shakespeare william shakespeare william the merchant of venice

8/8/2019 Shakespeare William Shakespeare William the Merchant of Venice

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The Mercha nt of Ven ice by William Shakespeare i s a publ ica t ion of t he Pen nsylvania Sta t e Univer-

s it y. Th is Por table Document f ile is furn ished f ree an d with out any ch arge of any k ind . Any

person us ing t h is document f ile , for any pu rpose, an d in an y way does so a t h is or her own r isk .

Neither the Pennsylvania State University nor Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, nor anyone associated

wit h t he Penn sylvania Sta t e Universi ty assumes any responsib il it y for th e mat er ia l cont a inedwit h in t he documen t or for th e f ile as an e lect ronic t ransmission , in any way.

The Mercha nt of Venice by William Shakesp eare by William Shakespeare, the Pennsylvania Sta te

University, Electronic Classics Series , Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18201-1291 is a

Por table Document Fi le produced as par t of an on going s t uden t publ ica t ion pro ject to br ing

classical works of l it erat ure, in English, t o free and easy access of th ose wishing t o make use oft h e m .

Cover Design: J im Man is; paint ing Hen ry Woods. "Port ia ," exhit ibed in 1888.

Copyright 1999 The Penn sylvania Stat e Universit y

The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university.


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THE MERCHANT

OF VENICEWilliam Shakespeare(wr it t en abou t 1596)

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Th e DUKE OF VENICE. (DUKE:)

Th e PRINCE OF MOROCCO an d The PRINCE OF

ARRAGON: sui tors to Port ia.

ANTONIO: a merch an t of Ven ice.

BASSANIO: h is fr iend, sui tor l ikewise to Port ia.

SALANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, and SALERIO: fr iends

to Anton io and Bassanio .

LORENZO: in love with Jessica.

SHYLOCK: a r ich Jew.

TUBAL: a Jew, h is fr ien d.

LAUNCELOTGOBBO: t h e clown, ser van t t o SHYLOCK.

(LAUNCELOT:)

OLD GOBBO: father to Launcelot. (GOBBO:)

LEONARDO: se rva n t to BASSANIO.

BALTHASAR an d STEPHANO: se rvan ts to PORTIA.

PORTIA: a r ich he iress.

NERISSA: her wait ing-ma id.

JESSICA: da u gh t er to SHYLOCK.

Magn ificoes of Ven ice, Officers of th e Cou rt of Ju st ice,

Gaoler, Servants to Por t ia , and oth er At t end ant s .

(Servant : )

(Clerk:)

SCENE: Partly at Ven ice, an d partly at Belm on t, th e

seat of PORTIA, on the Continent.

The Merchant of Venice

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ACT I

SCENE I: Ve n ice . A st ree t.

[Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. ]

ANTONIO: In sooth , I kn ow not why I am so sad:

I t wear ies me; you say i t wear ies you;

But how I caugh t i t , foun d i t , or came by it ,

What s tuff t is made of , whereof i t is born,

I am to learn;

And such a wan t -wi t sadne ss makes of me,

Tha t I h ave much ado t o kn ow mysel f.

SALARINO: Your mind i s toss ing on th e ocean;

There, where your argosies with port ly sai l ,

Like s igniors and r ich burghers on th e f lood,

Or, as i t were , th e pagean ts of th e sea ,

Do overpeer th e pe t t y t raf fickers ,

That cur t sy to them, do them reverence ,As th ey f ly by th em wi th th e i r woven wings.

SALANIO: Bel ieve me, s i r, had I such vent ure forth ,

The bet t er par t of my af fec t ions would

Be wi th my hop es abroad. I should be s t i l l

Plucking th e grass, to kn ow where s it s th e wind,

Peer ing in map s for por t s and p iers and roads ;

And every objec t tha t might make me fear

Misfor tun e to my vent ures , out of doubt

Would make me sad.

SALARINO: My wind cool ing my brot hWould blow me to an ague , when I thou ght

Wha t ha rm a w ind t oo g r ea t a t s ea mi gh t do .

I shou ld no t s ee t he s and y hour -g la s s run ,

But I should th ink of sha l lows and of f la t s ,

And see my weal thy Andrew dockd in sand,

Vai ling h er h igh- top lower tha n her r ibs

To kiss her burial . Should I go to churchAnd see th e ho ly edi fice of s tone ,

And not be think me s t ra ight of dangerous rocks ,

Which touching but my gent le vessels s ide,

Would sca t t er a l l her spices on th e s t ream ,

En robe t he roar ing waters with my s i lks ,

And, in a word, but even now wor th th i s ,

And n ow wor t h no t h i ng? Sha l l I have t h e t hou gh t

To t h i nk on t h i s, and sh a l l I lack t he t hough t

Tha t such a t h i ng bechan ced woul d make me sad?

But t e l l not me; I know, Ant on io

I s s ad t o t h i nk upon h i s merchand i se.

ANTONIO: Bel ieve me, no: I th an k my for tu ne for it ,

My ven t u res a r e no t i n on e bo t t om t rus t ed ,

The Merchant of Venice, Act I, scene i

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Nor to on e place; nor i s my whole es ta t e

Upon t h e fo rt un e o f t h i s p r e sen t yea r :

Therefore my mercha ndise makes me not sad.

SALARINO: Why, th en you are in love.

ANTONIO: Fie, fie!

SALARINO: Not in love nei th er? Then le t u s say you

are sad,

Because you are not merry: and twere as easy

For you to laugh and leap and say you a re merry,

Because you are not sad. Now, by t wo-headed Jan us ,Natu re ha t h f ramed s t range fe l lows in her t ime:

Some tha t wi l l evermore peep through the i r eyes

And laugh l ike par rot s a t a bag-piper,

And oth er of such vinegar aspect

Tha t th eyl l not show th ei r t ee t h in way of smi le ,

Thou gh Nes tor swear the jest be laugh able.

[Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO. ]

SALANIO: Here comes Bassan io, your most n oble

k i nsman ,

Grat iano an d Lorenzo. Fare ye well:

We leave you n ow with be t t er company.

SALARINO: I would ha ve stayd t i l l I had made you

merry,

I f wor thier f r i ends had not prevented me.

ANTONIO: Your wort h is very dear in my regard.

I t ake i t , your own bu s iness ca l ls on youAnd you embrace the occas ion to depar t .

SALARINO: Good mo rrow, my good lords.

BASSANIO: Good s igniors both , when sha l l we laugh?

say, when ?

You grow exceedin g stran ge: must i t be so?

SALARINO: Well mak e our leisures to at t en d on you rs.

[ Exeunt Salarino and Salan io. ]

LORENZO: My Lord Bassan io, since you h ave found

Ant on i o ,

We two wil l leave you: but at dinner- t ime,

I p r ay you , h ave in mi nd where we mus t mee t .

BASSANIO: I will n ot fai l you .

GRATIANO: You look not wel l, Signior An ton io;

You h ave too much respect u pon th e wor ld:


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They lose it t h a t do bu y i t with much care :

Bel ieve me, you are marvel lously changed.

ANTONIO: I hold th e world but as th e world, Grat iano;

A s tage where every man must p lay a par t ,

And m ine a sad one .

GRATIANO: Let me play th e fool:

Wi th mir th and laught er le t o ld wr inkles come,

And le t my l iver ra t her h eat with wine

Tha n my h ear t cool with mor t i fy ing groans .

Why shou ld a m an , whose blood i s warm with in ,

Si t l ike h i s grands i re cut in a labas ter?Sleep when he wakes and creep in to the jaundice

By being peevish? I t e l l th ee wha t , Anton io

I love thee , an d i t i s my love th a t speaks

There are a sort of men whose visages

Do cream an d man t le like a stan ding pon d,

And do a wi l ful s t i l lness en te r ta in ,

Wi th purpose to be dressd in an opinion

Of wisdom, gravi ty, profound concei t ,

As wh o sh ou ld say I am Sir Oracle,

And wh en I ope my l ips le t n o dog bark!

O my Ant onio , I do kn ow of these

Tha t t herefore only are reput ed wise

For saying n oth ing; when, I am very sure ,

I f they should speak, would a lmost damn those ears ,

Which, h ear ing t hem , would ca l l the i r broth ers fools.

I l l t e l l th ee more of th i s anoth er t ime:

But f i sh not , wi th th i s melancholy bai t ,

For th i s fool gudgeon, th i s opinion .

Come, go od Loren zo. Fare ye well awhile:

I l l end my exhor t a t ion af ter d in ner .

LORENZO: Well, we will leave you th en t ill din ne r-t ime:

I mus t be one o f t h ese s ame dumb wise men ,

For Grat iano never lets me speak.

GRATIANO: Wel l, keep me compan y but t wo years

moe,Thou sh a lt n o t kn ow t h e sound o f t h i ne own t ongu e .

ANTONIO: Farewell: Ill grow a t alker for t h is gea r.

GRATIANO: Th an ks, i fai th , for s ilence is only com-

mendable

In a ne at s tongu e dr ied and a ma id not ven dible .

[ Exeunt GRATIANO and LORENZO. ]

ANTONIO: Is t h a t any t h i ng now?

BASSANIO: Grat iano speaks an inf ini te deal of not h ing,

more th an a ny man in al l Ven ice. His reasons are as two


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gra ins of wheat h id in two bushels of chaf f : you shal l

s eek a l l day e r e you f i nd t hem, and when you have

t h em, t hey a r e no t wort h t he s ea r ch .

ANTONIO: Well , te l l me now wha t lady is th e same

To who m you swore a secret pi lgr image,Tha t you to-day promised to t e l l me of?

BASSANIO: Tis not u nk nown t o you, Ant onio ,

How much I h ave di sabled m ine es ta t e ,

By somet h ing showing a more swell ing por t

Than my fa int means would grant cont inuance:

Nor do I now make moan to be a br idgedFrom such a noble ra te ; bu t my chief care

Is to come fa ir ly off f rom t he grea t debts

Wherein my t ime someth ing too prodigal

Hath left me gaged. To you, Ant on io ,

I owe th e most , in money an d in love ,

And f rom your love I h ave a warranty

To un burden a l l my plot s and pu rposes

How to get clear of al l the debts I owe.

ANTONIO: I pray you, good Bassanio , le t me kn ow it ;

And i f it s t an d, as you you rse lf s t i ll do ,

Wi th in t he eye of hon or, be assured,

My pu rse, my person, my ext remest mean s ,

Lie al l un lockd t o you r occasions.

BASSANIO: In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,

I shot his fel low of the self-same f l ight

The se l f- same way wi th more advised watch,

To f ind t he o t he r f o r t h , an d by adven t u r ing bo t h

I of t found both: I urge th i s chi ldhood proof ,

Because what fol lows is pure innocence.I owe you mu ch, an d, l ike a wi lful youth ,

That which I owe is lost ; but i f you please

To shoot anot her ar row th at se lf way

Whi ch you d i d shoo t t h e f ir st , I do no t doub t ,

As I wil l watch t he a im, or to f ind bot h

Or br ing your la t t e r h azard back again

And thankful ly res t debtor for the f i r s t .

ANTONIO: You kn ow me well, and h erein spend bu t t ime

To wind about my love wi th c ircumstan ce;

And out of doubt you do me now more wrong

In mak i ng ques t i on o f my u t t e rmos t

Th an i f you h ad made was t e of a l l I have:

Then do bu t s ay t o me wha t I shou l d do

That in your kn owledge may by me be don e,

And I am p res t un to i t : th erefore, speak.

BASSANIO: In Belmon t is a lady r ich ly lef t ;

And she i s fa i r, and , fa irer th an th a t word,

Of wondrous vir tues: sometimes from her eyes

I did receive fair speech less messages:


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Her n ame i s Por t ia , not hing u ndervalued

To Cat os d au gh t er, Brut us Portia:

Nor i s the wide wor ld ignorant of her wor th ,

For the four winds blow in from every coast

Renowned sui tors, and her sun ny locks

Hang on her t emples l ike a golden f leece;Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos s t rand,

And m any Jason s come in qu es t of her.

O my Ant on i o, had I bu t t he mean s

To hold a r iva l p lace wi th one of th em,

I have a mind presages me such thr i f t ,

That I should ques t ionless be for tunate!

ANTONIO: Thou k nowst th at all my fortu nes are at sea;

Nei the r have I money nor commod i ty

To ra i se a p resent sum: t herefore go for th ;

Try wh at my credi t can in Ven ice do:

Tha t sh al l be rackd, even to t he u t t ermost ,

To furn i sh th ee t o Belmont , to fa ir Por t ia .

Go, present ly inquire, and so wil l I ,

Where mon ey i s, and I no qu es t ion ma ke

To have i t of my trust or for my sake.

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE II: Be lm on t. A roo m in PORTIAS h ou se .

[ Enter PORTIA and NERISSA . ]

PORTIA: By my troth , Nerissa, my l it t le body is aweary

of th i s grea t wor ld .

NERISSA: You wou ld be, sweet m adam , if your miseries

were i n t h e s ame abundance a s your good fo r t unes a r e :

and yet , for aught I see , they are as s ick tha t sur fe i t

w it h t oo much a s t hey t h a t s t a rve wi t h no t h i ng . It i s

no mean h app i ness t he r e fo re , t o be s ea t ed in t he mean :

super f lu i ty comes sooner by whi te ha i r s , but compe-te ncy l ives longe r.

PORTIA: Good sent ences and wel l pronou nced.

NERISSA: They wou ld be bet t er , i f wel l fol lowed.

PORTIA: I f to do were as easy as to know what were

good to do, chape ls had been churches and poor mens

cot tages princes palaces. I t is a good divine that fol-

lows hi s own ins t ruc t ions : I can eas ier t each t went y

wha t were good t o be done , t han be one o f t he t wen t y

to fol low mine own teach ing. The bra in may devise laws

for th e blood, but a hot t empe r leaps oer a cold de-

cree : such a hare i s madn ess the yout h , to skip oer the

The Merchant of Venice, Act I, scene ii

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meshes of good counsel th e cr ipple . But th i s reasoning

i s no t i n t h e f a sh i on t o choose me a husband . O me , t he

word choo se! I ma y nei t he r ch oose whom I would nor

refuse who m I disl ike; so is t he wil l of a living d au ght er

curbed by th e will of a dead fath er. Is it not h ard, Nerissa,

t h a t I canno t choose one nor r e fuse none?

NERISSA: Your fathe r was ever vir tu ous; and h oly men

at th e ir death have good inspira t ions : th erefore the lo t -

te ry, tha t he ha t h devised in t hese three ches t s of gold ,

silver and lead, whereof who chooses h is mean ing chooses

you, wil l , no doubt , never be chosen by any r ight ly but

one who sh al l r ight ly love. But what warmth is th ere inyour affect ion towards any of these p rincely sui tors th at

are already come?

PORTIA: I p r ay t h ee , ove r -name t hem; and a s t h ou

namest them, I wi l l descr ibe them; and, according to

my descr ip t ion, l evel a t my af fec t ion.

NERISSA: First , th ere is th e Neap oli tan prin ce.

PORTIA: Ay, th a t s a colt indeed, for he dot h n oth ing

but t a lk of h i s horse ; and he m akes it a grea t a ppropr ia-

t i on t o h i s own good pa r t s , t ha t he can shoe h i m h i m-

se lf . I am mu ch afeard my lady h i s moth er p layed fa lse

wit h a smit h .

NERISSA: Then th ere is the Coun ty Pala t ine .

PORTIA: He do t h no t h i ng bu t f rown , a s who shou l d s ay

If you wil l no t h ave me, choose : he h ears merry ta les

and smi les not : I fear he wi l l prove the weeping phi -

losopher when he grows old , be ing so ful l of unman-ner ly sadness in h i s yout h . I had ra th er be marr ied to a

dea t h s -head w i t h a bone i n h i s mout h t h an t o e i t he r o f

th ese . God defend m e f rom t hese t wo!

NERISSA: How say you by t he French lord, Monsieu r Le

Bon?

PORTIA: God made h im, and th erefore le t h im pass for

a man . I n t r u t h , I know it i s a s in t o be a mocker : bu t ,

he! why, he h a th a horse be t t er th an t he Neapol i tans , a

be t t e r bad hab i t o f f rowning t han t h e Coun t Pa l at i ne ;

he i s every man in no man; i f a thros t le s ing, he fa l l s

s t ra ight a caper ing: he wi ll fence wi th hi s own sh adow:

i f I should marry him, I shou ld marry twenty h usband s .

If he wou ld despise me I wou ld forgive him, for i f he

love me to m adn ess , I sha l l never requi te h im.

NERISSA: Wh at say you, the n , to Falcon br idge, th e

youn g baron of England ?

PORTIA: You kn ow I say noth ing to h im, for he und er -


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s tand s not me, nor I h im: he ha t h ne i th er Lat in , French,

nor I ta l ian , and you wi ll come in to t he cour t and swear

tha t I have a poor pennywor th in the Engl i sh . He i s a

proper man s p ic ture , but , a las , who can converse with

a du mb-show? How oddly he i s sui ted! I th ink h e bough t

his double t in I t a ly, h i s round hose in France , h i s bon-net in Germany an d h i s beh avior every where .

NERISSA: Wha t th ink you of th e Scot t ish lord, his neigh -

bor?

PORTIA: Tha t he h a t h a ne i ghbor ly cha r i t y in h i m , for

he bor rowed a box of the ear of the Engl i shman andswore he would pay h im again when he was able : I th ink

t h e Frenchman became h i s su re t y and sea led u nde r f o r

ano t he r .

NERISSA: How like you t he you ng German , th e Duke of

Saxonys n eph ew?

PORTIA: Very vi lely in t he morn ing, when he is sober ,

and mos t v i l e l y i n t he a f t e rnoon , when he i s d runk :

when he i s bes t , he i s a l i t t l e wor se t han a man , and

when h e i s wor st , h e i s l it t l e be t t e r t h an a beas t : and

th e wors t fa ll tha t ever fe l l, I hope I sha l l make sh i ft t o

go wi t hou t h i m .

NERISSA: I f he shou ld offer to choose , and choose th e

r ight casket , you sh ould refuse to per form your fa ther s

wil l, i f you shou ld refuse t o accept h im.

PORTIA: The refore, for fear of th e worst , I pray th ee,

se t a deep glass of rhenish wine on t he cont rary casket ,f or if t he dev il be wi t h i n and t h a t t empt a t i on w it h ou t ,

I know he wil l choose i t . I wil l do any thing, Nerissa,

ere I l l be married to a sponge.

NERISSA: You need n ot fear, lady, th e having any of

t h ese lo rds: t hey have acqua in t ed me w it h t h e i r de t e r -

mi na t i ons ; wh i ch i s , i ndeed , t o r e t u rn t o t he i r homeand t o t r oub le you w i t h no more su i t , un le s s you m ay

be won by some othe r sor t th an your fa ther s imposi -

t i on depend i ng on t he casket s .

PORTIA: If I l ive to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as

chas t e a s Di ana , un le s s I be ob t a i ned by t he m ann er o f

my fath ers will . I am glad th is parcel of wooers are so

r easonab l e, f or t h e r e is no t one among t hem bu t I do t e

on hi s very absence , and I pray God grant them a fa i r

depa r t u r e .

NERISSA: Do you not rem emb er, lady, in you r fat he rs

t ime, a Vene t ian , a scholar and a soldier, th a t came

hi t her in company of th e Marquis of Mont fer ra t?


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PORTIA: Yes, yes, it was Bassan io; as I t h ink, h e was so

called.

NERISSA: True, madam: he, of all th e men th at ever my

foolish eyes looked upon , was the best d eserving a fair lady.

PORTIA: I remember h im well , and I remembe r h im

wor thy of th y pra i se.

[Enter a Serving-man . ]

How now! what news?

Servant : The four st rangers seek for you, madam, to

tak e the i r l eave: and th ere is a forerun ner come from a

fifth , th e Prince of Morocco, who brings word th e prince

his mas ter wi ll be here to-night .

PORTIA: I f I could bid th e f if th welcome with so good a

hear t as I can bid the other four farewel l , I should be

glad of h i s approach: i f he h ave th e condi t ion of a sa int

and the complexion of a devi l , I had ra ther he should

shrive me than wive me. Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go be-

fore . Whi les we shu t t he ga tes u pon one wooer, anot her

knocks a t the door .

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE III: Ve n ice . A pu bli c pla ce.

[ Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK. ]

SHYLOCK: Three th ousand ducats ; well .

BASSANIO: Ay, s ir, for th ree mont hs.

SHYLOCK: For three mont hs ; wel l.

BASSANIO: For the which, as I to ld you, Ant on io shal l

be bound .

SHYLOCK: Ant onio shal l become bound ; well .

BASSANIO: May you stead me ? will you pleasu re me?

shal l I know your an swer?

SHYLOCK: Three t housand duca t s fo r t h r ee mont h s and

Ant on i o bound .

BASSANIO: Your answer to th a t .

SHYLOCK: Ant onio is a good man .

BASSANIO: Have you heard any imput ation to th e cont rary?

The Merchant of Venice, Act I, scene iii

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SHYLOCK: Oh, no, no, no, no: my mean ing in saying

he i s a good man i s t o have you unde r s t and me t h a t he

i s suf f ic ient . Yet h i s mean s are in supp os it ion : he h a t h

an argosy bound to Tr ipol i s , another to the Indies ; I

unde r s t and moreove r, upon t h e Ri al t o , he ha t h a t h i rd

a t Mexico, a four th for England , and oth er vent ures heha th , squandered abroad. But ships are but boards , sa il -

ors but men: there be land- ra t s and water - ra t s , water -

th ieves and land- t hieves, I mean p i ra tes , and t hen th ere

i s the per i l of waters, winds an d rocks. The man i s, not -

with s tanding, suf ficient . Three th ousand ducats ; I th ink

I may t ake h i s bond .

BASSANIO: Be assured you may.

SHYLOCK: I wi ll be assured I may; and, t ha t I may be

assured, I wil l be t hin k me. May I speak wi th Ant onio?

BASSANIO: I f i t p lease you to d ine wi th us .

SHYLOCK: Yes , to smell pork; to ea t of th e habi t a t ion

which your prophet th e Nazar ite conjured th e devil in to .

I wil l buy wi th you, se l l wi th you, t a lk with you, walk

with you, an d so following, bu t I wi ll not ea t with you,

d r ink w it h you , no r p r ay w it h you . Wha t news on t h e

Rial to? Who is he come s here ?

[ Enter ANTONIO. ]

BASSANIO: Th is is Sign ior Ant on io.

SHYLOCK: [Asid e ] How l ike a fawning publ ican h e

looks!I ha t e h im for he i s a Chr i s t i an ,

But more for th a t in low s impl ici ty

He lend s out money gra t i s and br ings down

The rate of usan ce here with us in Ven ice.

I f I can ca t ch h i m once upon t he h i p ,

I wil l feed fa t t he a ncient grudge I bear h im.

He hates our sacred nat ion, and he ra i l s ,Even there where merchants most do congregate ,

On me, my bargains and my wel l-won t hr i f t ,

Which he cal ls interest . Cursed be my tr ibe,

If I forgive him!

BASSANIO: Shylock, do you hear?

SHYLOCK: I am debat in g of my present s t ore ,

And, by th e nea r guess of my memory,

I canno t i nst an t l y r a is e up t he g ros s

Of ful l three thousand ducats . What of tha t?

Tuba l , a weal thy Hebrew of my t r ibe,

Wi ll furni sh me. But soft ! h ow many mont hs

Do you desire?


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[To ANTONIO. ]

Rest you fair, good signior;

Your worship was th e las t man in our mou th s .

ANTONIO: Shylock, al thou gh I nei ther lend n or borrowBy taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet , to su pply t he r ipe wants of my f r iend ,

Il l break a cu stom . Is he yet possessd

How much ye would?

SHYLOCK: Ay, ay, th ree th ousand ducat s .

ANTONIO: And for th ree mont hs .

SHYLOCK: I had forgot ; th ree mont hs; you told me so.

Wel l th en , your bond; an d le t me see ; but h ear you;

Methought you sa id you nei ther l end nor bor row

Upon advantage .

ANTONIO: I do never use i t .

SHYLOCK: Whe n J acob grazed h is un cle Laban s sheep

Th is Jacob from ou r ho ly Abram was,

As hi s wise moth er wrought in h i s behal f ,

The th i rd possessor ; ay, he was the th i rd

ANTONIO: And wha t o f h i m? d i d he t ake in t e r e st ?

SHYLOCK: No, not t ake int erest , not , as you would say,

Di rec t ly in teres t : ma rk what Jacob did .

When Laban and himsel f were compromised

That a l l th e ean l ings wh ich were s t reakd an d piedShou ld fal l as Jacob s hire, th e ewes, being ran k,

I n t h e e n d o f a u t u m n t u r n e d t o t h e r a ms,

And, when the work of genera t ion was

Between th ese woolly breeders in t he ac t ,

The ski l ful shepherd peeld me certain wands,

And , i n t he do i ng o f t he deed o f k i nd ,

He s tuck them up before the fu l some ewes ,Who t hen conceiving did in ea ning t ime

Fall part i -colord lambs, a nd th ose were Jacobs.

Th is was a way to th r ive , and h e was blest :

And th r if t i s b less ing, i f men s t ea l it n ot .

ANTONIO: This was a vent ure, sir, th at J acob served for;

A th ing not in h i s power to br ing t o pass ,

But swayd an d fashiond by t he ha nd of heaven.Was th i s inser ted to make in teres t good?

Or is your gold an d si lver ewes an d rams?

SHYLOCK: I cann ot t e l l; I make i t breed as fast :

But not e me, s ignior.


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ANTONIO: Mark you th is , Bassan io,

The devi l can ci te Scripture for his purpose.

An evil soul producing h oly witn ess

Is l ike a vi l lain with a smil ing cheek,

A good ly app l e ro t t en a t t h e hea r t :

O,what a goodly out s ide fa lsehood hat h!

SHYLOCK: Three th ousan d ducats; tis a good round sum .

Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate

ANTONIO: Well, Shylock, sh all we be beho lding to you?

SHYLOCK: Signior Ant onio , many a t ime and oft

In the Ria l to you have ra ted me

About my moneys and my usances :

St i ll have I bo rne i t w it h a pa t i en t sh ru g ,

For sufferance is the badge of al l our t r ibe.

You ca l l me m isbel iever, cut - th roat dog,

And spi t upon my Jewish gaberdine ,

And a l l for use of th a t wh ich i s mine own.

Wel l th en , i t now appe ars you n eed my he lp:Go to , th en ; you come to me, and you say

Shylock, we would h ave m one ys: you say so;

You, t ha t d id void your rheu m up on my beard

And foot me as you spurn a s t ranger cur

Over your threshold: moneys is your sui t

Wha t sh ould I say to you ? Shou ld I not say

Hath a dog money? is i t possible

A cur can lend t h ree thou sand du cats? Or

Shal l I ben d low and in a bon dm an s key,

Wi t h ba t ed b r ea t h and whi spe r ing hum blenes s,

Say t h i s ;

Fair s i r, you spi t on me on Wedn esday last ;You spu rnd me such a d ay; anot her t ime

You cal l d me dog; an d for t he se court esies

Il l len d you t hu s much mon eys?

ANTONIO: I am as l ike to ca ll th ee so again ,

To sp it on t h ee aga in , t o spurn t hee t oo .

I f th ou wi lt l end t h i s money, lend i t not

As to t hy f r iend s ; for when did f r iend ship t ake

A breed for bar ren met a l of h i s f r iend ?

But lend i t r a t he r t o t h i ne en emy,

Who, i f he break, thou mays t wi th be t ter face

Exact the penal ty .

SHYLOCK: Why, look you, how you storm !

I would be f r iends wi th you an d h ave your love ,Forget the shames tha t you have s ta ind me wi th ,

Supp l y your p r e sen t wan t s and t ake no do i t

Of usance for my moneys, and youl l not hear me:

This is kind I offer.

BASSANIO: Th is were kind ne ss.


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SHYLOCK: Th is kin dn ess will I show.

Go with me to a n otary , sea l me th ere

Your s ingle bond; an d, in a merry spor t ,

I f you r epay me no t on such a day ,

In such a p lace, such sum or sums as are

Expressd in th e cond i t ion, l e t th e for fe itBe nomi na t ed fo r an equa l pound

Of your fa ir f lesh , t o be cut of f and tak en

In wha t pa r t o f your body p lease t h me .

ANTONIO: Con te nt , i fai th : I l l seal to such a bond

And say there i s much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO: You sha l l not sea l to such a bond for me:

Il l rath er d well in my n ecessi ty.

ANTONIO: Why, fear not , man ; I will not forfeit i t :

Wi th in th ese two month s , th a t s a mont h before

This bond expi res, I do exp ect re t urn

Of th r ice th ree t imes the va lue of th i s bond.

SHYLOCK: O fath er Abram, wh at t he se Ch rist ians are,

Whose own h ard deal ings teache s the m suspect

The t hou ght s of o th ers ! Pray you, t e l l me t h i s ;

I f he sh ould break h i s day, wh at sh ould I ga in

By th e exact ion of th e for fe i ture?

A poun d of man s f lesh t aken f rom a man

Is not so es t imable , profi table ne i th er,

As f lesh of muttons, beefs , or goats . I say,

To buy his favor, I extend this fr iendship:

I f he wi ll t ake i t , so ; if not , adieu;

And , for my love , I pray you wrong me not .

ANTONIO: Yes Shylock, I will seal un to t h is bon d.

SHYLOCK: Then mee t me for th with a t t he not arys ;

Give h im di rect ion for th i s merry bond,

And I wil l go and purse t he d ucats s t ra ight ,

See t o my hou se , le f t in t he fear ful guard

Of an un t h r i ft y k nave , and p r esen t l y

I wil l be with you.

ANTONIO: Hie thee , gent le Jew.

[ Exit Shylock. ]

The Hebrew wil l turn Christ ian: he grows kind.

BASSANIO: I like not fair term s and a vi llains mind.

ANTONIO: Come on: in t h i s there can be no dismay;

My ships come home a m ont h be fore t he d ay.

[ Exeunt. ]


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ACT II

SCENE I: Be lm on t. A room in PORTIAS ho us e.

[Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO and

his train ; PORTIA, NERISSA, and ot hers att end ing . ]

MOROCCO: Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shad owd l ivery of th e bu rnish d su n ,

To whom I am a ne igh bor and n ear bred.

Br ing me the fa i res t c rea ture nor thward born,

Whe re Pho ebus f i re scarce t h aws t he icicles,

And let us make incision for your love,To prove whose blood is reddest , his or mine.

I t e l l the e , l ady, th i s aspect of mine

Hath feard the val iant : by my love I swear

The best-regarded virgins of our cl ime

Have loved i t too: I would not chan ge th i s hue ,

Excep t t o s t ea l your t h ough t s , my gen t le queen .

PORTIA: In te rms of choice I am not sole ly led

By n ice direct ion of a ma iden s eyes;

Bes ides, t he lo t t e ry of my des t iny

Bars me th e r ight of volunt ary choos ing:

But i f my fa t h e r had n o t s can t ed me

And hed ged me by h i s wi t , to y ie ld myself

His wife who wins me by th a t means I t o ld you,

Yourself , renowne d prince, th en stood a s fair

As any comer I have lookd on yet

For my affect ion.

MOROCCO: Even fo r t h a t I t h ank you :Therefore, I pray you, l ead me t o t he casket s

To try my fortune. By this scimitar

That s lew th e Sophy an d a Pers ian pr ince

That won t hree f ie lds of Sul tan Solyman,

I wou l d ou t s t a r e t he s t e rnes t eyes t ha t look ,

Out b rave t h e hea r t mos t d a r ing on t h e ea r t h ,

Pluck th e youn g sucking cubs from th e she-bear,

Yea, mo ck th e l ion when h e roars for prey,To win thee, lady. But , alas the while!

If Hercules and Lichas play at dice

Whi ch i s t h e be t t e r man , t h e g r eat e r t h row

May t u rn by fo rt u ne f rom t he weake r han d :

So is Alcides beaten by his page;

And so may I , b l ind fortu ne leading me,

Mi ss t h a t wh i ch one u nwort h i er may a t t a i n ,And die wi th gr ieving.

PORTIA: You must t ake your chan ce ,

And e i t he r no t a t t empt t o choose a t a ll

Or swear before you choose, i f you choose wrong

Never to speak to lady af terward

In way of marr iage: th erefore be advised.

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MOROCCO: Nor wil l not . Come, br ing me un to my

chance .

PORTIA: Fi rs t , forward to th e tem ple : a f ter d inn er

You r ha zard sh al l be made.

MOROCCO: Good fo r t un e t h en!

To ma ke me blest or curseds t a mong men .

[Cornets, and exeunt. ]

SCENE II: Ve n ice . A st ree t.

[Ent er LAUNCELOT. ]

LAUNCELOT: Cert ainly my con science wil l serve me to

run f rom thi s Jew my master . The f iend i s a t mine e l -

bow and tempts me saying to me Gobbo, Launcelot

Gobbo, good Launcelot , or good Gobbo, or good

Laun celot Gobbo, use your legs , t ake t he s tar t , run

away . My consc i ence s ays No; t ake heed , hones t

Launcelot ; t ake heed, hones t Gobbo, or , as aforesa id ,

hones t Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running

with t hy h eels . Well , th e most courageou s f ien d bids me

pack : Via! says t h e fien d; away! says t h e fien d; for

th e h eavens , rouse up a brave mind, says th e f iend,

an d run . Well , my con scien ce, h an ging abou t th e neck

of my he art , says very wisely to me My hon est f r iend

Laun celot , be ing an hon es t m an s son, or ra th er an hon -

es t womans son; for, indeed , my fa th er d id somet hing

smack, someth ing grow to , h e had a k ind of t as te ; wel l,

my con scien ce sa ys Lau nce lot, bu dge no t . Budg e, says

t h e fien d. Bud ge n ot , says m y con scien ce. Con scien ce,say I, you co u n sel well; Fien d, say I, you cou n sel

well : to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with

th e Jew my master , who, God bless the m ark, i s a k ind

of devi l ; and, to run away f rom the Jew, I should be

ruled by the f iend, who, saving your reverence , i s the

devil h imself. Cert ainly t he J ew is t he very d evil incarn al;

and, in my conscience , my conscience i s but a k ind of

ha rd conscience , to of fer to coun sel me to s t ay with th eJew. The f iend gives the more fr iendly counsel : I wil l

run , f iend ; my heels are a t your comman d; I wil l run .

[ Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket. ]

GOBBO: Master youn g man, you, I pray you, which i s

th e way t o ma s ter J ews?

LAUNCELOT: [Aside ] O heaven s , th i s is my t ru e-begot -

ten father! who, being more tha n sand-bl ind, high-gravel

bl ind , kn ows me not : I wil l t ry con fus ions wi th h im.

GOBBO: Master young gent leman, I pray you, which i s

th e way t o ma s ter J ews?

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LAUNCELOT: Turn up on your r igh t h and a t t he nex t

t u rn i ng , bu t , a t t he nex t t u rn i ng of a l l, on your le f t ;

mar ry , a t t he ve ry nex t t u rn i ng , t u rn o f no hand , bu t

tu rn down indi rect ly to t he J ews house .

GOBBO: By Gods sont ies, twil l be a h ard way to h i t .Can you te l l me whether one Launcelot , tha t dwel l s

with him, dwel l with h im or n o?

LAUNCELOT: Talk you of youn g Mast er Lau ncelot ?

[Asid e . ]

Mark me now; now wil l I raise the waters . Talk you of

youn g Master Laun celot?

GOBBO: No mast er , si r, but a poor m an s son: h is fat he r,

t h ough I s ay it , i s an hones t exceed ing poor man and ,

God be thanked, wel l to l ive.

LAUNCELOT: Well , let h is fath er be wh at a will , we t alkof young Master Laun celot .

GOBBO: You r worsh ips frien d an d Lau nce lot, sir.

LAUNCELOT: But I pray you, e rgo, o ld man , ergo, I

beseech you, t a lk you of youn g Master Laun celot?

GOBBO: Of Lau ncelot , an t please your mast ership.

LAUNCELOT: Ergo, Mast er Lau ncelot . Talk no t of Mast er

Laun celot , fa t her ; for th e youn g gent leman , according

to Fates an d Des t in ies and such odd sayings, th e Sis ters

Three an d such bran ches of learn ing, is indeed de ceased,or, as you would say in p la in t e rms, gone to he aven.

GOBBO: Marry, God forbid! the boy was th e very staff

of my age, my very prop.

LAUNCELOT: Do I look l ike a cudgel or a hovel-post , a

s taf f or a prop? Do you know me, fa th er?

GOBBO: Alack th e day, I know you not , youn g gent le-

man : but , I pray you, t e l l me, i s my boy, God res t h i s

soul , al ive or dead?

LAUNCELOT: Do you not k now me, fa th er?

GOBBO: Alack, s i r, I am sand-bl ind; I kn ow you not .

LAUNCELOT: Nay, indee d, i f you h ad your eyes, you

might fa i l of the knowing me: i t i s a wise fa ther tha t

kn ows his own ch i ld. Well , old m an , I wil l t el l you news

of your son: g ive me your b less ing: t ru t h wi ll come to

l ight ; murder cann ot be h id long; a man s son may, but

a t t he l eng t h t r u t h w i l l ou t .


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GOBBO: Pray you, s ir, s tand u p: I am sure you are not

Launcelot , my boy.

LAUNCELOT: Pray you, let s have no more fool ing abou t

i t , but g ive me your b less ing: I am Laun celot , you r boy

t h a t was, your son t ha t i s, your ch i ld t ha t sha l l be .

GOBBO: I canno t t h i nk you a re my son .

LAUNCELOT: I know no t wha t I sha l l t h i nk of t h a t : bu t

I am Laun celot , t he J ews man , and I am su re Margery

your wife is my mother .

GOBBO: Her na me is Marge ry, ind eed : Ill be sworn , if

t h ou be Launce lo t , t h ou a r t m i ne own f le sh and b l ood .

Lord wor sh i pped mi gh t he be ! wha t a bea rd has t t h ou

go t ! t hou h as t go t more ha i r on t hy ch i n t h an Dobb in

my f il l-horse h as on hi s t a i l.

LAUNCELOT: I t shou ld seem, then , tha t Dobbins t a i l

grows backward: I am sure he had m ore hai r of h i s t a i lth an I have of my face when I l as t saw him.

GOBBO: Lord, how ar t thou chan ged! How dos t th ou

and t hy mas t e r ag ree? I have b rough t h i m a p r e sen t .

How gree you now?

LAUNCELOT: Well , wel l: bu t , for mine own part , as I

ha ve se t u p my rest t o run away, so I wil l not res t t i l l I

h ave run some grou nd . My mast ers a very Jew: give

him a present ! g ive him a ha l ter : I am famished in h i s

service; you may tel l every f inger I have with my r ibs.

Fath er, I am glad you are come: g ive me your p resent toon e Mast er Bassan io, who, ind eed , gives rare new l iver-

ies: i f I serve not him, I wil l run as far as God has any

ground. O rare for tune! here comes the man: to h im,

father; for I am a Jew, i f I serve the Jew any longer .

[ Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and other followers . ]

BASSANIO: You may do so; but l e t i t be so ha s ted t ha t

suppe r be ready a t t he far thes t by f ive of th e c lock. See

th ese le t t e rs de l ivered; put t he l iver ies to ma king, and

des i re Grat iano t o come an on to my lodging.

[ Exit a Servant. ]

LAUNCELOT: To h im, fath er.

GOBBO: God bless you r worship!

BASSANIO: Gramercy! wouldst th ou augh t with me ?

GOBBO: Heres my son, sir, a poor boy,


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LAUNCELOT: Not a poor boy, s i r, but t he r ich Je ws

man ; th a t would , s ir, as my fa ther sha l l specify

GOBBO: He ha th a grea t infec t ion, s ir, as one would

say, to serve

LAUNCELOT: Indeed, t he shor t an d th e long i s, I serve

th e Jew, and h ave a des ire, as my fa th er shal l specify

GOBBO: His maste r and h e, saving you r worships rever-

ence, are scarce cater-cousins

LAUNCELOT: To be br ief , the very t ru t h i s th a t t he Jew,

ha ving done me wrong, doth cause me, as my fa ther ,

be ing, I hope , an old man, shal l f ru t i fy unto you

GOBBO: I have here a d i sh of doves th a t I would bes tow

upon your worship , and my sui t i s

LAUNCELOT: In very brief, th e sui t i s imper t inen t to

myself , as your worship shal l kn ow by th i s hon es t o ldman; and , t hough I s ay i t , t hough o l d man , ye t poor

man, my fa ther .

BASSANIO: One speak for both . Wha t would you?

LAUNCELOT: Serve you , sir.

GOBBO: Tha t i s th e very defec t of th e mat ter , s ir.

BASSANIO: I know th ee wel l; th ou ha s t obta ind thy

su i t :

Shylock thy mas ter spoke wi th me th i s day,

And ha th prefer r d t hee , i f it be prefermentTo leave a rich Jews service, to become

The fol lower of so poor a gent leman.

LAUNCELOT: The old proverb is very well part ed be-

tween my master Shylock and you, s i r : you have the

grace of God, s i r, and he h ath enou gh.

BASSANIO: Tho u spea kst i t wel l. Go, fath er, wit h t hy

son .

Take leave of thy old mas te r an d inqu i re

My lodging out . Give h im a l ivery

More guarded than his fel lows: see i t done.

LAUNCELOT: Fat her , in . I cann ot ge t a service , no; I

have neer a tongue in my head. Wel l , i f any man inI ta ly have a fa irer t able which doth of fer to swear upon

a book, I sh al l h ave good fortu ne. Go to, h eres a simple

line of life: heres a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen

wives is nothing! Eleven widows and nine maids is a

simple coming-in for one m an : and t hen to scape drown-

ing th r ice , and to be in per i l of my li fe wi th t he e dge of

f , ,

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a feather-bed; here are s imple scapes. Well , i f Fortune

be a wom an , she s a good wen ch for t h is gear. Fat he r,

come; Il l t ake my leave of the J ew in th e twink l ing of

an eye .

[Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo . ]

BASSANIO: I pray thee , good Leonardo, th ink on th i s:

These t h ings be ing bou ght and order ly bes towd,

Return in has te , for I do feas t to-night

My bes t -es t eemd acquaint ance: h ie th ee , go.

LEONARDO: My bes t endeavors sha l l be done he re in .

[Enter GRATIANO. ]

GRATIANO: Whe re is your maste r?

LEONARDO: Yon de r, sir, h e walk s.

[Exit . ]

GRATIANO: Sign ior Bassan io!

BASSANIO: Grat iano!

GRATIANO: I ha ve a sui t to you.

BASSANIO: You h ave obt aind i t .

GRATIANO: You must n ot deny me: I must go with you

to Belmont .

BASSANIO: Why th en you must. But h ear thee, Gratiano;Thou ar t t oo wi ld , t oo rude an d bold of voice ;

Pa r t s t h a t become t h ee hap p i ly enough

And in such eyes as ours appear not faul t s ;

Bu t where t hou a r t n o t kn own, why, t h e r e t hey show

Someth ing too l ibera l. Pray t hee , t ake pain

To al lay with some cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping spi r it , l es t t hrough th y wi ld beh avior

I be miscons t ru ed in t he place I go to ,

And lose my h opes .

GRATIANO: Sign ior Bassan io, he ar me:

I f I do no t pu t on a sobe r hab i t ,

Talk wi th respect and swear but now and then,

Wear prayer-books in my pocket , look demurely,

Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyesThu s with my ha t , an d s igh an d say amen ,

Use al l t he observan ce of civil it y,

Like one wel l s tud ied in a sad os ten t

To please h i s grand am, n ever t rus t me more .

BASSANIO: Well , we sh al l see your bearing .

f

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RATIANO: Nay, but I bar to-n ight : you sha l l not

gauge me

By wha t we do t o -n i gh t .

BASSANIO: No , th a t were pi ty :

I wou l d en t r ea t you r a t he r t o pu t onYou r boldest su i t of mir th , for we h ave fr iends

Tha t p urpose merr iment . But fare you wel l :

I have some bus iness .

GRATIANO: And I must to Lorenzo and th e rest :

But we wi ll v is it you a t suppe r - t ime.

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE III: Th e s am e. A ro om in SHYLOCKS

h o u s e .

[Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. ]

JESSICA: I am sor ry thou wi lt l eave my fa th er so:

Our h ouse i s he l l, and th ou, a merry devil ,

Dids t rob i t of some t as te of t ediousne ss.

But fare th ee wel l, th ere i s a ducat for thee:

And , Laun ce lo t , soon a t supp e r sha l t t h ou see

Lorenzo, wh o i s thy new m aster s gues t :

Give h im t hi s l e t t e r ; do i t secre t ly ;

And so farewell : I would not h ave my fa th er

See me i n t a l k w it h t h ee .

LAUNCELOT: Adieu! tears exhibi t my tongu e. Most beau -

t i fu l pagan, most sweet J ew! i f a Chr i s t i an did not p layth e knave and get th ee , I am much deceived. But , adieu:

th ese foolish d rops do somet hin g drown my ma nly spir it :

ad i eu .

JESSICA: Farewell, good Lau ncelot .

[ Exit Launcelot. ]

Alack, wh at he inous s in i s i t in me

To be ash ame d to b e my fath ers chi ld!

But t h ough I am a dau gh t e r t o h i s b lood ,

I am not to h i s mann ers . O Lorenzo,

I f thou keep promise , I sha l l end t h i s s t r i fe ,

Become a Christ ian and thy loving wife.

[ Exit. ]

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SCENE IV: Th e sa m e. A st ree t.

[Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. ]

LORENZO: Nay, we wil l s l in k away in supp er- t ime,

Disguise us a t my lodging a nd re tu rn ,All in an hour.

GRATIANO: We have not made good prepara t ion.

SALARINO: We have not spoke us ye t of torch bearers.

SALANIO: Tis vile, unless i t ma y be qu aint ly orderd,

And be t t e r in my mi nd no t unde r t ook .

LORENZO: Tis now but four oclock: we ha ve two h ou rs

To furn ish us.

[Ente r LAUNCELOT, wit h a let te r. ]

Friend Laun celot , wha ts th e ne ws?

LAUNCELOT: An i t sh a l l p lease you t o break up th i s, it

shal l seem to signify.

LORENZO: I know th e han d: in fa ith , t i s a fa i r ha nd ;

And whi t e r t h an t he pape r i t w r it on

I s t h e f ai r han d t h a t wr it .

GRATIANO: Love-news, in fai th .

LAUNCELOT: By your leave, sir.

LORENZO: Whi t h e r goest t hou?

LAUNCELOT: Marry, s i r, to bid my old mast er th e Jew to

sup t o -n i gh t w i t h my new mas t e r t he Chr i st i an .

LORENZO: Hold here , t ake th i s: t e l l gent le Jess ica

I wil l not fai l her; speak i t pr ivately.

Go, gent lemen,

[ Exit Launcelot. ]

Wi ll you prepare you for th i s masque ton ight?

I am provided of a torch-bearer .

SALANIO: Ay, marry, Il l be gone ab ou t i t s t raight .

SALANIO: And so will I .

LORENZO: Meet me and Grat iano

At Grat ianos lodging some hour hence.

SALARINO: Tis good we do so.

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[Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO. ]

GRATIANO: Was not t h a t l e t t e r f rom fa ir Jess ica?

LORENZO: I must n eeds te l l th ee a l l. She h ath di rec ted

How I shal l take h er from he r fat he rs hou se,What gold and jewels she is furnishd with,

Wha t p ages sui t she h a th in readiness .

I f e er th e Jew h er fa ther come to heaven ,

I t wil l be for his gen t le da ug ht ers sake:

And never dare misfortu ne cross her foot ,

Unless she do i t u nder t h i s excuse,

That she is issue to a fai thless Jew.

Come, go with me; peruse t h i s as th ou goes t :

Fair Jessica sha l l be my torch -bearer .

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE V: Th e s am e. Be f ore SHYLOCKS h ou se .

[Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. ]

SHYLOCK: Wel l, thou shal t see , thy eyes shal l be th y

ju dge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:

What , J e s s ica ! t h ou sha l t n o t go rmand i se,

As thou has t done wi th me:What , Jess ica!

And s leep and snore , and rend appare l out ;

Why, Jessica, I say!

LAUNCELOT: Why, J essica!

SHYLOCK: Who bids th ee ca l l? I do not b id th ee ca l l.

LAUNCELOT: Your worship was wont t o t e l l me th a t I

cou ld do n o t h i ng w it h ou t b idd i ng .

[ Ent er Jessica . ]

JESSICA: Cal l you? wh at is your wil l?

SHYLOCK: I am bid for th to suppe r, Jess ica :

There are my keys. But wherefore should I go?

I am n ot b id for love; they f la t t e r me:

But ye t I l l go in h a te , t o feed u pon

The prodigal Ch rist ian . Je ssica, my gir l ,

Look to my h ouse . I am r ight loa th t o go:

There is some i l l a-brewing towards my rest ,For I d id dream of money-bags to-night .

LAUNCELOT: I beseech you, s ir, go: my young mast er

do t h expect your r ep roach .

SHYLOCK: So do I h is .

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LAUNCELOT: An t hey have conspi red togeth er, I wil l

no t s ay you sha l l s ee a masque ; bu t i f you do , t hen i t

was not for nothing tha t my nose fe l l a -bleeding on

Black-Mond ay last at s ix oclock i th e m orn ing, fal ling

out t ha t year on Ash-Wedne sday was four year, in th e

a f t e rnoon .

SHYLOCK: Wha t , a re there masques? Hear you me,

Jessica:

Lock up my door s; and when you hea r t he d rum

And the vi le squeal ing of the wry-neckd f i fe,

Cl amber no t you up t o t h e casement s t hen ,

Nor thrus t your head in to the publ ic s t ree t

To gaze on Ch rist ian fools with varnish d faces,

But s top my h ouses ears , I mean my casements :

Let not the sound of shal low foppery enter

My sober house. By Jacobs staff, I swear,

I have no mi nd o f feas t i ng fo r t h t o -n i gh t :

But I will go. Go you before me, s i rrah ;

Say I will come.

LAUNCELOT: I will go before, sir. Mistre ss, look o u t at

window, for al l th is , The re will come a Ch rist ian boy,

will be wort h a J ewess eye.

[ Exit. ]

SHYLOCK: Wh at says t h at fool of Hagars offspring, ha ?

JESSICA: His words were Farewe ll mist ress; n ot h ing else.

SHYLOCK: The patch is kind enou gh, but a huge feeder;

Snai l- s low in p rofi t , an d h e s leeps by dayMore th an t he wild-ca t : drones hive not wi th me;

Therefore I par t wi th h im, and par t wi th h im

To one tha t would have him help to was te

His borrowd purse. Well, Jessica, go in;

Perhap s I wil l re tu rn immedia te ly:

Do as I b id you; shu t doors af ter you:

Fas t b ind, fas t f ind ;

A proverb never s ta le in t hr i f ty mind .

[ Exit. ]

JESSICA: Farewell; an d if my fort un e be no t crost ,

I have a fa ther , you a daugh ter , los t .

[ Exit. ]

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SCENE VI: Th e sa m e .

[Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. ]

GRATIANO: Th is is th e pent -house un der which Lorenzo

Desi red us t o make s t and .

SALARINO: His hou r i s a lmost pas t .

GRATIANO: And i t is marvel he out -dwells h is hou r,

For lovers ever run before t h e clock.

SALARINO: O, te n t imes faste r Ven us pigeo ns fly

To seal loves bond s new-mad e, th an th ey are wontTo keep obl iged fa i th un for fe i ted!

GRATIANO: Tha t ever holds : who r i se th f rom a feas t

Wi t h t h a t keen appe t i t e t ha t h e s it s down?

Where i s t h e hor se t ha t do t h un t r ead aga i n

His tedious measures wi th the unbated f i re

Tha t h e did pace th em f i rs t? Al l th ings th a t a re ,

Are with more spi r it ch ased t ha n en joyd.

How l ike a youn ker or a prodigal

The scar fed bark put s f rom h er n a t ive bay,

Huggd and embraced by the s t rumpet wind!

How l ike the prodigal doth she re turn ,

With over-weath erd r ibs an d ragged sai ls ,

Lean , rent and begga r d by the s t ru mpet wind !

SALARINO: Here comes Loren zo: more of th is he reafte r.

[ Enter LORENZO. ]

LORENZO: Sweet f r iend s , your pa t ience for my long

abode;Not I , but my af fa i rs , have made you wai t :

When you sh al l p lease to p lay th e t h ieves for wives ,

I l l watch as long for you then. Approach;

Here dwells my fat he r J ew. Ho! whos with in?

[ Enter JESSICA, above, in boys clothes . ]

JESSICA: Who a re you? Tel l me, for more certa int y,

Albei t I l l swear that I do know your tongue.

LORENZO: Lorenzo, and th y love.

JESSICA: Lorenzo, cer ta in , and my love indeed ,

For who love I so much? And now who knows

But you, Lorenzo, whet her I am yours?

LORENZO: Heaven and t hy t hough t s a r e w it n es s t h a t

t h o u a r t .

JESSICA: Here, catch t his casket ; i t is worth t he pa ins.

I am glad t i s n ight , you do n ot look on me,

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For I am much asham ed of my exchange:

But love is bl ind and lovers cannot see

The p re t t y fo ll ies th a t t hem selves commit ;

For i f th ey cou ld, Cup id h imself wou ld blush

To see me th us t ransformed t o a boy.

LORENZO: Descend, for you must be my torchbea rer.

JESSICA: What , must I hold a cand le to my sha mes?

They in t hem selves , good-sooth , a re too too l ight .

Why, t is an office of d iscovery, love;

And I should be obscured.

LORENZO: So are you, sweet ,Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.

But come a t once;

For the c lose night doth play the runaway,

And we are st ayd for at Bassan ios feast .

JESSICA: I will mak e fast t he doo rs, an d gi ld myself

Wi th some more ducats , and be wi th you s t ra ight .

[Exit a bove . ]

GRATIANO: Now, by my hood , a Gen t i le and n o Jew.

LORENZO: Beshrew me but I love her hear t i ly ;

For sh e is wise, i f I can judge of h er ,

And fa ir she i s , if th a t mine eyes be t rue ,

And t rue she i s , as she h ath proved herse lf ,

And therefore, l ike herself , wise, fair and t rue,

Sh al l she be placed in my cons tan t sou l .

[ Ente r JESSICA, below . ]

What , a r t thou come? On, gent lemen; away!

Our m asquing m ate s by th i s t ime for us s tay .

[ Exit with Jessica and Salarino . ]

[ Enter ANTONIO. ]

ANTONIO: Wh os t h ere?

GRATIANO: Sign ior Ant on io!

ANTONIO: Fie, f ie, Grat ian o! where are al l t he rest ?

Tis n ine oclock: ou r frien ds all st ay for you.

No masque to-night : the wind i s come about ;

Bassanio present ly wil l go aboard:

I have s en t t wen t y ou t t o s eek for you .

GRATIANO: I am glad on t : I desire no more del ight

Than t o be un de r s a il and gone t o -n i gh t .

[ Exeunt. ]

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SCENE VII: Belm on t. A roo m in PORTIAS ho use .

[Flourish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF

MOROCCO, an d t heir t ra in s . ]

PORTIA: Go draw aside the cur t a ins and di scoverThe severa l caskets to th i s noble pr ince .

Now make your choice.

MOROCCO: The first , of gold, who th is inscription bears,

Who chooset h me sha l l ga in wha t m any men des i re ;

The second, s i lver , which this promise carr ies ,

Who ch ooseth me sh al l ge t as mu ch as h e deserves ;

This th i rd , du l l l ead, with warning a l l as b lun t ,

Who chooset h me mu st g ive and ha zard a l l he h a t h .

How shal l I kn ow if I do choose th e r ight?

PORTIA: The one of them cont ains my picture, pr ince:

I f you choose t ha t , t h en I am your s wi t ha l .

MOROCCO: Some god di rect my judgment ! Let me see ;I wil l survey t he inscrip t ions back again .

Wha t says th i s l eaden casket?

Who chooset h me mu st g ive and ha zard a l l he h a t h .

Must give: for wha t? for lead? h azard for lead?

This casket threa tens . Men tha t hazard a l l

Do i t in hop e of fa ir advant ages :

A golden mind s t oops not to sh ows of dross ;

I l l th en nor g ive nor h azard augh t for lead.

What says the s ilver with her v i rgin hu e?

Who chooseth me shal l get as much as he deserves.

As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco,

And we i gh t hy va lue w i t h an even h and :I f th ou bes t ra ted by t hy es t imat ion,

Thou dos t dese rve enough ; an d ye t enough

May not extend so far as to the lady:

And yet t o be afeard of my deserving

Were bu t a weak disabl ing of myself .

As much as I deserve! Why, th at s th e lady:

I do in b i r th deserve her, and in for tu nes ,

In graces and in qu al it i es of breeding;

But more th an th ese , in love I do deserve .

What i f I s t rayd n o fur th er, but chose h ere?

Let s see on ce more t h is saying graved in gold

Who chooseth me sh al l ga in what many men des ire .

Why, th at s th e lady; al l th e world desires he r;

From the four corners of the ear th they come,

To ki ss th i s shr ine , t h i s mor ta l -brea th ing sa int :The Hyrcanian deser t s and t he vas ty wi lds

Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now

For prin ces to come view fair Port ia:

The wat ery kingdom, whose ambi t ious head

Spit s in t he face of heaven , i s no bar

To s top th e fore ign spi ri t s , but th ey come,

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A b k f i P i Al l h l i i ld

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As oer a brook, to see fair Port ia.

One of these three conta ins her heavenly pic ture .

Is t l ike that lead contains her? Twere damnation

To th in k so base a th ough t : i t were too gross

To r ib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.

Or sha l l I th ink in si lver shes immu red,Being ten t imes undervalued to t r i ed gold?

O sinful thought! Never so r ich a gem

Was se t in worse th an gold . They h ave in England

A coin t ha t bears th e f igure of an an gel

Stam ped in gold , bu t t ha t s insculpd u pon ;

But here an angel in a golden bed

Lies al l within. Del iver me the key:

Here do I choose , and th r ive I as I may!

PORTIA: The re, t ake i t , pr ince; and i f my form lie

t he r e ,

Then I am you rs.

[He u n lo ck s t h e gold en ca sket. ]

MOROCCO: O hel l ! what ha ve we here?

A car r ion Deat h , wi th in whose emp ty eye

The re is a wri t te n scroll ! Il l read t he wri t ing.

[Re ads . ]

Al l th a t g l it t e r s is not gold;

Of t en h ave you h ea rd t h a t t o l d :

Many a m an h i s l ife ha t h sold

But my outs ide to beh old:

Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Had you been as wise as bold ,Youn g in l imbs , in judgment o ld ,

You r an swer had no t b een inscroll d:

Fare you well; your sui t is cold.

Cold, indeed; and labor lost :

Then, farewell , heat , and welcome, frost!

Por t ia , adieu. I h ave too gr ieved a hea r t

To t ake a t ed ious leave: th us losers par t .

[ Exit with his t rain. Flourish of cornet s . ]

PORTIA: A gent le r iddan ce . Draw the cur t a ins , go.

Let al l of his complexion choose me so.

[ Exeunt. ]

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SCENE VIII V i A t t St l b d ht ! J t i ! fi d th i l

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SCENE VIII: Ve n ice . A st ree t.

[Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. ]

SALARINO: Why, man , I saw Bassan io un der sai l:

Wi th h im i s Grat iano gone a long;And in th e i r ship I am su re Lorenzo i s not .

SALANIO: The villain J ew with ou tcries raised th e duke,

Who wen t with h im to search Bassanios ship.

SALARINO: He came too la t e , the ship was un der sa il :

Bu t t h e r e t he duke was g iven t o un de r st an d

That in a gondola were seen together

Lorenzo a nd hi s amorous J ess ica :

Bes ides, Ant onio cer t i f ied t he duke

They were not with Bassanio in h i s ship .

SALANIO: I never heard a pass ion so confused,

So strange, outrageous, and so variable,

As t he dog J ew d id u t t e r i n t he s t r ee t s :My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!

Fled with a Ch rist ian! O my Ch rist ian du cats!

Jus t i ce ! t he l aw! my duca t s , and my daugh t e r !

A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats ,

Of double ducats , s to len f rom me by my dau ght er !

And jewels , two s ton es , two r ich an d p rec ious s ton es ,

Stolen by my dau ght er ! Jus t ice! find th e gi r l;

She h a t h t h e s t ones upon h e r, and t he duca t s .

SALARINO: Why, all t h e boys in Ven ice follow h im,

Crying, h i s s ton es , h i s daugh ter , and h i s ducats .

SALANIO: Let good Anton io look he keep h i s day,

Or he shal l pay for this .

SALARINO: Marry, well reme mb erd.

I reasond wi th a Frenchm an yes terday,

Who told me, in the nar row seas tha t par t

The French and English, there miscarr ied

A vesse l of our coun t ry r ichly f raught :I t hough t upon Ant on i o when he t o l d me ;

And wishd in s il ence th a t i t were not h i s .

SALANIO: You were best to te ll Ant onio what you h ear;

Yet d o no t su dden ly, for it m ay grieve him.

SALARINO: A k i nde r gen t l eman t r eads no t t he ea r t h .I saw Bassanio and Ant onio par t :

Bassanio to ld h im h e would make some speed

Of h is retu rn : h e a nswerd, Do n ot so;

Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio

But s tay the very r ip ing of the t ime;

And for th e Jews bond wh ich h e h ath of me,

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Let i t n ot en ter in you r mind of love: [ Fl i h f t E t th PRINCE OF ARRAGON

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Let i t n ot en ter in you r mind of love:

Be merry, and e mploy your chiefes t th ough ts

To cour t sh ip and such fa ir os ten ts of love

As shal l conven ient ly become you th ere :

And even th ere , h i s eye being big with tears ,

Turn i ng h i s f ace, he pu t h i s hand beh i nd h i m ,

And with af fect ion wondrous sens ible

He wrun g Bassanios han d; and so th ey par t ed .

SALANIO: I th ink h e only loves th e world for h im.

I pray thee , l e t us go and f ind him out

And qu icken h i s embraced heaviness

With some del ight or o t her .

SALARINO: Do we so.

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE IX: Be lm on t. A roo m i n PORTIAS hou se.

[Enter NERISSA with a Servitor. ]

NERISSA: Quick, quick, I pray the e; draw th e cur ta in

s t r a i gh t :

The Pr ince of Arragon h ath ta en h i s oa t h ,

And comes to h i s e lec t ion p resent ly .

[ Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON,

PORTIA, and their trains . ]

PORTIA: Beho ld, the re stan d the caskets , noble prince:

I f you choose th a t wh ere in I am conta in d ,

St ra ight shal l our nu pt ia l r i t es be solemn ized:

But i f you fa i l, wi thou t more speech, my lord ,

You must be gone f rom hen ce immedia te ly.

ARRAGON: I am en joind by oat h to observe th ree

t h i ngs :

Fi rs t , n ever to un fold to any on e

Wh ich casket twas I ch ose; n ext , i f I fai l

Of th e r ight casket , n ever in my l ifeTo woo a maid in way of marriage:

Lastly,

If I do fai l in fortune of my choice,

Immedia te ly to l eave you and be gone.

PORTIA: To these in junct ions every one dot h swear

Th at comes to h azard for my wor thless se lf .

ARRAGON: And so h ave I addressd me. Fort un e now

To my he art s h ope! Gold; s i lver; an d b ase lead .

Who ch ooseth me mu st g ive and ha zard a l l he h a th .

You sha l l look fairer , ere I give or h azard.

What says the golden ches t? ha! l e t me see :

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Who chooseth me sh al l ga in what many men des i re I wil l assume desert Give me a key for this



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Who chooseth me sh al l ga in what many men des i re .

Wha t m any men des i re! th a t many may be m eant

By th e fool mul t i tu de , th a t choose by show,

Not l ea rn ing more t han t he fond eye do t h t each ;

Which pr ies not to the in ter ior , but , l ike the mar t le t ,

Bui lds in th e weath er on t he ou tward wall ,

Even in th e force an d road of casual ty .

I wil l not choose what man y men des i re ,

Because I wi ll not jump with common spi r it s

And r ank me w it h t h e ba rba rous mul t i t udes .

Why, then to thee , thou s i lver t reasure-house;

Tel l me once more wh at t i t l e th ou dos t bear :

Who ch ooseth me sh al l ge t as mu ch as h e deserves :

And well said too; for who shal l go aboutTo cozen for tun e an d be h onorable

Wi t hou t t h e s t amp o f meri t ? Le t n one p r esume

To wear an un deserved digni ty .

O, th a t es ta t es , degrees and of f ices

Were not der ived cor rupt ly, and th a t c lear hon or

Were purchased by th e mer i t of th e wearer !

How many t hen shou l d cove r t h a t s t an d ba re !How many be commanded t h a t command!

How much low peasant ry would t hen be gleand

From t he t r ue s eed o f honor ! and how much h onor

Pickd f rom th e chaf f and ruin of t he t imes

To be new-varn ishd! Well , but to my ch oice:

Who chooseth me shal l get as much as he deserves.

I wil l assume desert . Give me a key for this ,

And ins tant ly unlock my for tunes here .

[He open s t h e silver ca sket. ]

PORTIA: Too long a pause for th at wh ich you find th ere.

ARRAGON: Wh ats here? the port rait of a blinking idiot,

Present ing me a schedule! I wil l read i t .

How much unl ike ar t thou to Por t ia !

How much u nl ike my hopes an d my deservings!

Who chooseth me shal l have as much as he deserves.

Did I deserve no more t h an a fools head ?

Is th a t my pr ize? are my deser t s no bet t er?

PORTIA: To offend , and judge, are dist in ct off ices

And of opposed natures .

ARRAGON: Wh at i s here?

[Reads . ]

The f ire seven t imes t r i ed t h i s :

Seven t imes t r i ed tha t judgment i s ,

Th at d id never choose am iss .

Some there be tha t shadows ki ss ;

Such h ave bu t a shad ows bl iss:

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There be fools alive I wis PORTIA: Here: wh at would my lord?



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There be fools alive, I wis,

Silverd oer; and so was this.

Take what wife you wil l to bed,

I wil l ever be your head:

So be gone : you are sped.

St i l l more fool I shal l app ear

By t he t ime I linger here

With on e fools head I came t o woo,

But I go away wi th t wo.

Sweet , adieu. I l l keep my oath,

Pat ient ly to bear my wroth .

[Exeunt Arragon and train . ]

PORTIA: Thus ha t h t he cand l e s inged t he mot h .

O, t hese d e l ibera te fools ! when th ey do choose ,

They h ave th e wisdom by t he i r wi t to lose.

NERISSA: The an cient saying is no heresy,

Hanging an d wiving goes by des t iny.

PORTIA: Come, draw th e curta in, Nerissa.

[Enter a Servant. ]

Servant : Whe re is my lady?

PORTIA: Here: wh at would my lord?

Servant : Madam, th ere i s a l ight ed a t your ga te

A young Venet ian , on e th a t comes before

To signify the approaching of his lord;

From whom he br inget h sens ible regree t s ,

To wit , bes ides commends an d cour t eous brea th ,

Gif ts of r ich value. Yet I h ave n ot seen

So likely an amb assador of love:

A day in Apri l never came so sweet ,

To show how cos t ly summer was a t h and ,

As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.

PORTIA: No more, I pray th ee: I am ha lf afeardThou wi l t say anon he i s some kin to thee ,

Thou spend s t such high -day wi t in p ra is ing him.

Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see

Quick Cup ids post t h at comes so man ne rly.

NERISSA: Bassan io, lord Love, if thy will it b e!

[ Exeunt. ]

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ACT III SALARINO: I would i t might prove th e end of his lossesThe Merchant of Venice, Act III, scene i


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ACT III

SCENE I: Ve n ice . A st ree t.

[Enter SALANIO and SALARINO. ]

SALANIO: Now, wh at n ews on t h e Rial to?

SALARINO: Why, ye t i t l ives th ere unchecked t ha t An-

ton io ha th a ship of r i ch lading wrecked on t he n ar row

seas ; the Goodwins , I th ink t hey ca l l the p lace ; a very

dan gerous fla t an d fa ta l , where th e carcasses of many a

tal l ship l ie buried, as they say, i f my gossip Report bean hones t woman o f he r word .

SALANIO: I would she were as lying a gossip in t ha t as ever

kn app ed ginger or made her neigh bors believe she wept for

the death of a third husband. But it is true, without any

slips of prolixity or crossing t he p lain h ighway of talk, th at

the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,O that I had a

title good enough to keep his name company!

SALARINO: Come, the ful l s top .

SALANIO: Ha! what sayes t t hou ? Why, th e end i s, he

ha t h l ost a sh i p .

SALARINO: I would i t might prove th e end of h i s losses .

SALANIO: Let me say amen bet imes, lest th e devi l cross

my prayer, for here he comes in t he l ikeness of a Jew.

[ Enter SHYLOCK. ]

How now, Shylock! what news among t he merchant s?

SHYLOCK: You k now, none so well , non e so well as you,

of my daug ht ers f light .

SALARINO: Tha t s cer ta in : I, for my par t , knew the

ta i lor th a t made th e wings she f lew with al .

SALANIO: And Shylock, for h i s own p ar t , kn ew the bi rd

was f ledged; and th en i t i s th e complexion of th em al l

t o l eave t h e dam.

SHYLOCK: She i s damn ed for i t .

SALANIO: Th at s cer t ain, i f t he devi l may be her judge.

SHYLOCK: My own f lesh an d blood to rebel !

SALANIO: Out u pon i t , o ld car r ion! rebels i t a t th ese

years?

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SHYLOCK: I say, my daugh ter i s my f lesh an d blood. mean s , warmed and cooled by the same winter an d sum-

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SHYLOCK: I say, my daugh ter i s my f lesh an d blood.

SALARINO: Th ere is more differen ce bet ween t hy f lesh

and he r s t han be t ween j e t and i vory ; more be t ween

your b loods than th ere is be tween red wine and rh enish .

Bu t t e l l u s, do you hea r whe t he r Ant on i o have had any

loss a t sea or n o?

SHYLOCK: There I have anoth er bad match: a bankrupt ,

a prodigal , who dare scarce show h is head on th e Rialto;

a beggar, th a t was used to come so smug upon th e mar t ;

let him look to h is bond: h e was wont to cal l me usurer;

let h im look to h is bond: h e was wont to lend mon ey for

a Christ ian courtesy; let h im look t o h is bond.

SALARINO: Why, I am sure, i f he forfei t , t hou wilt n ot

tak e h i s flesh: wh at s th a t good for?

SHYLOCK: To bai t f ish with al : i f i t will feed no t h ing

else, i t will feed my reven ge. He h at h d isgraced me, and

hindered me h alf a mill ion; laugh ed at my losses, mockedat my gains , scorned my n at ion , th war ted my bargains ,

cooled my f r iends , heat ed m ine en emies ; and wh at s h i s

r eason? I am a J ew . Ha t h no t a J ew eyes? ha t h no t a

Jew ha nd s , organs , d imen s ions , senses , a f fect ions , pas-

s ions? fed wi th t he same food, hur t with th e same weap-

ons , subjec t to the same diseases , hea led by the same

mean s , warmed and cooled by the same winter an d sum

mer, as a Ch rist ian is? If you p rick us, do we not bleed?

i f you t i ckle us , do we not l augh? i f you poison u s , do

we not d ie? and i f you wrong u s , sha l l we not revenge?

If we are l ike you in the rest , we wil l resemble you in

th at . I f a Jew wrong a Chr i s t i an , wh at i s h i s humi l ity?

Revenge. If a Christ ian wrong a Jew, what should his

sufferan ce be by Ch rist ian exa mp le? Why, revenge. The

vi l lany you teach me, I wi l l execute , and i t sha l l go

ha rd bu t I w il l be t t e r t he i ns t ruct i on .

[ Enter a Servant. ]

Servant : Gent lemen, my master Ant onio i s a t h i s hou seand des ir e s t o speak w it h you bo t h .

SALARINO: We have been up and down t o s eek h i m .

[ Enter TUBAL. ]

SALANIO: Here comes anot her of th e t r ibe : a th i rd can-not be matched, unless the devi l h imsel f turn Jew.

[ Exeunt SALANIO, SALARINO, and Servant. ]

SHYLOCK: How now, Tub al! wh at n ews from Gen oa?

h a s t t h o u f ou n d m y d a u g h t e r ?

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TUBAL: I of ten came whe re I d id hear of her , but can - SHYLOCK: I th an k th ee , good Tubal : good news, good

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,

not f ind her .

SHYLOCK: Why, th ere, th ere, th ere, th ere! a diamond gone,

cost me two th ousand d ucats in Frank fort! The cu rse never

fell upon our nation til l now; I never felt i t t i l l now: two

th ousand du cats in th at ; and oth er precious, precious jew-

els . I would my daughter were dead at my foot , and the

jewe ls in h er ear! wou ld sh e we re h earsed at my foot , and

th e du cats in h er coffin! No news of the m? Why, so: and I

kn ow not wh ats spent in th e search: why, th ou loss upo n

loss! the t hief gone with so much, and so much to f ind th e

th ief; and n o satisfaction, no revenge: nor no in luck stir-

ring but what lights on my shoulders; no sighs but of mybreathing; no t ears but of my shedding.

TUBAL: Yes, oth er men h ave i ll luck too: Ant on io, as I

heard in Genoa,

SHYLOCK: Wha t , wh at , wh at? i ll luck, i ll luck?

TUBAL: Hath an a rgosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.

SHYLOCK: I th an k God, I th an k God. Ist t rue, ist t rue ?

TUBAL: I spoke with some of th e sa ilors th a t escaped

t h e wreck .

, g g , g

news! ha , h a! where? in Genoa?

TUBAL: Your daug ht er spent in Genoa, as I heard , in

one night fourscore ducats .

SHYLOCK: Thou s t ickest a dagger in me: I sha l l never

see my gold again: fourscore ducats a t a s it t ing! four -

score du cats !

TUBAL: Th ere came divers of Ant on ios credito rs in my

company to Venice, th at swear he cann ot choose but break.

SHYLOCK: I am very glad of it : Ill plagu e h im; Ill to r-tu re h im: I am glad of it .

TUBAL: One o f t h em showed me a r ing t h a t he h ad o f

your daughter for a monkey.

SHYLOCK: Out u pon h er! Thou t ortu rest me, Tubal : it

was my turquoise; I had i t of Leah when I was a bachelor:I would n ot ha ve given i t for a wilderness of mon keys.

TUBAL: But Anton io i s cer ta in ly un done.

SHYLOCK: Nay, th at s t ru e, th at s very t rue. Go, Tuba l ,

fee me a n of ficer ; bespeak him a for tn ight before . I wil l

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ha ve the hear t of h im, i f he for fe it ; for, were he out of One ha l f of me i s yours, t he o th er h a l f yours ,

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, ; ,

Ven ice, I can m ake wha t m ercha nd ise I wil l. Go, go,

Tubal , and meet me a t ou r synagogue; go, good Tubal ;

a t our syn agogue, Tubal .

[Exeunt. ]

SCENE II: Belm on t. A roo m in PORTIAS ho us e.

[Enter BASSANIO, PORTIA, GRATIANO, NERISSA, and At-

t e n d a n t s . ]

PORTIA: I pray you, t a r ry: pause a day or two

Before you hazard; for , in choosing wrong,

I lose your company: therefore forbear awhile.

The res somet h ing t el ls me, but i t is not love,

I would not lose you; and you kn ow yourse l f,

Hate coun sels not in such a qu al ity .

But l es t you should not unders tand me wel l ,

An d y e t a m a id e n h a t h n o t o n g u e b u t t h o u g h t ,

I woul d de t a i n you h e re some mont h o r t woBefore you ven tu re for me. I could teach you

How to choose r ight , but I am th en forsworn;

So wil l I never be: so may you miss me;

But i f you do, youl l make me wish a s in,

Tha t I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes ,

They h ave oer lookd m e an d d ivided me;

y , y ,

Mine own, I would say; but i f mine , t hen yours ,

And so a l l yours . O, th ese n augh ty t imes

Pu t ba r s be t ween t he owner s and t he i r r igh t s !

And so , th ough yours , not you rs. Prove it so ,

L

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