ,       ,       ,         ,
      And in | the morn|ing ear|ly will | we both
       T     T    T          ,       ,   ,
      Fly toward Bel|mont, come | Anton|io.
 
[Exeunt]

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