"Your wife would give you little thanks for that, if she were by to
hear you make that offer," said Portia; not at all angry, however, with
her husband for loving such a noble friend well enough to say this.

Then Bassanio's servant exclaimed that _he_ had a wife whom he loved,
but he wished she were in heaven, if, by being there, she could soften
the heart of Shylock.

At this, Nerissa--who, in her clerk's dress, was by Portia's
side--said, "It is well you wish this behind her back."

But Shylock was impatient to be revenged on his victim, and cried out
that time was being lost. So Portia asked if the scales were in
readiness; and if some surgeon were near, lest Antonio should bleed to
death.

"It is not so named in the bond," said Shylock.

"It were good you did so much for charity," returned Portia.

But charity and mercy were nothing to the Jew, who sharpened his knife,
and called upon Antonio to prepare. But Portia bade him tarry; there
was something more to hear. Though the law, indeed, gave him a pound
of flesh, it did not give him one single drop of blood; and if, in
cutting off the flesh, he shed one drop of Antonio's blood, his
possessions were confiscated by the law to the State of Venice!

A murmur of applause ran through the court at the wise thought of the
young counsellor; for it was clearly impossible for the flesh to be cut
without the shedding of blood, and therefore Antonio was safe.