THE DUKE ASKS SHYLOCK TO SHOW MERCY TO ANTONIO, BUT SHYLOCK REFUSES AND INSISTS ON HAVING HIS POUND OF FLESH. A YOUNG LAWYER COMES INTO COURT- IT IS PORTIA IN DISGUISE, WITH NERISSA AS THE LAWYER'S CLERK. PORTIA MAKES A SPEECH IN PRAISE OF MERCY, BUT SHYLOCK IS UNMOVED. PORTIA AGREES THAT HE IS LEGALLY ENTITLED TO A POUND OF ANTONIO'S FLESH, AND ANTONIO PREPARES TO DIE, AT THE LAST MOMENT PORTIA FINDS A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR ANTONIO.
MERCHANT OF VENICEACT 4 SCENE 1.WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
VENICE, A COURT OF JUSTICE
EVIL SHYLOCK
I AM READY TO PAY MY DEBT WITH MY LIFE
ANTONIO SINCE YOU FAILED TO REPAY YOUR LOAN IT IS TIME TO MEET THE CONDITIONS OF BOND
SHYLOCK, BE KIND AND SPARE ANTONIO'S LIFE.
COURTROOM
ENTERS PORTIA DISGUISED AS LAWYER AND NERISSA AS CLERK
YES, I'M WILLING TO REPAY MY DEBT WITH MY LIFE
ANTONIO, YOU BORROWED A SUM OF 3000 DUCATS FOR 3 MONTHS FROM SHYLOCK ON A CONDITION THAT IF YOU FAIL TO HONOUR THE DEBT YOU WOULD REPAY THE DEBT WITH A POUND OF YOUR FLESH.
THE LAW SUPPORTS THE CONDITIONS OF BOND BUT IT ALSO FORBIDS YOU FROM SHEDDING A DROP OF BLOOD WHILE CUTTING A POUND OF FLESH AND IF YOU DO THAT ALL YOUR PROPERTY WILL BE CONFISCATED BY STATE OF VENICE.
THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE
THANKYOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE OH! LEARNED LAWYER.
SINCE YOU CANNOT GET A POUND OF FLESH WITHOUT SHEDING BLOOD, ANTONIO IS FREE FROM HIS DEBT.