The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) · chunk 34 of 43
Shakespeare, William · published 1619 · first performed or written 1596 [1596-1598] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation · 485 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
On what compulsion must I, tell me that. The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed, It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes, 'tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes The throned Monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of Kings But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show lik'st Gods, When mercy seasons justice: therefore Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy, And that same prayer, doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict Court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the Merchant there, My deeds upon my head, I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Is he not able to discharge the money? 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 over, 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 Wrist once the Law to your authority, To do a great tied, do a little wrong, And curbs this cruel devil of his will. 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. A Daniel come to judgement: yea a Daniel. O wise young judge, how I do honour thee. I pray you let me look upon the bond. Hear 'tis most reverend Doctor, here it is. Shylocke, there's thrice thy money offered thee. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven, Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. 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. When it is paid, according to the tenor, It doth appear you are a worthy judge, You know the Law, your exposition Hath been most sound: I charge you by the Law, Whereof you are a well deserving Pillar, Proceed to judgement: by my soul I swear, There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me, I stay here on my bond.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
On what compulſion muſt I, tell me that. The quality of mercy is not ſtrain'd, It droppeth as the gentle raine from heauen Vpon the place beneath: it is twice bleſt, It bleſſeth him that giues, and him that takes, Tis mightieſt in the mightieſt, it becomes The throned Monarch better then his crowne. His ſcepter ſhewes the force of temporall power, The attribute to awe and maieſty, Wherein doth ſit the dread and feare of Kings But mercy is aboue this ſceptred ſway, It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings, It is an attribute to God himſelfe; And earthly power doth then ſhew lik'ſt Gods, When mercy ſeaſons iuſtice: therefore Iew, Though iuſtice be thy plea, conſider this, That in the courſe of iuſtice, none of vs Should ſee ſaluation: we do pray for mercy, And that ſame prayer, doth teach vs all to render The deeds of mercy. I haue ſpoke thus much To mitigate the iuſtice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this ſtrict Court of Venice Muſt needs giue ſentence gainſt the Merchant there, My deeds vpon my head, I craue the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Is he not able to diſcharge the money? Yes, heere I tender it for him in the Court, Yea twice the ſumme, if that will not ſuffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times ore, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not ſuffize, it muſt appeare That malice beares downe truth. And I beſeech you Wreſt once the Law to your authority, To do a great tight, do a little wrong, And curbs this cruell diuell of his will. It muſt not be, there is no power in Venice Can alter a Decree eſtabliſhed: Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an errour by the ſame example, Will ruſh into the ſtate, it cannot be. A Daniel come to iudgement: yea a Daniel. O wiſe young Iudge, how I do honour thee. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond. Heere tis moſt reuerend Doctor, here it is. Shylocke, ther's thrice thy money offred thee. And oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen, Shall I lay periury vpon my ſoule? No, not for Venice. Why this bond is forfeit, And lawfully by this the Iew may claime A pound of fleſh, to be by him cut off Neereſt the Merchants heart; be mercifull, Take thrice thy money, bid me teare the bond. When it is paid, according to the tenour, It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge, You know the Law, your expoſition Hath bene moſt ſound: I charge you by the Law, Whereof you are a well deſeruing Pillar, Proceed to iudgement: by my ſoule I ſweare, There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me, I ſtay heere on my bond.