Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-29

Il
wish 10 see Giannctto before he died.
consents to wait some days. provided
that the delay do not invalidatc the
bond. "But. =" says he. "if he comes
hundred times over. will cut of 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
gees 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 ease.
Every one" he adds. "at Venice
who had heard of tho affair was much
concerned. Several merchants would
have jointly paid the money; the jew
would rot hearken to the proposal, but
insisted that he might commit this hon.
icidc (anzi roiera fare qucilo homiciaio).
to have the satisfaction of saying (per
potter dire that he had put to death the
greatest of the Christian merchants"
Giannetto again, rs 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 prcten-
sions grounded on public and received
forms, nobody dared to oppose him. and
when the merchants of Venice applied
TO him he was inileXible. Giannctto
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,
you know little of me if you think l
will desist from my demand
While matters thus stood there
alighted at an inn in Venice young
man, described ny his servant as "a
lawyer an gentir hu0no 0uiiice) 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 abrMgement:
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
that?" says the lawyer. IL will tell
how" says the landlord. "You must
know that some years ago there came
here young man from Florence, whose
name was Giannetto; he was recon-
mendcd to the care of relation who is
called Ansaldo. He behaved here SO
well as to possess the esteem and
affections of every livins 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
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
merchants in the city have applied to
him, but to no purpose"
Says the lawyer: This question may
be easily answered"
'.If you can answer it," says the land
lord, "and will take the trouble to do |
it, and save this worthy man from death,
you will get the love and esteem of
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;
but, let who will come, will 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 Je'y, 81 must have you
take the hundred thousand ducats and
release this honest man, who will al
ways have grateful sense of the favor
done to him.
The Jew replied, 81 will do no such
thing"
The Judge answered, alt will be
better for you.n
The jew was positive to yield
nothing. Upon this they 60 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
man flesh where you choose"
The Jew ordered him to be stripped
naked, and takes in his hand razor
which had been made on purpose. Gil
annette seeing this, turning to the
judge, This" said he, lis 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
pouEL I will order your head to be
struck off. and tell you, besides. that
ii you she'd one drop of blood you shall
be lut 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 you are wise you viii take great
care what you do.'' He Immediately
sc.t for the executioner to bring the
block and AK. "And now" says he,
"if see one drop of blood. off goes
your head" The Jew began to be
in great fear, and Giannctto in great
JOY.
At length the Jew, after much wrang-
ling, told him: "You are more cum
ming than l can pretend to be; however.
give me the one hundred thousand
ducats and l am content"
NO" says the Judge; "cut of Your
pound of flesh, according to your bond:
will not give you a farthing. Why did
you not take the money when it was
ofiered?''