use your pleasure: if your love for me
do not persuade you to come, let not my letter."

Then Portia said such a friend should not lose so much as a hair of his
head by the fault of Bassanio, and that gold must be found to pay the
money; and in order to make all her possessions his, she would even
marry her lover that day, so that he might start at once to the help of
Antonio.

So in all haste the young couple were wedded, and also their
attendants, Gratiano and Nerissa. Bassanio immediately set out for
Venice, where he found his friend in prison.

The time of payment was past, and the Jew would not accept the money
offered him: nothing would do now, he said, but the pound of flesh! So
a day was appointed for the case to be tried before the Duke of Venice;
and meanwhile the two friends must wait in anxiety and fear.

Portia had spoken cheeringly to her husband when he left her, but her
own heart began to sink when she was alone; and so strong was her
desire to save one who bad been so true a friend to her Bassanio, that
she determined to go to Venice and speak in defence of Antonio.

There was a gentleman dwelling in the city named Bellario, a
counsellor, who was related to Portia; and to him she wrote telling the
case, and begging that he would send her the dress which she must wear
when she appeared to defend the prisoner at his trial. The messenger
returned, bringing her the robes of the counsellor, and also much
advice as to how she should act; and, in company of her maid Nerissa,
Portia started upon her errand, arriving at Venice on the day of the
trial.

The duke and the senators were already in court, when a note was handed
from Bellario saying that, by illness, he was prevented pleading for
Antonio; but he begged that the young and learned Doctor Balthasar (for
so he called Portia) might be allowed to take his place.

The duke marveled at the extremely youthful appearance of this
stranger, but granted Bellario's request; and Portia, disguised in
flowing robes and large wig, gazed round the court, where she saw
Bassanio standing beside his friend.

The importance of her work gave Portia courage; and she began her
address to Shylock, the Jew, telling him of mercy:

"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The thr