But before he could plunge his knife into Antonio's body Portia checked him. 'Wait,’ she said, 'there is something else. This bond gives you no drop of blood. The words say clearly"A pound of flesh". But, in the cutting of it if you shed a drop of blood, then by the laws of Venice all your property is confiscated to the State of Venice.'
Shylock stood aghast; Antonio was to escape him after all.‘Is that the law ?’ he asked. Portia offered to show him the law on the subject,by which the unlawful shedding of blood was punished with confiscation of property by the State.And Gratiano, seeing Shylock's discom- fiture, cried out mockingly, 'O learned judge ! Mark, Jew - a learned judge !'
Shylock then remembered Bassanio's offer to pay back the loan three times over. He thought he might at least make sure of that.'I take your offer then,' he said to Bassanio.'Pay back three times the loan and let him go .Bassanio, over-joyed at Antonio's escape from death, at once held out the money to Shylock. But Portia stopped him. 'No, no ! Shylock would have the penalty and nothing more - the penalty according to the law.' So Shylock's demands for exact justice according to the law now turned against himself.‘O Jew,' cried Gratiano, mocking him again, ‘an upright judge! A learned judge !'
'Come, take your pound of flesh, Shylock,' said Portia, 'a pound, no more, no less. But no drop of blood. Why do you hesitate ?' Shy lock now thought he might at least get back the money he had lent. 'Give me back the sum lent,' he said, ‘and let me go.''Here it is,' said Bassanio, offering him three thousand ducats. 'Not so,' said Portia, ‘a little while ago he refused it when offered him in open court. He shall have only the penalty agreed on in his bond, and nothing else.' 'Why then, said Shylock, 'the devil give him good of it,' and was about to leave the court.
But Portia had not done with the Jew yet. ‘Wait !’ she said, 'there is a law which says that if a foreigner plots to kill a Venetian citizen, half his property goes to that citizen, and the other half to the State. And the duke may inflict any other punishment he thinks right. So kneel to him and beg for mercy.'
Shylock, who a little while before had turned a deaf ear to all entreaties for mercy towards Antonio, could not now expect mercy for him-self. But the Christian duke was more merciful than the Jewish money-lender.‘That you may see how different is our spirit from yours,' he said, 'I grant you your life before you ask it. But half your wealth goes to Antonio and half to the State.'
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. According to Portia, why can Shylock not shed any blood when taking his pound of flesh?
A. Because shedding blood is considered murder in Venice.
B. Because the law requires the flesh to be taken alive.
C. Because the bond only mentions "a pound of flesh," not blood.
D. Because Antonio is a Venetian citizen and protected by special laws.
2. What does the word "confiscated" (Paragraph 1) most probably mean?
A. Taken away by the government as a legal punishment.
B. Given back to the original owner.
C. Divided equally among citizens.
D. Donated to charity.
3. Why did Shylock finally agree to accept three times the loan amount?
A. Because he realized he could become rich by accepting the offer.
B. Because he wanted to avoid breaking the law and losing his property.
C. Because Portia forced him to accept the money.
D. Because Antonio begged him to take the money.
4. How did Gratiano treat Shylock during the trial?
A. With serious respect and politeness.
B. With cold silence and avoidance.
C. With mocking and sarcastic remarks.
D. With sympathetic understanding.
5. What was the Duke’s final decision regarding Shylock’s punishment?
A. He ordered Shylock to pay all his money to Antonio.
B. He sentenced Shylock to death for attempting murder.
C. He allowed Shylock to keep all his property but lose his freedom.
D. He spared Shylock’s life but took half his wealth for Antonio and half for the State.
参考答案：
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. D
