And for thy life let justice be accus'd. SHr. Till thou can'st rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak fo loud: DUKE. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court :Where is he? NER. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. DUKE. With all my heart:---some three or four of you, Go give him courteous conduct to this place.Mean time, the court shall hear Bellario's letter. [Clerk reads.] Your grace shall understand, that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very fick : but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome, his name is Balthafar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turn'd o'er many books together: he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning, (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend,) comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my Stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let bini lacka reverend estimation', for I never knew so young a body with fo old a bead. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish bis commendation. DUKE. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he 1 writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws. ! Give me your hand: Came you from old Bellario? DUKE. You are welcome: take your place. POR. I am informed throughly of the cause. forth. POR. Is your name Shylock? SHY. Shylock is my name. POR. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed. You stand within his danger, do you not? ANT. Ay, fo he says, [ΤΟ ΑΝΤΟΝΙΟ. 4 Cannot impugn you,] To impugn is to oppose, to controvert. So, in the Tragedy of Darius, 1603: ost" Yet though my heart would fain impugn my word." Again: "If any press t' impugn what I impart." STEEVENS. 5 You ftand within his danger,] So, in the Corvyfor's Play, among the collection of Whitsun Mysteries represented at Chester. Sec Mf, Harl. 1013, p. 106: : POR ANT. I do. : Do you confefs the bond? POR. Then must the Jew be merciful. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd;" A Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this scepter'd sway, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's, When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Oughten money to an ufurere, "The one was in his daungere STEEVENS. There are frequent instances in The Pafton Letters of the use of this phrafe in the same sense; whence it is obvious, from the common language of the time, that to be in DEBT and to be in DANGER, were fynonymous terms. HENLEY. Again, in Powel's History of Wales, 1587:14 laying for his excufe that he had offended manie noblemen of England, and therefore would not come in their danger." MALONE. 6 The quality of mercy is not strain'd; &c.] In compofing these beautiful lines, it is probable that Shakspeare recollected the following verse in Ecclefiafticus, XXXV. 20: Mercy is feafonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought." 2 DOUCE. And earthly power doth then show likeft God's, When mercy feajons justice.] So, in King Edward III. a tragedy, 1596: God, And kings approach the nearest unto By giving life and fafety unto men." MALONE. Though justice be thy plea, consider this,- SHr. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not fuffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not fuffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And 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. 7 - in the course of justice, none of us Should fee falvation: Portia referring the Jew to the Chriftian doctrine of falvation, and the Lord's Prayer, is a little out of character. BLACKSTONE. 8 My deeds upon my head!) An imprecation adopted from that of the Jews to Pilate: "His blood be on us, and our children!" HENLEY, 9 Yea, twice the fum:) We should read thrice the fum. Portia, a few lines below, fays Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee." And Shylock himself supports the emendation: " I take his offer then; -pay the bond thrice." The editions, indeed, read this offer; but Mr. Steevens has already proposed the alteration we ought to adopt. RITSON. malice bears down truth.] Malice oppresses honesty; a true man in old language is an honest man. We now call the jury good men and true. JOHNSON. 1 Por. It must not be; there is no power in Ve nice Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a precedent; And many an error, by the fame example, SHY. A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Da- O wife young judge, how do I honour thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. SHr. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my foul? No, not for Venice. POR. Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim SHY. When it is paid according to the tenour.- ANT. Most heartily I do befeech the court To give the judgement. POR. Why then, thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife: SHY. O noble judge! O excellent young man! |