SCENE 1: VENICE. A COURT OF JUSTICE.

[Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others]

DUKE

What, is Antonio here?

Well, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO

Ready, so please your grace.

I’m here, your grace.

DUKE

I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer

I sympathise with you: you’ve come to answer

A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch

A stone-cold and inhuman enemy

Uncapable of pity, void and empty

Incapable of pity, and devoid

From any dram of mercy.

Of any ounce of mercy.

ANTONIO

I have heard

Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify

Your grace has tried his hardest to commute

His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate

His stubborn plans; but since he’s obstinate

And that no lawful means can carry me

And there’s no legal course for me to follow

Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose

To free me from his envy, I’ll oppose him

My patience to his fury, and am armed

With patience to his anger, and I’m ready

To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,

To suffer, with a quiet dignity,

The very tyranny and rage of his.

His violent oppression and his rage.

DUKE

Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

Go, one of you, and call the Jew to court.

SALERIO

He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

He’s waiting at the door; he comes, my lord.

[Enter SHYLOCK]

DUKE

Make room, and let him stand before our face.

Make room, and let him stand in front of us.

Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,

Shylock, all people think, and I agree,

That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice

That you are dragging out this show of malice

To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought

Until the final minute; then it’s thought

Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange

That you will then show mercy more unusual

Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;

Than your unusual cruelty appears;

And where thou now exact'st the penalty,

And whilst you now demand the bond is paid,

Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,

Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,

Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,

Not only will you drop the forfeiture,

But, touched with human gentleness and love,

But, being touched by gentleness and love,

Forgive a moiety of the principal;

You will forgive some of the money too.

Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

You’ll have a little pity for his losses

That have of late so huddled on his back,

That have been weighing on him recently,

Enow to press a royal merchant down

Enough to break a royal merchant’s spirit

And pluck commiseration of his state

And draw commiseration for his plight from

From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,

Cold-hearted folk with hearts of brass or stone,

From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained

Or even stubborn Turks and Tartars, who are

To offices of tender courtesy.

Not known for being lenient or kind.

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

SHYLOCK

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose;

I have informed your grace of my intention;

And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn

And by our holy Sabbath I have sworn

To have the due and forfeit of my bond:

To claim the forfeit I am owed by law.

If you deny it, let the danger light

If you deny me it, let others see

Upon your charter and your city's freedom.

Your broken laws that hurt your city’s freedom.

You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have

You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have

A weight of carrion flesh than to receive

A lump of rotting flesh instead of getting

Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:

Three-thousand coins of gold: I will not answer,

But, say, it is my humour: is it answered?

But tell you it’s my choice. Is that an answer?

What if my house be troubled with a rat

What if my house became all rat-infested

And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats

And I choose to pay out ten thousand gold coins

To have it baned? What, are you answered yet?

To have them poisoned? Has that answered you yet?

Some men there are love not a gaping pig;

Some loathe a pig’s head served upon the table,

Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;

Whilst other folk are terrified of cats;

And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,

And others, when they hear the sound of bagpipes,

Cannot contain their urine: for affection,

Involuntarily, they piss themselves.

Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood

One’s instinct and one’s preferences are fickle

Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:

For what they like or loathe. Now, for your answer:

As there is no firm reason to be rendered,

As there’s no rhyme or reason for explaining

Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;

Why someone hates a pig’s head on the table;

Why he, a harmless necessary cat;

Or why one finds a harmless cat alarming;

Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of force

Or why one fears the bagpipes; but is forced

Must yield to such inevitable shame

Instinctively, embarrassingly acting

As to offend, himself being offended;

Offensively, offending to himself.

So can I give no reason, nor I will not,

So I cannot explain, nor will I try,

More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing

Except for all the hate and utter loathing

I bear Antonio, that I follow thus

I bear Antonio, why I’ve decided

A losing suit against him. Are you answered?

To lose my gold for him. Now, are you answered?

BASSANIO

This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

That’s not an answer, cold and heartless man,

To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

That justifies your current cruelty.

SHYLOCK

I am not bound to please thee with my answers.

I’m not obliged to please you with my answers.

BASSANIO

Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Do all men kill the things that they dislike?

SHYLOCK

Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Can one hate something that he would not kill?

BASSANIO

Every offence is not a hate at first.

Not all offences start out causing hatred.

SHYLOCK

What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

What, would you let a snake bite at you twice?

ANTONIO

I pray you, think you question with the Jew:

Do you think you can reason with the Jew?

You may as well go stand upon the beach

You might as well just stand upon the beach

And bid the main flood bate his usual height;

And ask the tide to not come in too far.

You may as well use question with the wolf

You might as well start questioning the wolf

Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;

Why it has made the ewe bleat for its lamb;

You may as well forbid the mountain pines

Or tell the pine trees on the mountainside

To wag their high tops and to make no noise,

That they can’t sway their branches nor make noise

When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;

When they are battered by almighty winds;

You may as well do anything most hard,

You might as well do anything impossible,

As seek to soften that--than which what's harder?--

Than try to soften that – is something harder? –

His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,

His Jewish heart. So, therefore, I implore you

Make no more offers, use no farther means,

To make no further offers or attempts,

But with all brief and plain conveniency

But swiftly and avoiding complications,

Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.

Let me face justice, as the Jew desires.

BASSANIO

For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

I’ll double your three thousand coins to six.

SHYLOCK

If every ducat in six thousand ducats

If every coin in your six thousand coins

Were in six parts and every part a ducat,

Were multiplied by six and all were coins,

I would not draw them; I would have my bond.

I wouldn’t take them; I would have my bond.

DUKE

How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

How will you be forgiven, not forgiving?

SHYLOCK

What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?

What should I fear when I’ve done nothing wrong?

You have among you many a purchased slave,

Each one of you has purchased many slaves,

Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,

Which, like your donkey and your dogs and mules,

You use in abject and in slavish parts,

You use appallingly for slavish work,

Because you bought them: shall I say to you,

Because you own them. Shall I say to you,

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?

Let them be free, and marry with your offspring?

Why sweat they under burthens? Let their beds

Why make them sweat through gruelling work? Let their beds

Be made as soft as yours and let their palates

Be made as soft as yours and let them eat

Be seasoned with such viands? You will answer

Well-seasoned steaks? To which I’m sure you’ll answer,

'The slaves are ours:' so do I answer you:

“The slaves are ours.” That’s how I answer you:

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

The pound of flesh, which I insist I have,

Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it.

Is fairly bought; it’s mine and I will have it.

If you deny me, fie upon your law!

If you refuse me, then your law be damned!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

The laws of Venice lack integrity.

I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?

I seek your judgment. Tell me, can I have it?

DUKE

Upon my power I may dismiss this court,

I have the power to dismiss this court,

Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,

Unless Bellario, a legal doctor,

Whom I have sent for to determine this,

Whom I have asked to arbitrate this case,

Come here to-day.

Comes here today.

SALERIO

My lord, here stays without

My lord, outside the courtroom,

A messenger with letters from the doctor,

A man is here with letters from the doctor,

New come from Padua.

Freshly arrived from Padua.

DUKE

Bring us the letter; call the messenger.

BASSANIO

Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!

Stay positive, Antonio! Keep strong!

The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,

The Jew will have my flesh and blood and bones

Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

Before you’ll lose a drop of blood for me.

ANTONIO

I am a tainted wether of the flock,

I am the weakest member of the flock,

Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit

Most suitable for death. The weakest fruit

Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me.

Is first to fall to earth, so let that be me.

You cannot better be employed, Bassanio,

There’s not a better role for you, Bassanio,

Than to live still and write mine epitaph.

Than living on to write my epitaph.

[Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk]

DUKE

Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

Have you been sent from Padua by Bellario?

NERISSA

From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.

I have, my lord. Bellario sends his greetings.

[Presenting a letter]

BASSANIO

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

Why are you sharpening your knife so keenly?

SHYLOCK

To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

To cut what’s owed me from that bankrupt man.

GRATIANO

Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,

Not on your foot’s sole, on the soul of you, Jew,

Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can,

You’re sharpening your knife. But there’s no metal,

No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness

Not even on the hangman’s axe, as sharp as

Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Your envy. Aren’t there prayers to penetrate you?

SHYLOCK

No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

No, none that you are smart enough to make.

GRATIANO

O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog!

Oh, you be damned, repugnant, putrid dog!

And for thy life let justice be accused.

That you were ever born, fate should be charged!

Thou almost makest me waver in my faith

You almost make me doubt my own religion

To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

By switching to Pythagoras’s view

That souls of animals infuse themselves

That souls of animals pass, after death,

Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit

Into the souls of men. Your snarling nature

Governed a wolf, who, hanged for human slaughter,

Comes from a wolf, killed when he killed a man,

Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,

And as it died, its fierce soul departed,

And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallowed dam,

And, whilst you laid within your mother’s womb,

Infused itself in thee; for thy desires

This soul passed into you; for your desires

Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.

Are wolf-like, bloody, starved and ravenous.

SHYLOCK

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,

Until you break the contract of my bond,

Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:

You’re merely wasting breath by speaking loudly.

Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

Protect your mind, young man, or it will break

To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

And cannot be repaired. I follow laws.

DUKE

This letter from Bellario doth commend

This letter from Bellario recommends

A young and learned doctor to our court.

A young and well-taught doctor to our court.

Where is he?

NERISSA

He attendeth here hard by,

He is waiting close to here

To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

To learn if you’ll admit him to your courthouse.

DUKE

With all my heart. Some three or four of you

With all my heart. Go, three or four of you

Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

And grant him gracious welcome to this court.

Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

Meanwhile, the court will hear Bellario’s letter.

CLERK

[Reads]

Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of

“I’d like to inform your grace that when I received

your letter I am very sick: but in the instant that

your letter, I was very sick. But at the moment that

your messenger came, in loving visitation was with

your letter arrived, I had a lovely visit from

me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar.

a young doctor from Rome, called Balthasar.

I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between

I told him all the details of the issues between

the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er

the Jew and the merchant, Antonio. We reviewed

many books together: he is furnished with my

many books together. I’ve made him well aware of my

opinion; which, bettered with his own learning, the

opinions which, added to his better education than mine,

greatness whereof I cannot enough commend, comes

which I cannot begin to state how great it is, he comes,

with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's

at my insistence, to act upon your grace’s

request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of

request in place of me. I earnestly request you don’t let his lack

years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend

of experience be a hinderance to valuing his magnificent

estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so

assessments, for I have never seen such a young person with

old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance,

such a wise old head. I hope you will graciously accept him,

whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

because your trial will be better with his advice.”

DUKE

You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes:

You all have heard what wise Bellario writes.

And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

And I assume this is the doctor coming.

[Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws]

Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

Give me your hand. Have you come from Bellario?

PORTIA

I did, my lord.

I have, my lord.

DUKE

You are welcome: take your place.

You’re welcome here: sit down.

Are you acquainted with the difference

Are you acquainted with the disagreement

That holds this present question in the court?

That’s currently debated in this court?

PORTIA

I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

I have been briefed most thoroughly of this case.

Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

Which one here is the merchant? Which the Jew?

DUKE

Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

Antonio and old Shylock, both come forward.

PORTIA

Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK

Shylock is my name.

PORTIA

Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;

It’s rather strange this case that you’re pursuing.

Yet in such rule that the Venetian law

But by the rules within Venetian law

Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.

It isn’t wrong, this path you choose to follow.

You stand within his danger, do you not?

You are in danger from him, are you not?

ANTONIO

Ay, so he says.

Yes, as he’s said.

PORTIA

Do you confess the bond?

Have you broken the bond?

ANTONIO

I do.

I have.

PORTIA

Then must the Jew be merciful.

The Jew must then be merciful.

SHYLOCK

On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Why must I be? You have to tell me that.

PORTIA

The quality of mercy is not strained,

It’s effortless performing acts of mercy,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

And being merciful is like the rain

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

That falls upon the ground: it has two merits;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

It benefits the giver and receiver.

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

It’s strongest in the strongest folk: it’s flattering

The throned monarch better than his crown;

To royal monarchs more than is their crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

His royal sceptre shows his earthly power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

A symbol to revere his regal might

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

Which makes all people fear the power of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

But mercy is more regal than a sceptre;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It lives within the heart and soul of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

An attribute endowed by God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

And earthly power then seems to come from God

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

When justice features mercy. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

Although you’re seeking justice, think of this,

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

Would get to heaven lest we prayed for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

And that same prayer of mercy teaches us

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To act with mercy. I have said this much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

To seek fair justice from the plea you’ve lodged,

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Which, if it’s followed, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Must carry out the sentence on the merchant.

SHYLOCK

My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,

I choose how I will act! I want the law,

The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA

Is he not able to discharge the money?

Can’t he just pay off all the money now?

BASSANIO

He can; I have it here for him court;

He can; I have it here for him in court;

Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,

Yes, twice the sum. If that is not enough,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,

I will commit to pay it ten times over,

On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:

On forfeit of my hands, my head and heart;

If this will not suffice, it must appear

If this is not enough, one must conclude

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,

Maliciousness beats justice. I implore you

Wrest once the law to your authority:

To force the law back under your control:

To do a great right, do a little wrong,

To do what’s right requires a little wrong,

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Then you can stop this devil’s sick intentions.

PORTIA

It must not be; there is no power in Venice

That can’t be done. There is no power in Venice

Can alter a decree established:

To change agreements already established,

'Twill be recorded for a precedent,

For that will then create a precedent,

And many an error by the same example

And many errors based on that example

Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Will quickly swamp the state; it cannot be.

SHYLOCK

A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!

Like Daniel in the bible, bring wise judgement!

O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

Oh, wise young judge, how I do honour you!

PORTIA

I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

I ask you, let me see this bond of yours.

SHYLOCK

Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

It’s here, respected doctor, here it is.

PORTIA

Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee.

Shylock, there’s thrice your money offered here.

SHYLOCK

An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:

An oath, an oath; I’ve sworn an oath to heaven:

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

Shall I then seek damnation on my soul?

No, not for Venice.

No, not for Venice’s laws.

PORTIA

Why, this bond is forfeit;

This bond was broken;

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

And legally from this, the Jew may claim

A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

A pound of flesh that he can cut himself

Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:

From near the merchant’s heart. Be merciful:

Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

Take thrice the money, then dismiss this bond.

SHYLOCK

When it is paid according to the tenor.

You can dismiss it when the debt’s been paid.

It doth appear you are a worthy judge;

It seems to me that you’re a decent judge;

You know the law, your exposition

You know the law, and your analysis

Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law,

Is very good. I charge you by the law

Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,

Of which you are a well-deserving pillar,

Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear

To pass your judgement. By my soul I swear

There is no power in the tongue of man

There’s nothing any man can ever say

To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

To change my view: I’m sticking with my contract.

ANTONIO

Most heartily I do beseech the court

With all my heart, I do implore the court

To give the judgment.

To pass their judgement.

PORTIA

Why then, thus it is:

Well then, it is this:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Prepare your chest for cutting by his knife.

SHYLOCK

O noble judge! O excellent young man!

Oh, decent judge! Oh, excellent young man!

PORTIA

For the intent and purpose of the law

The law, as it is written, authorises

Hath full relation to the penalty,

The penalty described to be applied,

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

As it is written clearly on this bond.

SHYLOCK

'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!

Exactly right! You wise, upstanding judge!

How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

You’re old and wiser than your looks suggest!

PORTIA

Therefore lay bare your bosom.

And so, reveal your chest.

SHYLOCK

Ay, his breast:

Ah, yes, his breast:

So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?

That’s what the bond says, right then, noble judge?

'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words.

“Nearest his heart.” Those are the very words.

PORTIA

It is so. Are there balance here to weigh

That’s right. Do we have scales here to weigh

The flesh?

SHYLOCK

I have them ready.

PORTIA

Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,

Get a surgeon, Shylock, paid by you,

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

To stops his wounds in case he bleeds to death.

SHYLOCK

Is it so nominated in the bond?

Is that a clause that’s stated in the bond?

PORTIA

It is not so expressed: but what of that?

It’s not exactly stated, but so what?

'Twere good you do so much for charity.

It’s good to do a thing for charity.

SHYLOCK

I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

I cannot find it; it’s not in the bond.

PORTIA

You, merchant, have you any thing to say?

You, merchant: have you anything to say?

ANTONIO

But little: I am armed and well prepared.

Not much: I am prepared, and I am ready.

Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well!

Give me your hand, Bassanio: fond farewell!

Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;

Don’t grieve that I have died because of you;

For herein Fortune shows herself more kind

For Lady-Luck has shown herself more kind

Than is her custom: it is still her use

Than usually she is: for usually

To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,

She lets a broken man survive all bankrupt,

To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow

And witness through his sunken eyes and wrinkles

An age of poverty; from which lingering penance

A life of poverty; but from this sentence

Of such misery doth she cut me off.

Of misery, she’s stopped my suffering.

Commend me to your honourable wife:

Speak fondly of me to your lovely wife:

Tell her the process of Antonio's end;

Tell her about the way my life was ended;

Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death;

Speak well of me when gone, and how I loved you;

And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge

And, when you’ve told her, let her be the judge

Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

Of whether someone once had love for you.

Repent but you that you shall lose your friend,

Only be sorry that you’ve lost a friend,

And he repents not that he pays your debt;

And he’s not sorry that he paid your debt;

For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

For if the Jew does cut me deep enough,

I'll pay it presently with all my heart.

I soon will pay the debt with all my heart.

BASSANIO

Antonio, I am married to a wife

Antonio, I am married to my wife,

Which is as dear to me as life itself;

And she’s as dear to me as life itself.

But life itself, my wife, and all the world,

But life itself, my wife, and all the world

Are not with me esteemed above thy life:

Are not worth more to me than your own life:

I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all

I would lose everything in sacrifice

Here to this devil, to deliver you.

To give this devil if that were to save you.

PORTIA

Your wife would give you little thanks for that,

Your wife would give you little thanks for that

If she were by, to hear you make the offer.

If she was here to hear you make that offer.

GRATIANO

I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love:

I have a wife I love, I do assure you.

I would she were in heaven, so she could

I wish she was in heaven so she could

Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

Have influence upon this spiteful Jew.

NERISSA

'Tis well you offer it behind her back;

Good job you offer it behind her back,

The wish would make else an unquiet house.

Because your wish would make a noisy house.

SHYLOCK

These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter;

These are the Christian husbands. I have a daughter;

Would any of the stock of Barrabas

If only one as smart as Barrabas

Had been her husband rather than a Christian!

[Aside]

We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.

We’re wasting time; please, get on with the sentence.

PORTIA

A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:

A pound of that there merchant’s flesh is yours:

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

The court awards it, and the law prescribes it.

SHYLOCK

Most rightful judge!

PORTIA

And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

The law prescribes it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK

Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

Scholastic judge! A verdict! Come, prepare!

PORTIA

Tarry a little; there is something else.

Hang on a moment; there is something else.

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;

This bond does not award a drop of blood.

The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:'

The words expressly state, “a pound of flesh.”

Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;

Then take your bond and take your pound of flesh.

But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

But if, when cutting it, you cause to shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods

One drop of Christian blood, your land and goods

Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate

Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscated

Unto the state of Venice.

GRATIANO

O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!

Upstanding judge! Hear that then, Jew! Oh judge!

SHYLOCK

Is that the law?

PORTIA

Thyself shalt see the act:

You’ll see that for yourself.

For, as thou urgest justice, be assured

Because you wanted justice, be assured

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

You will have justice, more than you desire.

GRATIANO

O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

Well educated judge! Look, Jew! He’s clever!

SHYLOCK

I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice

I’ll take the offer then; pay thrice the bond

And let the Christian go.

BASSANIO

Here is the money.

PORTIA

Soft!

Wait!

The Jew shall have all justice; soft! No haste:

The Jew must have his justice; wait! Don’t rush:

He shall have nothing but the penalty.

He only is allowed the penalty.

GRATIANO

O Jew! An upright judge, a learned judge!

Oh Jew! This judge is wise and he’s upstanding!

PORTIA

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

And so, prepare yourself to cut the flesh.

Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more

Don’t shed his blood, and don’t cut more or less than

But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more

A pound of flesh exactly. If you cut more

Or less than a just pound, be it but so much

Or less than just a pound, enough that it

As makes it light or heavy in the substance,

Is lighter or it’s heavier than stated,

Or the division of the twentieth part

Or by dividing into twentieths

Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn

Just twenty grains of corn, no, if the scales tip

But in the estimation of a hair,

By how much that a single strand of hair weighs,

Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

You’ll die and all your goods be confiscated.

GRATIANO

A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!

It’s Daniel’s second coming, Jew! It’s Daniel!

Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.

I’ve got you by the short and curlies, heathen!

PORTIA

Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

Why are you waiting, Jew? Go take your forfeit.

SHYLOCK

Give me my principal, and let me go.

Give me what I have lent and let me go.

BASSANIO

I have it ready for thee; here it is.

I have it ready for you; here it is.

PORTIA

He hath refused it in the open court:

He has refused it in the open court:

He shall have merely justice and his bond.

All he can have is justice through his bond.

GRATIANO

A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!

There’s another Daniel then, a Daniel!

I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

I thank you, Jew, for teaching me that word.

SHYLOCK

Shall I not have barely my principal?

Can’t I just take the money that I’ve loaned out?

PORTIA

Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,

You shall have nothing but your chosen forfeit,

To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

That you must take the risk to take then, Jew.

SHYLOCK

Why, then the devil give him good of it!

Well then I hope the devil goes and gets him!

I'll stay no longer question.

I’ll question this no further.

PORTIA

Tarry, Jew:

Wait there, Jew:

The law hath yet another hold on you.

Another law is relevant to you.

It is enacted in the laws of Venice,

It is defined within the laws of Venice,

If it be proved against an alien

If it is proved against a foreigner

That by direct or indirect attempts

He seek the life of any citizen,

He tries to kill a citizen of ours,

The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive

The person that he wanted to be killed

Shall seize one half his goods; the other half

Shall seize half his possessions; and the rest

Comes to the privy coffer of the state;

Is given to the treasury of the state;

And the offender's life lies in the mercy

And the offender’s life is at the mercy

Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.

Of what the duke decides, nobody else.

In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st;

You find yourself in this predicament;

For it appears, by manifest proceeding,

For it appears, from what has happened here,

That indirectly and directly too

Thou hast contrived against the very life

You’ve aimed to try to take the very life

Of the defendant; and thou hast incurred

Of the defendant; and you have incurred

The danger formerly by me rehearsed.

The risks that I have previously explained.

Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

So, on your knees and beg the duke for mercy.

GRATIANO

Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:

Start begging you’re allowed to hang yourself;

And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,

But then, as all your wealth’s gone to the state,

Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

You can’t afford to buy yourself a rope.

Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's charge.

And so the state must pay to have you hanged.

DUKE

That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,

So you can see the difference in our kindness,

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:

I pardon you your life before you ask.

For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;

Half of your wealth is now Antonio’s;

The other half comes to the general state,

The other half goes to the treasury,

Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Which, if you’re humble, I’ll change to a fine.

PORTIA

Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

Yes, for the state, but not Antonio.

SHYLOCK

Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:

No, take my life and all; I don’t want pity.

You take my house when you do take the prop

You take my house removing what I use

That doth sustain my house; you take my life

To pay the upkeep of my house; you kill me

When you do take the means whereby I live.

When you remove my means to make a living.

PORTIA

What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

What mercy can you offer him, Antonio?

GRATIANO

A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.

A hangman’s rope for free. By God, that’s all.

ANTONIO

So please my lord the duke and all the court

My lord, if you and all the court agree

To quit the fine for one half of his goods,

To drop the fine for your half of his goods,

I am content; so he will let me have

I will be happy; then he’ll let me have

The other half in use, to render it,

The other half to use, which I’ll return,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman

Upon his death, back to the gentleman

That lately stole his daughter:

His daughter ran away with.

Two things provided more, that, for this favour,

Two more provisos: in return for this,

He presently become a Christian;

Immediately he must become a Christian;

The other, that he do record a gift,

And also, he decries within his will

Here in the court, of all he dies possessed,

Within this court, all his possessions pass to

Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

His son-in-law Lorenzo and his daughter.

DUKE

He shall do this, or else I do recant

He will do this, or else I will retract

The pardon that I late pronounced here.

The pardon that I recently declared here.

PORTIA

Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?

Is that OK with you, Jew? What do you say?

SHYLOCK

I am content.

I am OK with that.

PORTIA

Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

Clerk, write the will.

SHYLOCK

I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;

I ask you set me free to leave from here;

I am not well: send the deed after me,

I am not well. Send the deed after me

And I will sign it.

DUKE

Get thee gone, but do it.

Get out of here, but sign it.

GRATIANO

In christening shalt thou have two god-fathers:

You’ll get two godfathers when you are christened:

Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,

If it were up to me, you’d get ten more:

To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

A jury that would hang you, and not bless you.

[Exit SHYLOCK]

DUKE

Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

Sir, I invite you home with me for dinner.

PORTIA

I humbly do desire your grace of pardon:

I humbly ask your grace for your forgiveness;

I must away this night toward Padua,

I have to leave tonight for Padua,

And it is meet I presently set forth.

And I must start my journey right away.

DUKE

I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.

I’m sorry that you have no time for leisure.

Antonio, gratify this gentleman,

Antonio, you need to thank this man,

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

For, in my mind, you owe your life to him.

[Exeunt Duke and his train]

BASSANIO

Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend

Most decent gentleman, my friend and I

Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted

Today have been acquitted, by your wisdom,

Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,

Of grievous penalties. Instead of giving

Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,

Three thousand gold coins owed out to the Jew,

We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

We’d like to give you it for all you’ve done.

ANTONIO

And stand indebted, over and above,

And, more than this, we will remain indebted

In love and service to you evermore.

To you with love and service evermore.

PORTIA

He is well paid that is well satisfied;

When someone’s satisfied, he’s been well paid;

And I, delivering you, am satisfied

And, saving you has left me satisfied,

And therein do account myself well paid:

And so I now believe I’ve been well paid.

My mind was never yet more mercenary.

I’ve never been less money-motivated.

I pray you, know me when we meet again:

I hope you’ll know me when we meet again.

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

I wish you well; it’s time for me to leave.

BASSANIO

Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:

Dear sir, by force I have to try again:

Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,

Take something as a token of remembrance,

Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,

Not as a fee. Give me two things, I beg you:

Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

Don’t turn me down and do not let me off.

PORTIA

You press me far, and therefore I will yield.

You are persistent; therefore, I’ll give in.

[To ANTONIO]

Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;

Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them just for you;

[To BASSANIO]

And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:

And, for your love, I’ll take this ring from you.

Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;

Do not withdraw your hand; that’s all I want;

And you in love shall not deny me this.

And by your love, you cannot turn me down.

BASSANIO

This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle!

This ring, I am afraid, is rather worthless!

I will not shame myself to give you this.

I’ll be embarrassed giving it to you.

PORTIA

I will have nothing else but only this;

There’s nothing else I want except for this;

And now methinks I have a mind to it.

And now I think I really rather like it.

BASSANIO

There's more depends on this than on the value.

It’s worth much more to me than just its value.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,

I’ll give the finest ring to you from Venice

And find it out by proclamation:

And ask around which ring it is.

Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

But only this one, please, I ask, forgive me.

PORTIA

I see, sir, you are liberal in offers

I see that you are generous with your offers

You taught me first to beg; and now methinks

You told me I should ask for; but I think now,

You teach me how a beggar should be answered.

You’ve taught me what to say back to a beggar.

BASSANIO

Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;

My wife gave me this ring to wear, good sir;

And when she put it on, she made me vow

And when she put it on, she made me promise

That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.

That I will never sell nor give nor lose it.

PORTIA

That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.

I’ve heard that said before to keep their gifts.

An if your wife be not a mad-woman,

And if your wife is not completely mad

And know how well I have deserved the ring,

And understands how I deserve your ring,

She would not hold out enemy for ever,

She would not be annoyed with you forever

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exeunt Portia and Nerissa]

ANTONIO

My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring:

My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;

Let his deservings and my love withal

Let what he’s done for us and for my love

Be valued against your wife's commandment.

Be worth more than instructions from your wife.

BASSANIO

Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;

Gratiano, run and go and catch him up;

Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,

Give him the ring, and bring him, if you can,

Unto Antonio's house: away! Make haste.

Up to Antonio’s house. Go on! Be quick!

[Exit Gratiano]

Come, you and I will thither presently;

Come on, let’s, both of us, head there right now;

And in the morning early will we both

And early in the morning we will both

Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

Depart for Belmont. Come, Antonio.

[Exeunt]