Por.  Tarry, Jew: 
The law hath yet another hold on you. 
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be proved against an alien,
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender’s life lies in the mercy
Of the duke only, ’gainst all other voice. 
In which predicament, I say, thou stand’st;
For it appears, by manifest proceeding,
That indirectly and directly too
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr’d
The danger formerly by me rehearsed. 
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

Gra.  Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: 
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;
Therefore, thou must be hang’d at the state’s charge.

Duke.  That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: 
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

    Por.  Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

Shy.  Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: 
You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.

    Por.  What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

    Gra.  A halter gratis; nothing else, for God’s sake.

Ant.  So please my lord the duke, and all the court
To quit the fine for one half of his goods;
I am content, so he will let me have
The other half in use, to render it,
Upon his death, unto the gentleman
That lately stole his daughter.

* * * * *

Por.  Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?

Shy.  I am content.

SHAKESPEARE.

[Notes:  Merchant of Venice.  Obdurate, with the second syllable long, which modern usage makes short.

Frellen—­agitated.  A form of participial termination frequently found in Shakespeare, as strucken, &c.  It is preserved in eaten, given, &c.

Within his danger = in danger of him.

Which humbleness may drive unto a fine = which with humility on your part may be commuted for a fine.]

* * * * *

    IL PENSEROSO.

    Hence vain deluding Joys,
      The brood of Folly, without father bred! 
    How little you bestead,
      Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys! 
    Dwell in some idle brain,
      And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess,
    As thick and numberless
      As the gay motes that people the sunbeams. 
    Or likest hovering dreams,
      The fickle pensioners of Morpheus’ train.