SHYLOCK. O noble judge! O excellent young man! PORTIA. For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. SHYLOCK. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! PORTIA. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. SHYLOCK. Ay, his breast: So says the bond;--Doth it not, noble judge? Nearest his heart, those are the very words. PORTIA. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh The flesh? SHYLOCK. I have them ready. PORTIA. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. SHYLOCK. Is it so nominated in the bond? PORTIA. It is not so express'd. But what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. SHYLOCK. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. PORTIA. Come, merchant, have you anything to say?" Antonio answers, "But little." He is prepared for death, and takes leave of Bassanio. But Shylock is impatient. "We trifle time," he cries; "I pray thee, pursue sentence." "PORTIA. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. SHYLOCK. Most rightful judge! PORTIA. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it; and the court awards it. SHYLOCK. Most learned judge!--A sentence; come, prepare. PORTIA. Tarry a little;--there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are, a 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, confiscate Unto the state of Venice. GRATIANO. O upright judge!--Mark, Jew;--O learned judge! SHYLOCK. Is that the law? PORTIA. Thyself shall see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd, Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st. GRATIANO. O learned judge,--Mark, Jew;--a learned judge! SHYLOCK. I take this offer then,--pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. BASSANIO. Here is the money. PORTIA. Soft; The Jew shall have all justice;--soft;--no haste;-- He shall have nothing but the penalty. GRATIANO. O Jew! An upright judge, a learned judge! PORTIA. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more, But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Or less, than a just pound,--be it but so much As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple,--nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair,-- Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. GRATIANO. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. PORTIA. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. SHYLOCK. Give me my principal, and let me go. BASSANIO. I have it ready for thee; here it is.