Act IV, Scene I - Page 4

The Merchant of Venice | Act IV, Scene I - Page 4

DUKE:: That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,(380)
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.

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.

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,(395)
Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter;
Two things provided more,—that for this favour,
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift,(400)
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.

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.(410)

GRATIANO:: In christening, shalt thou have two god-fathers;
Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

Exit [Shylock]

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,(420)
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

Exit Duke and his train.

BASSANIO:: Most worthy gentleman, I, and my friend,
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,(425)
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

ANTONIO:: And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

PORTIA:: He is well paid that is well satisfied:
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,(430)
And therein do account myself well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

BASSANIO:: Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further;(435)
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
Not as fee: grant me two things, I pray you,
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

PORTIA:: You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
[To Antonio] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for(440)
your sake;
[To Bassanio] And, for your love, I'll take this ring from
you:—
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;
And you in love shall not deny me this.(445)

BASSANIO:: This ring, good sir?—alas, it is a trifle:
I will not shame myself to give you this.

PORTIA:: I will have nothing else but only this;
And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

BASSANIO:: There's more depends on this than on the value.(450)
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
And find it out by proclamation;
Only for this I pray you pardon me.

PORTIA:: I see, sir, you are liberal in offers:
You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks,(455)
You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

BASSANIO:: Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;
And, when she put it on, she made me vow
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.

PORTIA:: That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.(460)
An if your wife be not a mad woman,
And know how well I have deserv'd the ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

Exeunt [Portia and Nerissa]

ANTONIO:: My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring,(465)
Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment.

BASSANIO:: Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio's house:—away! make haste.(470)

Exit Gratiano.
Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

Exeunt.

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