The Merchant of Venice: Act 4, Scene 1
Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes,
ANTONIO, BASSANIO,
[SALERIO], GRATIANO, [with others].
DUKE
1 What, is Antonio here?
ANTONIO
2 Ready, so please your grace.
DUKE
3. answer: satisfy.
3 I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer
4 A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
5 Uncapable of pity, void and empty
6. dram: i.e., smallest amount.
6 From any dram of mercy.
ANTONIO
6 I have heard
7. qualify: moderate.
7 Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify
8 His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate
9 And that no lawful means can carry me
10. envy's: malice's.
10 Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose
11 My patience to his fury, and am arm'd
12. suffer: endure.
12 To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
13. tyranny: violence, cruelty.
13 The very tyranny and rage of his.
DUKE
14 Go one, and call the Jew into the court.
SALERIO
15 He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.
Enter SHYLOCK.
DUKE
16. our: The "royal" plural.
16 Make room, and let him stand before our face.
17 Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
18. thou but leadest this fashion: you only sustain this pretense. 19. last hour of act: last possible minute before action is taken. 20. remorse: pity. strange: extraordinary.
18 That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice
19 To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought
20 Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange
21 Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
22 And where thou now exact'st the penalty,
23 Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,
24. loose: release; i.e., waive. forfeiture: forfeit, penalty; i.e., the pound of flesh.
24 Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
25 But, touch'd with human gentleness and love,
26. moi'ty: part, portion.
26 Forgive a moi'ty of the principal;
27 Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
28. huddled: crowded.
28 That have of late so huddled on his back,
29. Enow: enough.
29 Enow to press a royal merchant down
30 And pluck commiseration of his state
31 From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
32. stubborn: unyielding. Turks and Tartars: —Both groups had the reputation . . . more 33. offices: acts.
32 From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd
33 To offices of tender courtesy.
34. gentle answer: (1) gentle, forgiving; (2) the reply of a gentleman. —"Gentle" also suggests "Gentile," meaning "not Jewish."
34 We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
SHYLOCK
35. possess'd: informed.
35 I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
36 And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
37 To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
38. danger: injury, harm.
38 If you deny it, let the danger light
39. Upon your charter and your city's freedom: Venice's "charter" would state the rights, privileges, and restrictions of merchants doing business in the city. . . . more
39 Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
40 You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
41 A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
42 Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:
43. humor: disposition, whim.
43 But, say, it is my humor: is it answer'd?
44 What if my house be troubled with a rat
45 And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
46. ban'd: killed, especially by poison, such as ratsbane.
46 To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd yet?
47. gaping pig: roasted pig with its mouth open.
47 Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
48 Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;
49 And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
50. affection: instinctual feelings, inclinations.
50 Cannot contain their urine: for affection,
51 Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
52 Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:
53 As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
54‑56. he ... he ... he: one person ... another ... yet another.
54 Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
55 Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
56. woolen: i.e., with flannel-covered bag. of force: necessarily.
56 Why he, a woolen bagpipe; but of force
57 Must yield to such inevitable shame
58 As to offend, himself being offended;
59 So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
60. lodg'd: settled, steadfast, deep-seated.
60 More than a lodg'd hate and a certain loathing
61 I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
62. losing: unprofitable.
62 A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?
BASSANIO
63 This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
64. current: tenor, drift.
64 To excuse the current of thy cruelty.
SHYLOCK
65 I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
BASSANIO
66 Do all men kill the things they do not love?
SHYLOCK
67 Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
BASSANIO
68 Every offence is not a hate at first.
SHYLOCK
69 What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
ANTONIO
70. think: bear in mind. question: argue.
70 I pray you, think you question with the Jew:
71 You may as well go stand upon the beach
72. main flood: seat at high tide. bate: abate, diminish.
72 And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
73 You may as well use question with the wolf
74. ewe: a female sheep.
74 Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
75 You may as well forbid the mountain pines
76 To wag their high tops and to make no noise,
77. fretten: fretted.
77 When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;
78 You may as well do anything most hard,
79 As seek to soften that — than which what's harder? —
80 His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,
81 Make no more offers, use no farther means,
82. conveniency: fitness.
82 But with all brief and plain conveniency
83 Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.
BASSANIO
84 For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
SHYLOCK
85 If every ducat in six thousand ducats
86 Were in six parts and every part a ducat,
87. draw: receive, take.
87 I would not draw them; I would have my bond.
DUKE
88 How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?
SHYLOCK
89 What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?
90 You have among you many a purchased slave,
91 Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,
92. parts: duties, capacities, tasks.
92 You use in abject and in slavish parts,
93 Because you bought them: shall I say to you,
94 Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
95. burthens: burdens.
95 Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds
96 Be made as soft as yours and let their palates
97. season'd: gratified.
97 Be season'd with such viands? You will answer
98 "The slaves are ours": so do I answer you:
99 The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
100. dearly: at great expense.
100 Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it.
101 If you deny me, fie upon your law!
102 There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
103 I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?
DUKE
104. Upon my power: in accordance with my legal authority.
104 Upon my power I may dismiss this court,
105. a learned doctor: —Bellario is a doctor of law, a legal expert, not a physician.
105 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,
106 Whom I have sent for to determine this,
107 Come here today.
SALERIO
107. stays without: waits outside.
107 My lord, here stays without
108. letters: a letter.
108 A messenger with letters from the doctor,
109 New come from Padua.
DUKE
110 Bring us the letter; call the messenger.
BASSANIO
111 Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!
112 The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,
113 Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
ANTONIO
114. tainted wether: sickly sheep.
114 I am a tainted wether of the flock,
115. Meetest: fittest.
115 Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
116 Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me
117 You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,
118. live still: go on living.
118 Than to live still and write mine epitaph.
Enter NERISSA,
[dressed like a lawyer's clerk].
DUKE
119 Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
NERISSA
120 From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.
[Presenting a letter.]
BASSANIO
121 Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
SHYLOCK
122 To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
GRATIANO
123 Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
124 Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can,
125. hangman's: executioner's.
125 No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness
126 Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
SHYLOCK
127 No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
GRATIANO
128. inexecrable: that which cannot be execrated enough.
128 O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog!
129. for thy life: because you are permitted to live.
129 And for thy life let justice be accused.
130 Thou almost makest me waver in my faith
131. Pythagoras: ancient Greek philosopher who argued for the transmigration of souls.
131 To hold opinion with Pythagoras,
132 That souls of animals infuse themselves
133 Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
134. hang'd for human slaughter: A possible allusion to the ancient practice of trying and . . . more 135. fell: fierce, cruel. fleet: flit.
134 Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,
135 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,
136 And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,
137 Infused itself in thee; for thy desires
138 Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.
SHYLOCK
139 Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,
140. offend'st: injurest.
140 Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:
141 Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
142. cureless: incurable.
142 To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
DUKE
143 This letter from Bellario doth commend
144 A young and learned doctor to our court.
145 Where is he?
NERISSA
145 He attendeth here hard by,
146 To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.
DUKE
147 With all my heart. Some three or four of you
148. conduct: escort.
148 Go give him courteous conduct to this place.
149 Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter.
[Reads]
150 "Your grace shall understand that at
151 the receipt of your letter I am very sick: but in
152 the instant that your messenger came, in loving
153 visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome;
154 his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the
155 cause in controversy between the Jew and
156 Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books
157 together: he is furnished with my opinion; which,
158 bettered with his own learning, the greatness
159‑160. comes with / him: i.e., my opinion is brought by him.
159 whereof I cannot enough commend, comes with
160 him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's
161 request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of
162. to let him lack: which will deprive him of.
162 years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend
163 estimation; for I never knew so young a body with
164 so old a head. I leave him to your gracious
165. trial: testing, performance. publish: make known.
165 acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his
166 commendation."
DUKE
167 You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes:
168 And here, I take it, is the doctor come.
Enter PORTIA for Balthazar.
169 Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?
PORTIA
170 I did, my lord.
DUKE
170 You are welcome: take your place.
171. difference: argument, dispute.
171 Are you acquainted with the difference
172 That holds this present question in the court?
PORTIA
173. throughly: thoroughly. cause: case.
173 I am informed throughly of the cause.
174 Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
DUKE
175 Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
PORTIA
176 Is your name Shylock?
SHYLOCK
176 Shylock is my name.
PORTIA
177 Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;
178. rule: order.
178 Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
179. impugn: find fault with.
179 Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
180. within his danger: at his mercy.
180 You stand within his danger, do you not?
ANTONIO
181 Ay, so he says.
PORTIA
181. Do you confess the bond?: i.e., Do you admit that you agreed to the terms of the loan?
181 Do you confess the bond?
ANTONIO
182 I do.
PORTIA
182 Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK
183 On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
PORTIA
184. strain'd: forced, constrained, compelled.
184 The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
185 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
186. is twice blest: i.e., bestows a double blessing.
186 Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
187 It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
188 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
189 The throned monarch better than his crown;
190 His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
191. attribute to: visible symbol of.
191 The attribute to awe and majesty,
192 Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
193 But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
194 It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
195. attribute to: quality or characteristic of.
195 It is an attribute to God himself;
196 And earthly power doth then show likest God's
197. seasons: tempers.
197 When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
198 Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
199 That, in the course of justice, none of us
200 Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
201. that same prayer: i.e., the Lord's Prayer. The particular verse that Portia has in mind is "And forgive . . . more
201 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
202 The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
203. mitigate the justice of thy plea: i.e., soften your plea for strict justice; show merciful reasons why you should not ask for strict justice.
203 To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
204 Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
205 Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
SHYLOCK
206. My deeds upon my head: i.e., I will take the consequences of my actions (and Antonio should take the consequences of his). —Portia has said, "we do pray for mercy," but Shylock now replies that he needs no mercy.
206 My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
207 The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
PORTIA
208 Is he not able to discharge the money?
BASSANIO
209 Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
210 Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,
211 I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
212 On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:
213 If this will not suffice, it must appear
214. bears down truth: overthrows righteousness.
214 That malice bears down truth.
[To the Duke.]
214 And I beseech you,
215. Wrest: strain, forcibly subject.
215 Wrest once the law to your authority:
216 To do a great right, do a little wrong,
217 And curb this cruel devil of his will.
PORTIA
218 It must not be; there is no power in Venice
219 Can alter a decree established:
220 'Twill be recorded for a precedent,
221 And many an error by the same example
222 Will rush into the state: it cannot be.
SHYLOCK
223. Daniel: In the story of Susanna and the Elders, the youthful Daniel intervenes when two old men falsely accuse Susanna. . . . more
223 A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!
224 O wise young judge, how I do honor thee!
PORTIA
225 I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
SHYLOCK
226 Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
PORTIA
227. thrice thy money: Actually, Bassanio offered "twice the sum" immediately, or ten times the amount under a new contract. See lines 210‑212.
227 Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.
SHYLOCK
228 An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
229 Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
230 No, not for Venice.
PORTIA
230 Why, this bond is forfeit;
231 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
232 A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
233 Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:
234 Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
SHYLOCK
235. tenure: tenor, conditions.
235 When it is paid according to the tenure.
236 It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
237 You know the law, your exposition
238 Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,
239 Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
240 Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear
241 There is no power in the tongue of man
242. stay here on: make a stand on; i.e., insist upon the fulfillment of.
242 To alter me: I stay here on my bond.
ANTONIO
243 Most heartily I do beseech the court
244 To give the judgment.
PORTIA
244 Why then, thus it is:
245 You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
SHYLOCK
246 O noble judge! O excellent young man!
PORTIA
247 For the intent and purpose of the law
248. Hath full relation to: i.e., fully authorizes, is fully in accord with.
248 Hath full relation to the penalty,
249 Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHYLOCK
250 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!
251 How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
PORTIA
252 Therefore lay bare your bosom.
SHYLOCK
252 Ay, his breast:
253 So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?
254 "Nearest his heart": those are the very words.
PORTIA
255. balance: scales (construed as plural).
255 It is so. Are there balance here to weigh
256 The flesh?
SHYLOCK
256 I have them ready.
PORTIA
257. on your charge: at your personal expense.
257 Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
258 To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
SHYLOCK
259 Is it so nominated in the bond?
PORTIA
260 It is not so express'd: but what of that?
261 'Twere good you do so much for charity.
SHYLOCK
262 I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.
PORTIA
263 You, merchant, have you any thing to say?
ANTONIO
264 But little: I am arm'd and well prepared.
265 Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well!
266 Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
267 For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
268. still: regularly. use: practice, habit, custom.
268 Than is her custom: it is still her use
269 To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
270 To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
271 An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
272 Of such misery doth she cut me off.
273 Commend me to your honorable wife:
274. process: story.
274 Tell her the process of Antonio's end;
275 Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death;
276 And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge
277. a love: i.e., a friend's love.
277 Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
278. Repent but you: grieve only you.
278 Repent but you that you shall lose your friend,
279 And he repents not that he pays your debt;
280 For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
281 I'll pay it presently with all my heart.
BASSANIO
282 Antonio, I am married to a wife
283 Which is as dear to me as life itself;
284 But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
285 Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:
286 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
287 Here to this devil, to deliver you.
PORTIA
288 Your wife would give you little thanks for that,
289 If she were by, to hear you make the offer.
GRATIANO
290 I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love:
291 I would she were in heaven, so she could
292 Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
NERISSA
293 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;
294 The wish would make else an unquiet house.
SHYLOCK [Aside.]
295 These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter;
296. Barrabas: a criminal, convicted of murder in an insurrection, whom the Jews asked Pontius Pilate . . . more
296 Would any of the stock of Barrabas
297 Had been her husband rather than a Christian!
298. trifle: waste on trifles. pursue: proceed with.
298 We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.
PORTIA
299 A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:
300 The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
SHYLOCK
301 Most rightful judge!
PORTIA
302 And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:
303 The law allows it, and the court awards it.
SHYLOCK
304 Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!
PORTIA
305 Tarry a little; there is something else.
306 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
307 The words expressly are "a pound of flesh":
308 Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
309 But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
310 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
311 Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
312 Unto the state of Venice.
GRATIANO
313 O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!
SHYLOCK
314 Is that the law?
PORTIA
314 Thyself shalt see the act:
315 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
316 Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.
GRATIANO
317 O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!
SHYLOCK
318 I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice
319 And let the Christian go.
BASSANIO
319 Here is the money.
PORTIA
320. Soft: not so fast.
320 Soft!
321. all: only.
321 The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste:
322 He shall have nothing but the penalty.
GRATIANO
323 O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!
PORTIA
324 Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
325 Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
326 But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more
327. just: exact.
327 Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
328. substance: mass or gross weight.
328 As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
329. division: fraction.
329 Or the division of the twentieth part
330. scruple: twenty grains apothecaries' weight, a very small amount. 331. in the estimation of a hair: by a hair's breadth (?), or by the weight of a hair (?).
330 Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
331 But in the estimation of a hair,
332 Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.
GRATIANO
333 A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!
334. on the hip: at a disadvantage (a wrestling term). —In his first appearance in the play, Shylock said of Antonio, "If I can catch him once upon the hip, / I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." ; however, Gratiano wasn't present.
334 Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.
PORTIA
335 Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.
SHYLOCK
336 Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO
337 I have it ready for thee; here it is.
PORTIA
338 He hath refused it in the open court:
339 He shall have merely justice and his bond.
GRATIANO
340 A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!
341 I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
SHYLOCK
342 Shall I not have barely my principal?
PORTIA
343 Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
344 To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.
SHYLOCK
345 Why, then the devil give him good of it!
346. stay no longer question: await no further determination of the case.
346 I'll stay no longer question.
PORTIA
346 Tarry, Jew:
347 The law hath yet another hold on you.
348 It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
349 If it be proved against an alien
350 That by direct or indirect attempts
351 He seek the life of any citizen,
352. contrive: plot.
352 The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive
353. seize: take possession of.
353 Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
354. privy coffer: private treasury.
354 Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
355. lies in: lies at.
355 And the offender's life lies in the mercy
356 Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
357 In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st;
358 For it appears, by manifest proceeding,
359 That indirectly and directly too
360 Thou hast contrived against the very life
361 Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
362. danger formerly by me rehears'd: penalty already cited by me.
362 The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
363 Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.
GRATIANO
364 Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:
365 And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
366 Thou hast not left the value of a cord;
367. charge: expense.
367 Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.
DUKE
368 That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,
369. pardon: remit (a penalty).
369 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
370. For: as for.
370 For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;
371 The other half comes to the general state,
372. Which humbleness may drive unto a fine: i.e., which penitence on your part may persuade me to reduce to a fine.
372 Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
PORTIA
373. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio: i.e., yes, state's portion may be reduced to a fine, but not Antonio's portion.
373 Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
SHYLOCK
374 Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:
375 You take my house when you do take the prop
376 That doth sustain my house; you take my life
377 When you do take the means whereby I live.
PORTIA
378 What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
GRATIANO
379. halter: hangman's noose.
379 A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.
ANTONIO
380‑385. So please . . . daughter: This isn't clear. Is Antonio content for Shylock to pay a fine to the state, instead of forfeiting half of his goods, or does Antonio want the state to forgo even the fine? And what does "in use" mean? Is Antonio setting up a trust fund, or taking a forced loan from Shylock? In any case, it appears that Shylock is going to have some money to live on, since he doesn't repeat his vehement objections. 387. presently: at once, immediately.
380 So please my lord the duke and all the court
381 To quit the fine for one half of his goods,
382 I am content; so he will let me have
383 The other half in use, to render it,
384 Upon his death, unto the gentleman
385 That lately stole his daughter:
386 Two things provided more, that, for this favor,
387 He presently become a Christian;
388 The other, that he do record a gift,
389. of all he dies posses'd: i.e., what remains of the portion not placed under Antonio's control.
389 Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
390 Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.
DUKE
391 He shall do this, or else I do recant
392 The pardon that I late pronounced here.
PORTIA
393 Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?
SHYLOCK
394 I am content.
PORTIA
394 Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
SHYLOCK
395 I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;
396 I am not well: send the deed after me,
397 And I will sign it.
DUKE
397 Get thee gone, but do it.
GRATIANO
398 In christening shalt thou have two godfathers:
399. ten more: i.e., to make up a jury of twelve.
399 Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
400. font: A receptacle used in the sacrament of baptism.
400 To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
Exit [SHYLOCK].
DUKE
401 Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.
PORTIA
402 I humbly do desire your grace of pardon:
403 I must away this night toward Padua,
404 And it is meet I presently set forth.
DUKE
405 I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.
406. gratify: reward.
406 Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
407. mind: opinion.
407 For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.
Exeunt Duke and his Train.
BASSANIO
408 Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
409 Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
410. in lieu whereof: in return for which.
410 Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
411 Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
412. cope: match, requite.
412 We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
ANTONIO
413 And stand indebted, over and above,
414 In love and service to you evermore.
PORTIA
415 He is well paid that is well satisfied;
416 And I, delivering you, am satisfied
417 And therein do account myself well paid:
418 My mind was never yet more mercenary.
419 I pray you, know me when we meet again:
420 I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
BASSANIO
421. of force: necessarily. attempt: urge.
421 Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:
422 Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
423 Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,
424 Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
PORTIA
425 You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
426 Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;
427 And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:
428 Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;
429 And you in love shall not deny me this.
BASSANIO
430 This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle!
431 I will not shame myself to give you this.
PORTIA
432 I will have nothing else but only this;
433 And now methinks I have a mind to it.
BASSANIO
434 There's more depends on this than on the value.
435 The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
436. proclamation: advertisement (by a herald).
436 And find it out by proclamation:
437 Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.
PORTIA
438 I see, sir, you are liberal in offers
439 You taught me first to beg; and now methinks
440 You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.
BASSANIO
441 Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
442 And when she put it on, she made me vow
443 That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.
PORTIA
444 That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
445 An if your wife be not a madwoman,
446 And know how well I have deserved the ring,
447 She would not hold out enemy for ever,
448. For giving: because you gave.
448 For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
Exeunt [Portia and Nerissa].
ANTONIO
449 My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring:
450 Let his deservings and my love withal
451. commandement:. Quadrisyllabic, as frequently in Shakespeare.
451 Be valued against your wife's commandement.
BASSANIO
452 Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
453 Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,
454 Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste.
Exit Gratiano.
455 Come, you and I will thither presently;
456 And in the morning early will we both
457 Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.
Exeunt.