Shylock Ay, his breast: So says the bond; - Doth it not, noble judge?- Portia It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh The flesh. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do 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. Come, merchant, have you anything to say? Antonio But little; I am armed, and well prepared. To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, Say, how I loved you, speak me fair in death; Antonio, I am married to a wife, Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer. Gratiano I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love; I would she were in heaven, so she could Nerissa 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house. Shylock These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter; Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! [Aside. Portia A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shylock Most rightful judge! Portia And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; Shylock Portia Most learned judge!— A sentence; come, prepare. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are a pound of flesh: Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gratiano O upright judge! - Mark, Jew; - O learned judge! Shylock Is that the law? Portia -- Thyself shall see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured, O learned judge! - Mark, Jew;-a learned judge! I take this offer then; - pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. A second Daniel! a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Portia Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Shylock Give me my principal, and let me go. Bassanio I have it ready for thee; here it is. Portia He hath refused it in the open court; He shall have merely justice and his bond. Gratiano A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shylock Portia Shall I not have barely my principal? Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, Shylock Why then the devil give him good of it! Portia Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. If it be proved against an alien, That by direct, or indirect attempts, He seek the life of any citizen, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Duke IN THE FOREST OF ARDEN. BY SHAKESPEARE. (From "As You Like It.") Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: This wide and universal theater Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Jaques All the world's a stage, Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. CORIN and TOUCHSTONE. Corin-And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone? Touchstone-Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I like it very well; but in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect it is in the fields, it pleaseth me well; but in respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As it is a spare life, look you, it fits my humor well; but as there is no more plenty in it, it goes much against my stomach. Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd? Corin-No more but that I know the more one sickens the worse at ease he is; and that he that wants money, means, and content is without three good friends; that the property of rain is to wet and fire to burn; that good pasture makes fat sheep, and that a great cause of the night is lack of the sun; that he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may complain of good breeding or comes of a very dull kindred. Touchstone - Such a one is a natural philosopher. Wast ever in court, shepherd? Corin-No, truly. Touchstone-Then thou art damned. Corin-Nay, I hope. Touchstone-Truly, thou art damned, like an ill-roasted egg, all on one side. Corin - For not being at court? Your reason. Touchstone - Why, if thou never wast at court, thou never sawest good manners; if thou never sawest good manners, then thy manners must be wicked; and wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation. Thou art in a parlous state, shepherd. Corin - Not a whit, Touchstone: those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the behavior of the country is most mockable at the court. You told me you salute not at the court, but you kiss your hands: that courtesy would be uncleanly, if courtiers were shepherds. Touchstone-Instance, briefly; come, instance. |