DRAMATIC SCENES AND DIALOGUES.

1.-SCENE FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

SHAKSPEARE.

[William Shakspeare, the most illustrious dramatic poet of any age or country, was born at Stratford-on-Avon on the 23rd of April, 1564. He was educated at the Grammar School of his native town; but, it has been suggested, his father requiring him to assist in his business, that of a wool-dealer and butcher, he was taken early from school. At the age of eighteen he married Ann Hathaway, a farmer's daughter, and subsequently proceeded to London. The records of his early life are but scant, and too much has been written about him on mere conjecture. It is certain that in London he rapidly acquired fame and fortune, and that his genius enabled him to retire from his professional career at a comparatively early age. His imperishable works consist of thirtyseven plays, tragedies and comedies; his poems "Venus and Adonis," and "The Rape of Lucrece," with a collection of Sonnets. He died in his native town, on his birthday, 1616.]

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
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty.

And, where thou now exact'st the penalty
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,
Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture,

But, touched with human gentleness, and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal,

Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

That have of late brought down such ruin on him,
Enough to press a royal merchant down:

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Shy. I have possess'd your grace of what I
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
A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive
Three thousand ducats? I'll not answer that,
But say, it is my humour! Is it answer'd?

purpose;

What if my house be troubled with a rat,
And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?
Bassanio. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my answer.
Antonio. I pray you, think you question with the Jew!
You may as well go stand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb,
As try to melt his Jewish heart to kindness.

Bass. For thy three thousand ducats, here are six.
Shy. If ev'ry ducat in six thousand ducats

Were in six parts, and ev'ry part a ducat,

I would not draw them; I would have

my bond.

Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none ?
Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

Is dearly bought: 'tis mine; and I will have it.

Enter PORTIA, dressed like a Doctor of Laws.

Duke. Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario ? Por. I did, my lord.

Duke. You are welcome: take your place.

Are you acquainted with the cause in question?

Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

Duke. Antonio, and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por. (To Shylock.) Is your name Shylock?

Shy. Shylock is my name.

Por. (To Antonio.) You stand within his danger, do you not? Ant. Ay, so he says.

Por. Do you confess the bond?

Ant. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from Heav'n,
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest,
It blesses him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute of God himself;

And earthly pow'r doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,`
Tho' justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,

And that same pray'r doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

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

Bass. For once I beg the court to bend the law To equity. "Tis worth a little wrong

To curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be. There is no pow'r in Venice, Can alter a decree established.

"Twill be recorded for a precedent,

And many an error by the same example
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge! How do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

Shy. Here't is, most reverend doctor! Here it is. Por. Shylock!-there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath! an oath! I have an oath in Heav'n! Shall I lay perjury on my soul ?

No, not for Venice.

Por. Why, this bond is forfeit,

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

Nearest the merchant's heart.-Be merciful,

Take thrice thy money. Bid me tear the bond.

Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.There is no power in the tongue of man,

To alter me. I stay upon my bond.

Ant. Most heartily do I beseech the court

To give the judgment.

Por. Why, then, thus it is;

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
Shy. Ay, his breast;

So saith the bond; doth it not, noble judge?

Nearest his heart. Those are the very words.

Por. It is so. Are there scales to weigh the flesh?
Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have here a surgeon, Shylock, at your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.
Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not so expressed; but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it. 'Tis not in the bond.

Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine.
The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
Shy. Most rightful judge!

Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast.
The law allows it, and the court awards it.

Shy. Most learned judge!-A sentence! Come, prepare. Por. Tarry a little. There is something else

This bond doth give you here no jot of blood.
The words expressly are a pound of flesh.

Then take thy bond. Take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods

Are, by the laws of Venice, forfeited.

Gratiano. O upright judge! Mark, Jew! O learnèd judge! Shy. Is that the law ?

Por. Thyself shalt see the act;

For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st.

Gra. A learned judge! Mark, Jew! A learnèd judge!
Shy. I take his offer, then. Pay the sum thrice

And let the Christian go.

Bass. Here is the money.

Por. Soft!

The Jew shall have all justice ;-soft!-no haste ;-
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Gra. A second Daniel! Jew.

Now, infidel, I have full hold of thee.

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take the forfeiture.
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bass. I have it ready for thee. Here it is.
Por. He hath refus'd it in the open court.
He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel.
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal?
Por. Thou shalt have nothing, but the forfeiture,
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

Shy. Why then, the devil give him good of it!
I'll stay no longer question.

Por. Stop him, guards.

The law hath yet another hold on you.

It is enacted by the laws of Venice,

If it be proved against an alien,

That by direct, or indirect attempts,

He seek the life of any citizen,

The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize on half his goods. The other half
Goes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice,—
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st;
For it appears by manifest proceeding,
That indirectly, and directly too,

life

Thou hast contriv'd against the very
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.

Duke. That thou may'st see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life, before thou ask it.

Shy. Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that. You take my life, taking whereon I live.

Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else; for God's sake. Ant. So please my Lord the Duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one-half of his goods;

I shall be well contented, if I have

The other half in use, until his death,
Then to restore it to the gentleman

Who lately stole his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant

The pardon that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? Shy. 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.

2.-WOLSEY AND CROMWELL.

SHAKSPEARE.

[See page 314.]

Wolsey. So farewell to the little good you bear me. Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness! This is the state of man. To-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him. The third day comes a frost, a killing frost; And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root; And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured, Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, These many summers in a sea of glory, But far beyond my depth; my high-blown pride At length broke under me, and now has left me, Weary and old with service, to the mercy Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me. Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye! I feel my heart new-opened. Oh, how wretched Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours! There is betwixt that smile he would aspire to, That sweet aspect of princes, and our ruin, More pangs and fears than war or women have; And, when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, Never to hope again.