Читать книгу The Complete Works of Shakespeare онлайн

589 страница из 942

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 thee here no jot of blood;

The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh.’

Take then 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 confiscate

Unto the state of Venice.

Gra.

O upright judge! Mark, Jew. O learned 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.

O learned judge! Mark, Jew, a learned judge!

Shy.

I take this offer then; pay the bond 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.

O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

Por.

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more