The Merchant of VeniceAct IV Scene IVenice. A court of justiceDuke: Go one and call the Jew to the court. Make room and let him stand before our face.Solanio: He is come, my lord.Duke: Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so, too, that you but leadst this fashion of your malice to the last hour of the act and then tis thought youll show your mercy and remorse, more strange than is your strange apparent cruelty. What say you, Jew? We all expect a gentle answer.Shylock: I have informed your grace of what I purpose 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 citys freedom. Youll ask me why I rather choose to have a weight of human flesh than to receive three thousand ducats. Ill not answer that. But, say, it is my humor - is it answered? What if my house be troubled by a rat and I am pleased to give ten thousand ducats to have it killed? - What, are you answered yet? - (Crowd) No. Some men dont love a gaping pig; some are mad if they see a cat and others cannot contain their urine when they hear the bagpipe. - For affection, master of passion, controls ones likes and dislikes. Now for your answer. As there is no firm reason to be given why he cannot abide a gaping pig, why he, (cannot bear) a harmless, necessary cat, why he (cannot endure) a woolen bagpipe, but of force must yield to such inevitable shame as to offend himself being offended, so can I give no reason, nor will I not. I bear so deep and fixed hate against Antonio that I follow thus this losing suit against him. - Are you answered? - (All) No!Bassanio: This is no answer, you unfeeling man, to excuse your cruelty. Shylock: I am not bound to please you with my answers.Bassanio: Do all men kill the things they do not love?Shylock: Does any man hate the thing he would not love?Bassanio: Every offence is not a hate at first.Shylock: You would have a serpent sting you twice? (Crowd shout in derision)Antonio: I pray you think, you are questioning with the Jew: You may as well go stand upon the beach and ask the flood to lower its usual height. (Sighs) You may as well question with the wolf why he has made the ewe bleat for the lamb. You may as well do anything if you can soften his Jewish heart which is harder than anything in the world. Therefore I do pray you, make no more offers, use no farther means. Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. (All) No! No!Bassanio: You loaned me three thousand ducats. Here is six. (Crowd gasp)Shylock: If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and every part a ducat I would not take them. I would have my bond. Duke: How shall you hope for mercy by giving none?Shylock: What judgment should I fear, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave, which like your asses and your dogs and mules, you use in abject and in slavish services because you bought them. Shall I say to you, let them be free? Marry them to your heirs. Why do sweat they under burdens? Let their beds be made as soft as yours, their palates seasoned with your food. You will answer, The slaves are ours.” So I can also answer you: The pound of flesh that I demand of him is dearly bought. Tis mine. Tis mine! 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? - (Crowd gasp) (Crowd shouting)Duke: Silence! Silence! Silence! Upon my power I may dismiss this court unless Bellario, a learned doctor that I have sent for to determine this come here today.Solanio: My lord! Here stays without (outside) a messenger with letters from the doctor just come from Padua.Duke: Call the messenger. (Nerissa comes to the court) Do you come from Padua, from old Bellario?Nerissa: From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.Bassanio: Why do you whet (sharpen) your knife so earnestly?Shylock: To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.Gratiano: Can no prayers (moves) pierce you?Shylock: No. None that you have enough wit to make.Gratiano: Be you damned, execrable dog and for your life let justice be accused. Shylock: Till you can erase the seal from off my bond, or you are just hurting your lungs to speak so loud. Prepare your wit, good youth, or it will fall to insanity. I stand here for law. I stand for law!Duke: Silence! Silence! This letter does commend a young and learned doctor to our court. Well, where is he?Nerissa: He is waiting here nearby to know your answer, whether youll admit him. Duke: Go, and give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime, the court shall hear Bellarios letter. Clerk: Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick but in the instant your messenger came there was with me a young doctor of Rome whose name is Balthasar.” He comes at my asking to take my place. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, for I never knew so young a body with so