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The Merchant Of Venice
by
Shylock, finding himself defeated in his cruel intent, said with a disappointed look, that he would take the money; and Bassanio, rejoiced beyond measure at Antonio’s unexpected deliverance, cried out, “Here is the money!” But Portia stopped him, saying, “Softly; there is no haste; the Jew shall have nothing but the penalty: therefore prepare, Shylock, to cut off the flesh; but mind you shed no blood: nor do not cut off more nor less than just a pound; be it more or less by one poor scruple, nay if the scale turn but by the weight of a single hair, you are condemned by the laws of Venice to die, and all your wealth is forfeited to the senate.” “Give me my money, and let me go,” said Shylock. “I have it ready,” said Bassanio: “here it is.”
Shylock was going to take the money, when Portia again stopped him, saying, “Tarry, Jew; I have yet another hold upon you. By the laws of Venice, your wealth is forfeited to the state, for having conspired against the life of one of its citizens, and your life lies at the mercy of the duke; therefore, down on your knees, and ask him to pardon you.”
The duke then said to Shylock, “That you may see the difference of our Christian spirit, I pardon you your life before you ask it; half your wealth belongs to Antonio, the other half comes to the state.”
The generous Antonio then said that he would give up his share of Shylock’s wealth, if Shylock would sign a deed to make it over at his death to his daughter and her husband; for Antonio knew that the Jew had an only daughter who had lately married against his consent to a young Christian, named Lorenzo, a friend of Antonio’s, which had so offended Shylock, that he had disinherited her.
The Jew agreed to this: and being thus disappointed in his revenge, and despoiled of his riches, he said, “I am ill. Let me go home; send the deed after me, and I will sign over half my riches to my daughter.”–“Get thee gone, then,” said the duke, “and sign it; and if you repent your cruelty and turn Christian, the state will forgive you the fine of the other half of your riches.”
The duke now released Antonio, and dismissed the court. He then highly praised the wisdom and ingenuity of the young counsellor, and invited him home to dinner. Portia, who meant to return to Belmont before her husband, replied, “I humbly thank your grace, but I must away directly.” The duke said he was sorry he had not leisure to stay and dine with him; and turning to Antonio, he added, “Reward this gentleman; for in my mind you are much indebted to him.”
The duke and his senators left the court; and then Bassanio said to Portia, “Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Antonio have by your wisdom been this day acquitted of grievous penalties, and I beg you will accept of the three thousand ducats due unto the Jew.” “And we shall stand indebted to you over and above,” said Antonio, “in love and service evermore.”
Portia could not be prevailed upon to accept the money; but upon Bassanio still pressing her to accept of some reward, she said, “Give me your gloves; I will wear them for your sake;” and then Bassanio taking off his gloves, she espied the ring which she had given him upon his finger: now it was the ring the wily lady wanted to get from him to make a merry jest when she saw her Bassanio again, that made her ask him for his gloves; and she said, when she saw the ring, “and for your love I will take this ring from you.” Bassanio was sadly distressed that the counsellor should ask him for the only thing he could not part with, and he replied in great confusion, that he could not give him that ring, because it was his wife’s gift, and he had vowed never to part with it; but that he would give him the most valuable ring in Venice, and find it out by proclamation. On this Portia affected to be affronted, and left the court, saying, “You teach me, sir, how a beggar should be answered.”