for his friend.

The importance of the arduous task Portia had engaged in gave this
tender lady courage, and she boldly proceeded in the duty she had
undertaken to perform: and first of all she addressed herself to
Shylock; and allowing that he had a right by the Venetian law to have
the forfeit expressed in the bond, she spoke so sweetly of the noble
quality of _mercy_, as would have softened any heart but the unfeeling
Shylock's; saying, that it dropped as the gentle rain from heaven upon
the place beneath; and how mercy was a double blessing, it blessed him
that gave, and him that received it; and how it became monarchs better
than their crowns, being an attribute of God himself; and that earthly
power came nearest to God's, in proportion as mercy tempered justice;
and she bid Shylock remember that as we all pray for mercy, that same
prayer should teach us to show mercy. Shylock only answered her by
desiring to have the penalty forfeited in the bond. "Is he not able to
pay the money?" asked Portia. Bassanio then offered the Jew the payment
of the three thousand ducats as many times over as he should desire;
which Shylock refusing, and still insisting upon having a pound of
Antonio's flesh, Bassanio begged the learned young counsellor would
endeavour to wrest the law a little, to save Antonio's life. But Portia
gravely answered, that laws once established must never be altered.
Shylock hearing Portia say that the law might not be altered, it seemed
to him that she was pleading in his favour, and he said, "A Daniel is
come to judgment! O wise young judge, how I do honour you! How much
elder are you than your looks!"

[Illustration: SHYLOCK WAS SHARPENING A LONG KNIFE]

Portia now desired Shylock to let her look at the bond; and when she had
read it, she said, "This bond is forfeited, and by this the Jew may
lawfully claim a pound of flesh, to be by him cut off nearest Antonio's
heart." Then she said to Shylock, "Be merciful: take the money, and bid
me tear the bond." But no mercy would the cruel Shylock show; and he
said, "By my soul I swear, there is no power in the tongue of man to
alter me."--"Why then, Antonio," said Portia, "you must prepare your
bosom for the knife:" and while Shylock was sharpening a long knife with
great eagerness to cut off the pound of flesh, Portia said to Antonio,
"Have you anything to say?" Antonio with a calm resignation replied,
that he had but little to say, for that he had prepared h