Citazione a mente di coloro che nutrono oggi
l’imperituro fascino di sfumare la giustizia
nel diritto e questo nella legge.
(da W. Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice)

PORTIA
For the intent and purpose of the Law
Hath full relation to the penaltie,
Which heere appeareth due vpon the bond

SHYLOCK
‘Tis verie true: O wise and vpright Iudge,
How much more elder art thou then thy lookes?

PORTIA
Therefore lay bare your bosome

SHYLOCK
I, his brest,
So sayes the bond, doth it not noble Iudge?
Neerest his heart, those are the very words

PORTIA
It is so: Are there ballance heere to weigh the
flesh?

SHYLOCK
I haue them ready

PORTIA
Haue by some Surgeon Shylock on your charge
To stop his wounds, least he should bleede to death

SHYLOCK
It is not nominated in the bond?

PORTIA
It is not so exprest: but what of that?
‘Twere good you do so much for charitie

SHYLOCK
I cannot finde it, ‘tis not in the bond

PORTIA
Come Merchant, haue you any thing to say?

ANTHONIO
But little: I am arm’d and well prepar’d.
Giue me your hand Bassanio, fare you well.
Greeue not that I am falne to this for you:
For heerein fortune shewes her selfe more kinde
Then is her custome. It is still her vse
To let the wretched man out-liue his wealth,
To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow
An age of pouerty. From which lingring penance
Of such miserie, doth she cut me off:
Commend me to your honourable Wife,
Tell her the processe of Anthonio’s end:
Say how I lou’d you; speake me faire in death:
And when the tale is told, bid her be iudge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue:
Repent not you that you shall loose your friend,
And he repents not that he payes your debt.
For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough,
Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart

BASSANIO
Anthonio, I am married to a wife,
Which is as deere to me as life it selfe,
But life it selfe, my wife, and all the world,
Are not with me esteem’d aboue thy life.
I would loose all, I sacrifice them all
Heere to this deuill, to deliuer you

PORTIA
Your wife would giue you little thanks for that
If she were by to heare you make the offer

GRATIANO
I haue a wife whom I protest I loue,
I would she were in heauen, so she could
Intreat some power to change this currish Iew

NERISSA
‘Tis well you offer it behinde her backe,
The wish would make else an vnquiet house

SHYLOCK
These be the Christian husbands: I haue a daughter
Would any of the stocke of Barrabas
Had beene her husband, rather then a Christian.
We trifle time, I pray thee pursue sentence

PORTIA
A pound of that same marchants flesh is thine,
The Court awards it, and the law doth giue it
SHYLOCK
Most rightfull Iudge

PORTIA
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast,
The Law allowes it, and the Court awards it

SHYLOCK
Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare

PORTIA
Tarry a little, there is something else,
This bond doth giue thee heere no iot of bloud,
The words expresly are a pound of flesh:
Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian bloud, thy lands and goods
Are by the Lawes of Venice confiscate
Vnto the state of Venice

GRATIANO
O vpright Iudge,
Marke Iew, o learned Iudge

SHYLOCK
Is that the law?

PORTIA
Thy selfe shalt see the Act:
For as thou vrgest iustice, be assur’d
Thou shalt haue iustice more then thou desirest