The Merchant of Venice

Read The Merchant of Venice for Free Online

Book: Read The Merchant of Venice for Free Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
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

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