Original Text Translated Text

Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, At the court of law in
Bassanio, Venice, the Duke
Salerio, and Gratiano, with Attendants. begins the trial by
showing how
DUKE What, is Antonio here?
impartial he is: he
ANTONIO Ready, so please your Grace. says he feels sorry
for Antonio and that
DUKE Shylock is a
I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer merciless scalawag.
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch, So much for a fair
Uncapable of pity, void and empty 5 trial.
From any dram of mercy.
Antonio says he
ANTONIO I have heard knows everyone has
Your Grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify done what they can,
His rigorous course; but since he stands the law is against
obdurate, him, and he's
And that no lawful means can carry me 10 prepared to meet
Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose Shylock's fury head-
My patience to his fury, and am armed on with patient
To suffer with a quietness of spirit resignation.
The very tyranny and rage of his.
When Shylock is
DUKE called into court, the
Go, one, and call the Jew into the court. 15 Duke says he and
SALERIO the whole world are
He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord. certain that Shylock
will, at the last
Enter Shylock. minute, give up his
DUKE claim on Antonio's
Make room, and let him stand before our flesh.
face.— He even expects
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, Shylock to forgive
That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice some part of
To the last hour of act, and then, ’tis Antonio's debt, since
thought,20 everyone knows of
Thou ’lt show thy mercy and remorse more the crippling losses
strange Antonio has endured.
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; Then he invites
And where thou now exacts the penalty, Shylock to give his
Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s "gentle answer."
flesh, (Nudge, nudge.)
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
SHYLOCK Shylock, acting as his
I have possessed your Grace of what I own lawyer, says
purpose, he's sworn by the
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn Jewish holy Sabbath
To have the due and forfeit of my bond. that he'll get what
If you deny it, let the danger light he's owed for
Upon your charter and your city’s freedom! 40 Antonio's forfeiture of
You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have the bond. Further, if
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive the city should fail to
Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that, enforce Antonio's
But say it is my humor. Is it answered? oath, their charter
What if my house be troubled with a rat, 45 and their freedom will
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats be called into
To have it baned? What, are you answered question.
yet?
What's more, he
Some men there are love not a gaping pig,
doesn't have to
Some that are mad if they behold a cat,
explain why he'd
And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ th’
rather have a pound
nose,50
of Antonio's flesh
Cannot contain their urine; for affection
than the 3,000
Masters oft passion, sways it to the mood
ducats. People's
Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your
behaviors can't
answer:
always be explained.
As there is no firm reason to be rendered
Some men some
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig, 55
don't like roasted pig,
Why he a harmless necessary cat,
some get freaked out
Why he a woolen bagpipe, but of force
by cats, some pee
Must yield to such inevitable shame
when they hear
As to offend, himself being offended,
bagpipes (we're not
So can I give no reason, nor I will not, 60
kidding—he really
More than a lodged hate and a certain
says this).
loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus People are strange,
A losing suit against him. Are you answered? and Shylock hates
Antonio. No further
explanation
necessary.
BASSANIO Bassanio pipes up
This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, and says this doesn't
To excuse the current of thy cruelty. 65 excuse how cruel
Shylock is being—do
SHYLOCK
all men kill what they
I am not bound to please thee with my
hate? Shylock replies
answers.
that hate's a pretty
BASSANIO good motivator, since
Do all men kill the things they do not love? no one would kill
something they didn't
SHYLOCK hate.
Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Antonio cuts off their
BASSANIO bickering, saying it's
Every offence is not a hate at first. not worth arguing
SHYLOCK with Shylock. Asking
What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee him why he's intent
twice? 70 on killing Antonio is
about as useful as
ANTONIO, to Bassanio asking a wolf why it
I pray you, think you question with the Jew. would eat a lamb and
You may as well go stand upon the beach make a momma
And bid the main flood bate his usual height; sheep cry.
You may as well use question with the wolf
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the Antonio claims
lamb;75 nothing is harder
You may as well forbid the mountain pines than the Jewish
To wag their high tops and to make no noise heart, which nothing
When they are fretten with the gusts of can soften. He'd
heaven; rather just get on with
You may as well do anything most hard the trial and get his
As seek to soften that than which what’s punishment over
harder?— 80 with.
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.
DUKE The Duke asks
How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring Shylock how he can
none? expect mercy when
offers none.
SHYLOCK
What judgment shall I dread, doing no Shylock says he
wrong?90 doesn't need mercy
You have among you many a purchased since he hasn't done
slave, anything wrong. He
Which, like your asses and your dogs and then brilliantly flips
mules, the script. He points
You use in abject and in slavish parts out that there are lots
Because you bought them. Shall I say to you of slave owners in
“Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs! the crowd. He notes
95 that if he demanded
Why sweat they under burdens? Let their those men free their
beds slaves and allow
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates them to live
Be seasoned with such viands”? You will peacefully and in
answer equality with their
“The slaves are ours!” So do I answer you: former masters, the
The pound of flesh which I demand of him 100 men would revolt.
Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it.
Why? Because they
If you deny me, fie upon your law:
own the slaves, just
There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
as Shylock has
I stand for judgment. Answer: shall I have it?
bought and paid for
DUKE Antonio's pound of
Upon my power I may dismiss this court 105 flesh—Antonio even
Unless Bellario, a learnèd doctor agreed to it (which is
Whom I have sent for to determine this, a notch above
Come here today. slavery, he seems to
be saying).
SALERIO My lord, here stays without
A messenger with letters from the doctor, 110 Shylock demands a
New come from Padua. verdict, and the Duke
says he's inclined to
DUKE
dismiss the court
Bring us the letters. Call the messenger.
unless Doctor
BASSANIO Bellario, who is the
Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! real guy who can
The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, settle this, shows up.
and all
Conveniently, a
Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of
messenger has
blood!115
arrived with news
ANTONIO from Bellario at
I am a tainted wether of the flock, Padua.
Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit
Meanwhile, Bassanio
Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me.
and Antonio are
You cannot better be employed, Bassanio,
playing, "I should be
Than to live still and write mine epitaph. 120
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. As Shylock and
Gratiano argue over
DUKE
whether Shylock is
Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
the soul of a
NERISSA, as Clerk murderous wolf
From both, my lord. Bellario greets your reincarnated, the
Grace. Duke gets around to
Handing him a paper, which he reads, aside, reading the freshly-
while delivered message.
Shylock sharpens his knife on the sole of his
The letter is from
shoe.
Doctor Bellario and
BASSANIO says he is sick, but
Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? he's sending this
young man in his
SHYLOCK stead. The boy (who
To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there. is actually Portia) has
GRATIANO been briefed on the
Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew, situation and is
125 prepared to act
Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can, based on Doctor
No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the Bellario's opinion and
keenness his own learning.
Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce Portia enters and is
thee? introduced to the
SHYLOCK court as "the learned
No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. doctor Balthazar."
She's all business
GRATIANO and immediately asks
O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog, 130 Antonio if he admits
And for thy life let justice be accused; to his oath with
Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith, Shylock. Antonio
To hold opinion with Pythagoras does, and Portia says
That souls of animals infuse themselves that Shylock must
Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit 135 show mercy.
Governed a wolf who, hanged for human
slaughter, Shylock demands to
Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, know why, and Portia
And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam, explains that mercy is
Infused itself in thee, for thy desires an attribute of God
Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. himself, and people
140 should try to mirror
God in their actions.
SHYLOCK The law is cold and
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, precise. People
Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud. should strive to be
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall more than that.
To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
What's more, no one
DUKE can gain salvation
This letter from Bellario doth commend 145 through the legal
A young and learnèd doctor to our court. process, only through
Where is he? showing mercy. And
since we all pray for
NERISSA, as Clerk He attendeth here hard by
heavenly mercy, we
To know your answer whether you’ll admit
must be willing to be
him.
merciful ourselves
DUKE here on earth. Her
With all my heart.—Some three or four of hope in making this
you150 argument, she says,
Go give him courteous conduct to this place. is to soften Shylock's
plea for justice,
Attendants exit. strictly interpreted.
Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. Shylock's says he's
He reads. here to see justice
served according to
"Your Grace shall understand that, at the the law, period.
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
Venice210
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.
PORTIA, as Balthazar Portia asks whether
Is he not able to discharge the money? 215 Antonio can just pay
off the debt, and
BASSANIO
Bassanio
Yes. Here I tender it for him in the court,
immediately offers to
Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice,
pay twice what's
I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er
owed. In fact, he's
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
willing to pay ten
If this will not suffice, it must appear 220
times the debt, and
That malice bears down truth. To the
he offers his own life
Duke.And I
as the guarantee.
beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority. Then he begs the
To do a great right, do a little wrong, Duke to step in, bend
And curb this cruel devil of his will. 225 the rules, and save
Antonio.
PORTIA, as Balthazar
It must not be. There is no power in Venice But Portia (as
Can alter a decree establishèd; Balthazar) says
’Twill be recorded for a precedent bending the rules
And many an error by the same example simply isn't an option;
Will rush into the state. It cannot be. 230 it would set a bad
precedent.
SHYLOCK
A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel. She looks over
O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! Shylock's bond and
declares that he has
PORTIA, as Balthazar every legal right to
I pray you let me look upon the bond. what's owed to him
because of Antonio's
SHYLOCK
forfeit. Still, she again
Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
asks Shylock to be
Handing Portia a paper.
merciful, and
PORTIA, as Balthazar suggests he might
Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered forget the whole bond
thee.235 by accepting three
times what he's
SHYLOCK owed.
An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven!
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? Shylock compliments
No, not for Venice! Portia for her
knowledge of the law,
PORTIA, as Balthazar Why, this bond is but again states that
forfeit, no man will move
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim 240 him. He wants the
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off flesh.
Nearest the merchant’s heart.—Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. Antonio is tired of all
this talk and would
SHYLOCK rather just get the
When it is paid according to the tenor. whole darned thing
It doth appear you are a worthy judge; 245 over with, so Portia
You know the law; your exposition tells Antonio to bare
Hath been most sound. I charge you by the his chest and be
law, prepared to go under
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, the knife for Shylock.
Proceed to judgment. By my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man 250 She asks Shylock if
To alter me. I stay here on my bond. he has scales to
weigh the flesh, and
ANTONIO he does. (This guy
Most heartily I do beseech the court was obviously not
To give the judgment. joking.) Shylock is
PORTIA, as Balthazar Why, then, thus it is: thrilled that
You must prepare your bosom for his knife— Portia/Balthazar is
255 sticking to the
wording of the bond
SHYLOCK and making sure the
O noble judge! O excellent young man! flesh comes from
PORTIA, as Balthazar near Antonio's heart.
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, as Balthazar Portia asks Shylock if
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your he has a surgeon
charge, ready nearby to stop
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to the wounds so
death.270 Antonio doesn't bleed
to death, but Shylock
SHYLOCK
notes that this wasn't
Is it so nominated in the bond?
part of the
PORTIA, as Balthazar agreement.
It is not so expressed, but what of that?
Antonio and
’Twere good you do so much for charity.
Bassanio then hold
SHYLOCK hands and share
I cannot find it. ’Tis not in the bond. tearful goodbyes.
Antonio tells
PORTIA, as Balthazar Bassanio not to be
You, merchant, have you anything to say? 275 sad that he's dying
ANTONIO on his behalf. He tells
But little. I am armed and well prepared.— Bassanio instead to
Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well. be stoked that
Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you, Fortune, usually a
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind cruel wench, has
Than is her custom: it is still her use 280 allowed Antonio to
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, die rather than live in
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow poverty, which would
An age of poverty, from which ling’ring be worse.
penance He asks Bassanio to
Of such misery doth she cut me off. tell his new wife
Commend me to your honorable wife, 285 Portia the story of his
Tell her the process of Antonio’s end, death—so Portia will
Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death, know how much
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge Antonio loved
Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Bassanio.
Repent but you that you shall lose your
friend290 Antonio then instructs
And he repents not that he pays your debt. Bassanio only to be
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, sad that he's losing a
I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart. friend. Antonio
BASSANIO himself does not
Antonio, I am married to a wife regret paying
Which is as dear to me as life itself, 295 Bassanio's debt to
But life itself, my wife, and all the world Shylock with his life,
Are not with me esteemed above thy life. so Bassanio
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all shouldn't either.
Here to this devil, to deliver you.
Bassanio says that
PORTIA, aside while his wife is as
Your wife would give you little thanks for dear to him as his
that300 life, his wife, his life,
If she were by to hear you make the offer. and the world put
together are not
GRATIANO
worth more to him
I have a wife who I protest I love.
than Antonio. (Aw!)
I would she were in heaven, so she could
Entreat some power to change this currish Portia (as Balthazar)
Jew. wryly comments that
if Bassanio's wife
NERISSA, aside
were around to hear
’Tis well you offer it behind her back. 305
this, she wouldn't be
The wish would make else an unquiet house.
thrilled.
SHYLOCK
Then Gratiano offers
These be the Christian husbands! I have a
up his wife, too,
daughter—
adding that if she
Would any of the stock of Barabbas
were dead and in
Had been her husband, rather than a
heaven she could
Christian!310
plead with God to
We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence.
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 Portia gets back to
A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is the legal
thine: proceedings, laying
The court awards it, and the law doth give it. out again the
stipulations of the
SHYLOCK Most rightful judge! bond: the law gives
up a pound of
PORTIA, as Balthazar
Antonio's flesh, and
And you must cut this flesh from off his
the law allows
breast:315
Shylock to cut it from
The law allows it, and the court awards it.
Antonio's breast.
SHYLOCK
Shylock is excited to
Most learnèd judge! A sentence!—Come,
lop of Antonio's flesh,
prepare.
but before he can
PORTIA, as Balthazar start, Portia suddenly
Tarry a little. There is something else. halts the process.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. She says the bond
The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” allows for a pound of
320 flesh, but no blood. If
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of Shylock sheds a drop
flesh, of Christian blood
But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed from Antonio, then
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and the law of Venice
goods states that Venice
Are by the laws of Venice confiscate can confiscate his
Unto the state of Venice. 325 land and goods. Oh,
and kill him.
GRATIANO
O upright judge!—Mark, Jew.—O learnèd Shylock is stunned.
judge! Can this be true?
Portia assures him it
SHYLOCK is, and since he's
Is that the law? been so intent on
PORTIA, as Balthazar Thyself shalt see the following the letter of
act. the bond precisely,
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured that's what they're
Thou shalt have justice more than thou going to do.
desir’st. 330 Hearing this, Shylock
GRATIANO quickly backpedals;
O learnèd judge!—Mark, Jew, a learnèd he'd rather just take
judge! three times the bond
money and be on his
SHYLOCK merry way
I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice withoutmaking
And let the Christian go. Antonio into fish-
BASSANIO Here is the money. bait. But Portia insists
this is no longer an
PORTIA, as Balthazar option—Shylock
Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no turned down the
haste! 335 compromise when it
He shall have nothing but the penalty. was on the table.
GRATIANO Shylock, caught,
O Jew, an upright judge, a learnèd judge! asks only for the
principal of the debt,
PORTIA, as Balthazar the 3,000 ducats,
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. hoping for the whole
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor affair to just be over
more with. Though
But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st Bassanio offers it up,
more340 Portia cuts him off
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much again. Nope. Sorry.
As makes it light or heavy in the substance All he's entitled to at
Or the division of the twentieth part this point is the flesh,
Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn which he can must
But in the estimation of a hair, 345 take at his own peril.
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.
SHYLOCK Shylock is beat, and
Why, then, the devil give him good of it! he knows it. He tries
I’ll stay no longer question. 360 to leave, but Portia
stops him again.
He begins to exit.
There's another law
PORTIA, as Balthazar Tarry, Jew. that says that if a
The law hath yet another hold on you. foreign national
It is enacted in the laws of Venice, seeks the life of a
If it be proved against an alien Venetian, either
That by direct or indirect attempts 365 directly or indirectly,
He seek the life of any citizen, then the would-be
The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive victim gets half of his
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half stuff, and the other
Comes to the privy coffer of the state, half goes to the state,
And the offender’s life lies in the mercy 370 while the fate of the
Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice. would-be murderer is
In which predicament I say thou stand’st, in the hands of the
For it appears by manifest proceeding Duke. Portia
That indirectly, and directly too, encourages Shylock
Thou hast contrived against the very life 375 to ask the Duke for
Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred mercy.
The danger formerly by me rehearsed.
Gratiano, always
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.
helpful, says it would
GRATIANO be nice if Shylock
Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang could beg for
thyself! permission to hang
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the himself, but with his
state,380 estate gone, he can't
Thou hast not left the value of a cord; afford a rope. The
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s Duke, who has
charge. apparently gone
through more
DUKE
sensitivity training
That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
than Gratiano, cuts in
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. 385
and pardons
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s;
Shylock's life before
The other half comes to the general state,
Shylock even asks
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
him to.
PORTIA, as Balthazar
The Duke declares
Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
that half of Shylock's
SHYLOCK wealth now belongs
Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that. 390 to Antonio, and the
You take my house when you do take the prop state will be merciful
That doth sustain my house; you take my life and only charge
When you do take the means whereby I live. Shylock a fine
instead of taking the
PORTIA, as Balthazar other half of his
What mercy can you render him, Antonio? wealth.
GRATIANO Shylock says if they
A halter gratis, nothing else, for God’s sake! take away his means
395 of living, they may as
ANTONIO well take his life.
So please my lord the Duke and all the court Portia asks Antonio
To quit the fine for one half of his goods, what mercy he can
I am content, so he will let me have offer Shylock.
The other half in use, to render it Antonio says that
Upon his death unto the gentleman 400 he'd like his half of
That lately stole his daughter. the money to go to
Two things provided more: that for this favor Lorenzo and Jessica,
He presently become a Christian; as long as Shylock
The other, that he do record a gift, does two things: (1)
Here in the court, of all he dies possessed 405 convert to
Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. Christianity; and (2)
draw up a will leaving
DUKE
the rest of his wealth
He shall do this, or else I do recant
to Lorenzo and
The pardon that I late pronouncèd here.
Jessica upon his
PORTIA, as Balthazar death.
Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?
The Duke likes all of
SHYLOCK Antonio's conditions
I am content. 410 (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 Portia tries to get the
gift. clerk to write up the
deed of gift to
SHYLOCK
Jessica and Lorenzo,
I pray you give me leave to go from hence.
but Shylock is,
I am not well. Send the deed after me
understandably, not
And I will sign it.
feeling well. He
DUKE Get thee gone, but do it. 415 needs to get out of
there. He tells them
GRATIANO to go ahead and
In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers. draw it up—he'll sign
Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten it later. Then he
more, leaves.
To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font.
The Duke invites the
Shylock exits. disguised Portia to
DUKE, to Portia as Balthazar have dinner with him,
Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. but she diplomatically
defers. She says she
PORTIA, as Balthazar really has to be
I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon. 420 getting back to
I must away this night toward Padua, Padua.
And it is meet I presently set forth.
Bassanio then
DUKE approaches Portia
I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.— and offers her the
Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
For in my mind you are much bound to 3,000 ducats they
him.425 had tried to give
Shylock earlier.
The Duke and his train exit.
Antonio adds that
BASSANIO, to Portia as Balthazar he'll love Balthazar
Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend forever and ever.
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Portia/Balthazar
Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof
thanks them, but
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew
says a job well done
We freely cope your courteous pains
is enough reward for
withal.430
her. Still, she teases
ANTONIO that the men will
And stand indebted, over and above, recognize her when
In love and service to you evermore. they meet again.
PORTIA, as Balthazar Bassanio says
He is well paid that is well satisfied, please, let me give
And I, delivering you, am satisfied, you something, so
And therein do account myself well paid. 435 Portia/Balthazar asks
My mind was never yet more mercenary. for Antonio's gloves,
I pray you know me when we meet again. which she says she'll
I wish you well, and so I take my leave. wear for his sake
She begins to exit. From Bassanio she
wants his ring (which
BASSANIO is actually hers).
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further. Bassanio hesitates,
Take some remembrance of us as a saying there's more
tribute,440 to this ring than its
Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: monetary value. He
Not to deny me, and to pardon me. offers to get
PORTIA, as Balthazar Balthazar the most
You press me far, and therefore I will yield. expensive ring in
Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them for your Venice instead, but
sake— Portia/Balthazar
And for your love I’ll take this ring from insists.
you.445 Bassanio explains
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more, that his wife gave him
And you in love shall not deny me this. the ring, and to give it
BASSANIO away would be to
This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle. break faith with her.
I will not shame myself to give you this. Portia says that'sis a
common excuse for
PORTIA, as Balthazar men who don't want
I will have nothing else but only this. 450 to give away their
And now methinks I have a mind to it. stuff. Besides, unless
BASSANIO Bassanio's wife is
There’s more depends on this than on the crazy, she'd
value. understand.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation. Also, Portia-in-
Only for this, I pray you pardon me. 455 disguise counsels,
his wife can't be mad
PORTIA, as Balthazar
at him forever. Then
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
she says "never
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
mind" and leaves.
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.
ANTONIO Antonio chastises
My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Bassanio after
Let his deservings and my love withal Portia/Balthazar and
Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandment. his attendant leave.
He tells Bassanio to
BASSANIO
give up the ring for
Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him. 470
the sake of
Give him the ring, and bring him if thou canst
Balthazar's hard work
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
and his (Antonio's)
Gratiano exits. friendship.
Come, you and I will thither presently, Bassanio gives in. He
And in the morning early will we both tells Gratiano to take
Fly toward Belmont.—Come, Antonio. 475 the ring, get it to
Balthzar, and invite
They exit. Balthazar to
Antonio's house,
where he and
Antonio will be spend
the night before
heading back to
Belmont in the
morning.