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The danger formerly by me rehearsed.

Down therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

Gra. Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself; And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,

Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

Therefore, thou must be hanged at the state's charge.
Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.

For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's:
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
Por. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
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?
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 use1, to render it,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman

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,

Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant

The pardon that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say?
Shy. I am content.

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,

And I will sign it.

Duke.

Get thee gone, but do it. [Exit SHY.

Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon.

I must away this night toward Padua ;

And it is meet I presently 2 set forth.

1 At interest.

2 At once, directly.

leisure serves you not.

Duke. I am sorry that your
Antonio, gratify1 this gentleman;
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train.
Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have, by your wisdom, been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,
We freely cope3 your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied:
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid:
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
pray you know me, when we meet again.

I

I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things I pray you;

Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

Por. You press me far, and, therefore, I will yield.
Give me your gloves; I'll wear them for your sake:
And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more:
And you, in love, shall not deny me this.

Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas! it is a trifle:

I will not shame myself to give you this.

Por. I will have nothing else, but only this;

And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,

And find it out by proclamation :

Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:

You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks,
You teach me how a beggar should be answered.

Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
And, when she put it on, she made me vow,
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.

Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.

1 Remunerate.

2 In return for which.

3 To cope is to barter, to give in exchange.

An if your wife be not a mad woman,

And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exeunt POR. and NER.

Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring :
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valued against your wife's commandment.

Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio's house :-away; make haste.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early we will both
Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.

[Exit GRATIANO.

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[Exeunt.

Por Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,
And let him sign it. We will away to-night,

And be a day before our husbands home.
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en :

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice1,

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.

Por.

That cannot be :

His ring I do accept most thankfully;

And so, I pray you, tell him : furthermore,

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra. That will I do.

[TO PORTIA.

Ner.
Sir, I would speak with you:
I'll see if I can get my husband's ring,
Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Por. Thou may'st, I warrant.

ing

We shall have old swear

That they did give the rings away to men;

1 Further reflection.

But we'll outface them, and outswear them too.
Away, make haste: thou know'st where I will tarry.
Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
[Exeunt.

EXAMINATION ON ACT IV.

1. Quote the most beautiful passage in this act.

2. Explain the terms "malice," "remorse," ," "danger," "presently," "gratify," and "cope," as applied in this act.

3. Which is the most striking scene in the fourth act?

4. Show at what point the climax of the action is reached.

5. Have we any sympathy for Shylock?

6. What further proof of Antonio's kindness of disposition may be adduced from this act?

7. What example of play upon words may be quoted?

8. What passage here shows Shakspere's knowledge of ancient learning? 9. Is Shylock's character consistent throughout?

10. Why is the second scene necessary to this act?

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Belmont.-Avenue to PORTIA's House.

Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

Lor. The moon shines bright.—In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise, in such a night, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night.

Jes.

In such a night

;

Did Thisbè fearfully o'ertrip the dew
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismayed away.

Lor.

In such a night

Stood Dido, with a willow in her hand,

Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.

Jes.

In such a night

Medea gathered the enchanted herbs,
That did renew old son.

Lor.

In such a night

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.

Jes.

In such a night,

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well;
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,

And ne'er a true one.

Lor.

In such a night,

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,

Slander her love, and he forgave her.

Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come. But, hark! I hear the footing of a man.

Enter STEPHANO.

Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night?

Steph. A friend.

Lor. A friend? what friend? Your name, I pray you

friend?

Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word,

My mistress will before the break of day

Be here at Belmont; she doth stray about

By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.

Lor.

Who comes with her?

Steph. None but a holy hermit, and her maid.

I pray you, is my master yet returned?

Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him.

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

And ceremoniously let us prepare

Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

Enter LAUNCELOT.

Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola.

Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola! Did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo? Sola, sola!

Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here.

Laun. Sola! where? where?

Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master,

with his horn full of good news; my master will be here ere morning.

[Exit.

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