American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-05-29


save him. to bring him to Belmonte.
The Jew in the meantime had seized
Ansaldo; but, in consideration of his
wish to see Giannetto before he died,
| consents to wait some days, provided
that the delay do not invalidate the
bond. but. " SAYS he, "if he comes
a hundred times over, l will cut off the
pound of flesh, according to the words
of the obligation" Ansaldo answered
that he was content.
This determination to reject all pro-
posals to redeem the bond by paying the
money with cost and interest, which
goes for so little with Shylock's modern
apOlogists, is carefully marked and
brought out by the teller of the story,
who evidently thought it an important
feature in the case.
Every one," he adds, Eat Venice
who had heard of the affair was much
concerned. Several merchants would
have jointly paid the money; the Jew
would cot hearken to the proposal, but
icide (dnzi UoieUa fare Qusiio homicidio),
to have the satisfaction of saying (per
potter dire) that he had put to death the
greatest of the Christian merchants"
Giannetto again, as soon as he ar
rives, offers to pay the whole debt, and
as much more as the Jew would de-
mand. The Jew replies he will take
no money, since it was not paid at the
time due; he will have the pound of
flesh. Every one blamed the jew"
says the narrator: but as Venice was
a place where justice was strictly adj
ministered, and the Jew had his preten-
sions grounded on public and received
forms, nobody dared to oppose him, and
when the merchants of Venice applied
to him he was infexible. Giannetto
offered him twenty thousand; afterward
forty, fifty, and at last one hundred
thousand ducats. The Jew told him
that if he would give him as much gold
as the city of Venice was worth he
would not accept it. And says he,
will desist from my demand
While matters thus stood there
alighted at an inn in Venice a young
man, described by his servant as "a
lawyer Gun gesstir huonso g,tidice) who
had finished his studies at Bologna, and
was returning to his own country"
And what followed 1 must give from
the old story. without abridgement:
The landlord upon this shows his
guest great civility; and when he at
tended at dinner, the lawyer inquiring
how justice was administered in that
city, he answered. " Justice in this
place is too severe" "How comes
thatp" says the lawyer. 81 will tell
how" says the landlord. "You must
know that some years ago there came
here a young man from Florence, whose
name was Giannetto; he was recon-
mended to the care of relation who is
called Ansaldo. He behaved here so
well as to possess the esteem and
affections of every living creature, and
never was youth SO well beloved.
Now, this Ansaldo sent him out three
times; each time with a ship of great
value. He every time was unfortunate,
and to furnish the last Ansaldo was
forced to borrow 10000 ducats of a
Jew, on condition that if he did not re-
pay them in June at the Feast of st.
John, the Jew might take pound of
his flesh. The excellent young man is
now returned, and offers to pay an
hundred thousand ducats. The wicked
Jew won't take them, although the best
in the city have applied to
him, but to no purpose"
Says the lawyer: "This question may
be easily answered."
''f you can answer it," says the land
lord, land will take the trouble to do
it, and save this worthy man from death,
you will get the love and esteem of a
most deserving young man and of all
the best men of this city"
The lawyer caused a proclamation
to be made that whoever had any law
matters to determine they should have
recourse to him. So it was told to Gil
annette that famous lawyer was come
from Bologna, who could decide all
cases in law. Giannetto proposed to the
Jew to apply to this lawyer.
''With all my heart" says the Jew;
3" but, let who will come, viii stick to
my bond"
Giannetto and the Jew each told the
merits of the case to the Judge, who,
when he had taken the bond and read
it, said to the Jew, 81 must have you
take the hundred thousand ducats and
release this honest man, who will al
% %ays t naS Sim ra'eiul sense Oh the favor
The Jew replied. 81 will do no such
thing"
1.-The judge answered, cit will be
better for YOU
The jew was positive to yield
nothing. Upon this they go to the tri-
bunal appointed for such Judgments;
and our Judge speaks in favor of An
saldo. and, desiring that the Jew may
stand forth, "Now," says he, do you
Ito the jew "cut off a pound of this
mans flesh where you choose"
The jew ordered him to be stripped
naked, and takes in his hand a razor
which had been made on purpose. Gil
annette seeing this. turning to the
judge, This" said he, " is not the
favor asked of you.'
BE quiet" says he; "the pound of
flesh is not yet cut off,"
As soon as the Jew was going to be-
gin. take care what you do" says the
Judge; " if you take more or less than
pound I will order your head to be
struck off, and 1 tell you, besides. that
if you shed one drop of blood you shall
be put to death. Your paper makes no
mention of the shedding Of blood, but
says expressly that you may take a
pound of flesh, neither more nor less;
and if yeu are wise you will take great
care what you do" He Immediately
sent for the executioner to bring the
block and AK. 'And now" says he,
eff see one drop of blood, off goes
your head" The jew began to be
in great fear, and Giannetto in great
joy.
At length the Jew, after much wrang-
ling, told him: You are more cum
ming than can pretend to be; however,
give me the one hundred thousand
ducats and am content"
"No," says the Judge; "cut off your
pound of flesh, according to your bond;