est proceeding,
That, indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contriv'd against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

_Gratiano._ Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
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 spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

_Portia._ Ay, for the state; not for Antonio.

_Shylock._ Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:
You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life,
When you do take the means whereby I live.

_Portia._ What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

_Gratiano._ A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.

_Antonio._ So please my lord the duke, and all the court,
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:
Two things provided more,--that, for this favor,
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.

_Duke._ He shall do this; or else I do recant
The pardon that I late pronounced here.

_Portia._ Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?

_Shylock._ I am content.

_Portia._ Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

_Shylock._ I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;
I am not well: send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.

_Duke._ Get thee gone, but do it.

_Gratiano._ In christening thou shalt have two godfathers;
Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. [_Exit Shylock._

_Duke._ Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

_Portia._ 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.
Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[_Exeunt omnes._

FOOTNOTES:

[A] As an introduction read "The Merchant of Venice," FOURTH READER,
page 311.