70 Act 4 Scene I

Portia Then must the Jew be merciful

Shylock Jumaeles
181 On...1: what will compel me
and force me to do it? On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Portia
182
(constrained).
Vuiy of mercy is not strain'd; divin
is not strain'd: cannot be forced Iil1vy"
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
e mt pouucd qua'iy in Upon the place beneath: it is(wice blessa
185 It blesseth himthat gives and himthat takes)
I86 'Tis... mightiest: both'mercy 6(Tis mightiest in the mightiest it becomes
is seen at its most powerful in the men The throned monarch better than his crown
with most power', and 'mercy is the
most powerful weapon that the most His sceptre shows the force of tiöfS power,
powerful men possess'. The attribute to awe and majesty,
becomes : suits. IÌo Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:
188-9 The kings sceptre symbolizes But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
hisearthly (temporal') power, which is It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
the proper characteristic (attribute') of 5) (It is an attribute to God himself)
a royal man ('majesty') who commands
respect (awe'). And carthly power doth then show likest God's
I9I this sceptred sway: this world that
is ruled by men with sceptres.
195 When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
I93 atribute to: quality belonging to.
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
I95 seasons: moderates.
deirerau uShould see salvation: we do pray for mercy,
I96 Though. .. plea: although you omaAndthat samne prayer doth teach us all to render
are asking for justice. enil
197-8 in...salvation: if we were all to 200 The degds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
get what we deserve, in the strict To mitigate the justiceof thy plea,
course of justice none of us would be mg Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
saved.
201 To ask you to soften your Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant
demand for justice. ol there.
203 Must needs: is compelled.
My... head: I will take the
(CAuogon) Shylock Jom ppowi ae tei my actioa
204 My deeds upon my head) I çrave the law,
responsibility for
crave: ask for.what I am doing.o 205 The penalty and forfeit of my bond,> dumand.
Portia
206 discharge : repay. HuIs he not able to discharge the money?
Bassanio
207 tender: offer. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
aINn o Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,
209 be bound: make a legal promise.DiIwill be bound to pay it ten times o'er.
6uO Agu 210 On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.(u)
baste uoooIf this will not suffice, it must appear
212 bears down: overcomes. That malice bears down truth. And, I beseech you,
213 Wrest: twist. oin Wrest once the law to your authority:
0nce: on this one occasion.
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
o to: with. 215 And curb this cruel devil of his will.
215 Curb: restrain.

Favown
 Act 4 Scene I 73

And he repents not that he pays your debt;

For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
Illpay it instantly with all my heart)
Bassanio
Which: who.
280 Antonio, I am married to a wife
Which is as dear to me as life itself; Jnmlu
But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteemd above thy life:
Iwould lose all, ay, sacrifiçe hem all,
deliver: save. 285 Here to this devil, to deliver you.
o Portia Atueh, al hwmwt
Your wifewould give you little thanks for that,
bt bo If she were by to hear you make the offer.
Gratiano
o Ihave a wife, who, Iprotest, I love:
<he wa duad Ond e Iwould shewere in heaven, so she could
290 Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
Nerissa
Tis well you offer it behind her back;
ede The wish would makeelse an unquiet house.
Shylock
.9 wowd athen Ihese be the Christian husbands! I have a
D ant he to way daughter; the w t Hhe
194 stock: breed. Barab a hatuen Would any of the stock of Barabas -
Barabas: the thief who was ten
when Christ was crucifed eishas 1ad been her husband rather than a Christian !
released We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.
(St. John 18: 40). Portia
196 trifle time: waste time in
trivialities. GA pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:
pursue : go on with. voosThe court awards it, and the law doth give it,
by Poa Shylock
obalab ees Most rightful judge!
xti Portia
@)vdit Goond vou must cut this flesh from off his breast:
nsi The law allows it, and the court awards it. )
tainsls loinsCi bnoneb Shylock
in stno O DUEHIbbi Most learned judge! A sentence! come, prepare!
Portia
larry: wait. Tarry a little: there is something else.
B4 jot: drop. Thisbond doth give thee here nojot of blood;
blwod 305 The words expressly are 'a pound of Hesh:
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of Aesh;
74 Act 4 Scene I

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
310 Unto the state of Venice. Puishmnt
Gratiano
O
upright judge! Mark, Jew: Olearned judge!
Shylock
Is that the law?
312 act: the legal act confirming the Portia Thyself shalt see the act:
law.
urgest: demand. For, as thou urgest justice, be assurd
hou shalt have justice more than thou desir'st.
313
You qt ouy
Gratiano
315 O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!
Shylock
Itakethis offer then: pay the bond thrice,
nl And let the Christian go.
Here is the money.
Portia

uow The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste:

320 He shall have nothing but the penalty.
Gratiano
32I upright: honest. 0Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!
Conj'ahd Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
(Shed thou no blood nÝt cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of ffesh if thou tak'st more,
326
beostd325 AsOrmakes
less, than
substance: weight.d
ajust pound, be it but so much
it light or heavy in the substance,
even by tOr the division of the twentieth part
the oldsoraple: aweight unit
of 20 (used
grains.by T Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
328
apothecaries) But in the estimation of ahair,
329 estimation : weight.a 330(ThouGratiano
diest, and all thy goods are confiscate
ol A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
332 on the bip: at my mercy. hlagauy a Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.
Portia
sncea t i i l Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.
a sa ook bro Shylock
334 principal: the original sum aaisln Give me my principal, and let me go.
borrowed. Bassanio
335 Ihave it ready for thee; here it is.
 Act 4 Scene I 75
Portia
He hath refus'd it in the
open court:
He shallhave merely justice,
Gratiano and his bond.
A Daniel, still say I; a
Ithankthee, Jew, for second Daniel!
Shylock teaching me that word.
340 Shall I not have barely my
Portia principal?
You tau it at gouhlo be shalt
Thou
have nothing but the forfeiture,
so taken at thy peril, Jew.
Shylock
bol Why, then the devil give him good of it!
44 question: to argue. nut Il stay no longer question.
Portia
enacted: decreed.
o lls 345 The law hath yet anotherhold on you. Tarry, Jew:
)AetK Qie a vemhan - i senacted in the laws of Venice
ak eoby fo sala Det VThatbeby provd
direct against an alien
or indirect -uquon (Suyeu)
attempts
He seek thelife of any citizen, Veuian (Aude0)
rySperson (Portia useshe 35o The party 'gainst the which h doth contrive
correct legal term, stillused today).tuopL Shall seize one half his
contrive: plot. bas exnatd noc
goods;the other half
priry coffer: treasury. Comes to the privy cofter of the state;\skat Dcasj
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
54 'gainst all other voice: no matterra ob Of the duke only, 'gainst allother voice.
what anyone else says.tg onl lni 355 In which predicament, Isay, thou stand'st;
J56 manifot procecding quite clearly Aihuàtie$For it appears by manifest proceeding, eAaa tviduu
from what has happened. That indirectly, and directly too,
POTT Thou hast contrivd against the very life
OFthe defendant; andthou hast incurrd
36o rehears' d: declared. Autg6o The dangerformerly by me rehears'd,- intned
puis h mmee Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.
o not eeq tor yout Me e Beg that thou may'st haveforfeit
leave toto the
hangstate,
thyself-
Mathen ea in to qive And yet, thy wealth being
Thou hast not left the value of acord;
a nope to ag 36s Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.
gow bcae you Duke
aonk e e have ti mamy That thou shalt see the difference of our spirir,
thou ask it.
thee thy life before
genenal state: general use oftheTpardon
For half thy wealth, it is Antonios;
state.
370 And if you are humble this may The other half comes to the general state,
be reduced to a fine. 370 Which humbleneSs may drive unto afine.
Asks wim to eag
o a nell, aui (ndues
modesl.
mau)
76 Act 4 Scene I

Portia
37I not for Antonio: the: due Ay, for the state; not for Antonio.
to Antonio will not be rod Shylock compa A wh to ny
e Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: rila
ma an wM You take my house, when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life
375 When you do take the means whereby I live.
paea but c / Portia
What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
do eb uo Gratiano
377 halter: rope to hang himself with. Ahalter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake!
gratis: free of interest. Antonio
378 So please: ifit pleases.tarru
quit: be satisied with.
So please my lord the duke, andall the court,
379
for: instead of. Reduc weTo quit the fine for one half of his goods,
380 SO: if. qotd to 380 I am content so he will let me have
use
a s ta The other half in use, to render it,
381 in use: on trust-to
Antonio now describes. Upon his death, unto the gendleman
That lately stole his daughter.
Lanz ota Two things provided more, that, for this favour,
385 presenthy: immediately. Sw Lou's 385 He presently become a Christian;
dob ui dor ao thiThe other, that he do record a gift, wll (dud ot qt)
387 all he dies posses'd: all that he ano axi Here in the cOurt. of all he dies possess'd,
owns when he dies. to13osig ait o Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. J esaica
alnlsto sl b Duke
389 recant: wichdraw.llsunini laoHe shall do this, or else I do recant withduha
o t n a i l 390 The pardon that I late pronounced here. fopoaa
noindassgPortia
s Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?
n apt on lout -Shylock
Iam content.
2e to tallou
Portia Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
vemowjdoe not acknou e Shylock
aogout touuaraA t myI pray yougive me leave to go from hence:
otudu suown to wim ots Iam not well. Send the deed after me,
396
will sign it.
god-fathers: these take t h e l 395 And IDuke
responsibility for seeing that thed sl totr Get thee gone, but do it.
baptized child is properly educated in uorr y Gratiano
the Christian faith; god-fathers' was In christening shalt thou have two god-fathers;
also a joking name for the members of
men who Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
a jury-a body of twelve gallows, not to the font.
were needed to pass sentence ona ( / 1 lo bring thee to the
criminal. Gratiano suggests that aj u r y t z s [Exit Shylock]
would have condemned Shylock to b Duke (fo Poria)
death. ai vet 2e Vmud Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner,
Puniswmt CondiO
" Stott- oduce to

'att to Loneno