THE TRIAL

Antonio, a merchant in Venice, was liked by everyone because he was always ready to help others. He had many ships which traded with other countries. Now his ships were all at sea.

Bassanio, Antonio's best friend, was in love with Portia, a rich and beautiful lady who also loved him. But he was sad because he could not ask Portia to marry him while he himself had no money. So he asked Antonio to lend him three thousand ducats. Antonio did not have any money just then. He went to Shylock, a cruel moneylender, who hated him, because he had often publicly scolded him for his greed. Shylock agreed to lend Antonio the money on condition that Antonio must promise to give him a pound of his flesh and allow him to cut the flesh from any part of his body if he did not pay back the money at the end of three months. Antonio agreed, took the three thousand ducats and gave the money to Bassanio.

Bassanio and Portia arranged to get married. It so happened that Bassanio's servant Gratiano had fallen in love with Portia's maid Nerissa. These two also decided to get married. As the two couples were discussing the wedding arrangements, a letter arrived from Antonio, saying that all his ships were all lost at sea and he would have to give Shylock a pound of his flesh. He wished to see Bassanio before he died.

After the couples got wedding, Portia told Bassanio to go at once to his friend. When Bassanio and Gratiano had gone, Portia thought of a clever plan to save Antonio. She had a good friend who was a doctor of laws. She asked him to lend her some of his lawyer's clothes and notes. She pretended to be a lawyer and Nerissa dressed herself like a lawyer's clerk. They went to Vinice. When they arrived, Antonio and Shylock had been brought before the Duke, and the trial had begun.

Duke: Have mercy on Antonio. Everyone thinks that you will pretend to be cruel until the last minute. Then you will show your mercy.

Shylock: I've promised to take my pound of flesh. If you do not let me have it, that will be bad for Venice. No one will trust your laws any more. The greatness of Venice will soon be lost. Antonio is my enemy, I hate him.

Bassanio: Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Antonio: It is useless trying to talk to Shylock. Don't wait any longer. Pass judgement on
me and give Shylock what he wants.

Bassanio: I'll pay you six thousand ducats for the three thousand ducats that Antonio borrowed.

Shylock: If you offered me six times the amount that you have just offered, I would still take my pound of flesh. Give me my pound of flesh!

Duke: How can you hope for mercy yourself when you show none?

Shylock: I have done nothing wrong and I fear no judgement. Give me my pound of flesh!

(As the Duke is wondering what to do, Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk, arrives with a letter from the famous lawyer whom Portia has visited.

While the Duke is talking to Nerissa, Shylock begins to get ready to cut his pound of flesh from Antonio.
　　Then the letter is read out for all the court to hear: "I am very ill. When your letter reached me, I had with me a learned young doctor from Rome. I told him about the quarrel between Shylock and Antonio. We studied many lawbooks and he knows what I would say. I ask you to let him stand in my place and give judgment. He is young, but I never knew so young a body with so wise a head."
　　After the letter has been read to the court, Portia, in lawyer's clothes, enters the room. She takes her seat as judge.)

Portia: Are you Antonio? And is this your agreement with Shylock?

Antonio: It is.

Portia: Then Shylock must be merciful; he must have mercy on Antonio.

Shylock: Why must I have mercy on him? Tell me that!

Portia: Mercy falls like the gentle rain from the sky upon the earth. It blesses him who gives it, and him who receives it. We should learn to show mercy to others. Do you still ask for this pound of flesh?

Shylock: I ask for what is mine by law!

Bassanio: I offer ten times the amount of money that Antonio has borrowed. Please change the law a little so that we may save Antonio.

Portia: We cannot change a law. If one law is changed, then other men will later want to change other laws.

Shylock: Oh, wise young judge!

Portia: Let me see this agreement, this promise of Antonio to you.

Shylock: Here it is.

Portia: Yes, by law Shylock may have a pound of flesh to be cut off by him nearest to Antonio's heart. Be merciful! Let me destroy this paper. No? Then, Antonio, be ready; and Shylock, take your knife.

Shylock: Oh, learned judge! Oh, wise young man!

Portia: Have you brought anything to weigh the flesh?

Shylock: Yes. I have everything ready here.

Portia: Do you have a doctor, Shylock, to stop Antonio's blood?

Shylock: That is not in the agreement.

Portia: Do you wish to say anything, Antonio?

Antonio: Only a little. Goodbye, Bassanio. Don't be sad for me. Tell your wife about me and how much I loved you. If Shylock cuts deep enough, I'll pay him back with all my heart.

Bassanio: I love you more than my own life, more than my wife, and more than all the world. (He cries.)

Portia: Your wife wouldn't like that offer if she were present to hear you.

Gratiano: I have a wife, whom I love very much. But I wish that she were dead and in heaven, so that she would be able to ask God to help Antonio.

NerissAntonio: It is good that you make this wish when she is not here. If she were present, there would be trouble in your home.

Shylock: We are wasting time.

Portia: Take your pound of flesh. The court allows it and the law gives it to you.

(Shylock begins to move towards Antonio, and is ready to act.)

Portia: Wait! There is something else. Antonio has promised to give you a pound of his flesh. But he has not promised to give you any of his blood. If you let one drop of his blood fall, you will lose all your land and all your money.

Gratiano: Oh, learned judge! Oh, wise young man!

Shylock: Is that the law?

Portia: You shall see the law. You wanted justice; so you shall get justice - more than you wanted.

Shylock: I will take the money. Give me three times more than Antonio borrowed from me.

Bassanio: Here it is. (He cries out, full of joy.)

Portia: Wait! Shylock would not take the money earlier. All he wanted was justice. That is all he can have now. You must cut off just one pound of flesh. No more, no less, just one pound - and not one drop of blood.

(Shylock turns and starts to leave the court.)

Portia: Wait, Shylock. The law of Venice says that if anyone tries to kill any citizen of Venice, everything that he owns shall be taken away from him. One half of his money and his goods shall be given to the city of Venice and the other half shall be given to the person he has tried to kill. His life shall be at the mercy of the Duke. Therefore, go down on your knees and beg the Duke for mercy.

Duke: I shall not kill you. But half of your money is now Antonio's. You must give the other half to the city of Venice.

Shylock: Take my life too! My money and goods are as dear to me as life itself. When you take those away from me, you also take my life.

Antonio: I shall be happy to give up my part of Shylock's money. Shylock must promise to leave the money upon his death to his daughter and her husband.

Shylock: I promise. Let me go home now. I am not well.

86版高中英语课本第三册第7课《审判》，原题《威尼斯商人》，作者是莎士比亚，略有删改。