The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) · chunk 33 of 42
Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1596 [1596-1598] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 464 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
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 right, do a little wrong, And curb 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 do I honour thee. I pray you let me look upon the bond. here '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 Iew 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 tenure. 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. Most hearty I do beseech the Court To give the judgement. Why then thus it is: you must prepare your bosom for his knife. O noble judge, O excellent young man. For the intent and purpose of the Law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge, How much more elder art thou then thy looks? Therefore lay bare your bosom. I, his breast, So says the bond, doth it not noble judge? nearest his heart, those are the very words. It is so: Are there balance here to weigh the flesh? I have them ready. Have by some Surgeon Shylock on your charge To stop his wounds, lest he should bleed to death. It is not nominated in the bond? It is not so expressed: but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. I cannot find it, 'tis not in the 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)
My deeds vpon my head, I craue the Law, The penaltie and forfeite 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 ſuffice, it muſt appeare That malice beares downe truth. And I beſeech you Wreſt once the Law to your authority. To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curbe 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 Preſident, And many an error 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 do I honour thee. I pray you let me looke vpon the bond. Heere 'tis moſt reuerend Doctor, heere it is. Shylocke, there's thrice thy monie offered thee. An oath, an oath, I haue an oath in heauen: Shall I lay periurie 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 tenure. It doth appeare you are a worthy Iudge: you know the Law, your expoſition Hath beene moſt ſound. I charge you by the Law, Whereof you are a well-deſeruing pillar, Proceede 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. Moſt heartily I do beſeech the Court To giue the iudgement. Why then thus it is: you muſt prepare your boſome for his knife. O noble Iudge, O excellent yong man. For the intent and purpoſe of the Law Hath full relation to the penaltie, Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond. 'Tis verie true: O wiſe and vpright Iudge, How much more elder art thou then thy lookes? Therefore lay bare your boſome. I, his breſt, So ſayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge? Neereſt his heart, thoſe are the very words. It is ſo: Are there ballance heere to weigh the fleſh? I haue them ready. Haue by ſome Surgeon Shylock on your charge To ſtop his wounds, leaſt he ſhould bleede to death. It is not nominated in the bond? It is not ſo expreſt: but what of that? 'Twere good you do ſo much for charitie. I cannot finde it, 'tis not in the bond.