Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence against the merchant there."_

Shylock, with unforgiving spirit, replies:

_"My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond!"_

Portia asks:

_"Is not Antonio able to discharge the money?"_

Bassanio replies:

_"Yes; here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the sum,"_

and still appealing to the Duke, says:

_"To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will!"_

Portia says:

_"There is no power in Venice can altar a decree established."_

And Shylock, lighting up with joy, replies:

_"A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!"_

Preparation is made to cut the pound of flesh from the breast of Antonio;
and this brave old Christian merchant says to his dearest friend, Bassanio:

_"Fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom; it is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow,
An age of poverty."_

Portia, speaking to Shylock, says:

_"Take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscated
Unto the State of Venice!"_

The Jew finding himself absolutely blocked consents to take the money
offered.

Yet, Portia tells him that his property and life are now at the mercy of
the Duke because he has conspired against the life of a citizen of Venice,
and bids him:

_"Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke!"_

Then the great Duke, judge of the court, speaks to Shylock:

_"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!"_

Shylock bravely replies:

_"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!"_

Then Antonio says if the Jew will give up all his property to Lorenzo and
his daughter Jessica, and become a Christian, he the "Merchant of Venice,"
will be content.

Portia then triumphantly asks:

_"Art thou content, Jew, what dost thou say?"_