Por. Why, then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! So says the bond ;-doth it not, noble judge?— 75 Ay, his breast: 80 Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Most rightful judge! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast, The law allows it, and the court awards it. 85 Shy. Most learnèd judge!—A sentence; come; prepare! The words expressly are a pound of flesh : 90 Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods For as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Shy. I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go. Bass. Por. Soft! Here is the money. The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste; 95 Thyself shall see the act: 100 Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less nor more Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate! 105 110 115 Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. 120 Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question. Tarry, Jew; Por. The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice If it be proved against an alien, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 125 130 135 Thou has contrived against the very life Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, 140 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; Por. Ay, for the state-not for Antonio. 145 Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: You take my house, when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live. Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio? 150 Ant. So please my lord the duke, and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman 155 That lately stole his daughter: Two things provided more-that, for this favour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possessed, 160 Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. Shy. I am content. Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say? Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shy. I pray you give me leave to go from hence: I am not well; send the deed after me, 165 twice blessed, pours forth a double blessing. be-comes', suits, adorns. scep'-tre, the staff or baton borne by kings as an emblem or sign of authority. shows, represents; displays. tem'-por-al, earthly. at'-trib-ute, that which belongs to. plea, answer, excuse. mit'-i-gate, to soothe or soften; to lessen. fol'-low, insist upon. sen'-tence, judgment passed by the court. crave, ask earnestly. for-feit, that which is lost if certain conditions are not complied with. dis-charge', pay. ten'-der, offer. suf-fice', be enough. mal'-ice, ill-feeling. truth, honesty. wrest, twist about for a certain purpose. curb, keep under; hinder. de-cree', law. e-stab'-lished, settled. re-cord'-ed, written down. pre'-ced-ent, that which may serve as an example or rule for the future. state, the whole community or country. a Dan'-iel, a prophet of Israel, who, although but a youth, showed great wisdom. rev'-er-end, worthy of respect. oath, solemn promise. per'-ju-ry, false swearing. ten'-or, according to the agreement or promise. ex-pos-i'-tion, showing forth. charge, command, order. to judg'-ment, to deliver sentence. ex'-cel-lent, worthy; good. in-tent', intention. pur'-pose, reason. hath full re-la'-tion, says that the penalty should be paid. more el'-der. Shakspeare has both double comparatives and double superlatives. He has more better, more braver ; worst, most unkindest, &c. the very, the exact. most jot, a small portion, a drop. con-fis'-cate, confiscated, seized by the law. just, exact. sub'-stance, weight. scru'-ple, a very small weight, now disused. es'-ti-ma-tion, estimated weight. for'-feit-ure, that which had been given him, because forfeited, namely the pound of flesh. prin'-ci-pal, money, the sum that was lent at first. en-act'-ed, declared. coff'-er, a box for keeping money. de-fend'-ant, namely Antonio. ay, for the state. The half that N EXERCISES.-1. The Greek prefix peri- means round about; as perimeter, measure round about; pericardium, a membrane which incloses the heart. 2. Analyse and parse the following: 'If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth.' 3. Make sentences of your own, and use in each one or more of the following words: Suffice, rehearse, incur, recant. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE-IV. 1. The duke now released Antonio, and dismissed the court. He then highly praised the wisdom and ingenuity of the young counsellor, and invited him home to dinner. Portia, who meant to return to Belmont before her husband, replied: 'I humbly thank your Grace, but I must away directly.' 2. The duke said he was sorry he had not leisure to stay and dine with him; and, turning to Antonio, he added: Reward this gentleman; for in my mind you are much indebted to him.' The duke and his senators left the court; and then Bassanio said to Portia : Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Antonio have by your wisdom been this day acquitted of grievous penalties, and I beg you will accept of the three thousand ducats due unto the Jew.' And we shall stand indebted to you over and above,' said Antonio, 'in love and service evermore.' |
