_Shy_. What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them:--Shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burthens? let their beds Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be season'd with such viands? You will answer, The slaves are ours:--So do I answer you. The pound of flesh, which I demand of him. Is dearly bought; 'tis mine, and I will have it; If you deny me, fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice: I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? _Duke_. Upon my power, I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to day. _Grand Capt_. My lord, here stays without A messenger, with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.[103] _Duke_. Bring us the letters:--Call the messenger. _Bas_. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man! courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shall lose for me one drop of blood. _Ant_. I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me: You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. _Enter_ NERISSA, _dressed like a lawyer's clerk_. _Duke_. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? _Ner_. From both, my lord; Bellario greets your grace. [_Presents a letter_. _Bas_. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? _Shy_. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there. _Gra_. Can no prayers pierce thee? _Shy_. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. _Gra_. O, be thou damn'd inexorable dog! And for thy life let justice be accus'd. Thou almost makst me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolfish, bloody, starv'd, and ravenous. _Shy_. Till thou can'st rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: Repair thy wit, good youth; or it will fall To cureless ruin.--I stand here for law. _Duke_. This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor tax our court:-- Where is he? _Ner_. He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. _Duke_. With all my heart:--some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place.-- Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.