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Title: The Merchant Of Venice (published 1597) Author: William Shakespeare (died 1616)
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Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to lend money to his friend Bassanio. Bassanio uses the money to successfully woo Portia, a wealthy and intelligent woman with a large inheritance. Unfortunately, a tragic accident leaves Antonio unable to repay his debt to Shylock, and he must be punished as agreed by giving a pound of his flesh to the moneylender. Portia travels in disguise to the court and saves Antonio by pointing out that Shylock may only take flesh, and not any blood. Shylock is foiled, Portia reveals her identity, and Antonio's wealth is restored.
Lancelet Gobbo, servant to Shylock and later to Bassanio
Old Gobbo, Lancelet’s father
Salerio, a messenger from Venice
Jailer
Duke of Venice
Magnificoes of Venice
Servants
Attendants and followers
Messenger
Musicians
ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Solanio.
ANTONIO line 0001In sooth I know not why I am so sad. line 0002It wearies me, you say it wearies you. line 0003But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, line 0004What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, 5line 0005I am to learn. line 0006And such a want-wit sadness makes of me line 0007That I have much ado to know myself. SALARINO line 0008Your mind is tossing on the ocean, line 0009There where your argosies with portly sail 10line 0010(Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood, line 0011Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea) line 0012Do overpeer the petty traffickers line 0013That curtsy to them, do them reverence, line 0014As they fly by them with their woven wings. SOLANIO 15line 0015Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, line 0016The better part of my affections would line 0017Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still line 0018Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind, line 0019Piring in maps for ports and piers and roads; 20line 0020And every object that might make me fear Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 9line 0021Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt line 0022Would make me sad. line 0023SALARINOMy wind cooling my broth line 0024Would blow me to an ague when I thought 25line 0025What harm a wind too great might do at sea. line 0026I should not see the sandy hourglass run line 0027But I should think of shallows and of flats, line 0028And see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand, line 0029Vailing her high top lower than her ribs 30line 0030To kiss her burial. Should I go to church line 0031And see the holy edifice of stone line 0032And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, line 0033Which, touching but my gentle vessel’s side, line 0034Would scatter all her spices on the stream, 35line 0035Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks, line 0036And, in a word, but even now worth this line 0037And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought line 0038To think on this, and shall I lack the thought line 0039That such a thing bechanced would make me sad? 40line 0040But tell not me: I know Antonio line 0041Is sad to think upon his merchandise. ANTONIO line 0042Believe me, no. I thank my fortune for it, line 0043My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, line 0044Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate 45line 0045Upon the fortune of this present year: line 0046Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. SOLANIO line 0047Why then you are in love. line 0048ANTONIOFie, fie! SOLANIO line 0049Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad 50line 0050Because you are not merry; and ’twere as easy line 0051For you to laugh and leap, and say you are merry line 0052Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed line 0053Janus, Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 11line 0054Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: 55line 0055Some that will evermore peep through their eyes line 0056And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper, line 0057And other of such vinegar aspect line 0058That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile line 0059Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.
Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano.
60line 0060Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, line 0061Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare you well. line 0062We leave you now with better company. SALARINO line 0063I would have stayed till I had made you merry, line 0064If worthier friends had not prevented me. ANTONIO 65line 0065Your worth is very dear in my regard. line 0066I take it your own business calls on you, line 0067And you embrace th’ occasion to depart. SALARINO line 0068Good morrow, my good lords. BASSANIO line 0069Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say, 70line 0070when? line 0071You grow exceeding strange. Must it be so? SALARINO line 0072We’ll make our leisures to attend on yours.
Salarino and Solanio exit.
LORENZO line 0073My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, line 0074We two will leave you. But at dinner time 75line 0075I pray you have in mind where we must meet. BASSANIO line 0076I will not fail you. GRATIANO line 0077You look not well, Signior Antonio. line 0078You have too much respect upon the world. Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 13line 0079They lose it that do buy it with much care. 80line 0080Believe me, you are marvelously changed. ANTONIO line 0081I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, line 0082A stage where every man must play a part, line 0083And mine a sad one. line 0084GRATIANOLet me play the fool. 85line 0085With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come, line 0086And let my liver rather heat with wine line 0087Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. line 0088Why should a man whose blood is warm within line 0089Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? 90line 0090Sleep when he wakes? And creep into the jaundice line 0091By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio line 0092(I love thee, and ’tis my love that speaks): line 0093There are a sort of men whose visages line 0094Do cream and mantle like a standing pond 95line 0095And do a willful stillness entertain line 0096With purpose to be dressed in an opinion line 0097Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit, line 0098As who should say “I am Sir Oracle, line 0099And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark.” 100line 0100O my Antonio, I do know of these line 0101That therefore only are reputed wise line 0102For saying nothing, when, I am very sure, line 0103If they should speak, would almost damn those ears line 0104Which, hearing them, would call their brothers 105line 0105fools. line 0106I’ll tell thee more of this another time. line 0107But fish not with this melancholy bait line 0108For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.— line 0109Come, good Lorenzo.—Fare you well a while. 110line 0110I’ll end my exhortation after dinner. LORENZO line 0111Well, we will leave you then till dinner time. line 0112I must be one of these same dumb wise men, line 0113For Gratiano never lets me speak. Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 15GRATIANO line 0114Well, keep me company but two years more, 115line 0115Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own line 0116tongue. ANTONIO line 0117Fare you well. I’ll grow a talker for this gear. GRATIANO line 0118Thanks, i’ faith, for silence is only commendable line 0119In a neat’s tongue dried and a maid not vendible.
Gratiano and Lorenzo exit.
120line 0120ANTONIOIs that anything now? line 0121BASSANIOGratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, line 0122more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are as line 0123two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you line 0124shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you 125line 0125have them, they are not worth the search. ANTONIO line 0126Well, tell me now what lady is the same line 0127To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, line 0128That you today promised to tell me of? BASSANIO line 0129’Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, 130line 0130How much I have disabled mine estate line 0131By something showing a more swelling port line 0132Than my faint means would grant continuance. line 0133Nor do I now make moan to be abridged line 0134From such a noble rate. But my chief care 135line 0135Is to come fairly off from the great debts line 0136Wherein my time, something too prodigal, line 0137Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio, line 0138I owe the most in money and in love, line 0139And from your love I have a warranty 140line 0140To unburden all my plots and purposes line 0141How to get clear of all the debts I owe. ANTONIO line 0142I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 17line 0143And if it stand, as you yourself still do, line 0144Within the eye of honor, be assured 145line 0145My purse, my person, my extremest means line 0146Lie all unlocked to your occasions. BASSANIO line 0147In my school days, when I had lost one shaft, line 0148I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight line 0149The selfsame way with more advisèd watch 150line 0150To find the other forth; and by adventuring both line 0151I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof line 0152Because what follows is pure innocence. line 0153I owe you much, and, like a willful youth, line 0154That which I owe is lost. But if you please 155line 0155To shoot another arrow that self way line 0156Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, line 0157As I will watch the aim, or to find both line 0158Or bring your latter hazard back again, line 0159And thankfully rest debtor for the first. ANTONIO 160line 0160You know me well, and herein spend but time line 0161To wind about my love with circumstance; line 0162And out of doubt you do me now more wrong line 0163In making question of my uttermost line 0164Than if you had made waste of all I have. 165line 0165Then do but say to me what I should do line 0166That in your knowledge may by me be done, line 0167And I am prest unto it. Therefore speak. BASSANIO line 0168In Belmont is a lady richly left, line 0169And she is fair, and, fairer than that word, 170line 0170Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes line 0171I did receive fair speechless messages. line 0172Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued line 0173To Cato’s daughter, Brutus’ Portia. line 0174Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, 175line 0175For the four winds blow in from every coast Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 19line 0176Renownèd suitors, and her sunny locks line 0177Hang on her temples like a golden fleece, line 0178Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos’ strond, line 0179And many Jasons come in quest of her. 180line 0180O my Antonio, had I but the means line 0181To hold a rival place with one of them, line 0182I have a mind presages me such thrift line 0183That I should questionless be fortunate! ANTONIO line 0184Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea; 185line 0185Neither have I money nor commodity line 0186To raise a present sum. Therefore go forth: line 0187Try what my credit can in Venice do; line 0188That shall be racked even to the uttermost line 0189To furnish thee to Belmont to fair Portia. 190line 0190Go presently inquire, and so will I, line 0191Where money is, and I no question make line 0192To have it of my trust, or for my sake.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Portia with her waiting woman Nerissa.
line 0193PORTIABy my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary line 0194of this great world. line 0195NERISSAYou would be, sweet madam, if your miseries line 0196were in the same abundance as your good fortunes 5line 0197are. And yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that line 0198surfeit with too much as they that starve with line 0199nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be line 0200seated in the mean. Superfluity comes sooner by line 0201white hairs, but competency lives longer. 10line 0202PORTIAGood sentences, and well pronounced. line 0203NERISSAThey would be better if well followed. Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 21line 0204PORTIAIf to do were as easy as to know what were line 0205good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor line 0206men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine 15line 0207that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach line 0208twenty what were good to be done than to be one of line 0209the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain line 0210may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper line 0211leaps o’er a cold decree: such a hare is madness the 20line 0212youth, to skip o’er the meshes of good counsel the line 0213cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to line 0214choose me a husband. O, me, the word “choose”! I line 0215may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I line 0216dislike. So is the will of a living daughter curbed by 25line 0217the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that line 0218I cannot choose one, nor refuse none? line 0219NERISSAYour father was ever virtuous, and holy men line 0220at their death have good inspirations. Therefore the line 0221lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of 30line 0222gold, silver, and lead, whereof who chooses his line 0223meaning chooses you, will no doubt never be line 0224chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly line 0225love. But what warmth is there in your affection line 0226towards any of these princely suitors that are already 35line 0227come? line 0228PORTIAI pray thee, overname them, and as thou line 0229namest them, I will describe them, and according line 0230to my description level at my affection. line 0231NERISSAFirst, there is the Neapolitan prince. 40line 0232PORTIAAy, that’s a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but line 0233talk of his horse, and he makes it a great appropriation line 0234to his own good parts that he can shoe him line 0235himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother line 0236played false with a smith. 45line 0237NERISSAThen is there the County Palatine. line 0238PORTIAHe doth nothing but frown, as who should say line 0239“An you will not have me, choose.” He hears Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 23line 0240merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the line 0241weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so 50line 0242full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had line 0243rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in line 0244his mouth than to either of these. God defend me line 0245from these two! line 0246NERISSAHow say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le 55line 0247Bon? line 0248PORTIAGod made him, and therefore let him pass for line 0249a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, line 0250but he!—why, he hath a horse better than the line 0251Neapolitan’s, a better bad habit of frowning than 60line 0252the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. If a line 0253throstle sing, he falls straight a-cap’ring. He will line 0254fence with his own shadow. If I should marry him, I line 0255should marry twenty husbands! If he would despise line 0256me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to 65line 0257madness, I shall never requite him. line 0258NERISSAWhat say you then to Falconbridge, the young line 0259baron of England? line 0260PORTIAYou know I say nothing to him, for he understands line 0261not me, nor I him. He hath neither Latin, 70line 0262French, nor Italian; and you will come into the line 0263court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth in line 0264the English. He is a proper man’s picture, but alas, line 0265who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly line 0266he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy, 75line 0267his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, line 0268and his behavior everywhere. line 0269NERISSAWhat think you of the Scottish lord, his line 0270neighbor? line 0271PORTIAThat he hath a neighborly charity in him, for 80line 0272he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, line 0273and swore he would pay him again when he was line 0274able. I think the Frenchman became his surety and line 0275sealed under for another. Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 25line 0276NERISSAHow like you the young German, the Duke of 85line 0277Saxony’s nephew? line 0278PORTIAVery vilely in the morning, when he is sober, line 0279and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk. line 0280When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and line 0281when he is worst he is little better than a beast. An 90line 0282the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift line 0283to go without him. line 0284NERISSAIf he should offer to choose, and choose the line 0285right casket, you should refuse to perform your line 0286father’s will if you should refuse to accept him. 95line 0287PORTIATherefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set line 0288a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary line 0289casket, for if the devil be within and that temptation line 0290without, I know he will choose it. I will do line 0291anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge. 100line 0292NERISSAYou need not fear, lady, the having any of line 0293these lords. They have acquainted me with their line 0294determinations, which is indeed to return to their line 0295home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless line 0296you may be won by some other sort than your 105line 0297father’s imposition depending on the caskets. line 0298PORTIAIf I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as line 0299chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner line 0300of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers line 0301are so reasonable, for there is not one among them 110line 0302but I dote on his very absence. And I pray God line 0303grant them a fair departure! line 0304NERISSADo you not remember, lady, in your father’s line 0305time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came line 0306hither in company of the Marquess of Montferrat? 115line 0307PORTIAYes, yes, it was Bassanio—as I think so was he line 0308called. line 0309NERISSATrue, madam. He, of all the men that ever my line 0310foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a line 0311fair lady. Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 27120line 0312PORTIAI remember him well, and I remember him line 0313worthy of thy praise.
Enter a Servingman.
line 0314How now, what news? line 0315SERVINGMANThe four strangers seek for you, madam, line 0316to take their leave. And there is a forerunner come 125line 0317from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings line 0318word the Prince his master will be here tonight. line 0319PORTIAIf I could bid the fifth welcome with so good line 0320heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should line 0321be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of 130line 0322a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather line 0323he should shrive me than wive me. line 0324Come, Nerissa. To Servingman. Sirrah, go before.— line 0325Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another line 0326knocks at the door.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew.
line 0327SHYLOCKThree thousand ducats, well. line 0328BASSANIOAy, sir, for three months. line 0329SHYLOCKFor three months, well. line 0330BASSANIOFor the which, as I told you, Antonio shall 5line 0331be bound. line 0332SHYLOCKAntonio shall become bound, well. line 0333BASSANIOMay you stead me? Will you pleasure me? line 0334Shall I know your answer? line 0335SHYLOCKThree thousand ducats for three months, 10line 0336and Antonio bound. line 0337BASSANIOYour answer to that? line 0338SHYLOCKAntonio is a good man. line 0339BASSANIOHave you heard any imputation to the line 0340contrary? Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 2915line 0341SHYLOCKHo, no, no, no, no! My meaning in saying he line 0342is a good man is to have you understand me that he line 0343is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he line 0344hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the line 0345Indies. I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, 20line 0346he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and line 0347other ventures he hath squandered abroad. But line 0348ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land line 0349rats and water rats, water thieves and land line 0350thieves—I mean pirates—and then there is the 25line 0351peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, line 0352notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats. line 0353I think I may take his bond. line 0354BASSANIOBe assured you may. line 0355SHYLOCKI will be assured I may. And that I may be 30line 0356assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with line 0357Antonio? line 0358BASSANIOIf it please you to dine with us. line 0359SHYLOCKYes, to smell pork! To eat of the habitation line 0360which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the 35line 0361devil into! I will buy with you, sell with you, talk line 0362with you, walk with you, and so following; but I line 0363will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with line 0364you.—What news on the Rialto?—Who is he comes line 0365here?
Enter Antonio.
40line 0366BASSANIOThis is Signior Antonio. SHYLOCKaside line 0367How like a fawning publican he looks! line 0368I hate him for he is a Christian, line 0369But more for that in low simplicity line 0370He lends out money gratis and brings down 45line 0371The rate of usance here with us in Venice. line 0372If I can catch him once upon the hip, line 0373I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 31line 0374He hates our sacred nation, and he rails, line 0375Even there where merchants most do congregate, 50line 0376On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift, line 0377Which he calls “interest.” Cursèd be my tribe line 0378If I forgive him! line 0379BASSANIOShylock, do you hear? SHYLOCK line 0380I am debating of my present store, 55line 0381And, by the near guess of my memory, line 0382I cannot instantly raise up the gross line 0383Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? line 0384Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, line 0385Will furnish me. But soft, how many months 60line 0386Do you desire? To Antonio. Rest you fair, good line 0387signior! line 0388Your Worship was the last man in our mouths. ANTONIO line 0389Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow line 0390By taking nor by giving of excess, 65line 0391Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, line 0392I’ll break a custom. To Bassanio. Is he yet line 0393possessed line 0394How much you would? line 0395SHYLOCKAy, ay, three thousand 70line 0396ducats. line 0397ANTONIOAnd for three months. SHYLOCK line 0398I had forgot—three months. To Bassanio. line 0399You told me so.— line 0400Well then, your bond. And let me see—but hear 75line 0401you: line 0402Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow line 0403Upon advantage. line 0404ANTONIOI do never use it. SHYLOCK line 0405When Jacob grazed his Uncle Laban’s sheep— 80line 0406This Jacob from our holy Abram was Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 33line 0407(As his wise mother wrought in his behalf) line 0408The third possessor; ay, he was the third— ANTONIO line 0409And what of him? Did he take interest? SHYLOCK line 0410No, not take interest, not, as you would say, 85line 0411Directly “interest.” Mark what Jacob did. line 0412When Laban and himself were compromised line 0413That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied line 0414Should fall as Jacob’s hire, the ewes being rank line 0415In end of autumn turnèd to the rams, 90line 0416And when the work of generation was line 0417Between these woolly breeders in the act, line 0418The skillful shepherd pilled me certain wands, line 0419And in the doing of the deed of kind line 0420He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes, 95line 0421Who then conceiving did in eaning time line 0422Fall parti-colored lambs, and those were Jacob’s. line 0423This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; line 0424And thrift is blessing if men steal it not. ANTONIO line 0425This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for, 100line 0426A thing not in his power to bring to pass, line 0427But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven. line 0428Was this inserted to make interest good? line 0429Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? SHYLOCK line 0430I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast. 105line 0431But note me, signior— ANTONIOaside to Bassanio line 0432Mark you this, Bassanio, line 0433The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose! line 0434An evil soul producing holy witness line 0435Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, 110line 0436A goodly apple rotten at the heart. line 0437O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 35SHYLOCK line 0438Three thousand ducats. ’Tis a good round sum. line 0439Three months from twelve, then let me see, the line 0440rate— ANTONIO 115line 0441Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? SHYLOCK line 0442Signior Antonio, many a time and oft line 0443In the Rialto you have rated me line 0444About my moneys and my usances. line 0445Still have I borne it with a patient shrug 120line 0446(For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe). line 0447You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, line 0448And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine, line 0449And all for use of that which is mine own. line 0450Well then, it now appears you need my help. 125line 0451Go to, then. You come to me and you say line 0452“Shylock, we would have moneys”—you say so, line 0453You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, line 0454And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur line 0455Over your threshold. Moneys is your suit. 130line 0456What should I say to you? Should I not say line 0457“Hath a dog money? Is it possible line 0458A cur can lend three thousand ducats?” Or line 0459Shall I bend low, and in a bondman’s key, line 0460With bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness, 135line 0461Say this: “Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday line 0462last; line 0463You spurned me such a day; another time line 0464You called me ‘dog’; and for these courtesies line 0465I’ll lend you thus much moneys”? ANTONIO 140line 0466I am as like to call thee so again, line 0467To spet on thee again, to spurn thee, too. line 0468If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not line 0469As to thy friends, for when did friendship take Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 37line 0470A breed for barren metal of his friend? 145line 0471But lend it rather to thine enemy, line 0472Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face line 0473Exact the penalty. line 0474SHYLOCKWhy, look you how you storm! line 0475I would be friends with you and have your love, 150line 0476Forget the shames that you have stained me with, line 0477Supply your present wants, and take no doit line 0478Of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me! line 0479This is kind I offer. line 0480BASSANIOThis were kindness! 155line 0481SHYLOCKThis kindness will I show. line 0482Go with me to a notary, seal me there line 0483Your single bond; and in a merry sport, line 0484If you repay me not on such a day, line 0485In such a place, such sum or sums as are 160line 0486Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit line 0487Be nominated for an equal pound line 0488Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken line 0489In what part of your body pleaseth me. ANTONIO line 0490Content, in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, 165line 0491And say there is much kindness in the Jew. BASSANIO line 0492You shall not seal to such a bond for me! line 0493I’ll rather dwell in my necessity. ANTONIO line 0494Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it! line 0495Within these two months—that’s a month before 170line 0496This bond expires—I do expect return line 0497Of thrice three times the value of this bond. SHYLOCK line 0498O father Abram, what these Christians are, line 0499Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect line 0500The thoughts of others! Pray you tell me this: 175line 0501If he should break his day, what should I gain Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 39line 0502By the exaction of the forfeiture? line 0503A pound of man’s flesh taken from a man line 0504Is not so estimable, profitable neither, line 0505As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, 180line 0506To buy his favor I extend this friendship. line 0507If he will take it, so. If not, adieu; line 0508And for my love I pray you wrong me not. ANTONIO line 0509Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. SHYLOCK line 0510Then meet me forthwith at the notary’s. 185line 0511Give him direction for this merry bond, line 0512And I will go and purse the ducats straight, line 0513See to my house left in the fearful guard line 0514Of an unthrifty knave, and presently line 0515I’ll be with you. 190line 0516ANTONIOHie thee, gentle Jew.
Shylock exits.
line 0517The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. BASSANIO line 0518I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind. ANTONIO line 0519Come on, in this there can be no dismay; line 0520My ships come home a month before the day.
They exit.
ACT 2
Scene 1
Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train.
MOROCCO line 0521Mislike me not for my complexion, line 0522The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, line 0523To whom I am a neighbor and near bred. line 0524Bring me the fairest creature northward born, 5line 0525Where Phoebus’ fire scarce thaws the icicles, line 0526And let us make incision for your love line 0527To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. line 0528I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine line 0529Hath feared the valiant; by my love I swear 10line 0530The best regarded virgins of our clime line 0531Have loved it too. I would not change this hue line 0532Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. PORTIA line 0533In terms of choice I am not solely led line 0534By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes; 15line 0535Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny line 0536Bars me the right of voluntary choosing. line 0537But if my father had not scanted me line 0538And hedged me by his wit to yield myself line 0539His wife who wins me by that means I told you, Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 4520line 0540Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair line 0541As any comer I have looked on yet line 0542For my affection. line 0543MOROCCOEven for that I thank you. line 0544Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets 25line 0545To try my fortune. By this scimitar line 0546That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince, line 0547That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, line 0548I would o’erstare the sternest eyes that look, line 0549Outbrave the heart most daring on the Earth, 30line 0550Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, line 0551Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, line 0552To win thee, lady. But, alas the while! line 0553If Hercules and Lychas play at dice line 0554Which is the better man, the greater throw 35line 0555May turn by fortune from the weaker hand; line 0556So is Alcides beaten by his page, line 0557And so may I, blind Fortune leading me, line 0558Miss that which one unworthier may attain, line 0559And die with grieving. 40line 0560PORTIAYou must take your chance line 0561And either not attempt to choose at all line 0562Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong line 0563Never to speak to lady afterward line 0564In way of marriage. Therefore be advised. MOROCCO 45line 0565Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance. PORTIA line 0566First, forward to the temple. After dinner line 0567Your hazard shall be made. line 0568MOROCCOGood fortune then, line 0569To make me blest—or cursed’st among men!
They exit.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 47
Scene 2
Enter Lancelet Gobbo the Clown, alone.
line 0570LANCELETCertainly my conscience will serve me to line 0571run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine line 0572elbow and tempts me, saying to me “Gobbo, line 0573Lancelet Gobbo, good Lancelet,” or “good Gobbo,” 5line 0574or “good Lancelet Gobbo, use your legs, take line 0575the start, run away.” My conscience says “No. Take line 0576heed, honest Lancelet, take heed, honest Gobbo,” line 0577or, as aforesaid, “honest Lancelet Gobbo, do not line 0578run; scorn running with thy heels.” Well, the most 10line 0579courageous fiend bids me pack. “Fia!” says the line 0580fiend. “Away!” says the fiend. “For the heavens, line 0581rouse up a brave mind,” says the fiend, “and run!” line 0582Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my line 0583heart, says very wisely to me “My honest friend 15line 0584Lancelet, being an honest man’s son”—or rather, line 0585an honest woman’s son, for indeed my father did line 0586something smack, something grow to—he had a line 0587kind of taste—well, my conscience says “Lancelet, line 0588budge not.” “Budge,” says the fiend. “Budge not,” 20line 0589says my conscience. “Conscience,” say I, “you line 0590counsel well.” “Fiend,” say I, “you counsel well.” line 0591To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the line 0592Jew my master, who (God bless the mark) is a kind line 0593of devil; and to run away from the Jew, I should be 25line 0594ruled by the fiend, who (saving your reverence) is line 0595the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil line 0596incarnation, and, in my conscience, my conscience line 0597is but a kind of hard conscience to offer to counsel line 0598me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more 30line 0599friendly counsel. I will run, fiend. My heels are at line 0600your commandment. I will run.
Enter old Gobbo with a basket.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 49line 0601GOBBOMaster young man, you, I pray you, which is line 0602the way to Master Jew’s? line 0603LANCELETasideO heavens, this is my true begotten 35line 0604father, who being more than sandblind, high gravelblind, line 0605knows me not. I will try confusions with him. line 0606GOBBOMaster young gentleman, I pray you, which is line 0607the way to Master Jew’s? line 0608LANCELETTurn up on your right hand at the next 40line 0609turning, but at the next turning of all on your left; line 0610marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, line 0611but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house. line 0612GOBBOBe God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. line 0613Can you tell me whether one Lancelet, that dwells 45line 0614with him, dwell with him or no? line 0615LANCELETTalk you of young Master Lancelet? Aside. line 0616Mark me now, now will I raise the waters.—Talk line 0617you of young Master Lancelet? line 0618GOBBONo master, sir, but a poor man’s son. His 50line 0619father, though I say ’t, is an honest exceeding poor line 0620man and, God be thanked, well to live. line 0621LANCELETWell, let his father be what he will, we talk line 0622of young Master Lancelet. line 0623GOBBOYour Worship’s friend, and Lancelet, sir. 55line 0624LANCELETBut I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech line 0625you, talk you of young Master Lancelet? line 0626GOBBOOf Lancelet, an ’t please your mastership. line 0627LANCELETErgo, Master Lancelet. Talk not of Master line 0628Lancelet, father, for the young gentleman, according 60line 0629to Fates and Destinies, and such odd sayings, the line 0630Sisters Three, and such branches of learning, is line 0631indeed deceased, or, as you would say in plain line 0632terms, gone to heaven. line 0633GOBBOMarry, God forbid! The boy was the very staff 65line 0634of my age, my very prop. line 0635LANCELETasideDo I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, line 0636a staff or a prop?—Do you know me, father? Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 51line 0637GOBBOAlack the day, I know you not, young gentleman. line 0638But I pray you tell me, is my boy, God rest his 70line 0639soul, alive or dead? line 0640LANCELETDo you not know me, father? line 0641GOBBOAlack, sir, I am sandblind. I know you not. line 0642LANCELETNay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might line 0643fail of the knowing me. It is a wise father that 75line 0644knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you line 0645news of your son. He kneels. Give me your blessing. line 0646Truth will come to light, murder cannot be hid line 0647long—a man’s son may, but in the end, truth will line 0648out. 80line 0649GOBBOPray you, sir, stand up! I am sure you are not line 0650Lancelet my boy. line 0651LANCELETPray you, let’s have no more fooling about line 0652it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelet, your line 0653boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall 85line 0654be. line 0655GOBBOI cannot think you are my son. line 0656LANCELETI know not what I shall think of that; but I line 0657am Lancelet, the Jew’s man, and I am sure Margery line 0658your wife is my mother. 90line 0659GOBBOHer name is Margery, indeed. I’ll be sworn if line 0660thou be Lancelet, thou art mine own flesh and line 0661blood. Lord worshiped might He be, what a beard line 0662hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin line 0663than Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail. 95line 0664LANCELETstanding upIt should seem, then, that line 0665Dobbin’s tail grows backward. I am sure he had line 0666more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I line 0667last saw him. line 0668GOBBOLord, how art thou changed! How dost thou 100line 0669and thy master agree? I have brought him a present. line 0670How ’gree you now? line 0671LANCELETWell, well. But for mine own part, as I have line 0672set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 53line 0673have run some ground. My master’s a very Jew. 105line 0674Give him a present! Give him a halter. I am line 0675famished in his service. You may tell every finger I line 0676have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come! line 0677Give me your present to one Master Bassanio, who line 0678indeed gives rare new liveries. If I serve not him, I 110line 0679will run as far as God has any ground. O rare line 0680fortune, here comes the man! To him, father, for I line 0681am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer.
Enter Bassanio with Leonardo and a follower or two.
line 0682BASSANIOto an AttendantYou may do so, but let it be line 0683so hasted that supper be ready at the farthest by five 115line 0684of the clock. See these letters delivered, put the line 0685liveries to making, and desire Gratiano to come line 0686anon to my lodging.The Attendant exits. line 0687LANCELETTo him, father. line 0688GOBBOto BassanioGod bless your Worship. 120line 0689BASSANIOGramercy. Wouldst thou aught with me? line 0690GOBBOHere’s my son, sir, a poor boy— line 0691LANCELETNot a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man, line 0692that would, sir, as my father shall specify— line 0693GOBBOHe hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, 125line 0694to serve— line 0695LANCELETIndeed, the short and the long is, I serve the line 0696Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall specify— line 0697GOBBOHis master and he (saving your Worship’s line 0698reverence) are scarce cater-cousins— 130line 0699LANCELETTo be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, line 0700having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my line 0701father being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify unto line 0702you— line 0703GOBBOI have here a dish of doves that I would bestow 135line 0704upon your Worship, and my suit is— line 0705LANCELETIn very brief, the suit is impertinent to line 0706myself, as your Worship shall know by this honest Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 55line 0707old man, and though I say it, though old man yet line 0708poor man, my father— 140line 0709BASSANIOOne speak for both. What would you? line 0710LANCELETServe you, sir. line 0711GOBBOThat is the very defect of the matter, sir. BASSANIOto Lancelet line 0712I know thee well. Thou hast obtained thy suit. line 0713Shylock thy master spoke with me this day, 145line 0714And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment line 0715To leave a rich Jew’s service, to become line 0716The follower of so poor a gentleman. line 0717LANCELETThe old proverb is very well parted between line 0718my master Shylock and you, sir: you have “the 150line 0719grace of God,” sir, and he hath “enough.” BASSANIO line 0720Thou speak’st it well.—Go, father, with thy son.— line 0721Take leave of thy old master, and inquire line 0722My lodging out. To an Attendant. Give him a livery line 0723More guarded than his fellows’. See it done.
Attendant exits. Bassanio and Leonardo talk apart.
155line 0724LANCELETFather, in. I cannot get a service, no! I have line 0725ne’er a tongue in my head! Well, studying his palm line 0726if any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth line 0727offer to swear upon a book—I shall have good line 0728fortune, go to! Here’s a simple line of life. Here’s a 160line 0729small trifle of wives—alas, fifteen wives is nothing; line 0730eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in line 0731for one man—and then to ’scape drowning line 0732thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a line 0733featherbed! Here are simple ’scapes. Well, if Fortune 165line 0734be a woman, she’s a good wench for this gear. line 0735Father, come. I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the line 0736twinkling.Lancelet and old Gobbo exit. BASSANIO line 0737I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.
Handing him a paper.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 57line 0738These things being bought and orderly bestowed, 170line 0739Return in haste, for I do feast tonight line 0740My best esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee, go. LEONARDO line 0741My best endeavors shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.
line 0742GRATIANOto LeonardoWhere’s your master? line 0743LEONARDOYonder, sir, he walks.Leonardo exits. 175line 0744GRATIANOSignior Bassanio! line 0745BASSANIOGratiano! line 0746GRATIANOI have suit to you. line 0747BASSANIOYou have obtained it. line 0748GRATIANOYou must not deny me. I must go with you 180line 0749to Belmont. BASSANIO line 0750Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano, line 0751Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice— line 0752Parts that become thee happily enough, line 0753And in such eyes as ours appear not faults. 185line 0754But where thou art not known—why, there they line 0755show line 0756Something too liberal. Pray thee take pain line 0757To allay with some cold drops of modesty line 0758Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior 190line 0759I be misconstered in the place I go to, line 0760And lose my hopes. line 0761GRATIANOSignior Bassanio, hear me. line 0762If I do not put on a sober habit, line 0763Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, 195line 0764Wear prayer books in my pocket, look demurely, line 0765Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes line 0766Thus with my hat, and sigh and say “amen,” line 0767Use all the observance of civility line 0768Like one well studied in a sad ostent 200line 0769To please his grandam, never trust me more. Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 59line 0770BASSANIOWell, we shall see your bearing. GRATIANO line 0771Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me line 0772By what we do tonight. line 0773BASSANIONo, that were pity. 205line 0774I would entreat you rather to put on line 0775Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends line 0776That purpose merriment. But fare you well. line 0777I have some business. GRATIANO line 0778And I must to Lorenzo and the rest. 210line 0779But we will visit you at supper time.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Jessica and Lancelet Gobbo.
JESSICA line 0780I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. line 0781Our house is hell and thou, a merry devil, line 0782Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. line 0783But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee, 5line 0784And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see line 0785Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest. line 0786Give him this letter, do it secretly, line 0787And so farewell. I would not have my father line 0788See me in talk with thee. 10line 0789LANCELETAdieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful line 0790pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian do not line 0791play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. line 0792But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown line 0793my manly spirit. Adieu. 15line 0794JESSICAFarewell, good Lancelet.
Lancelet exits.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 61line 0795Alack, what heinous sin is it in me line 0796To be ashamed to be my father’s child? line 0797But though I am a daughter to his blood, line 0798I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, 20line 0799If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, line 0800Become a Christian and thy loving wife.
She exits.
Scene 4
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio.
LORENZO line 0801Nay, we will slink away in supper time, line 0802Disguise us at my lodging, and return line 0803All in an hour. GRATIANO line 0804We have not made good preparation. SALARINO 5line 0805We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers. SOLANIO line 0806’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered, line 0807And better in my mind not undertook. LORENZO line 0808’Tis now but four o’clock. We have two hours line 0809To furnish us.
Enter Lancelet.
10line 0810Friend Lancelet, what’s the news? line 0811LANCELETAn it shall please you to break up this, it line 0812shall seem to signify.Handing him Jessica’s letter. LORENZO line 0813I know the hand; in faith, ’tis a fair hand, line 0814And whiter than the paper it writ on 15line 0815Is the fair hand that writ. line 0816GRATIANOLove news, in faith! Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 63line 0817LANCELETBy your leave, sir. line 0818LORENZOWhither goest thou? line 0819LANCELETMarry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to 20line 0820sup tonight with my new master the Christian. LORENZO line 0821Hold here, take this. Giving him money. Tell gentle line 0822Jessica line 0823I will not fail her. Speak it privately.
Lancelet exits.
line 0824Go, gentlemen, 25line 0825Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? line 0826I am provided of a torchbearer. SALARINO line 0827Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight. SOLANIO line 0828And so will I. line 0829LORENZOMeet me and Gratiano 30line 0830At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence. line 0831SALARINO’Tis good we do so.
Salarino and Solanio exit.
GRATIANO line 0832Was not that letter from fair Jessica? LORENZO line 0833I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed line 0834How I shall take her from her father’s house, 35line 0835What gold and jewels she is furnished with, line 0836What page’s suit she hath in readiness. line 0837If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, line 0838It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake; line 0839And never dare misfortune cross her foot 40line 0840Unless she do it under this excuse, line 0841That she is issue to a faithless Jew. line 0842Come, go with me. Peruse this as thou goest;
Handing him the letter.
line 0843Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer.
They exit.
Act 2 Scene 5 - Pg 65
Scene 5
Enter Shylock, the Jew, and Lancelet, his man that was, the Clown.
SHYLOCK line 0844Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, line 0845The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.— line 0846What, Jessica!—Thou shalt not gormandize line 0847As thou hast done with me—what, Jessica!— 5line 0848And sleep, and snore, and rend apparel out.— line 0849Why, Jessica, I say! line 0850LANCELETWhy, Jessica! SHYLOCK line 0851Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. line 0852LANCELETYour Worship was wont to tell me I could 10line 0853do nothing without bidding.
Enter Jessica.
line 0854JESSICACall you? What is your will? SHYLOCK line 0855I am bid forth to supper, Jessica. line 0856There are my keys.—But wherefore should I go? line 0857I am not bid for love. They flatter me. 15line 0858But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon line 0859The prodigal Christian.—Jessica, my girl, line 0860Look to my house.—I am right loath to go. line 0861There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, line 0862For I did dream of money bags tonight. 20line 0863LANCELETI beseech you, sir, go. My young master line 0864doth expect your reproach. line 0865SHYLOCKSo do I his. line 0866LANCELETAnd they have conspired together—I will line 0867not say you shall see a masque, but if you do, then it 25line 0868was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on line 0869Black Monday last, at six o’clock i’ th’ morning, line 0870falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four line 0871year in th’ afternoon. Act 2 Scene 5 - Pg 67SHYLOCK line 0872What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica, 30line 0873Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum line 0874And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, line 0875Clamber not you up to the casements then, line 0876Nor thrust your head into the public street line 0877To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces, 35line 0878But stop my house’s ears (I mean my casements). line 0879Let not the sound of shallow fopp’ry enter line 0880My sober house. By Jacob’s staff I swear line 0881I have no mind of feasting forth tonight. line 0882But I will go.—Go you before me, sirrah. 40line 0883Say I will come. line 0884LANCELETI will go before, sir. Aside to Jessica. Mistress, line 0885look out at window for all this. line 0886There will come a Christian by line 0887Will be worth a Jewess’ eye.He exits. SHYLOCK 45line 0888What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha? JESSICA line 0889His words were “Farewell, mistress,” nothing else. SHYLOCK line 0890The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder, line 0891Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day line 0892More than the wildcat. Drones hive not with me, 50line 0893Therefore I part with him, and part with him line 0894To one that I would have him help to waste line 0895His borrowed purse. Well, Jessica, go in. line 0896Perhaps I will return immediately. line 0897Do as I bid you. Shut doors after you. 55line 0898Fast bind, fast find— line 0899A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.He exits. JESSICA line 0900Farewell, and if my fortune be not crossed, line 0901I have a father, you a daughter, lost.
She exits.
Act 2 Scene 6 - Pg 69
Scene 6
Enter the masquers, Gratiano and Salarino.
GRATIANO line 0902This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo line 0903Desired us to make stand. line 0904SALARINOHis hour is almost past. GRATIANO line 0905And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, 5line 0906For lovers ever run before the clock. SALARINO line 0907O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly line 0908To seal love’s bonds new-made than they are wont line 0909To keep obligèd faith unforfeited. GRATIANO line 0910That ever holds. Who riseth from a feast 10line 0911With that keen appetite that he sits down? line 0912Where is the horse that doth untread again line 0913His tedious measures with the unbated fire line 0914That he did pace them first? All things that are, line 0915Are with more spirit chasèd than enjoyed. 15line 0916How like a younger or a prodigal line 0917The scarfèd bark puts from her native bay, line 0918Hugged and embracèd by the strumpet wind; line 0919How like the prodigal doth she return line 0920With overweathered ribs and raggèd sails, 20line 0921Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!
Enter Lorenzo.
SALARINO line 0922Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter. LORENZO line 0923Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode. line 0924Not I but my affairs have made you wait. line 0925When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, 25line 0926I’ll watch as long for you then. Approach. line 0927Here dwells my father Jew.—Ho! Who’s within? Act 2 Scene 6 - Pg 71
Enter Jessica above, dressed as a boy.
JESSICA line 0928Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, line 0929Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue. line 0930LORENZOLorenzo, and thy love. JESSICA 30line 0931Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed, line 0932For who love I so much? And now who knows line 0933But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? LORENZO line 0934Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. JESSICA line 0935Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. 35line 0936I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me, line 0937For I am much ashamed of my exchange. line 0938But love is blind, and lovers cannot see line 0939The pretty follies that themselves commit, line 0940For if they could, Cupid himself would blush 40line 0941To see me thus transformèd to a boy. LORENZO line 0942Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. JESSICA line 0943What, must I hold a candle to my shames? line 0944They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. line 0945Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love, 45line 0946And I should be obscured. line 0947LORENZOSo are you, sweet, line 0948Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. line 0949But come at once, line 0950For the close night doth play the runaway, 50line 0951And we are stayed for at Bassanio’s feast. JESSICA line 0952I will make fast the doors and gild myself line 0953With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
Jessica exits, above.
Act 2 Scene 7 - Pg 73GRATIANO line 0954Now, by my hood, a gentle and no Jew! LORENZO line 0955Beshrew me but I love her heartily, 55line 0956For she is wise, if I can judge of her, line 0957And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, line 0958And true she is, as she hath proved herself. line 0959And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, line 0960Shall she be placèd in my constant soul.
Enter Jessica, below.
60line 0961What, art thou come? On, gentleman, away! line 0962Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
All but Gratiano exit.
Enter Antonio.
line 0963ANTONIOWho’s there? line 0964GRATIANOSignior Antonio? ANTONIO line 0965Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? 65line 0966’Tis nine o’clock! Our friends all stay for you. line 0967No masque tonight; the wind is come about; line 0968Bassanio presently will go aboard. line 0969I have sent twenty out to seek for you. GRATIANO line 0970I am glad on ’t. I desire no more delight 70line 0971Than to be under sail and gone tonight.
They exit.
Scene 7
Enter Portia with the Prince of Morocco and both their trains.
PORTIA line 0972Go, draw aside the curtains and discover Act 2 Scene 7 - Pg 75line 0973The several caskets to this noble prince.
A curtain is drawn.
line 0974Now make your choice. MOROCCO line 0975This first, of gold, who this inscription bears, 5line 0976“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men line 0977desire”; line 0978The second, silver, which this promise carries, line 0979“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he line 0980deserves”; 10line 0981This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, line 0982“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he line 0983hath.” line 0984How shall I know if I do choose the right? PORTIA line 0985The one of them contains my picture, prince. 15line 0986If you choose that, then I am yours withal. MOROCCO line 0987Some god direct my judgment! Let me see. line 0988I will survey th’ inscriptions back again. line 0989What says this leaden casket? line 0990“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 20line 0991hath.” line 0992Must give—for what? For lead? Hazard for lead? line 0993This casket threatens. Men that hazard all line 0994Do it in hope of fair advantages. line 0995A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. 25line 0996I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. line 0997What says the silver with her virgin hue? line 0998“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he line 0999deserves.” line 1000As much as he deserves—pause there, Morocco, 30line 1001And weigh thy value with an even hand. line 1002If thou beest rated by thy estimation, line 1003Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough line 1004May not extend so far as to the lady. Act 2 Scene 7 - Pg 77line 1005And yet to be afeard of my deserving 35line 1006Were but a weak disabling of myself. line 1007As much as I deserve—why, that’s the lady! line 1008I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, line 1009In graces, and in qualities of breeding, line 1010But more than these, in love I do deserve. 40line 1011What if I strayed no farther, but chose here? line 1012Let’s see once more this saying graved in gold: line 1013“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men line 1014desire.” line 1015Why, that’s the lady! All the world desires her. 45line 1016From the four corners of the Earth they come line 1017To kiss this shrine, this mortal, breathing saint. line 1018The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds line 1019Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now line 1020For princes to come view fair Portia. 50line 1021The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head line 1022Spets in the face of heaven, is no bar line 1023To stop the foreign spirits, but they come line 1024As o’er a brook to see fair Portia. line 1025One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 55line 1026Is ’t like that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation line 1027To think so base a thought. It were too gross line 1028To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. line 1029Or shall I think in silver she’s immured, line 1030Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? 60line 1031O, sinful thought! Never so rich a gem line 1032Was set in worse than gold. They have in England line 1033A coin that bears the figure of an angel line 1034Stamped in gold, but that’s insculped upon; line 1035But here an angel in a golden bed 65line 1036Lies all within.—Deliver me the key. line 1037Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may. PORTIA line 1038There, take it, prince. Handing him the key. And if line 1039my form lie there, line 1040Then I am yours. Act 2 Scene 8 - Pg 79
Morocco opens the gold casket.
70line 1041MOROCCOO hell! What have we here? line 1042A carrion death within whose empty eye line 1043There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing: line 1044All that glisters is not gold— line 1045Often have you heard that told. 75line 1046Many a man his life hath sold line 1047But my outside to behold. line 1048Gilded tombs do worms infold. line 1049Had you been as wise as bold, line 1050Young in limbs, in judgment old, 80line 1051Your answer had not been enscrolled. line 1052Fare you well, your suit is cold. line 1053Cold indeed and labor lost! line 1054Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost. line 1055Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart 85line 1056To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part.
He exits, with his train.
PORTIA line 1057A gentle riddance! Draw the curtains, go. line 1058Let all of his complexion choose me so.
They exit.
Scene 8
Enter Salarino and Solanio.
SALARINO line 1059Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail; line 1060With him is Gratiano gone along; line 1061And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. SOLANIO line 1062The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke, 5line 1063Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship. SALARINO line 1064He came too late; the ship was under sail. Act 2 Scene 8 - Pg 81line 1065But there the Duke was given to understand line 1066That in a gondola were seen together line 1067Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. 10line 1068Besides, Antonio certified the Duke line 1069They were not with Bassanio in his ship. SOLANIO line 1070I never heard a passion so confused, line 1071So strange, outrageous, and so variable line 1072As the dog Jew did utter in the streets. 15line 1073“My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter! line 1074Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! line 1075Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter, line 1076A sealèd bag, two sealèd bags of ducats, line 1077Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter, 20line 1078And jewels—two stones, two rich and precious line 1079stones— line 1080Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! line 1081She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.” SALARINO line 1082Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, 25line 1083Crying “His stones, his daughter, and his ducats.” SOLANIO line 1084Let good Antonio look he keep his day, line 1085Or he shall pay for this. line 1086SALARINOMarry, well remembered. line 1087I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday 30line 1088Who told me, in the Narrow Seas that part line 1089The French and English, there miscarrièd line 1090A vessel of our country richly fraught. line 1091I thought upon Antonio when he told me, line 1092And wished in silence that it were not his. SOLANIO 35line 1093You were best to tell Antonio what you hear— line 1094Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. SALARINO line 1095A kinder gentleman treads not the Earth. Act 2 Scene 9 - Pg 83line 1096I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. line 1097Bassanio told him he would make some speed 40line 1098Of his return. He answered “Do not so. line 1099Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, line 1100But stay the very riping of the time; line 1101And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me, line 1102Let it not enter in your mind of love. 45line 1103Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts line 1104To courtship and such fair ostents of love line 1105As shall conveniently become you there.” line 1106And even there, his eye being big with tears, line 1107Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, 50line 1108And with affection wondrous sensible line 1109He wrung Bassanio’s hand—and so they parted. SOLANIO line 1110I think he only loves the world for him. line 1111I pray thee, let us go and find him out line 1112And quicken his embracèd heaviness 55line 1113With some delight or other. line 1114SALARINODo we so.
They exit.
Scene 9
Enter Nerissa and a Servitor.
NERISSA line 1115Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight. line 1116The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath line 1117And comes to his election presently.
Enter the Prince of Arragon, his train, and Portia.
PORTIA line 1118Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince. 5line 1119If you choose that wherein I am contained, line 1120Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized. Act 2 Scene 9 - Pg 85line 1121But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, line 1122You must be gone from hence immediately. ARRAGON line 1123I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: 10line 1124First, never to unfold to anyone line 1125Which casket ’twas I chose; next, if I fail line 1126Of the right casket, never in my life line 1127To woo a maid in way of marriage; line 1128Lastly, if I do fail in fortune of my choice, 15line 1129Immediately to leave you, and be gone. PORTIA line 1130To these injunctions everyone doth swear line 1131That comes to hazard for my worthless self. ARRAGON line 1132And so have I addressed me. Fortune now line 1133To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead. 20line 1134“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he line 1135hath.” line 1136You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. line 1137What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see: line 1138“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men 25line 1139desire.” line 1140What many men desire—that “many” may be line 1141meant line 1142By the fool multitude that choose by show, line 1143Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, 30line 1144Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet line 1145Builds in the weather on the outward wall, line 1146Even in the force and road of casualty. line 1147I will not choose what many men desire, line 1148Because I will not jump with common spirits 35line 1149And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. line 1150Why, then, to thee, thou silver treasure house. line 1151Tell me once more what title thou dost bear. line 1152“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he line 1153deserves.” Act 2 Scene 9 - Pg 8740line 1154And well said, too; for who shall go about line 1155To cozen fortune and be honorable line 1156Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume line 1157To wear an undeservèd dignity. line 1158O, that estates, degrees, and offices 45line 1159Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor line 1160Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! line 1161How many then should cover that stand bare? line 1162How many be commanded that command? line 1163How much low peasantry would then be gleaned 50line 1164From the true seed of honor? And how much honor line 1165Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times, line 1166To be new varnished? Well, but to my choice. line 1167“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he line 1168deserves.” 55line 1169I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
He is given a key.
line 1170And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
He opens the silver casket.
PORTIA line 1171Too long a pause for that which you find there. ARRAGON line 1172What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot line 1173Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.— 60line 1174How much unlike art thou to Portia! line 1175How much unlike my hopes and my deservings. line 1176“Who chooseth me shall have as much as he line 1177deserves”? line 1178Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head? 65line 1179Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? PORTIA line 1180To offend and judge are distinct offices line 1181And of opposèd natures. line 1182ARRAGONWhat is here? He reads. Act 2 Scene 9 - Pg 89line 1183The fire seven times tried this; 70line 1184Seven times tried that judgment is line 1185That did never choose amiss. line 1186Some there be that shadows kiss; line 1187Such have but a shadow’s bliss. line 1188There be fools alive, iwis, 75line 1189Silvered o’er—and so was this. line 1190Take what wife you will to bed, line 1191I will ever be your head. line 1192So begone; you are sped. line 1193Still more fool I shall appear 80line 1194By the time I linger here. line 1195With one fool’s head I came to woo, line 1196But I go away with two. line 1197Sweet, adieu. I’ll keep my oath, line 1198Patiently to bear my wroth.He exits with his train. PORTIA 85line 1199Thus hath the candle singed the moth. line 1200O, these deliberate fools, when they do choose, line 1201They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. NERISSA line 1202The ancient saying is no heresy: line 1203Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. 90line 1204PORTIACome, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER line 1205Where is my lady? line 1206PORTIAHere. What would my line 1207lord? MESSENGER line 1208Madam, there is alighted at your gate 95line 1209A young Venetian, one that comes before line 1210To signify th’ approaching of his lord, line 1211From whom he bringeth sensible regreets; line 1212To wit (besides commends and courteous breath), line 1213Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen Act 2 Scene 9 - Pg 91100line 1214So likely an ambassador of love. line 1215A day in April never came so sweet, line 1216To show how costly summer was at hand, line 1217As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. PORTIA line 1218No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard 105line 1219Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, line 1220Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him! line 1221Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see line 1222Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly. NERISSA line 1223Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 1
Enter Solanio and Salarino.
line 1224SOLANIONow, what news on the Rialto? line 1225SALARINOWhy, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio line 1226hath a ship of rich lading wracked on the line 1227Narrow Seas—the Goodwins, I think they call the 5line 1228place—a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the line 1229carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, line 1230if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her line 1231word. line 1232SOLANIOI would she were as lying a gossip in that as 10line 1233ever knapped ginger or made her neighbors believe line 1234she wept for the death of a third husband. But line 1235it is true, without any slips of prolixity or crossing line 1236the plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, line 1237the honest Antonio—O, that I had a title good 15line 1238enough to keep his name company!— line 1239SALARINOCome, the full stop. line 1240SOLANIOHa, what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he line 1241hath lost a ship. line 1242SALARINOI would it might prove the end of his losses. 20line 1243SOLANIOLet me say “amen” betimes, lest the devil line 1244cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness line 1245of a Jew.
Enter Shylock.
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 97line 1246How now, Shylock, what news among the line 1247merchants? 25line 1248SHYLOCKYou knew, none so well, none so well as you, line 1249of my daughter’s flight. line 1250SALARINOThat’s certain. I for my part knew the tailor line 1251that made the wings she flew withal. line 1252SOLANIOAnd Shylock for his own part knew the bird 30line 1253was fledge, and then it is the complexion of them line 1254all to leave the dam. line 1255SHYLOCKShe is damned for it. line 1256SALARINOThat’s certain, if the devil may be her judge. line 1257SHYLOCKMy own flesh and blood to rebel! 35line 1258SOLANIOOut upon it, old carrion! Rebels it at these line 1259years? line 1260SHYLOCKI say my daughter is my flesh and my blood. line 1261SALARINOThere is more difference between thy flesh line 1262and hers than between jet and ivory, more between 40line 1263your bloods than there is between red wine and line 1264Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio line 1265have had any loss at sea or no? line 1266SHYLOCKThere I have another bad match! A bankrout, line 1267a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on 45line 1268the Rialto, a beggar that was used to come so smug line 1269upon the mart! Let him look to his bond. He was line 1270wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond. He line 1271was wont to lend money for a Christian cur’sy; let line 1272him look to his bond. 50line 1273SALARINOWhy, I am sure if he forfeit, thou wilt not line 1274take his flesh! What’s that good for? line 1275SHYLOCKTo bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, line 1276it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and line 1277hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, 55line 1278mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted line 1279my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies— line 1280and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not line 1281a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 99line 1282senses, affections, passions? Fed with the 60line 1283same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to line 1284the same diseases, healed by the same means, line 1285warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer line 1286as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not line 1287bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you 65line 1288poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall line 1289we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will line 1290resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, line 1291what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong line 1292a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian 70line 1293example? Why, revenge! The villainy you teach me I line 1294will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the line 1295instruction.
Enter a man from Antonio.
line 1296SERVINGMANGentlemen, my master Antonio is at his line 1297house and desires to speak with you both. 75line 1298SALARINOWe have been up and down to seek him.
Enter Tubal.
line 1299SOLANIOHere comes another of the tribe; a third line 1300cannot be matched unless the devil himself turn line 1301Jew.
Salarino, Solanio, and the Servingman exit.
line 1302SHYLOCKHow now, Tubal, what news from Genoa? 80line 1303Hast thou found my daughter? line 1304TUBALI often came where I did hear of her, but line 1305cannot find her. line 1306SHYLOCKWhy, there, there, there, there! A diamond line 1307gone cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt! 85line 1308The curse never fell upon our nation till now, I line 1309never felt it till now. Two thousand ducats in that, line 1310and other precious, precious jewels! I would my line 1311daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her line 1312ear; would she were hearsed at my foot and the Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 10190line 1313ducats in her coffin. No news of them? Why so? And line 1314I know not what’s spent in the search! Why, thou line 1315loss upon loss! The thief gone with so much, and so line 1316much to find the thief, and no satisfaction, no line 1317revenge, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights a’ my 95line 1318shoulders, no sighs but a’ my breathing, no tears but line 1319a’ my shedding. line 1320TUBALYes, other men have ill luck, too. Antonio, as I line 1321heard in Genoa— line 1322SHYLOCKWhat, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck? 100line 1323TUBAL—hath an argosy cast away coming from line 1324Tripolis. line 1325SHYLOCKI thank God, I thank God! Is it true, is it true? line 1326TUBALI spoke with some of the sailors that escaped line 1327the wrack. 105line 1328SHYLOCKI thank thee, good Tubal. Good news, good line 1329news! Ha, ha, heard in Genoa— line 1330TUBALYour daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one line 1331night fourscore ducats. line 1332SHYLOCKThou stick’st a dagger in me. I shall never 110line 1333see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting, line 1334fourscore ducats! line 1335TUBALThere came divers of Antonio’s creditors in my line 1336company to Venice that swear he cannot choose line 1337but break. 115line 1338SHYLOCKI am very glad of it. I’ll plague him, I’ll line 1339torture him. I am glad of it. line 1340TUBALOne of them showed me a ring that he had of line 1341your daughter for a monkey. line 1342SHYLOCKOut upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal. It 120line 1343was my turquoise! I had it of Leah when I was a line 1344bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness line 1345of monkeys. line 1346TUBALBut Antonio is certainly undone. line 1347SHYLOCKNay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, 125line 1348fee me an officer. Bespeak him a fortnight before. I Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 103line 1349will have the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he line 1350out of Venice I can make what merchandise I will. line 1351Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. Go, good line 1352Tubal, at our synagogue, Tubal.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Bassanio, Portia, and all their trains, Gratiano, Nerissa.
PORTIA line 1353I pray you tarry, pause a day or two line 1354Before you hazard, for in choosing wrong line 1355I lose your company; therefore forbear a while. line 1356There’s something tells me (but it is not love) 5line 1357I would not lose you, and you know yourself line 1358Hate counsels not in such a quality. line 1359But lest you should not understand me well line 1360(And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought) line 1361I would detain you here some month or two 10line 1362Before you venture for me. I could teach you line 1363How to choose right, but then I am forsworn. line 1364So will I never be. So may you miss me. line 1365But if you do, you’ll make me wish a sin, line 1366That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes, 15line 1367They have o’erlooked me and divided me. line 1368One half of me is yours, the other half yours— line 1369Mine own, I would say—but if mine, then yours, line 1370And so all yours. O, these naughty times line 1371Puts bars between the owners and their rights! 20line 1372And so though yours, not yours. Prove it so, line 1373Let Fortune go to hell for it, not I. line 1374I speak too long, but ’tis to peize the time, line 1375To eche it, and to draw it out in length, line 1376To stay you from election. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 10525line 1377BASSANIOLet me choose, line 1378For as I am, I live upon the rack. PORTIA line 1379Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess line 1380What treason there is mingled with your love. BASSANIO line 1381None but that ugly treason of mistrust, 30line 1382Which makes me fear th’ enjoying of my love. line 1383There may as well be amity and life line 1384’Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love. PORTIA line 1385Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack line 1386Where men enforcèd do speak anything. BASSANIO 35line 1387Promise me life and I’ll confess the truth. PORTIA line 1388Well, then, confess and live. line 1389BASSANIO“Confess and love” line 1390Had been the very sum of my confession. line 1391O happy torment, when my torturer 40line 1392Doth teach me answers for deliverance! line 1393But let me to my fortune and the caskets. PORTIA line 1394Away, then. I am locked in one of them. line 1395If you do love me, you will find me out.— line 1396Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. 45line 1397Let music sound while he doth make his choice. line 1398Then if he lose he makes a swanlike end, line 1399Fading in music. That the comparison line 1400May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream line 1401And wat’ry deathbed for him. He may win, 50line 1402And what is music then? Then music is line 1403Even as the flourish when true subjects bow line 1404To a new-crownèd monarch. Such it is line 1405As are those dulcet sounds in break of day line 1406That creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear 55line 1407And summon him to marriage. Now he goes, Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 107line 1408With no less presence but with much more love line 1409Than young Alcides when he did redeem line 1410The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy line 1411To the sea-monster. I stand for sacrifice; 60line 1412The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives, line 1413With blearèd visages, come forth to view line 1414The issue of th’ exploit. Go, Hercules! line 1415Live thou, I live. With much much more dismay line 1416I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.
A song the whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself.
65line 1417Tell me where is fancy bred, line 1418Or in the heart, or in the head? line 1419How begot, how nourishèd? line 1420Reply, reply. line 1421It is engendered in the eye, 70line 1422With gazing fed, and fancy dies line 1423In the cradle where it lies. line 1424Let us all ring fancy’s knell. line 1425I’ll begin it.—Ding, dong, bell. line 1426ALLDing, dong, bell. BASSANIO 75line 1427So may the outward shows be least themselves; line 1428The world is still deceived with ornament. line 1429In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt line 1430But, being seasoned with a gracious voice, line 1431Obscures the show of evil? In religion, 80line 1432What damnèd error but some sober brow line 1433Will bless it and approve it with a text, line 1434Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? line 1435There is no vice so simple but assumes line 1436Some mark of virtue on his outward parts. 85line 1437How many cowards whose hearts are all as false line 1438As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins line 1439The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 109line 1440Who inward searched have livers white as milk, line 1441And these assume but valor’s excrement 90line 1442To render them redoubted. Look on beauty, line 1443And you shall see ’tis purchased by the weight, line 1444Which therein works a miracle in nature, line 1445Making them lightest that wear most of it. line 1446So are those crispèd snaky golden locks, 95line 1447Which maketh such wanton gambols with the wind line 1448Upon supposèd fairness, often known line 1449To be the dowry of a second head, line 1450The skull that bred them in the sepulcher. line 1451Thus ornament is but the guilèd shore 100line 1452To a most dangerous sea, the beauteous scarf line 1453Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, line 1454The seeming truth which cunning times put on line 1455To entrap the wisest. Therefore, then, thou gaudy line 1456gold, 105line 1457Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. line 1458Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge line 1459’Tween man and man. But thou, thou meager lead, line 1460Which rather threaten’st than dost promise aught, line 1461Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence, 110line 1462And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!
Bassanio is given a key.
PORTIAaside line 1463How all the other passions fleet to air, line 1464As doubtful thoughts and rash embraced despair, line 1465And shudd’ring fear, and green-eyed jealousy! line 1466O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy, 115line 1467In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess! line 1468I feel too much thy blessing. Make it less, line 1469For fear I surfeit.
Bassanio opens the lead casket.
line 1470BASSANIOWhat find I here? line 1471Fair Portia’s counterfeit! What demigod 120line 1472Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes? Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 111line 1473Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, line 1474Seem they in motion? Here are severed lips line 1475Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar line 1476Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs 125line 1477The painter plays the spider, and hath woven line 1478A golden mesh t’ entrap the hearts of men line 1479Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes! line 1480How could he see to do them? Having made one, line 1481Methinks it should have power to steal both his 130line 1482And leave itself unfurnished. Yet look how far line 1483The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow line 1484In underprizing it, so far this shadow line 1485Doth limp behind the substance. Here’s the scroll, line 1486The continent and summary of my fortune. He reads the scroll. 135line 1487You that choose not by the view line 1488Chance as fair and choose as true. line 1489Since this fortune falls to you, line 1490Be content and seek no new. line 1491If you be well pleased with this 140line 1492And hold your fortune for your bliss, line 1493Turn you where your lady is, line 1494And claim her with a loving kiss. line 1495A gentle scroll! Fair lady, by your leave, line 1496I come by note to give and to receive. 145line 1497Like one of two contending in a prize line 1498That thinks he hath done well in people’s eyes, line 1499Hearing applause and universal shout, line 1500Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt line 1501Whether those peals of praise be his or no, 150line 1502So, thrice-fair lady, stand I even so, line 1503As doubtful whether what I see be true, line 1504Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you. PORTIA line 1505You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, line 1506Such as I am. Though for myself alone Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 113155line 1507I would not be ambitious in my wish line 1508To wish myself much better, yet for you line 1509I would be trebled twenty times myself, line 1510A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times line 1511More rich, that only to stand high in your account 160line 1512I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, line 1513Exceed account. But the full sum of me line 1514Is sum of something, which, to term in gross, line 1515Is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpracticed; line 1516Happy in this, she is not yet so old 165line 1517But she may learn; happier than this, line 1518She is not bred so dull but she can learn; line 1519Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit line 1520Commits itself to yours to be directed line 1521As from her lord, her governor, her king. 170line 1522Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours line 1523Is now converted. But now I was the lord line 1524Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, line 1525Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now, line 1526This house, these servants, and this same myself 175line 1527Are yours, my lord’s. I give them with this ring,
Handing him a ring.
line 1528Which, when you part from, lose, or give away, line 1529Let it presage the ruin of your love, line 1530And be my vantage to exclaim on you. BASSANIO line 1531Madam, you have bereft me of all words. 180line 1532Only my blood speaks to you in my veins, line 1533And there is such confusion in my powers line 1534As after some oration fairly spoke line 1535By a belovèd prince there doth appear line 1536Among the buzzing pleasèd multitude, 185line 1537Where every something being blent together line 1538Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy line 1539Expressed and not expressed. But when this ring line 1540Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence. line 1541O, then be bold to say Bassanio’s dead! Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 115NERISSA 190line 1542My lord and lady, it is now our time, line 1543That have stood by and seen our wishes prosper, line 1544To cry “Good joy, good joy, my lord and lady!” GRATIANO line 1545My Lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, line 1546I wish you all the joy that you can wish, 195line 1547For I am sure you can wish none from me. line 1548And when your honors mean to solemnize line 1549The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you line 1550Even at that time I may be married too. BASSANIO line 1551With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. GRATIANO 200line 1552I thank your Lordship, you have got me one. line 1553My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: line 1554You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid. line 1555You loved, I loved; for intermission line 1556No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. 205line 1557Your fortune stood upon the caskets there, line 1558And so did mine, too, as the matter falls. line 1559For wooing here until I sweat again, line 1560And swearing till my very roof was dry line 1561With oaths of love, at last (if promise last) 210line 1562I got a promise of this fair one here line 1563To have her love, provided that your fortune line 1564Achieved her mistress. line 1565PORTIAIs this true, Nerissa? NERISSA line 1566Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. BASSANIO 215line 1567And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? line 1568GRATIANOYes, faith, my lord. BASSANIO line 1569Our feast shall be much honored in your marriage. line 1570GRATIANOWe’ll play with them the first boy for a line 1571thousand ducats. Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 117220line 1572NERISSAWhat, and stake down? line 1573GRATIANONo, we shall ne’er win at that sport and line 1574stake down.
Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a messenger from Venice.
line 1575But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel? line 1576What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio? BASSANIO 225line 1577Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither— line 1578If that the youth of my new int’rest here line 1579Have power to bid you welcome. To Portia. By line 1580your leave, line 1581I bid my very friends and countrymen, 230line 1582Sweet Portia, welcome. PORTIA line 1583So do I, my lord. They are entirely welcome. LORENZOto Bassanio line 1584I thank your Honor. For my part, my lord, line 1585My purpose was not to have seen you here, line 1586But meeting with Salerio by the way, 235line 1587He did entreat me past all saying nay line 1588To come with him along. line 1589SALERIOI did, my lord, line 1590And I have reason for it.Handing him a paper. line 1591Signior Antonio 240line 1592Commends him to you. line 1593BASSANIOEre I ope his letter, line 1594I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. SALERIO line 1595Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind, line 1596Nor well, unless in mind. His letter there 245line 1597Will show you his estate.
Bassanio opens the letter.
GRATIANO line 1598Nerissa, cheer yond stranger, bid her welcome.— line 1599Your hand, Salerio. What’s the news from Venice? Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 119line 1600How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? line 1601I know he will be glad of our success. 250line 1602We are the Jasons, we have won the Fleece. SALERIO line 1603I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost. PORTIA line 1604There are some shrewd contents in yond same line 1605paper line 1606That steals the color from Bassanio’s cheek. 255line 1607Some dear friend dead, else nothing in the world line 1608Could turn so much the constitution line 1609Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?— line 1610With leave, Bassanio, I am half yourself, line 1611And I must freely have the half of anything 260line 1612That this same paper brings you. line 1613BASSANIOO sweet Portia, line 1614Here are a few of the unpleasant’st words line 1615That ever blotted paper. Gentle lady, line 1616When I did first impart my love to you, 265line 1617I freely told you all the wealth I had line 1618Ran in my veins: I was a gentleman. line 1619And then I told you true; and yet, dear lady, line 1620Rating myself at nothing, you shall see line 1621How much I was a braggart. When I told you 270line 1622My state was nothing, I should then have told you line 1623That I was worse than nothing; for indeed line 1624I have engaged myself to a dear friend, line 1625Engaged my friend to his mere enemy line 1626To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady, 275line 1627The paper as the body of my friend, line 1628And every word in it a gaping wound line 1629Issuing life blood.—But is it true, Salerio? line 1630Hath all his ventures failed? What, not one hit? line 1631From Tripolis, from Mexico and England, 280line 1632From Lisbon, Barbary, and India, line 1633And not one vessel ’scape the dreadful touch line 1634Of merchant-marring rocks? Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 121line 1635SALERIONot one, my lord. line 1636Besides, it should appear that if he had 285line 1637The present money to discharge the Jew, line 1638He would not take it. Never did I know line 1639A creature that did bear the shape of man line 1640So keen and greedy to confound a man. line 1641He plies the Duke at morning and at night, 290line 1642And doth impeach the freedom of the state line 1643If they deny him justice. Twenty merchants, line 1644The Duke himself, and the magnificoes line 1645Of greatest port have all persuaded with him, line 1646But none can drive him from the envious plea 295line 1647Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. JESSICA line 1648When I was with him, I have heard him swear line 1649To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, line 1650That he would rather have Antonio’s flesh line 1651Than twenty times the value of the sum 300line 1652That he did owe him. And I know, my lord, line 1653If law, authority, and power deny not, line 1654It will go hard with poor Antonio. PORTIA line 1655Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble? BASSANIO line 1656The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, 305line 1657The best conditioned and unwearied spirit line 1658In doing courtesies, and one in whom line 1659The ancient Roman honor more appears line 1660Than any that draws breath in Italy. line 1661PORTIAWhat sum owes he the Jew? BASSANIO 310line 1662For me, three thousand ducats. line 1663PORTIAWhat, no more? line 1664Pay him six thousand and deface the bond. line 1665Double six thousand and then treble that, line 1666Before a friend of this description 315line 1667Shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault. Act 3 Scene 3 - Pg 123line 1668First go with me to church and call me wife, line 1669And then away to Venice to your friend! line 1670For never shall you lie by Portia’s side line 1671With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold 320line 1672To pay the petty debt twenty times over. line 1673When it is paid, bring your true friend along. line 1674My maid Nerissa and myself meantime line 1675Will live as maids and widows. Come, away, line 1676For you shall hence upon your wedding day. 325line 1677Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer; line 1678Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. line 1679But let me hear the letter of your friend. BASSANIOreads line 1680Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my line 1681creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, my bond to 330line 1682the Jew is forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible line 1683I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I if line 1684I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use line 1685your pleasure. If your love do not persuade you to line 1686come, let not my letter. PORTIA 335line 1687O love, dispatch all business and begone! BASSANIO line 1688Since I have your good leave to go away, line 1689I will make haste. But till I come again, line 1690No bed shall e’er be guilty of my stay, line 1691Nor rest be interposer ’twixt us twain.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Shylock, the Jew, and Solanio, and Antonio, and the Jailer.
SHYLOCK line 1692Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of mercy. Act 3 Scene 3 - Pg 125line 1693This is the fool that lent out money gratis. line 1694Jailer, look to him. line 1695ANTONIOHear me yet, good Shylock— SHYLOCK 5line 1696I’ll have my bond. Speak not against my bond. line 1697I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. line 1698Thou call’dst me dog before thou hadst a cause, line 1699But since I am a dog, beware my fangs. line 1700The Duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder, 10line 1701Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond line 1702To come abroad with him at his request. line 1703ANTONIOI pray thee, hear me speak— SHYLOCK line 1704I’ll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak. line 1705I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more. 15line 1706I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, line 1707To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield line 1708To Christian intercessors. Follow not! line 1709I’ll have no speaking. I will have my bond.He exits. SOLANIO line 1710It is the most impenetrable cur 20line 1711That ever kept with men. line 1712ANTONIOLet him alone. line 1713I’ll follow him no more with bootless prayers. line 1714He seeks my life. His reason well I know: line 1715I oft delivered from his forfeitures 25line 1716Many that have at times made moan to me. line 1717Therefore he hates me. line 1718SOLANIOI am sure the Duke line 1719Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. ANTONIO line 1720The Duke cannot deny the course of law, 30line 1721For the commodity that strangers have line 1722With us in Venice, if it be denied, line 1723Will much impeach the justice of the state, line 1724Since that the trade and profit of the city Act 3 Scene 4 - Pg 127line 1725Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go. 35line 1726These griefs and losses have so bated me line 1727That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh line 1728Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.— line 1729Well, jailer, on.—Pray God Bassanio come line 1730To see me pay his debt, and then I care not.
They exit.
Scene 4
Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthazar, a man of Portia’s.
LORENZO line 1731Madam, although I speak it in your presence, line 1732You have a noble and a true conceit line 1733Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly line 1734In bearing thus the absence of your lord. 5line 1735But if you knew to whom you show this honor, line 1736How true a gentleman you send relief, line 1737How dear a lover of my lord your husband, line 1738I know you would be prouder of the work line 1739Than customary bounty can enforce you. PORTIA 10line 1740I never did repent for doing good, line 1741Nor shall not now; for in companions line 1742That do converse and waste the time together, line 1743Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, line 1744There must be needs a like proportion 15line 1745Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; line 1746Which makes me think that this Antonio, line 1747Being the bosom lover of my lord, line 1748Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, line 1749How little is the cost I have bestowed 20line 1750In purchasing the semblance of my soul line 1751From out the state of hellish cruelty! Act 3 Scene 4 - Pg 129line 1752This comes too near the praising of myself; line 1753Therefore no more of it. Hear other things: line 1754Lorenzo, I commit into your hands 25line 1755The husbandry and manage of my house line 1756Until my lord’s return. For mine own part, line 1757I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow line 1758To live in prayer and contemplation, line 1759Only attended by Nerissa here, 30line 1760Until her husband and my lord’s return. line 1761There is a monastery two miles off, line 1762And there we will abide. I do desire you line 1763Not to deny this imposition, line 1764The which my love and some necessity 35line 1765Now lays upon you. line 1766LORENZOMadam, with all my heart. line 1767I shall obey you in all fair commands. PORTIA line 1768My people do already know my mind line 1769And will acknowledge you and Jessica 40line 1770In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. line 1771So fare you well till we shall meet again. LORENZO line 1772Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! JESSICA line 1773I wish your Ladyship all heart’s content. PORTIA line 1774I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased 45line 1775To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.
Lorenzo and Jessica exit.
line 1776Now, Balthazar, line 1777As I have ever found thee honest true, line 1778So let me find thee still: take this same letter, line 1779And use thou all th’ endeavor of a man 50line 1780In speed to Padua. See thou render this line 1781Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario.
She gives him a paper.
Act 3 Scene 4 - Pg 131line 1782And look what notes and garments he doth give line 1783thee, line 1784Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed 55line 1785Unto the traject, to the common ferry line 1786Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, line 1787But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee. BALTHAZAR line 1788Madam, I go with all convenient speed.He exits. PORTIA line 1789Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand 60line 1790That you yet know not of. We’ll see our husbands line 1791Before they think of us. line 1792NERISSAShall they see us? PORTIA line 1793They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit line 1794That they shall think we are accomplishèd 65line 1795With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager, line 1796When we are both accoutered like young men, line 1797I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two, line 1798And wear my dagger with the braver grace, line 1799And speak between the change of man and boy 70line 1800With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps line 1801Into a manly stride, and speak of frays line 1802Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies line 1803How honorable ladies sought my love, line 1804Which I denying, they fell sick and died— 75line 1805I could not do withal!—then I’ll repent, line 1806And wish, for all that, that I had not killed them. line 1807And twenty of these puny lies I’ll tell, line 1808That men shall swear I have discontinued school line 1809Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind 80line 1810A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks line 1811Which I will practice. line 1812NERISSAWhy, shall we turn to men? line 1813PORTIAFie, what a question’s that, line 1814If thou wert near a lewd interpreter! Act 3 Scene 5 - Pg 13385line 1815But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device line 1816When I am in my coach, which stays for us line 1817At the park gate; and therefore haste away, line 1818For we must measure twenty miles today.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Lancelet, the Clown, and Jessica.
line 1819LANCELETYes, truly, for look you, the sins of the father line 1820are to be laid upon the children. Therefore I line 1821promise you I fear you. I was always plain with you, line 1822and so now I speak my agitation of the matter. 5line 1823Therefore be o’ good cheer, for truly I think you line 1824are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do line 1825you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard hope line 1826neither. line 1827JESSICAAnd what hope is that, I pray thee? 10line 1828LANCELETMarry, you may partly hope that your father line 1829got you not, that you are not the Jew’s daughter. line 1830JESSICAThat were a kind of bastard hope indeed; so line 1831the sins of my mother should be visited upon me! line 1832LANCELETTruly, then, I fear you are damned both by 15line 1833father and mother; thus when I shun Scylla your line 1834father, I fall into Charybdis your mother. Well, you line 1835are gone both ways. line 1836JESSICAI shall be saved by my husband. He hath made line 1837me a Christian. 20line 1838LANCELETTruly the more to blame he! We were Christians line 1839enow before, e’en as many as could well live line 1840one by another. This making of Christians will line 1841raise the price of hogs. If we grow all to be pork line 1842eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the 25line 1843coals for money.
Enter Lorenzo.
Act 3 Scene 5 - Pg 135line 1844JESSICAI’ll tell my husband, Lancelet, what you say. line 1845Here he comes. line 1846LORENZOI shall grow jealous of you shortly, Lancelet, line 1847if you thus get my wife into corners! 30line 1848JESSICANay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo. Lancelet line 1849and I are out. He tells me flatly there’s no mercy for line 1850me in heaven because I am a Jew’s daughter; and line 1851he says you are no good member of the commonwealth, line 1852for in converting Jews to Christians you 35line 1853raise the price of pork. line 1854LORENZOI shall answer that better to the commonwealth line 1855than you can the getting up of the Negro’s line 1856belly! The Moor is with child by you, Lancelet. line 1857LANCELETIt is much that the Moor should be more 40line 1858than reason; but if she be less than an honest line 1859woman, she is indeed more than I took her for. line 1860LORENZOHow every fool can play upon the word! I line 1861think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into line 1862silence, and discourse grow commendable in none 45line 1863only but parrots. Go in, sirrah, bid them prepare for line 1864dinner. line 1865LANCELETThat is done, sir. They have all stomachs. line 1866LORENZOGoodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! line 1867Then bid them prepare dinner. 50line 1868LANCELETThat is done too, sir, only “cover” is the line 1869word. line 1870LORENZOWill you cover, then, sir? line 1871LANCELETNot so, sir, neither! I know my duty. line 1872LORENZOYet more quarreling with occasion! Wilt 55line 1873thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an line 1874instant? I pray thee understand a plain man in his line 1875plain meaning: go to thy fellows, bid them cover the line 1876table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to line 1877dinner. 60line 1878LANCELETFor the table, sir, it shall be served in; for line 1879the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in Act 3 Scene 5 - Pg 137line 1880to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humors and conceits line 1881shall govern.Lancelet exits. LORENZO line 1882O dear discretion, how his words are suited! 65line 1883The fool hath planted in his memory line 1884An army of good words, and I do know line 1885A many fools that stand in better place, line 1886Garnished like him, that for a tricksy word line 1887Defy the matter. How cheer’st thou, Jessica? 70line 1888And now, good sweet, say thy opinion line 1889How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife? JESSICA line 1890Past all expressing. It is very meet line 1891The Lord Bassanio live an upright life, line 1892For having such a blessing in his lady 75line 1893He finds the joys of heaven here on Earth, line 1894And if on Earth he do not merit it, line 1895In reason he should never come to heaven. line 1896Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match, line 1897And on the wager lay two earthly women, 80line 1898And Portia one, there must be something else line 1899Pawned with the other, for the poor rude world line 1900Hath not her fellow. line 1901LORENZOEven such a husband line 1902Hast thou of me as she is for a wife. JESSICA 85line 1903Nay, but ask my opinion too of that! LORENZO line 1904I will anon. First let us go to dinner. JESSICA line 1905Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach! LORENZO line 1906No, pray thee, let it serve for table talk. line 1907Then howsome’er thou speak’st, ’mong other things 90line 1908I shall digest it. line 1909JESSICAWell, I’ll set you forth.
They exit.
ACT 4
Scene 1
Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, Salerio, and Gratiano, with Attendants.
line 1910DUKEWhat, is Antonio here? line 1911ANTONIOReady, so please your Grace. DUKE line 1912I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer line 1913A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch, 5line 1914Uncapable of pity, void and empty line 1915From any dram of mercy. line 1916ANTONIOI have heard line 1917Your Grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify line 1918His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, 10line 1919And that no lawful means can carry me line 1920Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose line 1921My patience to his fury, and am armed line 1922To suffer with a quietness of spirit line 1923The very tyranny and rage of his. DUKE 15line 1924Go, one, and call the Jew into the court. SALERIO line 1925He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord.
Enter Shylock.
DUKE line 1926Make room, and let him stand before our face.— Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 143line 1927Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, line 1928That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice 20line 1929To the last hour of act, and then, ’tis thought, line 1930Thou ’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange line 1931Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; line 1932And where thou now exacts the penalty, line 1933Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, 25line 1934Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, line 1935But, touched with humane gentleness and love, line 1936Forgive a moi’ty of the principal, line 1937Glancing an eye of pity on his losses line 1938That have of late so huddled on his back, 30line 1939Enow to press a royal merchant down line 1940And pluck commiseration of his state line 1941From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, line 1942From stubborn Turks, and Tartars never trained line 1943To offices of tender courtesy. 35line 1944We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. SHYLOCK line 1945I have possessed your Grace of what I purpose, line 1946And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn line 1947To have the due and forfeit of my bond. line 1948If you deny it, let the danger light 40line 1949Upon your charter and your city’s freedom! line 1950You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have line 1951A weight of carrion flesh than to receive line 1952Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that, line 1953But say it is my humor. Is it answered? 45line 1954What if my house be troubled with a rat, line 1955And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats line 1956To have it baned? What, are you answered yet? line 1957Some men there are love not a gaping pig, line 1958Some that are mad if they behold a cat, 50line 1959And others, when the bagpipe sings i’ th’ nose, line 1960Cannot contain their urine; for affection line 1961Masters oft passion, sways it to the mood Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 145line 1962Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your answer: line 1963As there is no firm reason to be rendered 55line 1964Why he cannot abide a gaping pig, line 1965Why he a harmless necessary cat, line 1966Why he a woolen bagpipe, but of force line 1967Must yield to such inevitable shame line 1968As to offend, himself being offended, 60line 1969So can I give no reason, nor I will not, line 1970More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing line 1971I bear Antonio, that I follow thus line 1972A losing suit against him. Are you answered? BASSANIO line 1973This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, 65line 1974To excuse the current of thy cruelty. SHYLOCK line 1975I am not bound to please thee with my answers. BASSANIO line 1976Do all men kill the things they do not love? SHYLOCK line 1977Hates any man the thing he would not kill? BASSANIO line 1978Every offence is not a hate at first. SHYLOCK 70line 1979What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? ANTONIOto Bassanio line 1980I pray you, think you question with the Jew. line 1981You may as well go stand upon the beach line 1982And bid the main flood bate his usual height; line 1983You may as well use question with the wolf 75line 1984Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; line 1985You may as well forbid the mountain pines line 1986To wag their high tops and to make no noise line 1987When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; line 1988You may as well do anything most hard 80line 1989As seek to soften that than which what’s harder?— line 1990His Jewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 147line 1991Make no more offers, use no farther means, line 1992But with all brief and plain conveniency line 1993Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. BASSANIO 85line 1994For thy three thousand ducats here is six. SHYLOCK line 1995If every ducat in six thousand ducats line 1996Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, line 1997I would not draw them. I would have my bond. DUKE line 1998How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring none? SHYLOCK 90line 1999What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? line 2000You have among you many a purchased slave, line 2001Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, line 2002You use in abject and in slavish parts line 2003Because you bought them. Shall I say to you 95line 2004“Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs! line 2005Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds line 2006Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates line 2007Be seasoned with such viands”? You will answer line 2008“The slaves are ours!” So do I answer you: 100line 2009The pound of flesh which I demand of him line 2010Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it. line 2011If you deny me, fie upon your law: line 2012There is no force in the decrees of Venice. line 2013I stand for judgment. Answer: shall I have it? DUKE 105line 2014Upon my power I may dismiss this court line 2015Unless Bellario, a learnèd doctor line 2016Whom I have sent for to determine this, line 2017Come here today. line 2018SALERIOMy lord, here stays without 110line 2019A messenger with letters from the doctor, line 2020New come from Padua. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 149DUKE line 2021Bring us the letters. Call the messenger. BASSANIO line 2022Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! line 2023The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all 115line 2024Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood! ANTONIO line 2025I am a tainted wether of the flock, line 2026Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit line 2027Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. line 2028You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, 120line 2029Than to live still and write mine epitaph.
Enter Nerissa, disguised as a lawyer’s clerk.
DUKE line 2030Came you from Padua, from Bellario? NERISSAas Clerk line 2031From both, my lord. Bellario greets your Grace.
Handing him a paper, which he reads, aside, while Shylock sharpens his knife on the sole of his shoe.
BASSANIO line 2032Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? SHYLOCK line 2033To cut the forfeiture from that bankrout there. GRATIANO 125line 2034Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew, line 2035Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can, line 2036No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness line 2037Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? SHYLOCK line 2038No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. GRATIANO 130line 2039O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog, line 2040And for thy life let justice be accused; line 2041Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith, line 2042To hold opinion with Pythagoras Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 151line 2043That souls of animals infuse themselves 135line 2044Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit line 2045Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, line 2046Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, line 2047And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam, line 2048Infused itself in thee, for thy desires 140line 2049Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. SHYLOCK line 2050Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, line 2051Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud. line 2052Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall line 2053To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. DUKE 145line 2054This letter from Bellario doth commend line 2055A young and learnèd doctor to our court. line 2056Where is he? line 2057NERISSAas ClerkHe attendeth here hard by line 2058To know your answer whether you’ll admit him. DUKE 150line 2059With all my heart.—Some three or four of you line 2060Go give him courteous conduct to this place.
Attendants exit.
line 2061Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. He reads. line 2062Your Grace shall understand that, at the receipt of line 2063your letter, I am very sick, but in the instant that your 155line 2064messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a line 2065young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I line 2066acquainted him with the cause in controversy between line 2067the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o’er line 2068many books together. He is furnished with my opinion, 160line 2069which, bettered with his own learning (the greatness line 2070whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with line 2071him at my importunity to fill up your Grace’s request line 2072in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no line 2073impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 153165line 2074never knew so young a body with so old a head. I line 2075leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial line 2076shall better publish his commendation.
line 2077You hear the learnèd Bellario what he writes.
Enter Portia for Balthazar, disguised as a doctor of laws, with Attendants.
line 2078And here I take it is the doctor come.— 170line 2079Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? PORTIAas Balthazar line 2080I did, my lord. line 2081DUKEYou are welcome. Take your place. line 2082Are you acquainted with the difference line 2083That holds this present question in the court? PORTIAas Balthazar 175line 2084I am informèd throughly of the cause. line 2085Which is the merchant here? And which the Jew? DUKE line 2086Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2087Is your name Shylock? line 2088SHYLOCKShylock is my name. PORTIAas Balthazar 180line 2089Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, line 2090Yet in such rule that the Venetian law line 2091Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. line 2092To Antonio. You stand within his danger, do you line 2093not? ANTONIO 185line 2094Ay, so he says. line 2095PORTIAas BalthazarDo you confess the bond? ANTONIO line 2096I do. line 2097PORTIAas BalthazarThen must the Jew be merciful. SHYLOCK line 2098On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 155PORTIAas Balthazar 190line 2099The quality of mercy is not strained. line 2100It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven line 2101Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: line 2102It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. line 2103’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes 195line 2104The thronèd monarch better than his crown. line 2105His scepter shows the force of temporal power, line 2106The attribute to awe and majesty line 2107Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; line 2108But mercy is above this sceptered sway. 200line 2109It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings; line 2110It is an attribute to God Himself; line 2111And earthly power doth then show likest God’s line 2112When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, line 2113Though justice be thy plea, consider this: 205line 2114That in the course of justice none of us line 2115Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, line 2116And that same prayer doth teach us all to render line 2117The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much line 2118To mitigate the justice of thy plea, 210line 2119Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice line 2120Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant line 2121there. SHYLOCK line 2122My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, line 2123The penalty and forfeit of my bond. PORTIAas Balthazar 215line 2124Is he not able to discharge the money? BASSANIO line 2125Yes. Here I tender it for him in the court, line 2126Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice, line 2127I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er line 2128On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. 220line 2129If this will not suffice, it must appear Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 157line 2130That malice bears down truth. To the Duke. And I line 2131beseech you, line 2132Wrest once the law to your authority. line 2133To do a great right, do a little wrong, 225line 2134And curb this cruel devil of his will. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2135It must not be. There is no power in Venice line 2136Can alter a decree establishèd; line 2137’Twill be recorded for a precedent line 2138And many an error by the same example 230line 2139Will rush into the state. It cannot be. SHYLOCK line 2140A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel. line 2141O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! PORTIAas Balthazar line 2142I pray you let me look upon the bond. SHYLOCK line 2143Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
Handing Portia a paper.
PORTIAas Balthazar 235line 2144Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee. SHYLOCK line 2145An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven! line 2146Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? line 2147No, not for Venice! line 2148PORTIAas BalthazarWhy, this bond is forfeit, 240line 2149And lawfully by this the Jew may claim line 2150A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off line 2151Nearest the merchant’s heart.—Be merciful; line 2152Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. SHYLOCK line 2153When it is paid according to the tenor. 245line 2154It doth appear you are a worthy judge; line 2155You know the law; your exposition line 2156Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law, line 2157Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 159line 2158Proceed to judgment. By my soul I swear 250line 2159There is no power in the tongue of man line 2160To alter me. I stay here on my bond. ANTONIO line 2161Most heartily I do beseech the court line 2162To give the judgment. line 2163PORTIAas BalthazarWhy, then, thus it is: 255line 2164You must prepare your bosom for his knife— SHYLOCK line 2165O noble judge! O excellent young man! PORTIAas Balthazar line 2166For the intent and purpose of the law line 2167Hath full relation to the penalty, line 2168Which here appeareth due upon the bond. SHYLOCK 260line 2169’Tis very true. O wise and upright judge, line 2170How much more elder art thou than thy looks! PORTIAas Balthazar, to Antonio line 2171Therefore lay bare your bosom— line 2172SHYLOCKAy, his breast! line 2173So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge? 265line 2174“Nearest his heart.” Those are the very words. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2175It is so. line 2176Are there balance here to weigh the flesh? line 2177SHYLOCKI have them ready. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2178Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, 270line 2179To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. SHYLOCK line 2180Is it so nominated in the bond? PORTIAas Balthazar line 2181It is not so expressed, but what of that? line 2182’Twere good you do so much for charity. SHYLOCK line 2183I cannot find it. ’Tis not in the bond. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 161PORTIAas Balthazar 275line 2184You, merchant, have you anything to say? ANTONIO line 2185But little. I am armed and well prepared.— line 2186Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well. line 2187Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you, line 2188For herein Fortune shows herself more kind 280line 2189Than is her custom: it is still her use line 2190To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, line 2191To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow line 2192An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance line 2193Of such misery doth she cut me off. 285line 2194Commend me to your honorable wife, line 2195Tell her the process of Antonio’s end, line 2196Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death, line 2197And when the tale is told, bid her be judge line 2198Whether Bassanio had not once a love. 290line 2199Repent but you that you shall lose your friend line 2200And he repents not that he pays your debt. line 2201For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, line 2202I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart. BASSANIO line 2203Antonio, I am married to a wife 295line 2204Which is as dear to me as life itself, line 2205But life itself, my wife, and all the world line 2206Are not with me esteemed above thy life. line 2207I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all line 2208Here to this devil, to deliver you. PORTIAaside 300line 2209Your wife would give you little thanks for that line 2210If she were by to hear you make the offer. GRATIANO line 2211I have a wife who I protest I love. line 2212I would she were in heaven, so she could line 2213Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 163NERISSAaside 305line 2214’Tis well you offer it behind her back. line 2215The wish would make else an unquiet house. SHYLOCK line 2216These be the Christian husbands! I have a line 2217daughter— line 2218Would any of the stock of Barabbas 310line 2219Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! line 2220We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2221A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine: line 2222The court awards it, and the law doth give it. line 2223SHYLOCKMost rightful judge! PORTIAas Balthazar 315line 2224And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: line 2225The law allows it, and the court awards it. SHYLOCK line 2226Most learnèd judge! A sentence!—Come, prepare. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2227Tarry a little. There is something else. line 2228This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. 320line 2229The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” line 2230Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh, line 2231But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed line 2232One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods line 2233Are by the laws of Venice confiscate 325line 2234Unto the state of Venice. GRATIANO line 2235O upright judge!—Mark, Jew.—O learnèd judge! SHYLOCK line 2236Is that the law? line 2237PORTIAas BalthazarThyself shalt see the act. line 2238For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 330line 2239Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st. GRATIANO line 2240O learnèd judge!—Mark, Jew, a learnèd judge! Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 165SHYLOCK line 2241I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice line 2242And let the Christian go. line 2243BASSANIOHere is the money. PORTIAas Balthazar 335line 2244Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste! line 2245He shall have nothing but the penalty. GRATIANO line 2246O Jew, an upright judge, a learnèd judge! PORTIAas Balthazar line 2247Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. line 2248Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more 340line 2249But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st more line 2250Or less than a just pound, be it but so much line 2251As makes it light or heavy in the substance line 2252Or the division of the twentieth part line 2253Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn 345line 2254But in the estimation of a hair, line 2255Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. GRATIANO line 2256A second Daniel! A Daniel, Jew! line 2257Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2258Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. SHYLOCK 350line 2259Give me my principal and let me go. BASSANIO line 2260I have it ready for thee. Here it is. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2261He hath refused it in the open court. line 2262He shall have merely justice and his bond. GRATIANO line 2263A Daniel still, say I! A second Daniel!— 355line 2264I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. SHYLOCK line 2265Shall I not have barely my principal? Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 167PORTIAas Balthazar line 2266Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture line 2267To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. SHYLOCK line 2268Why, then, the devil give him good of it! 360line 2269I’ll stay no longer question.He begins to exit. line 2270PORTIAas BalthazarTarry, Jew. line 2271The law hath yet another hold on you. line 2272It is enacted in the laws of Venice, line 2273If it be proved against an alien 365line 2274That by direct or indirect attempts line 2275He seek the life of any citizen, line 2276The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive line 2277Shall seize one half his goods; the other half line 2278Comes to the privy coffer of the state, 370line 2279And the offender’s life lies in the mercy line 2280Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice. line 2281In which predicament I say thou stand’st, line 2282For it appears by manifest proceeding line 2283That indirectly, and directly too, 375line 2284Thou hast contrived against the very life line 2285Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred line 2286The danger formerly by me rehearsed. line 2287Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. GRATIANO line 2288Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself! 380line 2289And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, line 2290Thou hast not left the value of a cord; line 2291Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s line 2292charge. DUKE line 2293That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, 385line 2294I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. line 2295For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s; line 2296The other half comes to the general state, line 2297Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 169PORTIAas Balthazar line 2298Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. SHYLOCK 390line 2299Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that. line 2300You take my house when you do take the prop line 2301That doth sustain my house; you take my life line 2302When you do take the means whereby I live. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2303What mercy can you render him, Antonio? GRATIANO 395line 2304A halter gratis, nothing else, for God’s sake! ANTONIO line 2305So please my lord the Duke and all the court line 2306To quit the fine for one half of his goods, line 2307I am content, so he will let me have line 2308The other half in use, to render it 400line 2309Upon his death unto the gentleman line 2310That lately stole his daughter. line 2311Two things provided more: that for this favor line 2312He presently become a Christian; line 2313The other, that he do record a gift, 405line 2314Here in the court, of all he dies possessed line 2315Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. DUKE line 2316He shall do this, or else I do recant line 2317The pardon that I late pronouncèd here. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2318Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? SHYLOCK 410line 2319I am content. line 2320PORTIAas BalthazarClerk, draw a deed of gift. SHYLOCK line 2321I pray you give me leave to go from hence. line 2322I am not well. Send the deed after me line 2323And I will sign it. 415line 2324DUKEGet thee gone, but do it. Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 171GRATIANO line 2325In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers. line 2326Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, line 2327To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font.
Shylock exits.
DUKEto Portia as Balthazar line 2328Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. PORTIAas Balthazar 420line 2329I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon. line 2330I must away this night toward Padua, line 2331And it is meet I presently set forth. DUKE line 2332I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.— line 2333Antonio, gratify this gentleman, 425line 2334For in my mind you are much bound to him.
The Duke and his train exit.
BASSANIOto Portia as Balthazar line 2335Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend line 2336Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted line 2337Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof line 2338Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew 430line 2339We freely cope your courteous pains withal. ANTONIO line 2340And stand indebted, over and above, line 2341In love and service to you evermore. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2342He is well paid that is well satisfied, line 2343And I, delivering you, am satisfied, 435line 2344And therein do account myself well paid. line 2345My mind was never yet more mercenary. line 2346I pray you know me when we meet again. line 2347I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
She begins to exit.
BASSANIO line 2348Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further. 440line 2349Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 173line 2350Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: line 2351Not to deny me, and to pardon me. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2352You press me far, and therefore I will yield. line 2353Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them for your sake— 445line 2354And for your love I’ll take this ring from you. line 2355Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more, line 2356And you in love shall not deny me this. BASSANIO line 2357This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle. line 2358I will not shame myself to give you this. PORTIAas Balthazar 450line 2359I will have nothing else but only this. line 2360And now methinks I have a mind to it. BASSANIO line 2361There’s more depends on this than on the value. line 2362The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, line 2363And find it out by proclamation. 455line 2364Only for this, I pray you pardon me. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2365I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. line 2366You taught me first to beg, and now methinks line 2367You teach me how a beggar should be answered. BASSANIO line 2368Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife, 460line 2369And when she put it on, she made me vow line 2370That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. PORTIAas Balthazar line 2371That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts. line 2372And if your wife be not a madwoman, line 2373And know how well I have deserved this ring, 465line 2374She would not hold out enemy forever line 2375For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
Portia and Nerissa exit.
ANTONIO line 2376My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 175line 2377Let his deservings and my love withal line 2378Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandment. BASSANIO 470line 2379Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him. line 2380Give him the ring, and bring him if thou canst line 2381Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
Gratiano exits.
line 2382Come, you and I will thither presently, line 2383And in the morning early will we both 475line 2384Fly toward Belmont.—Come, Antonio.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Portia and Nerissa, still in disguise.
PORTIA line 2385Inquire the Jew’s house out; give him this deed line 2386And let him sign it. She gives Nerissa a paper. We’ll line 2387away tonight, line 2388And be a day before our husbands home. 5line 2389This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter Gratiano.
GRATIANO line 2390Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en. line 2391My Lord Bassanio, upon more advice, line 2392Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat line 2393Your company at dinner.He gives her a ring. 10line 2394PORTIAas BalthazarThat cannot be. line 2395His ring I do accept most thankfully, line 2396And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, line 2397I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house. GRATIANO line 2398That will I do. Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 17715line 2399NERISSAas ClerkSir, I would speak with you. line 2400Aside to Portia. I’ll see if I can get my husband’s line 2401ring, line 2402Which I did make him swear to keep forever. PORTIAaside to Nerissa line 2403Thou mayst, I warrant! We shall have old swearing 20line 2404That they did give the rings away to men; line 2405But we’ll outface them, and outswear them, too.— line 2406Away, make haste! Thou know’st where I will tarry.
She exits.
NERISSAas Clerk line 2407Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter Lorenzo and Jessica.
LORENZO line 2408The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, line 2409When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees line 2410And they did make no noise, in such a night line 2411Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls 5line 2412And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents line 2413Where Cressid lay that night. line 2414JESSICAIn such a night line 2415Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew line 2416And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself 10line 2417And ran dismayed away. line 2418LORENZOIn such a night line 2419Stood Dido with a willow in her hand line 2420Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love line 2421To come again to Carthage. 15line 2422JESSICAIn such a night line 2423Medea gathered the enchanted herbs line 2424That did renew old Aeson. line 2425LORENZOIn such a night line 2426Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, 20line 2427And with an unthrift love did run from Venice line 2428As far as Belmont. line 2429JESSICAIn such a night line 2430Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 183line 2431Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, 25line 2432And ne’er a true one. line 2433LORENZOIn such a night line 2434Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, line 2435Slander her love, and he forgave it her. JESSICA line 2436I would out-night you did nobody come, 30line 2437But hark, I hear the footing of a man.
Enter Stephano, a Messenger.
LORENZO line 2438Who comes so fast in silence of the night? line 2439STEPHANOA friend. LORENZO line 2440A friend? What friend? Your name, I pray you, line 2441friend. STEPHANO 35line 2442Stephano is my name, and I bring word line 2443My mistress will before the break of day line 2444Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about line 2445By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays line 2446For happy wedlock hours. 40line 2447LORENZOWho comes with her? STEPHANO line 2448None but a holy hermit and her maid. line 2449I pray you, is my master yet returned? LORENZO line 2450He is not, nor we have not heard from him.— line 2451But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, 45line 2452And ceremoniously let us prepare line 2453Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
Enter Lancelet, the Clown.
line 2454LANCELETSola, sola! Wo ha, ho! Sola, sola! line 2455LORENZOWho calls? line 2456LANCELETSola! Did you see Master Lorenzo? Master 50line 2457Lorenzo, sola, sola! Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 185line 2458LORENZOLeave holloaing, man! Here. line 2459LANCELETSola! Where, where? line 2460LORENZOHere! line 2461LANCELETTell him there’s a post come from my master 55line 2462with his horn full of good news. My master will line 2463be here ere morning, sweet soul.Lancelet exits. LORENZOto Jessica line 2464Let’s in, and there expect their coming. line 2465And yet no matter; why should we go in?— line 2466My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, 60line 2467Within the house, your mistress is at hand, line 2468And bring your music forth into the air.
Stephano exits.
line 2469How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank. line 2470Here will we sit and let the sounds of music line 2471Creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night 65line 2472Become the touches of sweet harmony. line 2473Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven line 2474Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold. line 2475There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st line 2476But in his motion like an angel sings, 70line 2477Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins. line 2478Such harmony is in immortal souls, line 2479But whilst this muddy vesture of decay line 2480Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
Enter Stephano and musicians.
line 2481Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn. 75line 2482With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear, line 2483And draw her home with music.
Music plays.
JESSICA line 2484I am never merry when I hear sweet music. LORENZO line 2485The reason is, your spirits are attentive. line 2486For do but note a wild and wanton herd Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 18780line 2487Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, line 2488Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, line 2489Which is the hot condition of their blood, line 2490If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, line 2491Or any air of music touch their ears, 85line 2492You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, line 2493Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze line 2494By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet line 2495Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and line 2496floods, 90line 2497Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, line 2498But music for the time doth change his nature. line 2499The man that hath no music in himself, line 2500Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, line 2501Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; 95line 2502The motions of his spirit are dull as night, line 2503And his affections dark as Erebus. line 2504Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
Enter Portia and Nerissa.
PORTIA line 2505That light we see is burning in my hall. line 2506How far that little candle throws his beams! 100line 2507So shines a good deed in a naughty world. NERISSA line 2508When the moon shone we did not see the candle. PORTIA line 2509So doth the greater glory dim the less. line 2510A substitute shines brightly as a king line 2511Until a king be by, and then his state 105line 2512Empties itself as doth an inland brook line 2513Into the main of waters. Music, hark! NERISSA line 2514It is your music, madam, of the house. PORTIA line 2515Nothing is good, I see, without respect. line 2516Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 189NERISSA 110line 2517Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. PORTIA line 2518The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark line 2519When neither is attended, and I think line 2520The nightingale, if she should sing by day line 2521When every goose is cackling, would be thought 115line 2522No better a musician than the wren. line 2523How many things by season seasoned are line 2524To their right praise and true perfection! line 2525Peace—how the moon sleeps with Endymion line 2526And would not be awaked!
Music ceases.
120line 2527LORENZOThat is the voice, line 2528Or I am much deceived, of Portia. PORTIA line 2529He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo, line 2530By the bad voice. line 2531LORENZODear lady, welcome home. PORTIA 125line 2532We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, line 2533Which speed we hope the better for our words. line 2534Are they returned? line 2535LORENZOMadam, they are not yet, line 2536But there is come a messenger before 130line 2537To signify their coming. line 2538PORTIAGo in, Nerissa. line 2539Give order to my servants that they take line 2540No note at all of our being absent hence— line 2541Nor you, Lorenzo—Jessica, nor you.
A trumpet sounds.
LORENZO 135line 2542Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet. line 2543We are no tell-tales, madam, fear you not. PORTIA line 2544This night methinks is but the daylight sick; Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 191line 2545It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day line 2546Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their followers.
BASSANIO 140line 2547We should hold day with the Antipodes line 2548If you would walk in absence of the sun. PORTIA line 2549Let me give light, but let me not be light, line 2550For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, line 2551And never be Bassanio so for me. 145line 2552But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord.
Gratiano and Nerissa talk aside.
BASSANIO line 2553I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. line 2554This is the man, this is Antonio, line 2555To whom I am so infinitely bound. PORTIA line 2556You should in all sense be much bound to him, 150line 2557For as I hear he was much bound for you. ANTONIO line 2558No more than I am well acquitted of. PORTIA line 2559Sir, you are very welcome to our house. line 2560It must appear in other ways than words; line 2561Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. GRATIANOto Nerissa 155line 2562By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong! line 2563In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk. line 2564Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, line 2565Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. PORTIA line 2566A quarrel ho, already! What’s the matter? GRATIANO 160line 2567About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring line 2568That she did give me, whose posy was Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 193line 2569For all the world like cutler’s poetry line 2570Upon a knife, “Love me, and leave me not.” NERISSA line 2571What talk you of the posy or the value? 165line 2572You swore to me when I did give it you line 2573That you would wear it till your hour of death, line 2574And that it should lie with you in your grave. line 2575Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, line 2576You should have been respective and have kept it. 170line 2577Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge, line 2578The clerk will ne’er wear hair on ’s face that had it. GRATIANO line 2579He will, an if he live to be a man. NERISSA line 2580Ay, if a woman live to be a man. GRATIANO line 2581Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, 175line 2582A kind of boy, a little scrubbèd boy, line 2583No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk, line 2584A prating boy that begged it as a fee. line 2585I could not for my heart deny it him. PORTIA line 2586You were to blame, I must be plain with you, 180line 2587To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift, line 2588A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger, line 2589And so riveted with faith unto your flesh. line 2590I gave my love a ring and made him swear line 2591Never to part with it, and here he stands. 185line 2592I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it line 2593Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth line 2594That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano, line 2595You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief. line 2596An ’twere to me I should be mad at it. BASSANIOaside 190line 2597Why, I were best to cut my left hand off line 2598And swear I lost the ring defending it. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 195GRATIANO line 2599My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away line 2600Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed line 2601Deserved it, too. And then the boy, his clerk, 195line 2602That took some pains in writing, he begged mine, line 2603And neither man nor master would take aught line 2604But the two rings. line 2605PORTIAWhat ring gave you, my lord? line 2606Not that, I hope, which you received of me. BASSANIO 200line 2607If I could add a lie unto a fault, line 2608I would deny it, but you see my finger line 2609Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone. PORTIA line 2610Even so void is your false heart of truth. line 2611By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed 205line 2612Until I see the ring! line 2613NERISSAto GratianoNor I in yours line 2614Till I again see mine! line 2615BASSANIOSweet Portia, line 2616If you did know to whom I gave the ring, 210line 2617If you did know for whom I gave the ring, line 2618And would conceive for what I gave the ring, line 2619And how unwillingly I left the ring, line 2620When naught would be accepted but the ring, line 2621You would abate the strength of your displeasure. PORTIA 215line 2622If you had known the virtue of the ring, line 2623Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, line 2624Or your own honor to contain the ring, line 2625You would not then have parted with the ring. line 2626What man is there so much unreasonable, 220line 2627If you had pleased to have defended it line 2628With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty line 2629To urge the thing held as a ceremony? line 2630Nerissa teaches me what to believe: line 2631I’ll die for ’t but some woman had the ring! Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 197BASSANIO 225line 2632No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, line 2633No woman had it, but a civil doctor, line 2634Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me line 2635And begged the ring, the which I did deny him line 2636And suffered him to go displeased away, 230line 2637Even he that had held up the very life line 2638Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? line 2639I was enforced to send it after him. line 2640I was beset with shame and courtesy. line 2641My honor would not let ingratitude 235line 2642So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady, line 2643For by these blessèd candles of the night, line 2644Had you been there, I think you would have begged line 2645The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. PORTIA line 2646Let not that doctor e’er come near my house! 240line 2647Since he hath got the jewel that I loved, line 2648And that which you did swear to keep for me, line 2649I will become as liberal as you: line 2650I’ll not deny him anything I have, line 2651No, not my body, nor my husband’s bed. 245line 2652Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. line 2653Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus. line 2654If you do not, if I be left alone, line 2655Now by mine honor, which is yet mine own, line 2656I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow. NERISSA 250line 2657And I his clerk. Therefore be well advised line 2658How you do leave me to mine own protection. GRATIANO line 2659Well, do you so. Let not me take him, then, line 2660For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen. ANTONIO line 2661I am th’ unhappy subject of these quarrels. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 199PORTIA 255line 2662Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome line 2663notwithstanding. BASSANIO line 2664Portia, forgive me this enforcèd wrong, line 2665And in the hearing of these many friends line 2666I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, 260line 2667Wherein I see myself— line 2668PORTIAMark you but that! line 2669In both my eyes he doubly sees himself, line 2670In each eye one. Swear by your double self, line 2671And there’s an oath of credit. 265line 2672BASSANIONay, but hear me. line 2673Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear line 2674I never more will break an oath with thee. ANTONIO line 2675I once did lend my body for his wealth, line 2676Which but for him that had your husband’s ring 270line 2677Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, line 2678My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord line 2679Will never more break faith advisedly. PORTIA line 2680Then you shall be his surety. Give him this,
Giving Antonio a ring.
line 2681And bid him keep it better than the other. ANTONIO 275line 2682Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring. BASSANIO line 2683By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor! PORTIA line 2684I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, line 2685For by this ring, the doctor lay with me. NERISSA line 2686And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, 280line 2687For that same scrubbèd boy, the doctor’s clerk, line 2688In lieu of this, last night did lie with me.
She shows a ring.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 201GRATIANO line 2689Why, this is like the mending of highways line 2690In summer, where the ways are fair enough! line 2691What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it? PORTIA 285line 2692Speak not so grossly.—You are all amazed.
She hands a paper to Bassanio.
line 2693Here is a letter; read it at your leisure. line 2694It comes from Padua from Bellario. line 2695There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, line 2696Nerissa there, her clerk. Lorenzo here 290line 2697Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, line 2698And even but now returned. I have not yet line 2699Entered my house.—Antonio, you are welcome, line 2700And I have better news in store for you line 2701Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon.
Handing him a paper.
295line 2702There you shall find three of your argosies line 2703Are richly come to harbor suddenly. line 2704You shall not know by what strange accident line 2705I chancèd on this letter. line 2706ANTONIOI am dumb. BASSANIO 300line 2707Were you the doctor and I knew you not? GRATIANO line 2708Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold? NERISSA line 2709Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it, line 2710Unless he live until he be a man. BASSANIOto Portia line 2711Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow. 305line 2712When I am absent, then lie with my wife. ANTONIO line 2713Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; line 2714For here I read for certain that my ships line 2715Are safely come to road. Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 203line 2716PORTIAHow now, Lorenzo? 310line 2717My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. NERISSA line 2718Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.
Handing him a paper.
line 2719There do I give to you and Jessica, line 2720From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, line 2721After his death, of all he dies possessed of. LORENZO 315line 2722Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way line 2723Of starvèd people. line 2724PORTIAIt is almost morning, line 2725And yet I am sure you are not satisfied line 2726Of these events at full. Let us go in, 320line 2727And charge us there upon inter’gatories, line 2728And we will answer all things faithfully. GRATIANO line 2729Let it be so. The first inter’gatory line 2730That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is line 2731Whether till the next night she had rather stay 325line 2732Or go to bed now, being two hours to day. line 2733But were the day come, I should wish it dark line 2734Till I were couching with the doctor’s clerk. line 2735Well, while I live, I’ll fear no other thing line 2736So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.
