Who never taught him better breeding

Than to speak the vulgar truth! Well, sir?

Wil. His name,

(To Williams, returning.)

So please your lordship, Markham?
Tin. Do you know

The thing?

Roch. Right well! I' faith, a hearty fellow, Son to a worthy tradesman, who would do Great things with little means; so entered him In the Temple. A good fellow, on my life, Nought smacking of his stock!

Tin. You've said enough!

His lordship's not at home. (Williams leaves.) We do not go By hearts, but orders! Had he family,

Blood,―though it were only a den,—his heart

Would pass for something,—lacking such desert,
Were it ten times the heart it is, 't is nought!

(Enter Williams.)

Wil. One Master Jones hath asked to see your lordship. Tin. And what was your reply to Master Jones?

Wil. I knew not if his lordship was at home.

Tin. You'll do.- Who 's Master Jones?

Roch. A curate's son.

Tin. A curate's son?

Better be a yeoman's son!

How made you his acquaintance, pray?

Roch. We read

Latin and Greek together.

Tin. Dropping them,

As, now that you 're a lord, of course you 've done,
Drop him.-You 'll say his lordship 's not at home
Wil. So please your lordship, I forgot to say,

One Richard Cricket likewise is below.

[dale!

Tin. Who? Richard Cricket? You must see him, Roch

A noble little fellow! A great man, sir!

Not knowing whom, you would be nobody!
I won five thousand pounds by him.

Roch. Who is he?

I never heard of him.

Tin. What! never heard

Of Richard Cricket! never heard of him!
Why, he's the jockey of Newmarket; you

May wir. a cup by him, or else a sweepstakes.
I bade him call upon you. You must see him.
His lordship is at home to Richard Cricket.
Roch. Bid him wait in the ante-room.

Tin. The ante-room!

[needs

Your lordship

The best room in your house! You do not know
The use of Richard Cricket! Show him, sir,
Into the drawing-room. (Williams leaves.)
Must be upon the turf; and you'll do well
To make a friend of Richard Cricket.—Well, sir,
What's that?

(To Williams, returning with a paper.) Wil. So please your lordship, a petition.

Tin. Hadst not a service 'mong the Hottentots Ere thou cam'st hither, friend? Present thy lord With a petition! At mechanics' doors,

At tradesmen's, shopkeepers', and merchants' only

Have such things leave to knock! Make thy lord's gate
A wicket to the workhouse! Let us see it -

Subscriptions to a book of poetry!

Who heads the list? Cornelius Tense, A.M.,

Which means he construes Greek and Latin, works
Problems in mathematics, can chop logic,

And is a conjuror in philosophy,

Both natural and moral.-Pshaw! a man
Whom nobody, that is anybody, knows.

Who think you follows him? Why, an M.D.,
An F.R.S., an F.A.S., and then

A D.D., Doctor of Divinity,

Ushering in an LL.D., which means

Doctor of Laws, their harmony, no doubt,

The difference of their trades! There's nothing here

But languages, and sciences, and arts, --

Not an iota of nobility!

We cannot give our names.

Take back the paper,

And tell the bearer there's no answer for him: :

That is the lordly way of saying

66 No."

But, talking of subscriptions, here is one

To which your lordship may affix his name.

Roch. Pray, who's the object?

Tin. A most worthy man!

A man of singular deserts; a man

In serving whom your lordship will serve me,—
Signor Cantata.

Roch. He's a friend of yours?

Tin. Oh no, I know him not; I've not that pleasure. But Lady Dangle knows him; she 's his friend.

He will oblige us with a set of concerts,

Six concerts to the set.- The set three guineas.
Your lordship will subscribe ?

Roch. Oh! by all means.

Tin. How many sets of tickets? Two at least. You'll like to take a friend? I'll set you down Six guineas to Signor Cantata's concerts;

And now, my lord, we 'll to him,-then we 'll walk.

Duke. You are welcome: take your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?
Judge. I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Judge. Is your name Shylock?
Shylock. Shylock is my name.

Judge. Of a strange nature is the suit
Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

you

follow;

You stand within his danger, do you not? (To Antonio.

Antonio. Ay, so he says.

Judge. Do you confess the bond?

Ant. I do.

Judge. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shyl. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Judge. The quality of mercy is not strained;
droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
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,
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;

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

Judge. Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bassanio. Yes; here I tender it for him in the court;

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

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:
To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel demon of his will.

Judge. It must not be; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established;

'T will be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the same example,

Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Shyl. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!

O wise young judge, how do I honor thee!

Judge. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shyl. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

Judge. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. Shyl. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven; Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

Judge. Why, this bond is forfeit ;

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.
Shyl. When it is paid according to the tenor.
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 judgment; by my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.
Ant. Most heartily do I beseech the court
To give the judgment.

Judge. Why, then, thus it is.

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Shyl. O noble judge! O excellent young man! Judge. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty,

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shyl. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Judge. Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
Shyl. Ay, his breast:

So

says the bond. Doth it not, noble judge?— Nearest his heart, those are the very words.

Judge. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh

The flesh?

Shyl. I have them ready.

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

Shyl. Is it so nominated in the bond?

Judge. It is not so expressed; but what of that?

'T were good you do so much for charity.

Shyl. I cannot find it; 't is not in the bond.

We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence.

Judge. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

Shyl. Most rightful judge!

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

Shyl. Most arned judge!—A sentence: come, prepare!

(Approaches Antonio.)