The Merchant of Venice Read Online Free PDF Page B

ravenous.
    SHYLOCK    Till thou canst rail 141 the seal from off my bond,
     Thou but offend’st 142 thy lungs to speak so loud:
      Repair 143 thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
     To endless ruin. I stand here for law.
    DUKE    This letter from Bellario doth commend
     A young and learnèd doctor in our court;
     Where is he?
    NERISSA    He attendeth here hard 148 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.
    [
Exeunt some
]
         Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.
     ‘Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of
    Reads
         your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your
     messenger came, in loving visitation 155 was with me a young
     doctor of Rome. His name is Balthasar. I acquainted him
     with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio
     the merchant. We turned o’er many books together. He
     is furnished 159 with my opinion, which—bettered with his
     own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough
     commend—comes with him, at my importunity 161 , to fill up
     your grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of
     years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend 163
     estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a
     head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial 165
     shall better publish 166 his commendation.’
    Enter Portia for Balthasar
    Dressed like a lawyer
         You hear the learnèd Bellario, what he writes,
     And here, I take it, is the doctor come.
     Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario?
    PORTIA    I did, my lord.
    DUKE    You are welcome. Take your place.
     Are you acquainted with the difference 172
     That holds this present question 173 in the court?
    PORTIA    I am informèd throughly 174 of the cause.
     Which is the merchant here, and which 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 180 that the Venetian law
     Cannot impugn 181 you as you do proceed.—
     You stand within his danger 182 , do you not?
    ANTONIO    Ay, so he says.
    PORTIA    Do you confess 184 the bond?
    ANTONIO    I do.
    PORTIA    Then must the Jew be merciful.
    SHYLOCK    On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
    PORTIA    The quality of mercy is not strained 188 ,
     It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
     Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest 190 :
     It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
     ’Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes
     The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
     His sceptre shows 194 the force of temporal power,
     The attribute to awe and majesty,
     Wherein doth sit the dread 196 and fear of kings.
     But mercy is above this sceptred sway 197 ,
     It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
     It is an attribute to God himself;
     And earthly power doth then show likest 200 God’s
     When mercy seasons 201 justice: therefore, Jew,
     Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
     That in the course of justice 203 , none of us
     Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,
     And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 205
     The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
     To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
     Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
     Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.
    SHYLOCK     My deeds upon my head! 210 I crave the law,
     The penalty and