And trivial ostentation'-is left free That, while it binds', invigorates and supports.' His eye distinguishes', his soul creates'.-WORDSWORTH. LES. II.-SHYLOCK: A SCENE OF CONTENDING PASSIONS. 1. THE following is taken from Shakspeare's play of the Merchant of Venice. The daughter of Shylock, a rich and covetous Jew, had eloped with Lorenzo and gone to Genoa, taking with her some of her father's costly jewels; and Tubal, the agent of the Jew, has just returned from a fruitless search after the runaways. The absence of his daughter distresses the Jew, but the loss of his jewels still more; yet his grief is repeatedly assuaged and changed to the highest exultation, as Tubal mentions the misfortunes which had befallen the merchant Antonio, to whom the Jew had lent money on a bond, and to whom he owes a mortal grudge. The contending passions of the Jew are admirably portrayed here, and the same should be truthfully expressed in the reading. Shylock. How now', Tubal', what news from Genoa'? Hast thou found my daughter'? Tubal. I often came where I did hear of her, but can not find her. Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now: two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels.-I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them' ?-Why, so;-and I know not what's spent in the search. Why thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much', and so much to find the thief'; and no satisfaction', no revenge'; nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o' my' shoulders; no sighs' but o' my' breathing; no tears' but o' my' shedding. a Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, as I heard in GenoaShy. What, what, what'? ill luck, ill luck' ? Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God!-Is it true'? is it true' ?b This is spoken in a tone of sobbing grief. Spoken rapidly. Shylock catches, with eager joy, at the news of Antonio's ill luck. Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck. Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal:-Good news, good news; ha! ha!— Where? in Genoa' ?b Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, fourscore ducats. Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger' in me ;-I shall never see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting'! fourscore ducats' ! Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he can not choose but break. Shy. I am very glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture him; I am glad of it.b Tub. One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness' of monkeys. Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true. Go, Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight before. I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for, were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will. Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. LES. III.-SHYLOCK AND THE MERCHANT: THE TRIAL SCENE. son. 1. THE following is partially explained in the preceding lesThe merchant Antonio had borrowed from Shylock, for his friend Bassanio, the sum of three thousand ducats; and Shylock had caused to be inserted in the bond the condition that, if Antonio should fail to make payment on a certain day, the merchant should forfeit a pound of flesh, to be cut off nearest his heart. Owing to losses, Antonio was unable to pay on the day appointed; and although afterward his friends offered to make double, treble, or quadruple payment to the Jew, the latter claimed, as he had a right to by the strict "law of Venice," exact fulfillment of the bond. 2. In the following scene the parties appear in court before the Duke of Venice; and Portia, the wife of Bassanio, a lady of high mental powers and great goodness, the heiress of a princely name and countless wealth, but here so disguised, as a learned doctor and judge from Padua, as to be unrecognized even by her own husband, is introduced, to counsel with the duke in the administration of justice. Although the Jew is here placed in a very odious light, it ought not to be regarded as any imputation upon the sect to which he belongs. Very mournfully and slowly, but emphatically: the downward inflection. (To Antonio.) Duke. Give me your hand'. Came you from old Bellario'? Duke. You are welcome': take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court'? Shylock. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Can not impugn you as you do proceed. You stand within his danger', do you not'? 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'. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven And earthly power doth then show likest God's Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Por. 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, Por. It must not be'; there's no power in Venice Can alter a decree established'; "Twill be recorded for a precedent'; And many an error, by the same example, Will rush into the state: it can not be. Yea, a Daniel! Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! O wise young judge, how do I honor thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor; here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered 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; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law, Ant. Most heartily do I beseech the court Por. Why, then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shy. O noble judge'! O excellent young man'! Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 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 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 expressed; but what of that? "Twere good you do so much for charity. Shy. I can not find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? Ant. But little; I am armed, and well prepared. Give me your hand', Bassanio'! fare you well!! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein fortune shows herself more kind To let the wretched man outlive his wealth'; Say, how I loved' you; speak me fair in death; I'll pay it instantly with all my heart. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it', and the law doth give' it. Shy. Most rightful judge! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; Shy. Most learned judge! A sentence! come, prepare. 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; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. Gratiano. O upright judge !-Mark, Jew!-O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shall see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 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. Bas. Here is the money. Por. Soft; The Jew shall have all justice-soft!-no haste- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge! a learned judge! Of one poor scruple'-nay, if the scale do turn Gra. A second Daniel-a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. |