THE MERCHANT OF VENICE:ACT SIXTHSceneI.Venice. A street.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE:ACT SIXTHSceneI.Venice. A street.
EnterShylock,followed by a rabble of shouting citizens.
First Citizen.Shylock, how speeds thy business at the court?Where is the pound of flesh thou covetest?Second Citizen.How likest thou the judge from Padua?Third Citizen.Eh, Jew, an upright judge! thou hast my lordThe duke to thank for thy poor life. Had IBut been thy judge a halter had been thine,And thou had’st swung in’t, yet, beshrew my life,’Twere pity that good Christian hemp were stretch’dTo hang a misbegotten knave like thee.Fourth Citizen.Shylock, thou infidel, thou should’st have hadThe lash on thine old back ten score of timesEre they had suffer’d thee from out the court.Fifth Citizen.A beating shall he have, e’en now, the knave.
First Citizen.Shylock, how speeds thy business at the court?Where is the pound of flesh thou covetest?Second Citizen.How likest thou the judge from Padua?Third Citizen.Eh, Jew, an upright judge! thou hast my lordThe duke to thank for thy poor life. Had IBut been thy judge a halter had been thine,And thou had’st swung in’t, yet, beshrew my life,’Twere pity that good Christian hemp were stretch’dTo hang a misbegotten knave like thee.Fourth Citizen.Shylock, thou infidel, thou should’st have hadThe lash on thine old back ten score of timesEre they had suffer’d thee from out the court.Fifth Citizen.A beating shall he have, e’en now, the knave.
First Citizen.Shylock, how speeds thy business at the court?
Where is the pound of flesh thou covetest?
Second Citizen.How likest thou the judge from Padua?
Third Citizen.Eh, Jew, an upright judge! thou hast my lord
The duke to thank for thy poor life. Had I
But been thy judge a halter had been thine,
And thou had’st swung in’t, yet, beshrew my life,
’Twere pity that good Christian hemp were stretch’d
To hang a misbegotten knave like thee.
Fourth Citizen.Shylock, thou infidel, thou should’st have had
The lash on thine old back ten score of times
Ere they had suffer’d thee from out the court.
Fifth Citizen.A beating shall he have, e’en now, the knave.
[BeatsShylock.
Shylock[striking about him angrily] Aye! kill me, dogs of Christians, an’ ye will!Meseems the Jew hath no more leave to treadThe stones on Christian streets; he may not breatheThe air a Christian breathes, nor gaze uncheck’dUpon the Christian’s sky; he hath no partOr lot in anything that is, unlessA Christian please to nod the head. I hateYe, brood of Satan that ye are! May allThe plagues of Egypt fall upon ye, dogsOf Christians; all the pains—Fourth Citizen.Nay, gentle Jew,’Tis said thou must become a Christian, straight;Old Shylock, turn perforce, a “Christian dog!”Now, greybeard infidel, how lik’st thou this?Shylock.Eternal torments blister him that asks.
Shylock[striking about him angrily] Aye! kill me, dogs of Christians, an’ ye will!Meseems the Jew hath no more leave to treadThe stones on Christian streets; he may not breatheThe air a Christian breathes, nor gaze uncheck’dUpon the Christian’s sky; he hath no partOr lot in anything that is, unlessA Christian please to nod the head. I hateYe, brood of Satan that ye are! May allThe plagues of Egypt fall upon ye, dogsOf Christians; all the pains—Fourth Citizen.Nay, gentle Jew,’Tis said thou must become a Christian, straight;Old Shylock, turn perforce, a “Christian dog!”Now, greybeard infidel, how lik’st thou this?Shylock.Eternal torments blister him that asks.
Shylock[striking about him angrily] Aye! kill me, dogs of Christians, an’ ye will!
Meseems the Jew hath no more leave to tread
The stones on Christian streets; he may not breathe
The air a Christian breathes, nor gaze uncheck’d
Upon the Christian’s sky; he hath no part
Or lot in anything that is, unless
A Christian please to nod the head. I hate
Ye, brood of Satan that ye are! May all
The plagues of Egypt fall upon ye, dogs
Of Christians; all the pains—
Fourth Citizen.Nay, gentle Jew,
’Tis said thou must become a Christian, straight;
Old Shylock, turn perforce, a “Christian dog!”
Now, greybeard infidel, how lik’st thou this?
Shylock.Eternal torments blister him that asks.
[ExitShylock,raving.
Second Citizen.A sweet-fac’d Christian will our Shylock make.I would that I might be his cònfessor,To lay such swingeing penance on the knaveAs scarce would leave him space to sup his brothAmid the pauses of his punishment.
Second Citizen.A sweet-fac’d Christian will our Shylock make.I would that I might be his cònfessor,To lay such swingeing penance on the knaveAs scarce would leave him space to sup his brothAmid the pauses of his punishment.
Second Citizen.A sweet-fac’d Christian will our Shylock make.
I would that I might be his cònfessor,
To lay such swingeing penance on the knave
As scarce would leave him space to sup his broth
Amid the pauses of his punishment.
[Exeunt citizens, with shouts.
SceneII.Venice. A Room, inShylock’sHouse.
[EnterShylockandTubal.
Tubal.How now, Shylock! What bitter woe looks from thy face? What has chanced to thee in the Christian’s court to make thee thus distraught?
Shylock.O Tubal, Tubal, there dwells no more pity in the Christian breast than there abides justice therein. I stood for justice and mine own, before them all; before that smiling, smooth-faced judge from Padua, and with those false smiles of his he turned against me the sharp edge of the law. He forbade the shedding of one drop of the merchant Antonio’s blood—naming therefor some ancient law, musty for centuries, and that still hadgathered dust till it would serve to bait the Jew with—and so I lost my revenge upon Antonio. More than that, good Tubal, I lost everything I had to lose.
Tubal.Lost everything! Now, by our ancient prophets, this is woe indeed.
Shylock.Aye, good Tubal. The half my goods are now adjudged Antonio’s; the other half, upon my death, goes to the knave, Lorenzo; that same he that lately stole my ducats and my daughter.
Tubal.And merry havoc will he and thy daughter Jessica make of thy treasure, Shylock.
Shylock.But there is greater woe to come, good Tubal. To save this poor remainder of a life have I this day sworn to turn a Christian.
Tubal.Thou, turn Christian! O monstrous deed! Our synagogue will be put to everlasting shame for this. Nay, good Shylock, it must not be. It must not be.
Shylock.Have I not said that I am sworn on pain of life? They would e’en have had my life almost in the open court had I not so sworn. But hear me, Tubal; I will not die till that I have bethought me of some secret, sure revenge upon Antonio, or failing this, upon the taunting, sneeringfool they call Gratiano, whom I do loathe e’en as I loathe Antonio. Moreover I would gladly do some deadly hurt unto the accursed Paduan judge, an’ it might be so.
Tubal.Then wilt thou still be Hebrew at the heart, good Shylock?
Shylock.How else while yet I bear remembrance of my wrongs? Have not many of our chosen people done this selfsame thing for ducats or for life? Kissed the cross before men’s eyes, but spurned it behind their backs? As I shall do, erewhile. But, O good Tubal, the apples of Sodom were as sweet morsels in the mouth unto this that I must do.
Tubal.Hebrew at heart, albeit Christian of countenance.Ay, Shylock, it is well. It is well.
Tubal.Hebrew at heart, albeit Christian of countenance.Ay, Shylock, it is well. It is well.
Tubal.Hebrew at heart, albeit Christian of countenance.
Ay, Shylock, it is well. It is well.
[Exeunt.
SceneIII.Venice. Interior of Saint Mark’s.
Organ music heard. Enter a company of noble Venetians with theDukeand his train, accompanied byBassanio,Portia,Antonio,Gratiano,Nerissaand others. Following these, at a little distance, appearLorenzoandJessica,the latter gorgeously attired. The company pauses before the font.Shylockenters from the left, led forward by a priest. His gaberdine has been exchanged for the Christian habit, and in his hand is placed a crucifix.
Duke.Old Shylock, art thou well content to doAs thus we have ordain’d, which is, that thouRenounce thine ancient Jewish faith, repentThy sins, and take the holy, solemn vowsA Christian takes when on his brow the dropsBaptismal glister, and be nam’d anewAfter the Christian custom of our land?Shylock.Most noble duke, I am content, and doHereby renounce my nation and my faith,And, which is more, raze out of mind the nameThat I have borne these three-score heavy years,Since it is thy command.Duke.CristoferoShalt thou be call’d hereafter. Now, good priest,Thine office do with ceremonies meet,And make this greybeard Jew a Christian straight.
Duke.Old Shylock, art thou well content to doAs thus we have ordain’d, which is, that thouRenounce thine ancient Jewish faith, repentThy sins, and take the holy, solemn vowsA Christian takes when on his brow the dropsBaptismal glister, and be nam’d anewAfter the Christian custom of our land?Shylock.Most noble duke, I am content, and doHereby renounce my nation and my faith,And, which is more, raze out of mind the nameThat I have borne these three-score heavy years,Since it is thy command.Duke.CristoferoShalt thou be call’d hereafter. Now, good priest,Thine office do with ceremonies meet,And make this greybeard Jew a Christian straight.
Duke.Old Shylock, art thou well content to do
As thus we have ordain’d, which is, that thou
Renounce thine ancient Jewish faith, repent
Thy sins, and take the holy, solemn vows
A Christian takes when on his brow the drops
Baptismal glister, and be nam’d anew
After the Christian custom of our land?
Shylock.Most noble duke, I am content, and do
Hereby renounce my nation and my faith,
And, which is more, raze out of mind the name
That I have borne these three-score heavy years,
Since it is thy command.
Duke.Cristofero
Shalt thou be call’d hereafter. Now, good priest,
Thine office do with ceremonies meet,
And make this greybeard Jew a Christian straight.
Solemn music heard, after whichShylockis baptized by the priest,Antonioat the command of theDukestanding godfatherto the Jew, who makes the required responses in a low voice. While he is still kneeling the company converse in an undertone.
Gratiano.I much mislike this new made Christian’s faceNor would I trust Cristofero for allHis Christian name and meekly mutter’d vows.Portia.Nay, Gratiano, question not the heartNor rudely draw aside the veil that speechHangs ever ’fore the spirit. Who may sayThat e’en the best among us keeps a faithLoyal to every smallest clause, or doesNot slip at whiles amid the thousand smallRequirements of the law. And yet, we doImplore a gentle sentence on these sinsOf ours, a pardon that shall make us whole.If, for ourselves, then trebly for the JewNew come, bewilder’d, to our Christian creed.Antonio.There will be space enow to doubt the JewTurn’d Christian, Gratiano, when he shallGive cause for doubt. ’Twere scantest charityTill then, to bear with him, as we do bearOurselves unto our fellow Christians all.A bitter lesson hath he lately conn’d,And he were mad indeed that should neglectTo profit by’t.Gratiano.Belike, belike ’tis thus,But yet I do not like Cristofero’s looks;I’ll not be argu’d out of that, i’ faith,And say’t again, I much mislike his favour.Nerissa.Peace, Gratiano, dost not note the dukeCommands to silence, and would speak once more?Thou wilt be ever talking, as thy wont.Duke.Cristofero, thou bear’st a Christian nameFrom this day forth. Then look to’t that thou dostIn all things as a Christian, not as Jew.Shylock.In all things as a Christian. Yes. [Aside] Why that’sRevenge! Revenge!Duke.So must thou quit thy houseIn Jewry, dwell mid Christian folk, and goWith Christian folk to church on holy days,And wear henceforth the cross thou did’st disdain.Dost hearken unto us, Cristofero?Shylock.I hear but to obey, dread duke; and thankThee for thy clemency to me, once Jew,But now, within this very selfsame hour,A gasping new born Christian, all unschool’dIn duties other Christians know full well,Yet earnest still, to act the Christian’s part,With hope to better his ensample set.Gratiano[aside toBassanio] For all thy gentle Portia saith but now,I like not such smooth terms from out those lips.Bassanio[aside] Peace, Gratiano, let him say his say,He cannot now do aught to injure thee.
Gratiano.I much mislike this new made Christian’s faceNor would I trust Cristofero for allHis Christian name and meekly mutter’d vows.Portia.Nay, Gratiano, question not the heartNor rudely draw aside the veil that speechHangs ever ’fore the spirit. Who may sayThat e’en the best among us keeps a faithLoyal to every smallest clause, or doesNot slip at whiles amid the thousand smallRequirements of the law. And yet, we doImplore a gentle sentence on these sinsOf ours, a pardon that shall make us whole.If, for ourselves, then trebly for the JewNew come, bewilder’d, to our Christian creed.Antonio.There will be space enow to doubt the JewTurn’d Christian, Gratiano, when he shallGive cause for doubt. ’Twere scantest charityTill then, to bear with him, as we do bearOurselves unto our fellow Christians all.A bitter lesson hath he lately conn’d,And he were mad indeed that should neglectTo profit by’t.Gratiano.Belike, belike ’tis thus,But yet I do not like Cristofero’s looks;I’ll not be argu’d out of that, i’ faith,And say’t again, I much mislike his favour.Nerissa.Peace, Gratiano, dost not note the dukeCommands to silence, and would speak once more?Thou wilt be ever talking, as thy wont.Duke.Cristofero, thou bear’st a Christian nameFrom this day forth. Then look to’t that thou dostIn all things as a Christian, not as Jew.Shylock.In all things as a Christian. Yes. [Aside] Why that’sRevenge! Revenge!Duke.So must thou quit thy houseIn Jewry, dwell mid Christian folk, and goWith Christian folk to church on holy days,And wear henceforth the cross thou did’st disdain.Dost hearken unto us, Cristofero?Shylock.I hear but to obey, dread duke; and thankThee for thy clemency to me, once Jew,But now, within this very selfsame hour,A gasping new born Christian, all unschool’dIn duties other Christians know full well,Yet earnest still, to act the Christian’s part,With hope to better his ensample set.Gratiano[aside toBassanio] For all thy gentle Portia saith but now,I like not such smooth terms from out those lips.Bassanio[aside] Peace, Gratiano, let him say his say,He cannot now do aught to injure thee.
Gratiano.I much mislike this new made Christian’s face
Nor would I trust Cristofero for all
His Christian name and meekly mutter’d vows.
Portia.Nay, Gratiano, question not the heart
Nor rudely draw aside the veil that speech
Hangs ever ’fore the spirit. Who may say
That e’en the best among us keeps a faith
Loyal to every smallest clause, or does
Not slip at whiles amid the thousand small
Requirements of the law. And yet, we do
Implore a gentle sentence on these sins
Of ours, a pardon that shall make us whole.
If, for ourselves, then trebly for the Jew
New come, bewilder’d, to our Christian creed.
Antonio.There will be space enow to doubt the Jew
Turn’d Christian, Gratiano, when he shall
Give cause for doubt. ’Twere scantest charity
Till then, to bear with him, as we do bear
Ourselves unto our fellow Christians all.
A bitter lesson hath he lately conn’d,
And he were mad indeed that should neglect
To profit by’t.
Gratiano.Belike, belike ’tis thus,
But yet I do not like Cristofero’s looks;
I’ll not be argu’d out of that, i’ faith,
And say’t again, I much mislike his favour.
Nerissa.Peace, Gratiano, dost not note the duke
Commands to silence, and would speak once more?
Thou wilt be ever talking, as thy wont.
Duke.Cristofero, thou bear’st a Christian name
From this day forth. Then look to’t that thou dost
In all things as a Christian, not as Jew.
Shylock.In all things as a Christian. Yes. [Aside] Why that’s
Revenge! Revenge!
Duke.So must thou quit thy house
In Jewry, dwell mid Christian folk, and go
With Christian folk to church on holy days,
And wear henceforth the cross thou did’st disdain.
Dost hearken unto us, Cristofero?
Shylock.I hear but to obey, dread duke; and thank
Thee for thy clemency to me, once Jew,
But now, within this very selfsame hour,
A gasping new born Christian, all unschool’d
In duties other Christians know full well,
Yet earnest still, to act the Christian’s part,
With hope to better his ensample set.
Gratiano[aside toBassanio] For all thy gentle Portia saith but now,
I like not such smooth terms from out those lips.
Bassanio[aside] Peace, Gratiano, let him say his say,
He cannot now do aught to injure thee.
[ExeuntDukeand train withAntonioandfriends.LorenzoandJessicacome forward.
Jessica.How now, good father Cristofero; what a pair of Christians are we both. Only there’s this difference betwixt us, good father. I am a Christian for love of a husband and you have turned a Christian for love of your ducats.
Shylock.Ungrateful daughter; Why did’st thou go forth from my house by night and rob thy grey-haired father of his treasure?
Jessica.Why? That’s most easy of answer. Why, because I desired a Christian husband and there was no coming by my desire save by secret flight from your most gloomy chambers; and sinceneither my Christian husband nor your daughter Jessica could by any kind of contriving live upon air alone, we had, perforce, to take with us some of your ducats for the bettering our condition. Speak thou for me, Lorenzo. Was it not e’en so?
Lorenzo.Old man, I am sorry for that I was forced to take from you your daughter and your ducats against your good pleasure, but I must tell you that I loved her as myself [Aside] nay, much more, my Jessica,—and by reason of this great love of mine, and because of your exceeding hatred towards all Christians did I take her from your house. And since, moreover, as the maid very truly says, there’s no living i’ the world without the means to live, because of this did we make shift to take with us from your house such means, as well advised you would not have your daughter lack for food and suitable apparel, and since we are now Christians all, what matters it?
Shylock[slowly] Ay, what matters it? We are now Christians all, as thou sayest, and, I remember me that I have heard it said it is a Christian’s duty to forgive all who have wronged him. Therefore I forgive you, Jessica—for robbing your old father; and you, Lorenzo, I forgive—for stealing my daughter. You are each wellmated. But I would be alone a while. Go, good Jessica. Go, son Lorenzo.
[ExeuntLorenzoandJessica.
Shylock[alone] A curse pursue the twain where’er they go.A Christian-Jewish curse, since that should beWeightier than either singly. Would that IMight see them dead before me, while Ilive,—Such love I bear my daughter, and my son.
Shylock[alone] A curse pursue the twain where’er they go.A Christian-Jewish curse, since that should beWeightier than either singly. Would that IMight see them dead before me, while Ilive,—Such love I bear my daughter, and my son.
Shylock[alone] A curse pursue the twain where’er they go.
A Christian-Jewish curse, since that should be
Weightier than either singly. Would that I
Might see them dead before me, while Ilive,—
Such love I bear my daughter, and my son.
[Gazes about the church.
These be the images of Christian saintsWhom I must bend the knee before when menLook on. And here the Virgin; here the Christ.Now must I kneel; a hundred eyes perchance,Peer at me through the gloom. A hundred eyesMay see me kneel, yet shall they not perceiveThe scorner of the Christian hid withinThe humble figure of the man who kneels.Now, by the prophets, whom I reverence,And by these Christian saints whom I do scorn,I swear to nourish my revenge till thoseI deepest hate are dead, or sham’d beforeTheir fellows. But how this may be, I knowNot yet, for all the way were dark as nightBefore me, save that my revenge burns red.
These be the images of Christian saintsWhom I must bend the knee before when menLook on. And here the Virgin; here the Christ.Now must I kneel; a hundred eyes perchance,Peer at me through the gloom. A hundred eyesMay see me kneel, yet shall they not perceiveThe scorner of the Christian hid withinThe humble figure of the man who kneels.Now, by the prophets, whom I reverence,And by these Christian saints whom I do scorn,I swear to nourish my revenge till thoseI deepest hate are dead, or sham’d beforeTheir fellows. But how this may be, I knowNot yet, for all the way were dark as nightBefore me, save that my revenge burns red.
These be the images of Christian saints
Whom I must bend the knee before when men
Look on. And here the Virgin; here the Christ.
Now must I kneel; a hundred eyes perchance,
Peer at me through the gloom. A hundred eyes
May see me kneel, yet shall they not perceive
The scorner of the Christian hid within
The humble figure of the man who kneels.
Now, by the prophets, whom I reverence,
And by these Christian saints whom I do scorn,
I swear to nourish my revenge till those
I deepest hate are dead, or sham’d before
Their fellows. But how this may be, I know
Not yet, for all the way were dark as night
Before me, save that my revenge burns red.
[Choir heard chanting in a distant chapel.[Rises from his knees.
Good fellow Christians, it may hap the JewTurn’d Christian, shall yet do a harm to ye.Behind Cristofero’s mask is still the faceOf Shylock; in his breast the heart unchang’d.
Good fellow Christians, it may hap the JewTurn’d Christian, shall yet do a harm to ye.Behind Cristofero’s mask is still the faceOf Shylock; in his breast the heart unchang’d.
Good fellow Christians, it may hap the Jew
Turn’d Christian, shall yet do a harm to ye.
Behind Cristofero’s mask is still the face
Of Shylock; in his breast the heart unchang’d.
[Choir heard chantingJudica me Deus.
Yea, my good fellow Christians, I do thankYe for that word, and hug it to my heart.Henceforth it shall be mine, when I do pray,Not to thy Christ, but unto Israel’s God!“Give sentence with me, O my God; defendMy cause against the hosts that wrought me ill.”
Yea, my good fellow Christians, I do thankYe for that word, and hug it to my heart.Henceforth it shall be mine, when I do pray,Not to thy Christ, but unto Israel’s God!“Give sentence with me, O my God; defendMy cause against the hosts that wrought me ill.”
Yea, my good fellow Christians, I do thank
Ye for that word, and hug it to my heart.
Henceforth it shall be mine, when I do pray,
Not to thy Christ, but unto Israel’s God!
“Give sentence with me, O my God; defend
My cause against the hosts that wrought me ill.”
[Choir in the distance, respondingAmen.[ExitShylock.