the_merchant_of_venice

The Merchant of Venice

Act IV Scene I

Venice. A court of justice

Duke: Go at once and call the Jew to the court. Make room and let him stand before our face.

Solanio: He is coming, my lord.

Duke: Shylock, the world thinks, and I also think so, that you just lead this fashion of your malice to the last hour of the act and then you'll show your mercy and remorse, which is stranger than your strange apparent cruelty. What will you say, Jew? We all expect a gentle answer.

Shylock: I have 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.

Duke: Why you rather choose to have a weight of human flesh than to receive three thousand ducats.

Shylock: Some men don’t love a gaping pig; some are mad if they see a cat. We human being can control our likes and dislikes. I hate Antonio and this is my answer.

Bassanio: This is no answer, you unfeeling man, to excuse your cruelty. Shylock: I am not bound to please you 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: An offence at the first time shouldn’t cause a hate.

Shylock: What? You would havea serpent sting you twice?

(Crowd shouts in derision)

Antonio: I pray you to think you are questioning with the Jew: you may as well go stand upon the beach and ask the flood to lower its usual height. (Sighs) You may as well question with the wolf why he has made the ewe bleat for the lamb. You may as well do anyth ing if you can soften Jewish’s heart which is harder than anything in the world. Therefore I do pray you, make no more offers, and

use no farther means. Let me have judgment and Jew’s will. (All) No! No!

Bassanio: You loaned me three thousand ducats. Here are six. (Crowd gasp)

Bassanio: You lent me three thousand ducats. What if I pay you six thousand ducats in return? (Crowd gasp)

Shylock: If each of the six thousand ducats could change into six parts and each part could become a ducat. I would not draw them. I would have my bond.

Duke: Since you are not merciful at all, how could you hope for others’ mercy in the long run?

Shylock: What judgment should I fear, doing no wrong? Most of you have bought slaves and use them like your asses and your dogs. Why don’t let them free?

Duke: Because we bought them. The slaves are ours.

Shylock: So do I answer you: The pound of flesh that I demand of him is dearly bought. ' This is mine. ' This is mine! 'This is mine. And I will have it. If you deny me, fie upon your law. I stand for judgment. Answer. - Shall I have it? - (Crowd gasp) (Crowd shouting)

Duke: Silence! Silence! Silence! Upon my power I may dismiss this court unless Bellario, a learned doctor that I have sent for to determine this come here today. Solanio: My lord! Here stays without (outside) a messenger with letters from the doctor just come from Padua.

Duke: Call the messenger. (Nerissa comes to the court) Do you come from Padua, from old Bellario?

Nerissa: From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.

Bassanio: Why do you whet(sharpen) your knife so earnestly?

Shylock: To cut the flesh from that bankrupt there.

Gratiano: Can no prayers (moves) pierce you?

Shylock: No.

Gratiano: Be you damned, execrable dog and for your life let justice be accused.

Shylock: Till you can erase the seal from off my bond, or you are just hurting your lungs to speak so loud. I stand here for law. I stand for law!

Duke: Silence! Silence! This letter does commend a young and learned doctor to our court. Well, where is he?

Nerissa: He is waiting here nearby to know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

Duke: Go, and give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

Clerk: "Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick "but in the instant your messenger came there was with me a young doctor of Rome "whose name is Balthasar.” He comes at my asking to take my place. "I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, "for I never knew so young a body with so old a head.” I leave him to your gracious acceptance."

Duke: You heard Bellario, what he writes. Oh, and here, I take it, comes the doctor. (Portia kisses the hand of the Duke) You are welcome. Take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference that this present question in the court holds?

Portia: I am informed thoroughly of the case. Which is the merchant here and which is the Jew?

Duke: Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

Portia: Is your name Shylock?

Shylock: Shylock is my name.

Portia:Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, yet in such rule that the Venetian law cannot deny you as you do proceed. (To Antonio) You stand within his power, don’t you?

Antonio: Yes, he says so.

Portia: Do you confess the bond?

Antonio: I do.

Portia: Then the Jew must be merciful.

Shylock: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained; it drops as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed: it blesses him that gives and him that takes. It is the mightiest in the mighty. It makes the monarch better than his crown. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty wherein does sit the dread and fear of kings. But mercy is above this sceptered sway. It is enthroned in the heart of kings. It is an attribute to God himself and earthly power does then show like of God's when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, though justice is your plea, consider this. In the course of justice, none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy and that same prayer does teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. I have spoken thus much to mitigate the justice of your plea, which if you follow this strict course of Venice must needs give sentence against the merchant there.

Shylock: My deeds upon my head. I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Portia: Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bassanio: Yes, here I tender it for him in court, yea, twice the sum. If that is not enough, I will be bound to pay it ten times or more on forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart! If this is not enough it must appear that malice bears down on truth. (Bassanio rushes out and kneels down.) 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.

Portia: It must not be. There is no power in Venice can alter an established decree. It will be recorded for a precedent and many an error of the same example will rush into the state. It cannot be.

Shylock: A Daniel come to judgment. (Crowd say No) Yea, a Daniel. O wise young judge, how I do honor you.

Portia: I pray you; let me look upon the bond.

Shylock: Most reverend (honorable) doctor, here it is.

Portia: Shylock, there is twice the money offered you.

Shylock: An oath, an oath. I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No. Not for Venice.

Portia: Well, this bond is forfeit. And according to the law, the Jew may claim a pound of flesh to be cut off by him nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful. Take twice your money, and let me tear the bond.

Shylock: When it is paid, according to the terms.

Antonio: Most heartily I do beseech the court to give the judgment.

(The Duke signals Portia to come near and then the two whisper)

Portia: Then thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Shylock: O noble judge, excellent young man.

Portia: For the intent and purpose of the law fully recognize the validity of penalty which here appears due upon the bond.

Shylock: It is very true. O wise and upright judge. How much older you are than you look.

Portia: Therefore, lay bare your bosom.

Shylock: Yes, his breast. So says the bond, does it not, noble judge? Nearest the heart. Those are the very words.

Portia: It is so. Are there balances here to weigh the flesh?

Shylock: I have them here. (Crowd gasp) (Antonio faints and then is set on the chair)

Portia: Find a surgeon, Shylock. It's your charge to stop his wounds lest he should bleed to death.

Shylock: Is it so mentioned in the bond?

Portia: It is not so expressed but what of that? It were good that you do so much for charity.

Shylock: I cannot find it. It is not in the bond.

Portia: You, merchant, have anything to say?

Antonio: But little. (make a sign of cross) I am armed and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well. Don’t grieve that I am fallen to this for you, for herein Fortune shows herself kinder than usual. Commend me to your honorable wife. Tell her the process of Antonio's end. Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death. And when the tale is told, let her judge whether Bassanio had once been loved or not. You shall repent that you lose your friend rather than that he pays your debt. For if the Jew does 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. But life itself, my wife and all the world are not with me esteemed above your life.

I would lose all, yes,and sacrifice them all, here to this devil to deliver you. Gratiano: I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love –I’d would that she were in heaven, so she could entreat some power to change this cursed Jew!

Shylock: I have a daughter! I’d rather marry her to a th ief than to a Christian. We are wasting time. I pray you, pursue sentence.

Portia: You may proceed. A pound of that merchant's flesh is yours. The court awards it and the law does give it.

Shylock: Most rightful judge.

Portia: You must cut this flesh from off his breast. The court awards it and the law allows it.

Shylock: Most learned judge. A sentence. Come. Prepare.

Portia: Tarry a little! There is something else. This bond does not give you here a drop of blood. The words obviously are a pound of flesh. Take then your bond, take then your pound of flesh, but in the cutting of it, if you do shed one drop of Christian blood, your lands and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate to the state of Venice.

Gratiano: O upright judge! Mark, Jew. Learned judge!

Shylock: Is that the law?

Portia: Yourself shall see the act. For as you urge on justice, be

assured you shall have justice more than you desire.

Shylock: Well. I have taken the offer, then. Pay the bond twice and let

the Christian go.

Bassanio: Here is the money.

Portia: Soft. The Jew shall have all justice. No haste. He shall have

nothing but the penalty. (Crowd murmurs) Therefore, prepare a knife to

cut off the flesh. No blood nor cut less nor more but just a pound of flesh. If you take more or less than a pound, if the scale does turn in

the estimation of a hair, you die and all your goods are confiscate. Gratiano: A second Daniel! (Laughter) Now, infidel, I have you on the

hip!

Portia: Why does the Jew pause?

Shylock: Shall I even have not my principal?

Portia: You shall have nothing but your forfeiture, so take it at your peril, Jew.

Shylock: Then let the devil give him good of it. I'll stay no longer. Portia: Tarry, Jew. The law has yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice,

if it is proved against an alien that in direct or indirect attempts he sought the life of any citizenThe party against what he does shall seize

one half of his goods. The other half comes to the privy coffers the

state and the offender's life lies in the mercy of the Duke only, against

all other voice. (Antonio is released and begins to cry) In which predicament, I say you stand. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. Gratiano: (goes near to Shylock) Beg that you may have leave to hang yourself.

Duke: Then you shall see the difference in our spirit, I pardon you your life before you ask it. For half your wealth, it is Antonio's, the other

half shall come to the general state.

Shylock: No, take my life and all. You take my house when you take the

wealth that does sustain my house. You take my life when you take the means whereby I live.

Portia: What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

Gratiano: A free halter, nothing else, for God's sake.

Antonio: So please my lord ,the Duke and all the court, I give up the fine of one half of his goods. I am content if he will let me use the other half in trust and upon his death to give it to the gentleman that lately stole his daughter. One thing that provided more, that, for this favor, he shall presently become a Christian. (Shylock: contained sobbing)

Duke: He shall do this or I’ll recant the pardon. I have pronounced here.

Portia: Are you contented, Jew? What do you say?

Shylock: Oh... I am contented.

Duke: Clerk, prepare a deed of gift.

Shylock: I pray you; let me leave and go from here. I... I am not well. Send a deed after me and I will sign it.