Then the letter is read out for all in the court to hear. "I am very ill. When your letter reached me, I had with me a learned young doctor from Rome. I told him about the quarrel between Shylock and Antonio. We studied many lawbooks and he knows what I would say. I ask you to let him stand in my place and give judgement. He is young, but I never knew so young a body with so wise a head."

　　After the letter has been read out to the court, Portia, in lawyer's clothes, enters the room and takes her seat as judge.

　　安东尼奥：跟夏洛克讲理是没有用的。别再等待了。对我宣判吧，把夏洛克想要得到的东西给他。

　　巴萨尼奥：我将付给你六千块钱，用来归还安东尼奥借的那三千块钱。

　　夏洛克：即使你愿意我六倍于你刚才提出的钱数，我仍然要拿我应得的那一磅肉。把那一磅肉判给我!

　　公爵：先生们，请安静。夏洛克，如果你不宽恕别人，你自己怎能希望得到别人的宽恕呢? 夏洛克：我并没有做错事，我不怕审判。我要求给我应得的那一磅肉。

　　正当公爵不知所措时，尼莉莎打扮成一个律师的书记员，带着鲍西娅刚拜访过的那位著名的律师的一封信，来到法庭。当公爵与尼莉莎谈话时，夏洛克准备好要从安东尼奥身上割下他应得的一磅。

　　这时，当庭宣读了律师的信。"我重病缠身。收到你的信时，我正同一位从罗马来的很有学问的年轻博士在一起。我把夏洛克与安东尼奥之间的争执对他讲了。我们研究了很多法典，因此他知道我想要说的话。我请您让他替我作出判决。他很年轻，但是，我还从来不知道有这么年轻又这么聪明的人。"

　　这封信当庭宣读之后，鲍西娅穿着律师的衣服进屋来了。她作为法官就座了。

　　D: Greetings, learned judge! I do not envy you your job. This is a most troublesome case.