Shylock then said he would take the money Bassanio had offered; and
Bassanio cried out gladly, "Here it is!" at which Portia stopped him,
saying that the Jew should have nothing but the penalty named in the
bond.

"Give me my money and I will go!" cried Shylock once more; and once
more Bassanio would have given it, had not Portia again interfered.
"Tarry, Jew," she said; "the law hath yet another hold on you." Then
she stated that, for conspiring against the life of a citizen of
Venice, the law compelled him to forfeit all his wealth, and his own
life was at the mercy of the duke.

The duke said he would grant him his life before he asked it; one-half
of his riches only should go to the State, the other half should be
Antonio's.

More merciful of heart than his enemy could expect, Antonio declared
that he did not desire the Jew's property, if he would make it over at
his death to his own daughter, whom he had discarded for marrying a
Christian, to which Shylock reluctantly agreed.




THE AFFLICTED PRINCE.

A TALE OF THE ANCIENT BRITONS.