In the face of death, with its fiery breath. Now let the noble words resound, The iron nerve of duty, joined Our captain's shout among the flames 277.-THE TRIAL SCENE. SHAKSPEARE. Duke. Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Portia. I did, my lord. Duke. You are welcome: take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? Shylock. Shylock is my name. Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. You stand within his danger, do you not? (To Antonio.) Antonio. 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. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings: It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Bassanio. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum; if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will. Por. It must not be; there is no power 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 honor thee! Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon 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. Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Por. Why, then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shy. 'Tis very true; O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast; So says the bond-doth it not, noble judge?— Por. It is so. The flesh? Are there balance here, to weigh Shy. I have them ready. Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,— To stop his wounds, lest he do 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. Come, merchant, have you anything to say? To let the wretched man outlive his wealth; To view, with hollow eye and wrinkled brow, An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Commend me to your honorable wife; Say, how I loved you; speak me fair in death; I'll pay it instantly with all my heart. 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 learnéd judge! A sentence! come, prepare. Por. 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. Take then thy bond; take thou thy pound of flesh; One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gratiano. O upright judge!—Mark, Jew!-O learned judge! Shy. Is that law? Por. Thyself shall see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew!-a learnéd judge! Shy. I take this offer, then: pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bas. Here is the money. Por. Soft; The Jew shall have all justice-soft!-no haste- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge! a learnéd judge! Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture. Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! Por. Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien, The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Thou hast contrived against the very life The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang thyself; And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's charge. I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. The other half comes to the general state. Merchant of Venice. 278.-ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. DANIEL WEBSTER. Unborn ages and visions of glory crowd upon my soul, the realization of all which, however, is in the hands and good pleasure of Almighty God; but under His divine blessing, it will be dependent on the character and the virtues of ourselves, and our posterity. If classical history has been found to be, is now, and shall continue to be, the concomitant of free institutions, and of popular eloquence, what a field is opening to us for another Herodotus, another Thucydides, and another Livy! And let me say, gentlemen, that if we and our posterity shall be true to the Christian religion,-if we and they shall live always in the fear of God, and shall respect His commandments, if we and they shall maintain just moral sentiments, and such conscientious convictions of duty as shall control the heart and life,-we may have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country; and if we maintain those institutions of government and that political union, exceeding all praise as much as it exceeds all former examples of political associa |