Page 467 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

He is ready at the door; he comes, my lord. [15]

Enter Shylock.

DUKE
Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice

To the last hour of act, and then ’tis thought
Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange [20]
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
And where thou now exacts the penalty,

Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
But touched with human gentleness and love, [25]
Forgive a moiety of the principal,

Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enow to press a royal merchant down
And pluck commiseration of his state [30]

From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

SHYLOCK

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose, [35]
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond.
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city’s freedom!

You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have [40]
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that,

But say it is my humour. Is it answered?
What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats [45]
To have it baned? What, are you answered yet?