forfeit of my bond.
PORTIA Is he not able to discharge 212 the money?
BASSANIO Yes, here I tender 213 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 217
That malice bears down truth 218 . And I beseech you
Wrest once 219 the law to your authority.
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will.
PORTIA It must not be; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree establishèd.
’Twill be recorded for 224 a precedent,
And many an error by the same example
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.
SHYLOCK A Daniel 227 come to judgement! Yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!
PORTIA I pray you let me look upon the bond.
SHYLOCK Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
Gives Portia the bond
PORTIA Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee.
SHYLOCK An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven.
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.
PORTIA Why, this bond is forfeit,
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
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 tenure 240 .
It doth appear you are a worthy judge,
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 judgement. By my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.
ANTONIO Most heartily I do beseech the court
To give the judgement.
PORTIA Why then, thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
SHYLOCK O noble judge! O excellent young man!
PORTIA For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to 254 the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHYLOCK ’Tis very true. O wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
PORTIA 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.
PORTIA It is so. Are there balance 262 here to weigh
The flesh?
SHYLOCK I have them ready.
PORTIA Have by 265 some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop 266 his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.
SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond?
PORTIA 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.
Looking at the bond
PORTIA Come, merchant, have you anything to say?
ANTONIO But little. I am armed 272 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 276 her use
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 honourable wife.
Tell her the process 282 of Antonio’s end.
Say how I loved you; speak me fair in death 283 .
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge
Whether Bassanio had not once a love 285 .
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that