Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio,
Salerio, and Gratiano, with Attendants. DUKE What, is Antonio here? ANTONIO 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 5
From any dram of mercy. ANTONIO 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 10
Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose
My patience to his fury, and am armed
To suffer with a quietness of spirit
The very tyranny and rage of his. DUKE
Go, one, and call the Jew into the court. 15 SALERIO
He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord. Enter Shylock. DUKE
Make room, and let him stand before our face.—
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act, and then, ’tis thought, 20
Thou ’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
And where thou now exacts the penalty,
Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, 25
But, touched with humane gentleness and love,
Forgive a moi’ty of the principal,
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enow to press a royal merchant down 30
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks, and Tartars never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 35 | At the court of law in Venice, the Duke begins the trial by showing how impartial he is: he says he feels sorry for Antonio and that Shylock is a merciless scalawag. So much for a fair trial. Antonio says he knows everyone has done what they can, the law is against him, and he's prepared to meet Shylock's fury head-on with patient resignation. When Shylock is called into court, the Duke says he and the whole world are certain that Shylock will, at the last minute, give up his claim on Antonio's flesh. He even expects Shylock to forgive some part of Antonio's debt, since everyone knows of the crippling losses Antonio has endured. Then he invites Shylock to give his "gentle answer." (Nudge, nudge.) |
SHYLOCK
I have possessed your Grace of what I 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! 40
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 humor. Is it answered?
What if my house be troubled with a rat, 45
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answered yet?
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’ th’ nose, 50
Cannot contain their urine; for affection
Masters oft passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be rendered
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig, 55
Why he a harmless necessary cat,
Why he a woolen bagpipe, but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended,
So can I give no reason, nor I will not, 60
More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answered? BASSANIO
This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
To excuse the current of thy cruelty. 65 SHYLOCK
I am not bound to please thee with my answers. BASSANIO
Do all men kill the things they do not love? SHYLOCK
Hates any man the thing he would not kill? BASSANIO
Every offence is not a hate at first. SHYLOCK
What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? 70 ANTONIO, to Bassanio
I pray you, think you question with the Jew.
You may as well go stand upon the beach
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; 75
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops and to make no noise
When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;
You may as well do anything most hard
As seek to soften that than which what’s harder?— 80
His Jewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you
Make no more offers, use no farther means,
But with all brief and plain conveniency
Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. BASSANIO
For thy three thousand ducats here is six. 85 SHYLOCK
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. | Shylock, acting as his own lawyer, says he's sworn by the Jewish holy Sabbath that he'll get what he's owed for Antonio's forfeiture of the bond. Further, if the city should fail to enforce Antonio's oath, their charter and their freedom will be called into question. What's more, he doesn't have to explain why he'd rather have a pound of Antonio's flesh than the 3,000 ducats. People's behaviors can't always be explained. Some men some don't like roasted pig, some get freaked out by cats, some pee when they hear bagpipes (we're not kidding—he really says this). People are strange, and Shylock hates Antonio. No further explanation necessary. Bassanio pipes up and says this doesn't excuse how cruel Shylock is being—do all men kill what they hate? Shylock replies that hate's a pretty good motivator, since no one would kill something they didn't hate. Antonio cuts off their bickering, saying it's not worth arguing with Shylock. Asking him why he's intent on killing Antonio is about as useful as asking a wolf why it would eat a lamb and make a momma sheep cry. Antonio claims nothing is harder than the Jewish heart, which nothing can soften. He'd rather just get on with the trial and get his punishment over with. |
DUKE
How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring none? SHYLOCK
What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? 90
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
“Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs! 95
Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be seasoned with such viands”? You will answer
“The slaves are ours!” So do I answer you:
The pound of flesh which I demand of him 100
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. Answer: shall I have it? DUKE
Upon my power I may dismiss this court 105
Unless Bellario, a learnèd doctor
Whom I have sent for to determine this,
Come here today. SALERIO My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor, 110
New come from Padua. DUKE
Bring us the letters. Call the messenger. BASSANIO
Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all
Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood! 115 ANTONIO
I am a tainted wether of the flock,
Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me.
You cannot better be employed, Bassanio,
Than to live still and write mine epitaph. 120 | The Duke asks Shylock how he can expect mercy when offers none. Shylock says he doesn't need mercy since he hasn't done anything wrong. He then brilliantly flips the script. He points out that there are lots of slave owners in the crowd. He notes that if he demanded those men free their slaves and allow them to live peacefully and in equality with their former masters, the men would revolt. Why? Because they own the slaves, just as Shylock has bought and paid for Antonio's pound of flesh—Antonio even agreed to it (which is a notch above slavery, he seems to be saying). Shylock demands a verdict, and the Duke says he's inclined to dismiss the court unless Doctor Bellario, who is the real guy who can settle this, shows up. Conveniently, a messenger has arrived with news from Bellario at Padua. Meanwhile, Bassanio and Antonio are playing, "I should be the one to die," "No, it should be me." Antonio says Bassanio has to live so he can write Antonio's epitaph. |
Enter Nerissa, disguised as a lawyer’s clerk. DUKE
Came you from Padua, from Bellario? NERISSA, as Clerk
From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace.
Handing him a paper, which he reads, aside, while
Shylock sharpens his knife on the sole of his shoe. BASSANIO
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? SHYLOCK
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there. GRATIANO
Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew, 125
Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can,
No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness
Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? SHYLOCK
No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. GRATIANO
O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog, 130
And for thy life let justice be accused;
Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras
That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit 135
Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter,
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam,
Infused itself in thee, for thy desires
Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. 140 SHYLOCK
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,
Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud.
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. DUKE
This letter from Bellario doth commend 145
A young and learnèd doctor to our court.
Where is he? NERISSA, as Clerk He attendeth here hard by
To know your answer whether you’ll admit him. DUKE
With all my heart.—Some three or four of you 150
Go give him courteous conduct to this place. Attendants exit. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. He reads. "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 155
young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I
acquainted him with the cause in controversy between
the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o’er
many books together. He is furnished with my opinion,
which, bettered with his own learning (the greatness 160
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 165
leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial
shall better publish his commendation." You hear the learnèd Bellario what he writes. Enter Portia for Balthazar, disguised as a doctor of
laws, with Attendants. And here I take it is the doctor come.—
Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? 170 PORTIA, as Balthazar
I did, my lord. DUKE You are welcome. Take your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court? PORTIA, as Balthazar
I am informèd throughly of the cause. 175
Which is the merchant here? And which the Jew? DUKE
Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Is your name Shylock? SHYLOCK Shylock is my name. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, 180
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
To Antonio. You stand within his danger, do you
not? ANTONIO
Ay, so he says. 185 PORTIA, as Balthazar Do you confess the bond? ANTONIO
I do. PORTIA, as Balthazar Then must the Jew be merciful. SHYLOCK
On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. PORTIA, as Balthazar
The quality of mercy is not strained. 190
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 thronèd monarch better than his crown. 195
His scepter 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 sceptered sway.
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings; 200
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 205
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 210
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. | As Shylock and Gratiano argue over whether Shylock is the soul of a murderous wolf reincarnated, the Duke gets around to reading the freshly-delivered message. The letter is from Doctor Bellario and says he is sick, but he's sending this young man in his stead. The boy (who is actually Portia) has been briefed on the situation and is prepared to act based on Doctor Bellario's opinion and his own learning. Portia enters and is introduced to the court as "the learned doctor Balthazar." She's all business and immediately asks Antonio if he admits to his oath with Shylock. Antonio does, and Portia says that Shylock must show mercy. Shylock demands to know why, and Portia explains that mercy is an attribute of God himself, and people should try to mirror God in their actions. The law is cold and precise. People should strive to be more than that. What's more, no one can gain salvation through the legal process, only through showing mercy. And since we all pray for heavenly mercy, we must be willing to be merciful ourselves here on earth. Her hope in making this argument, she says, is to soften Shylock's plea for justice, strictly interpreted. Shylock's says he's here to see justice served according to the law, period. |
PORTIA, as Balthazar
Is he not able to discharge the money? 215 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 220
That malice bears down truth. To the Duke. 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. 225 PORTIA, as Balthazar
It must not be. There is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree establishèd;
’Twill be recorded for a precedent
And many an error by the same example
Will rush into the state. It cannot be. 230 SHYLOCK
A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel.
O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! PORTIA, as Balthazar
I pray you let me look upon the bond. SHYLOCK
Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
Handing Portia a paper. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee. 235 SHYLOCK
An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven!
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice! PORTIA, as Balthazar Why, this bond is forfeit,
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim 240
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; 245
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 250
To alter me. I stay here on my bond. ANTONIO
Most heartily I do beseech the court
To give the judgment. PORTIA, as Balthazar Why, then, thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife— 255 SHYLOCK
O noble judge! O excellent young man! PORTIA, as Balthazar
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, 260
How much more elder art thou than thy looks! PORTIA, as Balthazar, to Antonio
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. 265 PORTIA, as Balthazar
It is so.
Are there balance here to weigh the flesh? SHYLOCK I have them ready. | Portia asks whether Antonio can just pay off the debt, and Bassanio immediately offers to pay twice what's owed. In fact, he's willing to pay ten times the debt, and he offers his own life as the guarantee. Then he begs the Duke to step in, bend the rules, and save Antonio. But Portia (as Balthazar) says bending the rules simply isn't an option; it would set a bad precedent. She looks over Shylock's bond and declares that he has every legal right to what's owed to him because of Antonio's forfeit. Still, she again asks Shylock to be merciful, and suggests he might forget the whole bond by accepting three times what he's owed. Shylock compliments Portia for her knowledge of the law, but again states that no man will move him. He wants the flesh. Antonio is tired of all this talk and would rather just get the whole darned thing over with, so Portia tells Antonio to bare his chest and be prepared to go under the knife for Shylock. She asks Shylock if he has scales to weigh the flesh, and he does. (This guy was obviously not joking.) Shylock is thrilled that Portia/Balthazar is sticking to the wording of the bond and making sure the flesh comes from near Antonio's heart. |
PORTIA, as Balthazar
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 270 SHYLOCK
Is it so nominated in the bond? PORTIA, as Balthazar
It is not so expressed, but what of that?
’Twere good you do so much for charity. SHYLOCK
I cannot find it. ’Tis not in the bond. PORTIA, as Balthazar
You, merchant, have you anything to say? 275 ANTONIO
But little. I am armed and well prepared.—
Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well.
Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you,
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom: it is still her use 280
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honorable wife, 285
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 290
And he repents not that he pays your debt.
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart. BASSANIO
Antonio, I am married to a wife
Which is as dear to me as life itself, 295
But life itself, my wife, and all the world
Are not with me esteemed above thy life.
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Here to this devil, to deliver you. PORTIA, aside
Your wife would give you little thanks for that 300
If she were by to hear you make the offer. GRATIANO
I have a wife who I protest I love.
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. NERISSA, aside
’Tis well you offer it behind her back. 305
The wish would make else an unquiet house. SHYLOCK
These be the Christian husbands! I have a
daughter—
Would any of the stock of Barabbas
Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! 310
We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. | Portia asks Shylock if he has a surgeon ready nearby to stop the wounds so Antonio doesn't bleed to death, but Shylock notes that this wasn't part of the agreement. Antonio and Bassanio then hold hands and share tearful goodbyes. Antonio tells Bassanio not to be sad that he's dying on his behalf. He tells Bassanio instead to be stoked that Fortune, usually a cruel wench, has allowed Antonio to die rather than live in poverty, which would be worse. He asks Bassanio to tell his new wife Portia the story of his death—so Portia will know how much Antonio loved Bassanio. Antonio then instructs Bassanio only to be sad that he's losing a friend. Antonio himself does not regret paying Bassanio's debt to Shylock with his life, so Bassanio shouldn't either. Bassanio says that while his wife is as dear to him as his life, his wife, his life, and the world put together are not worth more to him than Antonio. (Aw!) Portia (as Balthazar) wryly comments that if Bassanio's wife were around to hear this, she wouldn't be thrilled. Then Gratiano offers up his wife, too, adding that if she were dead and in heaven she could plead with God to change Shylock's mind. Nerissa, disguised as Balthazar's attendant, mutters that if Gratiano's wife were around to hear this, there'd be no peace in his household. Shylock says that's the way Christian husbands are (i.e., no good), and laments that his poor daughter is marrying a Christian. |
PORTIA, as Balthazar
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, as Balthazar
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: 315
The law allows it, and the court awards it. SHYLOCK
Most learnèd judge! A sentence!—Come, prepare. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Tarry a little. There is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood.
The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” 320
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are by the laws of Venice confiscate
Unto the state of Venice. 325 GRATIANO
O upright judge!—Mark, Jew.—O learnèd judge! SHYLOCK
Is that the law? PORTIA, as Balthazar Thyself shalt see the act.
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st. 330 GRATIANO
O learnèd judge!—Mark, Jew, a learnèd judge! SHYLOCK
I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice
And let the Christian go. BASSANIO Here is the money. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste! 335
He shall have nothing but the penalty. GRATIANO
O Jew, an upright judge, a learnèd judge! PORTIA, as Balthazar
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 tak’st more 340
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, 345
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. GRATIANO
A second Daniel! A Daniel, Jew!
Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. SHYLOCK
Give me my principal and let me go. 350 BASSANIO
I have it ready for thee. Here it is. PORTIA, as Balthazar
He hath refused it in the open court.
He shall have merely justice and his bond. GRATIANO
A Daniel still, say I! A second Daniel!—
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 355 SHYLOCK
Shall I not have barely my principal? PORTIA, as Balthazar
Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. | Portia gets back to the legal proceedings, laying out again the stipulations of the bond: the law gives up a pound of Antonio's flesh, and the law allows Shylock to cut it from Antonio's breast. Shylock is excited to lop of Antonio's flesh, but before he can start, Portia suddenly halts the process. She says the bond allows for a pound of flesh, but no blood. If Shylock sheds a drop of Christian blood from Antonio, then the law of Venice states that Venice can confiscate his land and goods. Oh, and kill him. Shylock is stunned. Can this be true? Portia assures him it is, and since he's been so intent on following the letter of the bond precisely, that's what they're going to do. Hearing this, Shylock quickly backpedals; he'd rather just take three times the bond money and be on his merry way withoutmaking Antonio into fish-bait. But Portia insists this is no longer an option—Shylock turned down the compromise when it was on the table. Shylock, caught, asks only for the principal of the debt, the 3,000 ducats, hoping for the whole affair to just be over with. Though Bassanio offers it up, Portia cuts him off again. Nope. Sorry. All he's entitled to at this point is the flesh, which he can must take at his own peril. |
SHYLOCK
Why, then, the devil give him good of it!
I’ll stay no longer question. 360 He begins to exit. PORTIA, as Balthazar 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 365
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 370
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 375
Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred
The danger formerly by me rehearsed.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. GRATIANO
Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself!
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 380
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s
charge. DUKE
That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. 385
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. SHYLOCK
Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that. 390
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, as Balthazar
What mercy can you render him, Antonio? GRATIANO
A halter gratis, nothing else, for God’s sake! 395 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 other half in use, to render it
Upon his death unto the gentleman 400
That lately stole his daughter.
Two things provided more: that for this favor
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift,
Here in the court, of all he dies possessed 405
Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. DUKE
He shall do this, or else I do recant
The pardon that I late pronouncèd here. PORTIA, as Balthazar
Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? SHYLOCK
I am content. 410 | Shylock is beat, and he knows it. He tries to leave, but Portia stops him again. There's another law that says that if a foreign national seeks the life of a Venetian, either directly or indirectly, then the would-be victim gets half of his stuff, and the other half goes to the state, while the fate of the would-be murderer is in the hands of the Duke. Portia encourages Shylock to ask the Duke for mercy. Gratiano, always helpful, says it would be nice if Shylock could beg for permission to hang himself, but with his estate gone, he can't afford a rope. The Duke, who has apparently gone through more sensitivity training than Gratiano, cuts in and pardons Shylock's life before Shylock even asks him to. The Duke declares that half of Shylock's wealth now belongs to Antonio, and the state will be merciful and only charge Shylock a fine instead of taking the other half of his wealth. Shylock says if they take away his means of living, they may as well take his life. Portia asks Antonio what mercy he can offer Shylock. Antonio says that he'd like his half of the money to go to Lorenzo and Jessica, as long as Shylock does two things: (1) convert to Christianity; and (2) draw up a will leaving the rest of his wealth to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death. The Duke likes all of Antonio's conditions (because forced religious conversion is always a good idea, right?) and says that if Shylock doesn't accept them, he'll take back his pardon. Shylock, who is clearly getting the shaft left and right, has no choice left, so he says, "Fine." |
PORTIA, as Balthazar Clerk, draw a deed of gift. SHYLOCK
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. 415 GRATIANO
In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers.
Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. Shylock exits. DUKE, to Portia as Balthazar
Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. PORTIA, as Balthazar
I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon. 420
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. 425 The Duke and his train exit. BASSANIO, to Portia as Balthazar
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. 430 ANTONIO
And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore. PORTIA, as Balthazar
He is well paid that is well satisfied,
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid. 435
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. She begins to exit. BASSANIO
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further.
Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, 440
Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you:
Not to deny me, and to pardon me. PORTIA, as Balthazar
You press me far, and therefore 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. 445
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this. BASSANIO
This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle.
I will not shame myself to give you this. PORTIA, as Balthazar
I will have nothing else but only this. 450
And now methinks I have a mind to it. BASSANIO
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. 455 PORTIA, as Balthazar
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 answered. BASSANIO
Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife,
And when she put it on, she made me vow 460
That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. PORTIA, as Balthazar
That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
And if your wife be not a madwoman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy forever 465
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you. Portia and Nerissa exit. | Portia tries to get the clerk to write up the deed of gift to Jessica and Lorenzo, but Shylock is, understandably, not feeling well. He needs to get out of there. He tells them to go ahead and draw it up—he'll sign it later. Then he leaves. The Duke invites the disguised Portia to have dinner with him, but she diplomatically defers. She says she really has to be getting back to Padua. Bassanio then approaches Portia and offers her the 3,000 ducats they had tried to give Shylock earlier. Antonio adds that he'll love Balthazar forever and ever. Portia/Balthazar thanks them, but says a job well done is enough reward for her. Still, she teases that the men will recognize her when they meet again. Bassanio says please, let me give you something, so Portia/Balthazar asks for Antonio's gloves, which she says she'll wear for his sake From Bassanio she wants his ring (which is actually hers). Bassanio hesitates, saying there's more to this ring than its monetary value. He offers to get Balthazar the most expensive ring in Venice instead, but Portia/Balthazar insists. Bassanio explains that his wife gave him the ring, and to give it away would be to break faith with her. Portia says that'sis a common excuse for men who don't want to give away their stuff. Besides, unless Bassanio's wife is crazy, she'd understand. Also, Portia-in-disguise counsels, his wife can't be mad at him forever. Then she says "never mind" and leaves. |
ANTONIO
My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.
Let his deservings and my love withal
Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandment. BASSANIO
Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him. 470
Give him the ring, and bring him if thou canst
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste. Gratiano exits. Come, you and I will thither presently,
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont.—Come, Antonio. 475 They exit. | Antonio chastises Bassanio after Portia/Balthazar and his attendant leave. He tells Bassanio to give up the ring for the sake of Balthazar's hard work and his (Antonio's) friendship. Bassanio gives in. He tells Gratiano to take the ring, get it to Balthzar, and invite Balthazar to Antonio's house, where he and Antonio will be spend the night before heading back to Belmont in the morning. |