Chapter XXVIII: Act IV: SCENE I. Venice. A court of justice

_Enter the_ DUKE, _the_ Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, _and others_.

_Duke._ What, is Antonio here?

_Ant._ Ready, so please your Grace.

_Duke._ I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty 5 From any dram of mercy.

_Ant._ I have heard Your Grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose 10 My patience to his fury; and am arm’d To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his.

_Duke._ Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

_Saler._ He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord. 15

_Enter_ SHYLOCK.

_Duke._ Make room, and let him stand before our face Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act; and then ’tis thought Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange 20 Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; And where thou now exact’st the penalty, Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touch’d with human gentleness and love, 25 Forgive a moiety of the principal; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back, Enow to press a royal merchant down, And pluck commiseration of his state 30 From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train’d To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

_Shy._ I have possess’d your Grace of what I purpose; 35 And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond: If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom. You’ll ask me, why I rather choose to have 40 A weight of carrion-flesh than to receive Three thousand ducats: I’ll not answer that: But, say, it is my humour: is it answer’d? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 45 To have it baned? What, are you answer’d yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig; Some, that are mad if they behold a cat; And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose, Cannot contain their urine: for affection, 50 Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer: As there is no firm reason to be render’d, Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; Why he, a harmless necessary cat; 55 Why he, a woollen bag-pipe; but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame As to offend, himself being offended; So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing 60 I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer’d?

_Bass._ This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

_Shy._ I am not bound to please thee with my answers. 65

_Bass._ Do all men kill the things they do not love?

_Shy._ Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

_Bass._ Every offence is not a hate at first.

_Shy._ What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

_Ant._ I pray you, think you question with the Jew: 70 You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines 75 To wag their high tops, and to make no noise, When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do any thing most hard, As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you, 80 Make no more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgement and the Jew his will.

_Bass._ For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

_Shy._ If every ducat in six thousand ducats 85 Were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond.

_Duke._ How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

_Shy._ What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, 90 Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them: shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds 95 Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be season’d with such viands? You will answer ‘The slaves are ours:’ so do I answer you: The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it. 100 If you deny me, fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgement: answer; shall I have it?

_Duke._ Upon my power I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, 105 Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day.

_Saler._ My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.

_Duke._ Bring us the letters; call the messenger. 110

_Bass._ Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

_Ant._ I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit 115 Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me: You cannot better be employ’d, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.

_Enter_ NERISSA, _dressed like a lawyer’s clerk_.

_Duke._ Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

_Ner._ From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace. 120

[_Presenting a letter._

_Bass._ Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

_Shy._ To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

_Gra._ Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness 125 Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

_Shy._ No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

_Gra._ O, be thou damn’d, inexecrable dog! And for thy life let justice be accused. Thou almost makest me waver in my faith, 130 To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern’d a wolf, who, hang’d for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 135 And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallow’d dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.

_Shy._ Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud: 140 Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

_Duke._ This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?

_Ner._ He attendeth here hard by, 145 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. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.

_Clerk._ [_reads_] Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt 150 of your letter I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation 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 with my opinion; which, bettered with his own learning,—the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend, 156 —comes with him, at my importunity, 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 estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, 160 whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

_Duke._ You hear the learn’d Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

_Enter_ PORTIA _for_ BALTHASAR.

Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

_Por._ I did, my lord.

_Duke._ You are welcome: take your place. 165 Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court?

_Por._ I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

_Duke._ Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. 170

_Por._ Is your name Shylock?

_Shy._ Shylock is my name.

_Por._ Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. You stand within his danger, do you not? 175

_Ant._ Ay, so he says.

_Por._ Do you confess the bond?

_Ant._ I do.

_Por._ Then must the Jew be merciful.

_Shy._ On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

_Por._ The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 180 Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes: ’Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 185 The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; 190 And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; 195 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 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. 200

_Shy._ My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

_Por._ Is he not able to discharge the money?

_Bass._ Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, 205 I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: 210 To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will.

_Por._ It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: ’Twill be recorded for a precedent, 215 And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

_Shy._ A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

_Por._ I pray you, let me look upon the bond. 220

_Shy._ Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

_Por._ Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offer’d thee.

_Shy._ An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.

_Por._ Why, this bond is forfeit; 225 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant’s heart. Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

_Shy._ When it is paid according to the tenour. 230 It doth appear you are a worthy judge; You know the law, your exposition Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgement: by my soul I swear 235 There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

_Ant._ Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgement.

_Por._ Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. 240

_Shy._ O noble judge! O excellent young man!

_Por._ For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

_Shy._ ’Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 245 How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

_Por._ Therefore lay bare your bosom.

_Shy._ Ay, his breast: So says the bond:—doth it not, noble judge?— ‘Nearest his heart:’ those are the very words.

_Por._ It is so. Are there balance here to weigh 250 The flesh?

_Shy._ I have them ready.

_Por._ Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

_Shy._ Is it so nominated in the bond?

_Por._ It is not so express’d: but what of that? 255 ’Twere good you do so much for charity.

_Shy._ I cannot find it; ’tis not in the bond.

_Por._ You, merchant, have you any thing to say?

_Ant._ But little: I am arm’d and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! 260 Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom: it is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow 265 An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife: Tell her the process of Antonio’s end; Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; 270 And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, 275 I’ll pay it presently with all my heart.

_Bass._ Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself; But life itself, my wife, and all the world, Are not with me esteem’d above thy life: 280 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you.

_Por._ Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by, to hear you make the offer.

_Gra._ I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: 285 I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

_Ner._ ’Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house.

_Shy._ These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter; 290 Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather than a Christian! [_Aside._ We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.

_Por._ A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine: The court awards it, and the law doth give it. 295

_Shy._ Most rightful judge!

_Por._ And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The law allows it, and the court awards it.

_Shy._ Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

_Por._ Tarry a little; there is something else. 300 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 305 Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice.

_Gra._ O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!

_Shy._ Is that the law?

_Por._ Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 310 Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

_Gra._ O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

_Shy._ I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.

_Bass._ Here is the money.

_Por._ Soft! 315 The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: He shall have nothing but the penalty.

_Gra._ O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

_Por._ Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less nor more 320 But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut’st more Or less than a just pound, be it but so much As makes it light or heavy in the substance, Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn 325 But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

_Gra._ A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.

_Por._ Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. 330

_Shy._ Give me my principal, and let me go.

_Bass._ I have it ready for thee; here it is.

_Por._ He hath refused it in the open court: He shall have merely justice and his bond.

_Gra._ A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! 335 I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

_Shy._ Shall I not have barely my principal?

_Por._ Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

_Shy._ Why, then the devil give him good of it! 340 I’ll stay no longer question.

_Por._ Tarry, Jew: The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts 345 He seek the life of any citizen, The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender’s life lies in the mercy 350 Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand’st; For it appears, by manifest proceeding, That indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contrived against the very life 355 Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr’d 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, 360 Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore thou must be hang’d at the state’s charge.

_Duke._ That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s; 365 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 370 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?

_Gra._ A halter gratis; nothing else, for God’s sake.

_Ant._ So please my lord the Duke and all the court 375 To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content; so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter: 380 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 possess’d, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. 385

_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; 390 I am not well: send the deed after me, And I will sign it.

_Duke._ Get thee gone, but do it.

_Gra._ In christening shalt thou have two godfathers: Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. 395

[_Exit Shylock._

_Duke._ 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 set forth.

_Duke._ I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. 400 Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[_Exeunt Duke and his train._

_Bass._ Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, 405 Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, We freely cope 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; 410 And I, delivering you, am satisfied And therein do account myself well paid: My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you, know me when we meet again: I wish you well, and so I take my leave. 415

_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. 420 Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake; [_To Ant._ And, for your love, I’ll take this ring from you [_To Bass._]: 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! 425 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, 430 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 answer’d. 435

_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. An if your wife be not a mad-woman, 440 And know how well I have deserved the ring, She would not hold out enemy for ever, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[_Exeunt Portia and Nerissa._

_Ant._ My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: Let his deservings and my love withal 445 Be valued ’gainst 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. [_Exit Gratiano._ Come, you and I will thither presently; 450 And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. [_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _The Merchant of Venice_, IV, 1.

SCENE I. _A court..._] Capell. The Senate-House. Theobald.

...Salerio, and others.] om. Qq Ff. Salanio, Salarino and others. Capell. om. Qq Ff. Enter... and Gratiano at the bar. Theobald.

3: _I am_] _I’m_ Pope.

6: _dram_] _dream_ Becket conj.

7, 8: As three lines ending _paines...course:...obdurate,_ in Q1.

15: Saler.] Salerio. Q2 Q3 Q4. Sal. Q1 Ff. See note (IX).

22: _And......penalty_] omitted by Rowe.

_exact’st_] Ff. _exacts_ Qq.

24: _loose_] _lose_ F4.

25: _human_] _humane_ Q1 Ff Q3 Q4. _humaine_ Q2.

29: _Enow_] _Enough_ Rowe.

30: _his state_] _this states_ Q2.

31: _flint_] Q1 F2 Q3 Q4 F3 F4. _flints_ Q2 F1.

36: _Sabbath_] Q1 Ff. _Sabaoth_ Q2. _Sabbaoth_ Q3 Q4.

42, 43: _I’ll...it is_] _I’ll now answer that By saying ’tis_ Warburton.

43: _But, say, it_] Capell. _But say it_ Qq Ff.

46: _baned_] _baind_ Qq Ff. _brain’d_ Rowe.

49: _bagpipe_] _big-pipe_ Warburton.

50, 51: _urine: for affection, Mistress of_] Capell (Thirlby conj.). _urine for affection. Masters of_ Qq Ff. (_Maisters_ Q2 F2). _...affection. Masterless_ Rowe. _...affection, Master of_ Singer (Thirlby conj.). _...affections, Masters of_ Hawkins conj. _urine for affection: Matters of_ Jackson conj. _urine: for affection Masters our_ Malone conj. See note (XI).

_sways_] _sway_ Warburton.

56: _woollen_] Qq F1 F2 F3. _wollen_ F4. _wooden_ Johnson and Heath conj. _wawling_ Capell conj. _swollen_ Steevens (Hawkins conj.). _swelling_ Hawkins conj. _mewling_ Becket conj. _bollen_ Dyce (Collier MS.). See note (XII).

58: _offend, himself_] Q1. _offend himself_ Q2 F1 F2 Q3 Q4 F3. _offend himself,_ F4.

65: _answers_] Q2 Q3 Q4. _answere_ Q1. _answer_ Ff.

66: _things_] Qq F1. _thing_ F2 F3 F4.

70: _think you_] _think, you_ Warburton.

_the_] Qq F1 F2. _a_. F3 F4.

73: _You may_] Qq. _Or even_ Ff.

74: _Why he...bleat...lamb;_] Q3 Q4. _Why he...bleake...lambe_ Q1 Q2. _The ewe bleate for the lambe:_ F1. _The ewe bleate for the lambe: when you behold_, F2 F3 F4. _When you behold the ewe bleat for the lamb;_ Hanmer. See note (XIII).

75: _pines_] Ff. _of pines_ Qq.

76: _no noise_] _a noise_ Hanmer.

77: _fretten_] Qq. _fretted_ Ff.

79: _what’s harder?_] _what’s harder:_ Qq. _what harder?_ Ff.

91: _your asses_] _you asses_ F2.

92: _parts_] Qq F1. _part_ F2 F3 F4.

93: _you bought_] _your bought_ F2.

100: _’tis_] Ff. _tis_ Q1. _as_ Q2 Q3 Q4. _is_ Capell.

107: Saler.] Q1. Salerio Q2. Sal. FF Q3 Q4. Salan. Knight.

110: _messenger_] Qq. _messengers_ Ff.

116: _earliest_] _soonest_ Capell (corrected in MS.).

_and_] om. F2 F3 F4.

118: dressed...clerk.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

119: SCENE II. Pope.

120: _From both, my lord._] _From both, my L._ Q1. _From both? my L._ Q2. _From both: my L._ Q3 Q4. _From both. My Lord_ Ff.

[Presenting...] Capell.

122: _forfeiture_] _forfeit_ Rowe (ed. 2).

123: _sole...soul_] _soule...soule_ Qq. _soale...soule_ F1 F2. _soale...soul_ F3 F4.

124: _but_] _for_ Pope.

127: _hast_] _hoast_ F2.

128.: _inexecrable_] Qq F1 F2. _inexorable_ F3 F4.

134: _human_] _humane_ Q1 Ff Q3 Q4. _humaine_ Q2.

136: _lay’st_] _lay’dst_ Douce conj.

138: _starved_] _starv’d_ Qq. _sterv’d_ Ff.

142: _cureless_] Qq. _endlesse_ Ff. _careless_ Pope.

_here_] om. Q3 Q4.

144: _to_] Qq. _in_ Ff.

150: Clerk. [reads] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

153: _acquainted_] _acquained_ F1

_cause_] _case_ F3 F4.

163: Enter...] Enter P. for Balthazer. Qq Ff, after line 161 (Balthazar F1 F2 Q3 Q4, Balthasar F3 F4). Enter P. dressed like a doctor of laws. Rowe.

164: _Come_] Qq _Came_ Ff.

174: _impugn_] _impunge_ Q1.

175: _do you not_] _doe ye not_ Q1.

181: _blest_] _blessing_ Seymour conj.

191: _likest_] _lik’st_ Q1.

199: _court_] Qq. _course_ Ff.

205: _twice_] _thrice_ Ritson conj.

209: _truth_] _ruth_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn). See note (XIV).

215: _precedent_] Qq. _president_ Ff.

219: _I do_] Qq. _do I_ Ff.

222, 229, 313: _thrice_] _twice_ Spedding conj.

225: _No, not_] _Not not_ Q2.

230: _tenour_] Q1. _tenure_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

250, 251: _It...flesh?_] As one line in Qq Ff. Corrected by Capell.

_Are there...flesh?_] _Are there scales and balance here To
weigh the merchant’s flesh?_ Lloyd conj.

_balance here_] _ballances here_ Rowe. _scales_ Pope.

253: _do_] Qq. _should_ Ff.

254: _Is it so...bond?_] Qq. _It is not...bond?_ F1 F2 F3. _It is not...bond._ F4.

258: _You, merchant_] Qq. _Come merchant_ Ff.

263: _her custom_] Qq F1. _his custom_ F2 F3 F4.

267: _such_] _sordid_ Lloyd conj. _so much_ Edd. conj.

_misery_] Qq F1. _a misery_ F2 F3 F4.

272: _love_] _lover_ Collier MS.

273: _but_] Qq. _not_ Ff.

276: _presently_] Q1 _instantly_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

281: _ay,_] Pope. _I_ Qq Ff. _I’d_ Rowe.

285: _whom_] Ff. _who_ Qq.

290: _I have_] _I’ve_ Pope.

292: [Aside.] Rowe.

301: _jot_] _iote_ Q1 Q2.

303: _Take then_] Qq. _Then take_ Ff. See note (XV).

313: _this_] _his_ Capell.

321: _cut’st_] Q1. _tak’st_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

322: _be it but_] Qq. _be it_ Ff. _be ’t but_ Pope.

323: _substance_] _balance_ Collier MS.

324: _Or_] _On_ Theobald.

325: _do_] om. Pope.

329: _you_] Qq. _thee_ Ff.

330: _thy_] Qq Ff. _the_ Pope.

334: _He_] _And_ Q1.

337: _have barely_] _barely have_ Pope.

339: _so taken_] Qq. _taken so_ Ff.

341: _question_] Q2 Ff Q3 Q4. _heere in question_ Q1.

344: _an_] Q2 Ff Q3 Q4. _any_ Q1.

348: _one_] Q2 Ff. _on_ Q1 Q3 Q4.

349: _coffer_] _coster_ Q1.

355: _hast_] _had_ F2 F3 F4.

_against_] Q2 Ff Q3 Q4. _gainst_ Q1.

357: _formerly_] _formally_ Warburton conj.

363: _shalt_] _may’st_ Pope.

_spirits_] Q1. _spirit_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

374: _God’s sake_] _Godsake_ Q2.

376: _quit_] _quite_ F2.

_for_] _from_ Hanmer.

379: _Upon_] _Until_ Hanmer.

_his_] _my_ Johnson conj.

384: _possess’d_] _possess’d of_ Capell conj.

393: Gra.] Shy. Q2.

_shalt thou_] Qq. _thou shalt_ Ff.

395: _not_] Q1. _not to_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

396: _home with me_] Qq. _with me home_ Ff.

_to dinner_] _dinner_ Q1.

397: _do_] om. Q1.

_Grace of_] _Graces_ Q3 Q4.

403: SCENE III. Pope.

413: _more_] _mere_ Anon. conj.

418: _a fee_] Q1 F2 F3 F4. _fee_ Q2 F1 Q3 Q4.

421: [To Ant.] Edd.

422: [To Bass.] Edd.

429: _depends on this than on_] _than this depends upon_ Q1.

430. _will I_] _I will_ Q1.

441: _the_] Q1. _this_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4.

442: _enemy_] _enmity_ Rowe.

446: _’gainst_] Qq. _against_ Ff.

_wife’s_] Rowe. _wives_ Qq Ff.

_commandment_] F4. _commandement_ Q1 F1 F2 Q3 Q4 F3.
_commaundement_ Q2.

449: [Exit G.] [Exeunt G. Q1. ~~~~~

SCENE II. _The same. A street._

_Enter_ PORTIA _and_ NERISSA.

_Por._ Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed And let him sign it: we’ll 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: 5 My Lord Bassanio upon more advice 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, 10 I pray you, show my youth old Shylock’s house.

_Gra._ That will I do.

_Ner._ Sir, I would speak with you. I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, [_Aside to Portia._ Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

_Por._ [_Aside to Ner._] Thou mayst, I warrant. We shall have old swearing 15 That they did give the rings away to men; But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too. [_Aloud_] Away! make haste: thou know’st where I will tarry.

_Ner._ Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

[_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _The Merchant of Venice_, IV, 2.

SCENE II.] Capell. Pope continues SCENE III.

A street.] Street before the Court. Capell.

Enter P. and N.] Ff. Enter N. Qq. Re-enter P. and N. Theobald.

9: _His_] _This_ Q1. ~~~~~