KEY FACTS

PLOT: Antonio, the merchant of Venice, lends three thousand ducats to his friend Bassanio in order to assist him in his wooing of the wealthy and beautiful Portia of Belmont, an estate some distance from Venice. But Antonio’s own money is tied up in business ventures that depend on the safe return of his ships from sea, so he borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender whom he has previously insulted for his high rates of interest. Shylock lends the money against a bond whereby failure to repay the loan on the agreed date will entitle Shylock to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Portia’s father has decreed that she will marry whichever suitor makes the correct choice when presented with three caskets, made of gold, silver, and lead. Where wealthy suitors from Morocco and Aragon fail, Bassanio succeeds by choosing lead. His friend Gratiano marries Portia’s lady-in-waiting Nerissa at the same time. News arrives that Antonio’s ships have been lost; he is unable to pay his debt. Shylock’s claim to his pound of flesh is heard in the law court before the duke. Unknown to their husbands, Portia disguises herself as a young male lawyer acting on behalf of Antonio, Nerissa as a clerk. Portia’s ingenious defense is that Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh but not to spill any of Antonio’s blood; she argues that the Jew should forfeit his life for having conspired against the life of a Venetian. The duke pardons Shylock on condition that he gives half his wealth to Antonio and half to the state. Antonio surrenders his claim on condition that Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his property to his daughter Jessica, whom he has disinherited for running away with her Christian lover Lorenzo. Portia and Nerissa then assert their power over Bassanio and Gratiano by means of a trick involving rings that the men have promised never to part with. Finally there is good news about Antonio’s ships.

MAJOR PARTS: (with percentage of lines/number of speeches/scenes on stage) Portia (22%/117/9), Shylock (13%/79/5), Bassanio (13%/73/6), Gratiano (7%/58/7), Lorenzo (7%/47/7), Antonio (7%/47/6), Lancelet Gobbo (6%/44/6), Salerio (5%/31/7), Morocco (4%/7/2), Nerissa (3%/36/7), Jessica (3%/26/7), Solanio (2%/20/5), Duke (2%/18/1), Aragon (2%/4/1), Old Gobbo (1%/19/1).

LINGUISTIC MEDIUM: 80% verse, 20% prose.

DATE: Registered for publication July 1598 and mentioned in Francis Meres’ 1598 list of Shakespeare’s comedies; reference to a ship called the Andrew suggests late 1596 or early 1597, when the Spanish vessel St. Andrew, which had been captured at Cadiz after running aground, was much in the news.

SOURCES: There are many ancient and medieval folk variations on the motif of a body part demanded as surety for a bond. The setting of the story in Venice, the pursuit of “the lady of Belmonte” as the reason the hero needs the money, the bond being made by a friend rather than the hero himself, the identification of the moneylender as a Jew, and the lady disguising herself as a male lawyer, coming to Venice, and arguing that the bond does not allow for the shedding of blood all come from a tale in Ser Giovanni Fiorentino’s collection Il Pecorone (“The Dunce,” in Italian, published 1558—no English translation). A lost English play of the 1570s called The Jew may have been an intervening source. The character of Shylock and the elopement of his daughter with a Christian are strongly shaped by Christopher Marlowe’s highly successful play The Jew of Malta (c.1590). The choice between three caskets as a device to identify a worthy marriage partner is another ancient motif; the closest surviving precedent is a story in the medieval Gesta Romanorum (translated by Richard Robinson, 1577, revised 1595 with use of the rare word “insculpt,” which is echoed in Morocco’s speech).

TEXT: Quarto 1600: a good quality text, apparently set from a fair copy of the dramatist’s manuscript; reprinted 1619, with some errors and some corrections. Folio text was set from a copy of the first Quarto, making some corrections, introducing some errors, and apparently drawing on a theatrical manuscript for stage directions, including music cues. We follow Folio where it corrects or modernizes Quarto, but restore Quarto where Folio changes appear to be printers’ errors. The only serious textual problem concerns the Venetian gentlemen known in the theatrical profession as the “Salads.” They are initially identified in entry directions and speech headings as “Salarino” and “Solanio” (variously abbreviated, most commonly to “Sal.” and “Sol.”), but never named in the dialogue, so are unidentified from the point of view of a theater audience. Folio reverses their speech headings at the beginning of the opening scene, probably erroneously. In Act 3 scene 2 “Salerio” arrives in Belmont as “a messenger from Venice”; he is named in the dialogue, so identifiable to the audience. Is this a third character, a composite of the first two, or—more probably—has Shakespeare forgotten that he began with “Salarino”? In the following scene, Quarto has “Salerio” back in Venice with Antonio and Shylock, which must be an error—he has only just exited from Belmont with Bassanio. Folio intelligently corrects the Act 3 scene 3 entry direction to “Solanio.” In Act 4 scene 1, “Salerio” has returned with Bassanio. Some editions and productions have retained Salarino, Solanio, and Salerio, but it seems more likely that Salarino and Salerio are intended to be the same character: we have followed this assumption.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice

BASSANIO, his friend, suitor to Portia

LORENZO, friend of Antonio and Bassanio, in love with Jessica

GRATIANO, friend of Antonio and Bassanio

LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio

PORTIA, an heiress

NERISSA, her gentlewoman-in-waiting

BALTHASAR, servant to Portia

STEPHANO, servant to Portia

Prince of ARAGON, suitor to Portia

Prince of MOROCCO, suitor to Portia

SHYLOCK, a Jew of Venice

JESSICA, his daughter

TUBAL, a Jew, Shylock’s friend

LANCELET GOBBO, the clown, servant to Shylock and later Bassanio

OLD GOBBO, Lancelet’s father

DUKE of Venice

Magnificoes of Venice

A Jailer, Attendants and Servants

Act 1 [Scene 1]^1.1

running scene 1

Enter Antonio, Salerio and Solanio

ANTONIO

ANTONIO In sooth¹ I know not why I am so sad.

It wearies me, you say it wearies you;

But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,

What stuff⁴ ’tis made of, whereof it is born,

5 I am to learn:⁵

And such a want-wit⁶ sadness makes of me

That I have much ado⁷ to know myself.

SALERIO

SALERIO Your mind is tossing on⁸ the ocean,

There where your argosies⁹ with portly sail

10 Like signiors¹⁰ and rich burghers on the flood,

Or as it were the pageants¹¹ of the sea,

Do overpeer¹² the petty traffickers

That curtsy¹³ to them, do them reverence,

As they fly¹⁴ by them with their woven wings.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Believe me, sir, had I such venture¹⁵ forth,

The better part¹⁶ of my affections would

Be with my hopes¹⁷ abroad. I should be still

Plucking the grass to know where sits¹⁸ the wind,

Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads,¹⁹

20 And every object that might make me fear

Misfortune to my ventures out of doubt

Would make me sad.

SALERIO

SALERIO My wind cooling my broth

Would blow me to an ague,²⁴ when I thought

25 What harm a wind too great might do at sea.

I should ²⁶ not see the sandy hour-glass run,

But I should think of shallows and of flats,²⁷

And see my wealthy Andrew²⁸ docked in sand,

Vailing²⁹ her high top lower than her ribs

30 To kiss her burial;³⁰ should I go to church

And see the holy edifice of stone,

And not bethink me straight³² of dang’rous rocks,

Which touching but³³ my gentle vessel’s side,

Would scatter all her spices on the stream,³⁴

35 Enrobe the roaring waters³⁵ with my silks,

And in a word, but even³⁶ now worth this,

And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought

To think on this, and shall I lack the thought

That such a thing bechanced³⁹ would make me sad?

40 But tell not me, I know, Antonio

Is sad to think upon his merchandise.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Believe me, no. I thank my fortune for it,

My ventures are not in one bottom⁴³ trusted,

Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate⁴⁴

45 Upon⁴⁵ the fortune of this present year:

Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.

SALERIO

SALERIO Why, then you are in love.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Fie,⁴⁸ fie!

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Not in love neither: then let us say you are sad

50 Because you are not merry; and ’twere as easy

For you to laugh and leap, and say you are merry

Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,⁵²

Nature hath framed⁵³ strange fellows in her time:

Some that will evermore peep⁵⁴ through their eyes

55 And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper,⁵⁵

And other⁵⁶ of such vinegar aspect

That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile,

Though⁵⁸ Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Grattano

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,

60 Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well,

We leave you now with better company.

SALERIO

SALERIO I would have stayed till I had made you merry,

If worthier friends had not prevented⁶³ me.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Your worth is very dear⁶⁴ in my regard.

65 I take it your own business calls on you,

And you embrace⁶⁶ th’occasion to depart.

SALERIO

SALERIO Good morrow, my good lords.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Good signiors both, when shall we laugh?⁶⁸ Say, when?

You grow exceeding strange.⁶⁹ Must it be so?

SALERIO

SALERIO We’ll make our leisures⁷⁰ to attend on yours.

Exeunt Salerio and Solanio

LORENZO

LORENZO My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio,

We two will leave you, but at dinnertime

I pray you have⁷³ in mind where we must meet.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I will not fail you.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO You look not well, Signior Antonio.

You have too much respect ⁷⁶ upon the world:

They lose it⁷⁷ that do buy it with much care.

Believe me, you are marvellously⁷⁸ changed.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I hold⁷⁹ the world but as the world, Gratiano,

80 A stage where every man must play a part,

And mine a sad one.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Let me play the fool:

With mirth and laughter let old⁸³ wrinkles come,

And let my liver⁸⁴ rather heat with wine

85 Than my heart⁸⁵ cool with mortifying groans.

Why should a man whose blood is warm within,

Sit like his grandsire⁸⁷ cut in alabaster?

Sleep when he wakes and creep⁸⁸ into the jaundices

By being peevish?⁸⁹ I tell thee what, Antonio —

90 I love thee, and it is my love that speaks —

There are a sort of men whose visages⁹¹

Do cream⁹² and mantle like a standing pond,

And do a wilful⁹³ stillness entertain,

With purpose to be dressed⁹⁴ in an opinion

95 Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,⁹⁵

As⁹⁶ who should say, ‘I am, sir, an oracle,

And when I ope⁹⁷ my lips, let no dog bark!’

O my Antonio, I do know of these

That therefore only are reputed wise

100

100 For saying nothing; when I am very sure

If they should speak, would almost damn¹⁰¹ those ears

Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools.

I’ll tell thee more of this another time.

But fish not with this melancholy bait¹⁰⁴

105

105 For this fool¹⁰⁵ gudgeon, this opinion.

Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile,

I’ll end my exhortation¹⁰⁷ after dinner.

LORENZO

LORENZO Well, we will leave you then till dinnertime. To Antonio and Bassanio

I must be one of these same dumb¹⁰⁹ wise men,

110

110 For Gratiano never lets me speak.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Well, keep me company but two years more,

Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Fare you well, I’ll grow¹¹³ a talker for this gear.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Thanks, i’faith, for silence is only commendable

115

115 In a neat’s tongue dried¹¹⁵ and a maid not vendible.

Exit [Gratiano with Lorenzo]

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Is¹¹⁶ that anything now?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice. His reasons¹¹⁸ are two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere¹¹⁹ you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Well, tell me now, what lady is the same ¹²¹

To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage

That you today promised to tell me of?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO ’Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,

125

125 How much I have disabled¹²⁵ mine estate

By something¹²⁶ showing a more swelling port

Than my faint¹²⁷ means would grant continuance.

Nor do I now make moan¹²⁸ to be abridged

From such a noble rate,¹²⁹ but my chief care

130

130 Is to come¹³⁰ fairly off from the great debts

Wherein my time¹³¹ something too prodigal

Hath left me gaged.¹³² To you, Antonio,

I owe the most in money and in love,

And from your love I have a warranty¹³⁴

135

135 To unburden¹³⁵ all my plots and purposes

How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I pray you good Bassanio, let me know it,

And if it stand as you yourself still do,

Within¹³⁹ the eye of honour, be assured

140

140 My purse, my person, my extremest means,

Lie all unlocked to your occasions.¹⁴¹

BASSANIO

BASSANIO In my schooldays, when I had lost one shaft,¹⁴²

I shot his¹⁴³ fellow of the selfsame flight

The selfsame way with more advisèd¹⁴⁴ watch

145

145 To find the other forth,¹⁴⁵ and by adventuring both

I oft found both. I urge¹⁴⁶ this childhood proof

Because what follows is pure innocence.¹⁴⁷

I owe you much and, like a wilful youth,

That which I owe is lost. But if you please

150

150 To shoot another arrow that self¹⁵⁰ way

Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,

As I will watch the aim, or¹⁵² to find both,

Or bring your latter hazard¹⁵³ back again,

And thankfully rest¹⁵⁴ debtor for the first.

155

ANTONIO

ANTONIO You know me well, and herein spend but¹⁵⁵ time

To wind¹⁵⁶ about my love with circumstance,

And out of¹⁵⁷ doubt you do me now more wrong

In making¹⁵⁸ question of my uttermost

Than if you had made waste¹⁵⁹ of all I have.

160

160 Then do but¹⁶⁰ say to me what I should do

That in your knowledge may by me be done,

And I am pressed¹⁶² unto it: therefore speak.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO In Belmont is a lady richly¹⁶³ left,

And she is fair and, fairer than that word,

165

165 Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes¹⁶⁵ from her eyes

I did receive fair speechless messages.

Her name is Portia, nothing¹⁶⁷ undervalued

To Cato’s¹⁶⁸ daughter, Brutus’ Portia.

Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,

170

170 For the four winds blow in from every coast

Renownèd suitors, and her sunny locks

Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,¹⁷²

Which makes her seat¹⁷³ of Belmont Colchos’ strand,

And many Jasons come in quest of her.

175

175 O my Antonio, had I but the means

To hold a rival place with one of them,

I have a mind presages¹⁷⁷ me such thrift,

That I should questionless¹⁷⁸ be fortunate.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea,

180

180 Neither have I money, nor commodity¹⁸⁰

To raise a present¹⁸¹ sum: therefore go forth.

Try¹⁸² what my credit can in Venice do,

That shall be racked,¹⁸³ even to the uttermost,

To furnish thee¹⁸⁴ to Belmont, to fair Portia.

185

185 Go presently¹⁸⁵ inquire, and so will I,

Where money is, and I no question make

To have it of my trust¹⁸⁷ or for my sake.

Exeunt

[Act 1 Scene 2]^1.2

running scene 2

Enter Portia with her waiting woman, Nerissa

PORTIA

PORTIA By my troth,¹ Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.

NERISSA

NERISSA You would be,² sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are, and yet, for aught³ I see, they are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing; it is no small happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean.⁵ Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency⁶ lives longer.

PORTIA

PORTIA Good sentences⁷ and well pronounced.

NERISSA

NERISSA They would be better if well followed.

PORTIA

PORTIA If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine¹⁰ that follows his own instructions; I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood,¹³ but a hot temper leaps o’er a cold decree — such a hare is madness the youth, to skip o’er the meshes¹⁴ of good counsel the cripple; but this reason is not in fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word ‘choose!’ I may neither choose whom I would,¹⁶ nor refuse whom I dislike, so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will¹⁷ of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?

NERISSA

NERISSA Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations: therefore the lottery²⁰ that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver and lead, whereof who²¹ chooses his meaning chooses you, will no doubt never be chosen by any rightly²² but one who you shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?

PORTIA

PORTIA I pray thee overname ²⁵ them, and as thou namest them, I will describe them, and according to my description level at²⁶ my affection.

NERISSA

NERISSA First, there is the Neapolitan²⁷ prince.

PORTIA

PORTIA Ay, that’s a colt²⁸ indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse, and he makes it a great appropriation²⁹ to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself. I am much afraid my lady his mother played false³⁰ with a smith.

NERISSA

NERISSA Then is there the County³¹ Palatine.

PORTIA

PORTIA He doth nothing but frown, as who³² should say, ‘An you will not have me, choose.’³³ He hears merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly³⁴ sadness in his youth. I had rather to be married to a death’s-head³⁵ with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!

NERISSA

NERISSA How³⁷ say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon?

PORTIA

PORTIA God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but he! Why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan’s, a better bad⁴⁰ habit of frowning than the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. If a throstle⁴¹ sing, he falls straight a capering, he will fence with his own shadow. If I should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me, I would forgive him, for if⁴³ he love me to madness, I should never requite him.

NERISSA

NERISSA What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England?

PORTIA

PORTIA You know I say⁴⁵ nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian, and you will come⁴⁶ into the court and swear that I have a poor⁴⁷ pennyworth in the English. He is a proper man’s picture, but alas, who can converse with a dumb show?⁴⁸ How oddly he is suited. I think he bought his doublet⁴⁹ in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour everywhere.

NERISSA

NERISSA What think you of the other lord, his neighbour?

PORTIA

PORTIA That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he borrowed⁵² a box of the ear of the Englishman and swore he would pay him again when he was able. I think the Frenchman became his surety⁵⁴ and sealed under for another.

NERISSA

NERISSA How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony’s⁵⁵nephew?

PORTIA

PORTIA Very vilely in the morning when he is sober, and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.⁵⁸ An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift⁵⁹ to go without him.

NERISSA

NERISSA If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should⁶⁰ refuse to perform your father’s will, if you should refuse to accept him.

PORTIA

PORTIA Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a deep glass of Rhenish wine⁶² on the contrary⁶³ casket, for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, Iknow he will choose it. I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge.⁶⁵

NERISSA

NERISSA You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords. They have acquainted me with their determinations,⁶⁷ which is indeed to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit,⁶⁸ unless you may be won by some other sort⁶⁹ than your father’s imposition, depending on the caskets.

PORTIA

PORTIA If I live to be as old as Sibylla,⁷⁰ I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel⁷¹ of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I wish them a fair departure.

NERISSA

NERISSA Do you not remember, lady, in your father’s time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat?⁷⁵

PORTIA

PORTIA Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think, so was he called.

NERISSA

NERISSA True, madam. He, of all the men that ever my foolish⁷⁷ eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

PORTIA

PORTIA I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise.

Enter a Servingman

SERVANT

SERVANT The four strangers⁸⁰ seek you, madam, to take their leave. And there is a forerunner⁸¹ come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the prince his master will be here tonight.

PORTIA

PORTIA If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach. If he have the condition⁸⁴ of a saint and the complexion⁸⁵ of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, Nerissa.— To the Servingman Sirrah,⁸⁶ go before; whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.

Exeunt

[Act 1 Scene 3]^1.3

running scene 3

Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Three thousand ducats,¹ well.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Ay, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK For three months, well.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.⁴

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Antonio shall become bound, well.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO May you stead⁶ me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio bound.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Your answer to that.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Antonio is a good man.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Have you heard any imputation¹⁰ to the contrary?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Ho, no, no, no, no! My meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient.¹² Yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis,¹³ another to the Indies, I understand moreover, upon the Rialto,¹⁴ he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath squandered¹⁵ abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men. There be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves — I mean pirates¹⁶ — and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding,¹⁷ sufficient. Three thousand ducats. I think I may take his bond.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Be assured you may.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I will be assured²⁰ I may. And that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO If it please you to dine with us.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation²³ which your prophet the Nazarite²⁴ conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following,²⁵ but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

Enter Antonio

BASSANIO

BASSANIO This is Signior Antonio.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK How like a fawning publican²⁸ he looks! Aside

I hate him for he is a Christian,

30 But more, for that in low simplicity³⁰

He lends out money gratis³¹ and brings down

The rate of usance³² here with us in Venice.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,³³

I will feed fat³⁴ the ancient grudge I bear him.

35 He hates our sacred nation,³⁵ and he rails —

Even there³⁶ where merchants most do congregate —

On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,³⁷

Which he calls interest. Cursèd be my tribe,³⁸

If I forgive him!

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Shylock, do you hear?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I am debating⁴¹ of my present store,

And by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross⁴³

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?

45 Tubal,⁴⁵ a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish⁴⁶ me; but soft! How many months

Do you desire?— Rest you fair,⁴⁷ good signior. To Antonio

Your⁴⁸ worship was the last man in our mouths.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow

50 By taking nor by giving of excess,⁵⁰

Yet to supply the ripe wants⁵¹ of my friend,

I’ll break a custom.— Is he yet possessed⁵² To Bassanio

How much ye would?⁵³

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO And for three months.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I had forgot — three months — you told me so.

Well then, your bond.⁵⁷ And let me see, but hear you,

Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow

Upon advantage.⁵⁹

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I do never use⁶⁰ it.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK When Jacob⁶¹ grazed his uncle Laban’s sheep —

This Jacob from⁶² our holy Abram was,

As his wise mother wrought⁶³ in his behalf,

The third possessor;⁶⁴ ay, he was the third—

ANTONIO

ANTONIO And what of him? Did he take interest?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK No, not take interest, not, as you would say,

Directly interest. Mark⁶⁷ what Jacob did:

When Laban and himself were compromised⁶⁸

That all the eanlings⁶⁹ which were streaked and pied

70 Should fall as⁷⁰ Jacob’s hire, the ewes, being rank,

In end of autumn turnèd to the rams,

And, when the work of generation ⁷² was

Between these woolly breeders in the act,

The skilful shepherd peeled⁷⁴ me certain wands,

75 And in⁷⁵ the doing of the deed of kind,

He stuck⁷⁶ them up before the fulsome ewes,

Who then conceiving, did in eaning⁷⁷ time

Fall⁷⁸ parti-coloured lambs, and those were Jacob’s.

This was a way to thrive,⁷⁹ and he was blest:

80 And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO This was a venture,⁸¹ sir, that Jacob served for,

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

But swayed and fashioned⁸³ by the hand of heaven.

Was this inserted⁸⁴ to make interest good?

85 Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I cannot tell, I make it breed as fast.

But note me, signior—

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

90 An evil soul producing holy witness

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

A goodly⁹² apple rotten at the heart.

O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Three thousand ducats, ’tis a good round sum.

95 Three months from twelve, then let me see, the rate—

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding⁹⁶ to you?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated⁹⁸ me

About my moneys and my usances.

100

100 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,

For sufferance¹⁰¹ is the badge of all our tribe.

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,¹⁰³

And all for use¹⁰⁴ of that which is mine own.

105

105 Well then, it now appears you need my help.

Go to,¹⁰⁶ then. You come to me and you say ‘

Shylock, we would have moneys’ — you say so,

You that did void¹⁰⁸ your rheum upon my beard,

And foot¹⁰⁹ me as you spurn a stranger cur

110

110 Over your threshold. Moneys is your suit.¹¹⁰

What should I say to you? Should I not say,

‘Hath a dog money? Is it possible

A cur should lend three thousand ducats?’ Or

Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key,¹¹⁴

115

115 With bated¹¹⁵ breath and whisp’ring humbleness,

Say this: ‘Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last;

You spurned me such a day; another time

You called me dog, and for these courtesies I’ll

lend you thus much moneys’?

120

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I am as like¹²⁰ to call thee so again,

To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.

If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

As to thy friends, for when did friendship take

A ¹²⁴ breed of barren metal of his friend?

125

125 But lend it rather to thine enemy,

Who, if he break,¹²⁶ thou mayst with better face

Exact the penalties.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Why, look you how you storm!

I would be friends with you and have your love,

130

130 Forget the shames that you have stained me with,

Supply your present wants and take no doit¹³¹

Of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me:

This is kind¹³³ I offer.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO This were¹³⁴ kindness.

135

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK This kindness will I show:

Go with me to a notary,¹³⁶ seal me there

Your single¹³⁷ bond, and in a merry sport

If you repay me not on such a day,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are

140

140 Expressed in the condition,¹⁴⁰ let the forfeit

Be nominated for¹⁴¹ an equal pound

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken

In what part of your body it pleaseth me.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Content, in faith, I’ll seal to such a bond

145

145 And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO You shall not seal to such a bond for me.

I’ll rather dwell¹⁴⁷ in my necessity.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it.

Within these two months — that’s a month before

150

150 This bond expires — I do expect return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK O father Abram, what these Christians are,

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect¹⁵³

The thoughts of others! Pray you tell me this:

155

155 If he should break his day,¹⁵⁵ what should I gain

By the exaction¹⁵⁶ of the forfeiture?

A pound of man’s flesh taken from a man

Is not so estimable,¹⁵⁸ profitable neither,

As flesh of muttons, beefs or goats. I say

160

160 To buy his favour, I extend this friendship:

If he will take it, so,¹⁶¹ if not, adieu.

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

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Then meet me forthwith¹⁶⁴ at the notary’s,

165

165 Give him direction¹⁶⁵ for this merry bond,

And I will go and purse¹⁶⁶ the ducats straight,

See¹⁶⁷ to my house, left in the fearful guard

Of an unthrifty¹⁶⁸ knave, and presently

I’ll be with you.

Exit

170

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Hie¹⁷⁰ thee, gentle Jew.

Exit

This Hebrew will turn Christian, he grows kind.¹⁷¹

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Come on, in this there can be no dismay.

My ships come home a month before the day.

Exeunt

Act 2 [Scene 1]^2.1

running scene 4

Enter Morocco, a tawny Moor, all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with

Portia, Nerissa and their train. Flourish cornets

MOROCCO

MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadowed livery² of the burnished sun,

To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.³

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

5 Where Phoebus’⁵ fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And let us make incision⁶ for your love,

To prove whose blood is reddest,⁷ his or mine.

I tell thee, lady, this aspect⁸ of mine

Hath feared⁹ the valiant. By my love I swear,

10 The best-regarded virgins of our clime¹⁰

Have loved it too: I would not change this hue,¹¹

Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

PORTIA

PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led

By nice¹⁴ direction of a maiden’s eyes.

15 Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.

But if my father had not scanted¹⁷ me,

And hedged¹⁸ me by his wit to yield myself

His¹⁹ wife who wins me by that means I told you,

20 Yourself, renownèd prince, then²⁰ stood as fair

As any comer I have looked on yet

For²² my affection.

MOROCCO

MOROCCO Even for that I thank you:

Therefore, I pray you lead me to the caskets

25 To try my fortune. By this scimitar²⁵

That slew the Sophy²⁶ and a Persian prince

That won three fields²⁷ of Sultan Solyman,

I would o’erstare²⁸ the sternest eyes that look,

Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,

30 Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,

Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey

To win thee, lady. But alas the while!

If Hercules³³ and Lichas play at dice

Which is the better man, the greater throw

35 May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:

So is Alcides³⁶ beaten by his page,

And so may I, blind fortune leading me,

Miss that which one unworthier may attain,

And die with grieving.

PORTIA

PORTIA You must take your chance,

And either not attempt to choose at all

Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong

Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage: therefore be advised.⁴⁴

MOROCCO

MOROCCO Nor will not.⁴⁵ Come, bring me unto my chance.

PORTIA

PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Your hazard⁴⁷ shall be made.

MOROCCO

MOROCCO Good fortune then!

To make me blest or cursed’st among men.

Cornets [and] exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 2]^2.2

running scene 5

Enter the Clown [Lancelet] alone

LANCELET

LANCELET Certainly my conscience will serve¹ me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me, ‘Gobbo,² Lancelet Gobbo, good Lancelet’, or ‘Good Gobbo’, or ‘Good Lancelet Gobbo, use your legs, take the start,⁴ run away.’ My conscience says, ‘No; take heed, honest Lancelet, take heed, honest Gobbo’, or, as aforesaid, ‘Honest Lancelet Gobbo, do not run, scorn running with thy heels.’⁶ Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack: ‘Fia!’ says the fiend, ‘Away!’ says the fiend, ‘For the heavens,⁷ rouse up a brave mind’, says the fiend, ‘and run.’ Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, ‘My honest⁹ friend Lancelet, being an honest man’s son’, or rather an honest woman’s son — for indeed my father did something¹⁰ smack, something grow to,¹¹ he had a kind of taste — well, my conscience says ‘Lancelet, budge not.’ ‘Budge’, says the fiend. ‘Budge not’, says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, God¹⁴ bless the mark, is a kind of devil; and to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence,¹⁶ is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation,¹⁷ and in my conscience, my conscience is a kind of hard conscience to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew; the fiend gives the more friendly counsel. I will run, fiend. My heels are at your commandment. I will run.

Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket

GOBBO

GOBBO Master young man, you, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew’s?

LANCELET

LANCELET Aside O heavens, this is my true-begotten²¹ father, who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel-blind,²² knows me not. I will try confusions with him.

GOBBO

GOBBO Master young gentleman, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew’s?

LANCELET

LANCELET Turn upon your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand,²⁵ but turn down indirectly²⁶ to the Jew’s house.

GOBBO

GOBBO By God’s sonties,²⁷ ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Lancelet, that dwells with him, dwell with him or no?

LANCELET

LANCELET Talk you of young Master Lancelet?— Aside Mark me now, now will I raise²⁹ the waters.— Talk you of young Master Lancelet?

GOBBO

GOBBO No master,³¹ sir, but a poor man’s son. His father, though I say’t, is an honest exceeding poor man and, God be thanked, well to live.³²

LANCELET

LANCELET Well, let his father be what a³³ will, we talk of young Master Lancelet.

GOBBO

GOBBO Your worship’s friend and Lancelet.³⁴

LANCELET

LANCELET But I pray you ergo,³⁵ old man, ergo, I beseech you talk you of young Master Lancelet?

GOBBO

GOBBO Of Lancelet, an’t³⁷ please your mastership.

LANCELET

LANCELET Ergo, Master Lancelet. Talk not of Master Lancelet, father,³⁸ for the young gentleman — according to fates and destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters³⁹ Three and such branches of learning — is indeed deceased, or as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.

GOBBO

GOBBO Marry, God forbid! The boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.

LANCELET

LANCELET Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post,⁴³ a staff or a prop? Do you know me, father?

GOBBO

GOBBO Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman, but I pray you tell me, is my boy, God rest his soul, alive or dead?

LANCELET

LANCELET Do you not know me, father?

GOBBO

GOBBO Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.

LANCELET

LANCELET Nay, indeed if you had your eyes you might fail of the knowing⁴⁹ me: it is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son. Give me your blessing. Truth will come to light, murder cannot be hid long, a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.

GOBBO

GOBBO Pray you, sir, stand up. He kneels I am sure you are not Lancelet, my boy.

LANCELET

LANCELET Pray you let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelet, your⁵⁵ boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

GOBBO

GOBBO I cannot think you are my son.

LANCELET

LANCELET I know not what I shall think of that. But I am Lancelet, the Jew’s man, and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.

GOBBO

GOBBO Her name is Margery,⁵⁹ indeed. I’ll be sworn, if thou be Lancelet, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be! What a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse⁶¹ has on his tail.

LANCELET

LANCELET It should seem, then, that Dobbin’s tail grows backward.⁶³ He rises I am sure he had more hair of⁶⁴ his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.

GOBBO

GOBBO Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree?⁶⁵ I have brought him a present. How ’gree you now?

LANCELET

LANCELET Well, well. But for mine own part, as I have set⁶⁷ up my rest to run away, so I will not rest⁶⁸ till I have run some ground; my master’s a very Jew. Give him a present? Give him a halter!⁶⁹ I am famished in his service. You may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come. Give me⁷⁰ your present to one Master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare⁷¹ new liveries. If I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune! Here comes the man. To him, father, for I am a Jew⁷³ if I serve the Jew any longer.

Enter Bassanio, with a follower or two [including Leonardo]

BASSANIO

BASSANIO To a Servant You may do so, but let it be so hasted⁷⁴ that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See these letters delivered, put the liveries to making, and desire Gratiano to come anon⁷⁶ to my lodging.

[Exit a Servant]

LANCELET

LANCELET To him, father.

GOBBO

GOBBO God bless your worship! Comes forward

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Gramercy!⁷⁹ Wouldst thou aught with me?

GOBBO

GOBBO Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy—

LANCELET

LANCELET Not a poor⁸¹ boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man, that would, sir, as my father shall specify—

GOBBO

GOBBO He hath a great infection,⁸³ sir, as one would say, to serve—

LANCELET

LANCELET Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew and have a desire, as my father shall specify—

GOBBO

GOBBO His master and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce⁸⁶ cater-cousins—

LANCELET

LANCELET To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify⁸⁹ unto you—

GOBBO

GOBBO I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is—

LANCELET

LANCELET In very brief, the suit is impertinent⁹² to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man, and though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO One speak for both. What would you?

LANCELET

LANCELET Serve you, sir.

GOBBO

GOBBO That is the very defect⁹⁷ of the matter, sir.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I know thee well, thou hast obtained thy suit.

Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,

100

100 And hath preferred¹⁰⁰ thee, if it be preferment

To leave a rich Jew’s service, to become

The follower of so poor a gentleman.

LANCELET

LANCELET The old proverb¹⁰³ is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.

105

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Thou speak’st it well. Go, father, with thy son.

Take leave of thy old master and inquire¹⁰⁶

My lodging out.— Give him a livery To a Servant

More guarded¹⁰⁸ than his fellows’. See it done.

LANCELET

LANCELET Father, in. I cannot get a service, no. Points to his palm I have ne’er a tongue in my head. Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table¹¹⁰ which doth offer to swear upon a book,¹¹¹ I shall have good fortune. Go to, here’s a simple line of life, here’s a small trifle¹¹² of wives. Alas, fifteen wives is nothing! Eleven widows and nine maids is a simple¹¹³ coming-in for one man, and then to scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge¹¹⁴ of a feather-bed. Here are simple scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, she’s a good wench for this gear.¹¹⁵ Father, come; I’ll take my leave of the¹¹⁶ Jew in the twinkling.

Exit Clown [Lancelet with Old Gobbo]

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I pray thee good Leonardo, think on this. Gives a list

These things being bought and orderly bestowed,¹¹⁸

Return in haste, for I do feast¹¹⁹ tonight

120

120 My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee, go.

LEONARDO

LEONARDO My best endeavours shall be done herein.¹²¹

Enter Grattano

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Where’s your master?

LEONARDO

LEONARDO Yonder, sir, he walks.

Exit

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Signior Bassanio!

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Gratiano!

GRATIANO

GRATIANO I have a suit to you.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO You have obtained it.¹²⁷

GRATIANO

GRATIANO You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano,

130

130 Thou art too wild, too rude¹³⁰ and bold of voice,

Parts¹³¹ that become thee happily enough

And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;

But where they are not known, why, there they show ¹³³

Something too liberal.¹³⁴ Pray thee take pain

135

135 To allay¹³⁵ with some cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping¹³⁶ spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour

I be misconstered¹³⁷ in the place I go to,

And lose my hopes.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Signior Bassanio, hear me:

140

140 If I do not put on a sober habit,¹⁴⁰

Talk with respect and swear but¹⁴¹ now and then,

Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,

Nay more, while grace is saying,¹⁴³ hood mine eyes

Thus with my hat, and sigh and say ‘Amen’, Covers his face

145

145 Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied¹⁴⁶ in a sad ostent

To please his grandam,¹⁴⁷ never trust me more.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Well, we shall see your bearing.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Nay, but I bar¹⁴⁹ tonight. You shall not gauge me

150

150 By what we do tonight.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO No, that were pity.

I would entreat you rather to put on

Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends

That purpose¹⁵⁴ merriment. But fare you well.

155

155 I have some business.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO And I must to Lorenzo and the rest,

But we will visit you at suppertime.

Exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 3]^2.3

running scene 6

Enter Jessica and the Clown [Lancelet]

JESSICA

JESSICA I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,

Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness;

But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee. Gives money

5 And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see

Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest:

Give him this letter. Do it secretly. Gives a letter

And so farewell. I would not have my father

See me talk with thee.

LANCELET

LANCELET Adieu! Tears exhibit¹⁰ my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a Christian did not play the knave and get¹¹ thee, I am much deceived; but adieu. These foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit. Adieu.

Exit

JESSICA

JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelet.

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me

15 To be ashamed to be my father’s child!

But though I am a daughter to his blood,

I am not to his manners.¹⁷ O Lorenzo,

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,¹⁸

Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

Exit

[Act 2 Scene 4]

running scene 7

Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salerio and Solanio

LORENZO

LORENZO Nay, we will slink away in ¹ suppertime,

Disguise us at my lodging and return

All in an hour.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO We have not made good preparation.

SALERIO

SALERIO We have not spoke⁵ us yet of torchbearers.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO ’Tis vile,⁶ unless it may be quaintly ordered,

And better in my mind not undertook.

LORENZO

LORENZO ’Tis now but four of clock. We have two hours

To furnish us.⁹— Friend Lancelet, what’s the news?

Enter Lancelet, with a letter

LANCELET

LANCELET An¹⁰ it shall please you to break up this, shall it seem to signify. Gives him the letter

LORENZO

LORENZO I know the hand.¹¹ In faith, ’tis a fair hand,

And whiter than the paper it writ on

Is the fair hand that writ.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Love-news, in faith.

LANCELET

LANCELET By your leave,¹⁵ sir. Starts to leave

LORENZO

LORENZO Whither goest thou?

LANCELET

LANCELET Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup¹⁷ tonight with my new master the Christian.

LORENZO

LORENZO Hold here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica Gives money

I will not fail her. Speak it privately.

Go,²¹ gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque²² tonight?

I am provided of²³ a torchbearer.

Exit Clown [Lancelet]

SALERIO

SALERIO Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO And so will I.

LORENZO

LORENZO Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano’s lodging some²⁷ hour hence.

SALERIO

SALERIO ’Tis good we do so.

Exit [Salerio with Solanio]

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

LORENZO

LORENZO I must needs³⁰ tell thee all. She hath directed

How I shall take her from her father’s house,

What gold and jewels she is furnished with,

What page’s suit she hath in readiness.

If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven,

It will be for his gentle³⁵ daughter’s sake;

And never dare misfortune cross her foot,³⁶

Unless she³⁷ do it under this excuse,

That she³⁸ is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me, peruse this as thou goest. Gives the letter

Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer.

Exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 5]

running scene 8

Enter [Shylock the] Jew and [Lancelet,] his man that was, the Clown

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Well, thou shall see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,

The difference of² old Shylock and Bassanio.—

What, Jessica! — Thou shalt not gormandize³

As thou hast done with me— What, Jessica!—

5 And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ⁵—

Why, Jessica, I say!

LANCELET

LANCELET Why, Jessica!

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.

LANCELET

LANCELET Your worship was wont⁹ to tell me

I could do nothing without bidding.

Enter Jessica

JESSICA

JESSICA Call you? What is your will?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I am bid forth¹² to supper, Jessica.

There are my keys. But wherefore¹³ should I go?

I am not bid for love, they flatter me.

15 But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon¹⁵

The prodigal¹⁶ Christian. Jessica, my girl,

Look to¹⁷ my house. I am right loath to go.

There is some ill¹⁸ a-brewing towards my rest,

For I did dream of money-bags tonight.¹⁹

LANCELET

LANCELET I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect²⁰ your reproach.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK So do I his.

LANCELET

LANCELET An they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a masque, but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding²³ on Black²⁴ Monday last at six o’clock i’th’morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year, in th’afternoon.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica:

Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum

And the vile squealing of the wry-necked²⁸ fife,

Clamber not you up to the casements²⁹ then,

30 Nor thrust your head into the public street

To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces,³¹

But stop³² my house’s ears, I mean my casements.

Let not the sound of shallow fopp’ry³³ enter

My sober house. By Jacob’s staff,³⁴ I swear,

35 I have no mind of³⁵ feasting forth tonight,

But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah,

Say I will come.

LANCELET

LANCELET I will go before, sir.— Mistress, look out at window, for³⁸ all this, Aside to Jessica

There will come a Christian by,

40 Will be worth a Jewès⁴⁰ eye.

[Exit Lancelet]

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring,⁴¹ ha?

JESSICA

JESSICA His words were ‘Farewell mistress’, nothing else.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK The patch⁴³ is kind enough, but a huge feeder,

Snail-slow in profit,⁴⁴ but he sleeps by day

45 More than the wild-cat. Drones⁴⁵ hive not with me:

Therefore I part with him, and part with him

To one that I would have him help to waste

His borrowed purse. Well, Jessica, go in.

Perhaps I will return immediately.

50 Do as I bid you, shut doors after you.

Fast ⁵¹ bind, fast find —

A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.

Exit

JESSICA

JESSICA Farewell, and if my fortune be not crossed,⁵³

I have a father, you a daughter lost.

Exit

[Act 2 Scene 6]

running scene 9

Enter the masquers, Gratiano and Salerio

GRATIANO

GRATIANO This is the penthouse¹ under which Lorenzo

Desired us to make a stand.²

SALERIO

SALERIO His³ hour is almost past.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO And it is marvel⁴ he out-dwells his hour,

5 For lovers ever⁵ run before the clock.

SALERIO

SALERIO O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons⁶ fly

To seal love’s bonds new-made, than they are wont

To keep obligèd⁸ faith unforfeited!

GRATIANO

GRATIANO That ever⁹ holds: who riseth from a feast

10 With that¹⁰ keen appetite that he sits down?

Where is the horse that doth untread¹¹ again

His tedious measures¹² with the unbated fire

That he did pace them first? All things that are,

Are with more spirit chasèd than enjoyed.

15 How like a younger¹⁵ or a prodigal

The scarfèd¹⁶ bark puts from her native bay,

Hugged and embracèd by the strumpet¹⁷ wind!

How like a prodigal doth she return,

With over-withered ribs¹⁹ and ragged sails,

20 Lean, rent²⁰ and beggared by the strumpet wind!

Enter Lorenzo

SALERIO

SALERIO Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter.

LORENZO

LORENZO Sweet friends, your²² patience for my long abode:

Not I but my affairs have made you wait.

When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,

25 I’ll watch²⁵ as long for you then. Approach.

Here dwells my father²⁶ Jew. Ho! Who’s within?

[Enter] Jessica above [in boy’s clothes]

JESSICA

JESSICA Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,

Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.²⁸

LORENZO

LORENZO Lorenzo, and thy love.

JESSICA

JESSICA Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed,

For who love I so much? And now who knows

But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?

LORENZO

LORENZO Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.

JESSICA

JESSICA Here, catch this casket, it is worth the pains.

35 I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me,

For I am much ashamed of my exchange.³⁶

But love is blind and lovers cannot see

The pretty³⁸ follies that themselves commit,

For if they could, Cupid³⁹ himself would blush

40 To see me thus transformèd to a boy.

LORENZO

LORENZO Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.

JESSICA

JESSICA What, must I hold ⁴² a candle to my shames?

They in themselves, good sooth,⁴³ are too too light.

Why, ’tis an office of discovery,⁴⁴ love,

45 And I should be obscured.

LORENZO

LORENZO So you are, sweet,

Even in the lovely garnish⁴⁷ of a boy.

But come at once,

For the close⁴⁹ night doth play the runaway,

50 And we are stayed for⁵⁰ at Bassanio’s feast.

JESSICA

JESSICA I will make fast⁵¹ the doors and gild myself

With some more ducats, and be with you straight.

[Exit above]

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Now, by my hood, a gentle⁵³ and no Jew.

LORENZO

LORENZO Beshrew⁵⁴ me but I love her heartily.

55 For she is wise, if I can judge of her,

And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,⁵⁶

And true⁵⁷ she is, as she hath proved herself,

And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,

Shall she be placèd in my constant soul.

Enter Jessica [below]

60 What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away!

Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.⁶¹

Exit [with Jessica and Salerio]

Enter Antonio

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Who’s there?

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Signior Antonio?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Fie, fie, Gratiano! Where are all the rest?

65 ’Tis nine o’clock: our friends all stay for you.

No masque tonight, the wind is come about.⁶⁶

Bassanio presently will go aboard.

I have sent twenty out to seek for you.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO I am glad on’t. I desire no more delight

70 Than to be under sail and gone tonight.

Exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 7]^2.7

running scene 10

[Flourish of cornets.] Enter Portia with [the Prince of] Morocco and both their trains

PORTIA

PORTIA Go, draw aside the curtains and discover¹

The several² caskets to this noble prince.

Now make your choice. The curtains are opened

MOROCCO

MOROCCO The first, of gold, who⁴ this inscription bears:

5 ‘Who⁵ chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’

The second, silver, which this promise carries,

‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’

This third, dull⁸ lead, with warning all as blunt,

‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’

10 How shall I know if I do choose the right?

PORTIA

PORTIA The one of them contains my picture, prince.

If you choose that, then I am yours withal.¹²

MOROCCO

MOROCCO Some god direct my judgement! Let me see.

I will survey the inscriptions back¹⁴ again.

15 What says this leaden casket?

‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’

Must give: for what? For lead? Hazard for lead?

This casket threatens. Men that hazard all

Do it in hope of fair advantages:

20 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross,²⁰

I’ll then nor²¹ give nor hazard aught for lead.

What says the silver with her virgin hue?²²

‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’

As much as he deserves; pause there, Morocco,

25 And weigh²⁵ thy value with an even hand:

If thou be’st rated²⁶ by thy estimation,

Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough

May not extend so far as to the lady.

And yet to be afeard of my deserving

30 Were but a weak disabling³⁰ of myself.

As much as I deserve? Why, that’s the lady.

I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,

In graces and in qualities of breeding,

But more than these, in love I do deserve.

35 What if I strayed no further, but chose here?

Let’s see once more this saying graved³⁶ in gold:

‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’

Why, that’s the lady, all the world desires her.

From the four corners of the earth they come,

40 To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing⁴⁰ saint.

The Hyrcanian deserts⁴¹ and the vasty wilds

Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now

For princes to come view fair Portia.

The watery kingdom,⁴⁴ whose ambitious head

45 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar

To stop the foreign spirits,⁴⁶ but they come,

As o’er a brook, to see fair Portia.

One of these three contains her heavenly picture.

Is’t like⁴⁹ that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation

50 To think so base⁵⁰ a thought, it were too gross

To rib⁵¹ her cerecloth in the obscure grave.

Or shall I think in silver she’s immured,⁵²

Being ten times undervalued to⁵³ trièd gold?

O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem

55 Was set⁵⁵ in worse than gold! They have in England

A coin that bears the figure of an angel⁵⁶

Stamped in gold, but that’s insculped⁵⁷ upon,

But here an angel in a golden bed

Lies all within. Deliver me the key:

60 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

PORTIA

PORTIA There, take it, prince, and if my form⁶¹ lie there,

Then I am yours. He unlocks the gold casket

MOROCCO

MOROCCO O hell! What have we here?

A carrion⁶⁴ Death, within whose empty eye

65 There is a written scroll; I’ll read the writing.

‘All that glisters is not gold, Reads

Often have you heard that told;

Many a man his life hath sold

But ⁶⁹ my outside to behold.

70 Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgement old,⁷²

Your answer had not been inscrolled:⁷³

Fare you well, your suit is cold.’

75 Cold, indeed, and labour lost.

Then farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!

Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart

To take a tedious⁷⁸ leave. Thus losers part.

Exit [with his train. Flourish of cornets]

PORTIA

PORTIA A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go.

80 Let all of his complexion⁸⁰ choose me so.

[They close the curtains and] exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 8]^2.8

running scene 11

Enter Salerio and Solanio

SALERIO

SALERIO Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail.

With him is Gratiano gone along;

And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO The villain Jew with outcries raised⁴ the duke,

5 Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.

SALERIO

SALERIO He comes too late, the ship was under sail;

But there the duke was given to understand

That in a gondola were seen together

Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica.

10 Besides, Antonio certified the duke

They were not with Bassanio in his ship.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO I never heard a passion¹² so confused,

So strange, outrageous,¹³ and so variable,

As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:

15 ‘My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!

Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!

Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!

A sealèd bag, two sealèd bags of ducats,

Of double ducats,¹⁹ stol’n from me by my daughter!

20 And jewels, two stones,²⁰ two rich and precious stones,

Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl,

She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.’

SALERIO

SALERIO Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,

Crying, his stones,²⁴ his daughter, and his ducats.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Let good Antonio look²⁵ he keep his day,

Or he shall pay for this.

SALERIO

SALERIO Marry, well remembered.

I reasoned²⁸ with a Frenchman yesterday,

Who told me, in the narrow²⁹ seas that part

30 The French and English there miscarried³⁰

A vessel of our country richly fraught.³¹

I thought upon³² Antonio when he told me,

And wished in silence that it were not his.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO You were best to tell Antonio what you hear;

35 Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.

SALERIO

SALERIO A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.

I saw Bassanio and Antonio part:

Bassanio told him he would make some speed

Of his return. He answered, ‘Do not so,

40 Slubber ⁴⁰ not business for my sake, Bassanio,

But stay⁴¹ the very riping of the time.

And for⁴² the Jew’s bond which he hath of me,

Let it not enter in your mind of⁴³ love.

Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts

45 To courtship and such fair ostents⁴⁵ of love

As shall conveniently become you⁴⁶ there.’

And even there,⁴⁷ his eye being big with tears,

Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,

And with affection wondrous sensible⁴⁹

50 He wrung Bassanio’s hand, and so they parted.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO I think he⁵¹ only loves the world for him.

I pray thee let us go and find him out,

And quicken⁵³ his embracèd heaviness

With some delight or other.

SALERIO

SALERIO Do we so.

Exeunt

[Act 2 Scene 9]^2.9

running scene 12

Enter Nerissa and a Servitor

NERISSA

NERISSA Quick, quick, I pray thee draw the curtain straight.¹ The Servitor opens the curtains

The Prince of Aragon² hath ta’en his oath,

And comes to his election³ presently.

Enter [the Prince of] Aragon, his train and Portia. Flourish of cornets

PORTIA

PORTIA Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince.

5 If you choose that wherein I am contained,

Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.

But if thou fail, without more speech, my lord,

You must be gone from hence immediately.

ARAGON

ARAGON I am enjoined⁹ by oath to observe three things:

10 First, never to unfold¹⁰ to anyone

Which casket ’twas I chose; next, if I fail

Of¹² the right casket, never in my life

To woo a maid in way of marriage. Lastly,

If I do fail in fortune of my choice,

15 Immediately to leave you and be gone.

PORTIA

PORTIA To these injunctions everyone doth swear

That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

ARAGON

ARAGON And so have I addressed me.¹⁸ Fortune now

To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.

20 ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’

You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.

What says the golden chest? Ha? Let me see:

‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’

What many men desire — that ‘many’ may be meant

25 By ²⁵ the fool multitude that choose by show,

Not learning more than the fond²⁶ eye doth teach,

Which pries²⁷ not to th’interior, but like the martlet

Builds in²⁸ the weather on the outward wall,

Even in the force²⁹ and road of casualty.

30 I will not choose what many men desire,

Because I will not jump³¹ with common spirits

And rank me with the barb’rous multitudes.

Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house.

Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:

35 ‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’

And well said too, for who shall go about

To cozen³⁷ fortune and be honourable

Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume

To wear an undeservèd dignity.

40 O, that estates, degrees⁴⁰ and offices

Were not derived corruptly, and that clear⁴¹ honour

Were purchased⁴² by the merit of the wearer!

How many then should cover⁴³ that stand bare!

How many be commanded that command!

45 How much low peasantry would then be gleaned⁴⁵

From the true seed⁴⁶ of honour! And how much honour

Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times

To be new-varnished!⁴⁸ Well, but to my choice:

‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’

50 I will assume⁵⁰ desert; give me a key for this,

And instantly unlock my fortunes here. He opens the silver casket

PORTIA

PORTIA Too long a pause for that which you find there. Aside?

ARAGON

ARAGON What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot

Presenting me a schedule!⁵⁴ I will read it.

55 How much unlike art thou to Portia.

How much unlike my hopes and my deservings.

‘Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.’

Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head?

Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?

PORTIA

PORTIA To⁶⁰ offend and judge are distinct offices

And of opposèd natures.

ARAGON

ARAGON What is here?

‘The fire seven times tried this:⁶³ Reads

Seven times tried that judgement⁶⁴ is

65 That did never choose amiss.⁶⁵

Some there be that shadows⁶⁶ kiss,

Such have but a shadow’s bliss.

There be fools alive, iwis,⁶⁸

Silvered⁶⁹ o’er, and so was this.

70 Take what wife you will to bed,

I⁷¹ will ever be your head.

So begone: you are sped.⁷²’

Still more fool I shall appear

By the time⁷⁴ I linger here.

75 With one fool’s head I came to woo,

But I go away with two.

Sweet, adieu. I’ll keep my oath,

Patiently to bear my wroth.⁷⁸

[Exeunt Aragon and train]

PORTIA

PORTIA Thus hath the candle singed the moth.

80 O, these deliberate⁸⁰ fools! When they do choose,

They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

NERISSA

NERISSA The ancient saying is no heresy:

Hanging and wiving⁸³ goes by destiny.

PORTIA

PORTIA Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Nerissa closes the curtains

Enter Messenger

MESSENGER

MESSENGER Where is my lady?

PORTIA

PORTIA Here, what would my lord?⁸⁶

MESSENGER

MESSENGER Madam, there is alighted at your gate

A young Venetian, one that comes before

To signify th’approaching of his lord,

90 From whom he bringeth sensible regreets:

To wit,⁹¹ besides commends and courteous breath,

Gifts of rich value; yet⁹² I have not seen

So likely an ambassador of love.

A day in April never came so sweet

95 To show how costly⁹⁵ summer was at hand,

As this fore-spurrer⁹⁶ comes before his lord.

PORTIA

PORTIA No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard

Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,

Thou spend’st such high-day⁹⁹ wit in praising him.

100

100 Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see

Quick Cupid’s post¹⁰¹ that comes so mannerly.

NERISSA

NERISSA Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!

Exeunt

Act 3 [Scene 1]^3.1

running scene 13

Enter Solanio and Salerio

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Now, what news on the Rialto?

SALERIO

SALERIO Why, yet it² lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas;³ the Goodwins, I think they call the place, a very dangerous flat⁴ and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip’s⁵ report be an honest woman of her word.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped⁶ ginger or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband. But it is true, without any slips of prolixity⁸ or crossing the plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio — O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company!—

SALERIO

SALERIO Come,¹¹ the full stop.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Ha, what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he hath lost a ship.

SALERIO

SALERIO I would it might prove¹³ the end of his losses.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Let me say ‘amen’ betimes,¹⁴ lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. How now, Shylock! What news among the merchants?

Enter Shylock

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight.

SALERIO

SALERIO That’s certain. I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings ¹⁸ she flew withal.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledged.²⁰ and then it is the complexion²¹ of them all to leave the dam.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK She is damned for it.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO That’s certain, if the devil²³ may be her judge.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK My own flesh and blood²⁴ to rebel!

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Out upon it,²⁵ old carrion! Rebels it at these years?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood.

SALERIO

SALERIO There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory,²⁷ more between your bloods than there is between red wine and Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK There I have another bad match:³⁰ a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto, a beggar that was used to come so smug upon the mart.³² Let him look to his bond. He was wont to call me usurer. Let him look to his bond. He was wont to lend money for³³ a Christian courtesy. Let him look to his bond.

SALERIO

SALERIO Why, I am sure if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me³⁸ half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled³⁹ my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s the reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions,⁴¹ senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what⁴⁶ is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance⁴⁷ be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but⁴⁹ I will better the instruction.

Enter a man from Antonio

SERVANT

SERVANT Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both.

SALERIO

SALERIO We have been up and down⁵² to seek him.

Enter Tubal

SOLANIO

SOLANIO Here comes another of the tribe.⁵³ A third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew.

Exeunt Gentlemen [Solanio, Salerio and Servant]

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK How now, Tubal, what news from Genoa?⁵⁵ Hast thou found my daughter?

TUBAL

TUBAL I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Why, there, there, there, there! A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt!⁵⁸ The curse never fell upon our nation till now, I never felt it till now. Two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed⁶¹ at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so —and I know not how much is spent in the search. Why, thou loss upon loss! The thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief, and no satisfaction,⁶³ no revenge, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights ⁶⁴ o’my shoulders, no sighs but o’my breathing, no tears but o’my shedding.

TUBAL

TUBAL Yes, other men have ill luck too. Antonio, as I heard in Genoa—

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?

TUBAL

TUBAL —hath an argosy cast away,⁶⁸ coming from Tripolis.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, is it true?

TUBAL

TUBAL I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I thank thee, good Tubal, good news, good news! Ha, ha, heard in Genoa?

TUBAL

TUBAL Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night fourscore⁷² ducats.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Thou stick’st a dagger in me. I shall never see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting,⁷⁴ fourscore ducats!

TUBAL

TUBAL There came divers⁷⁵ of Antonio’s creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose but break.⁷⁶

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I am very glad of it. I’ll plague him, I’ll torture him. I am glad of it.

TUBAL

TUBAL One of⁷⁸ them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Out upon her!⁷⁹ Thou torturest me, Tubal. It was my turquoise, I had it of Leah⁸⁰ when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.

TUBAL

TUBAL But Antonio is certainly undone.⁸²

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Nay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, fee⁸³ me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before.⁸⁴ I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit, for were he out of Venice I can make what⁸⁵ merchandise I will. Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. Go, good Tubal, at our synagogue, Tubal.

Exeunt [separately]

[Act 3 Scene 2]^3.2

running scene 14

Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, [Nerissa] and all their trains

PORTIA

PORTIA I pray you tarry.¹ Pause a day or two

Before you hazard, for in choosing² wrong

I lose your company: therefore forbear³ awhile.

There’s something tells me, but it is not love,

5 I would not lose you, and you know yourself,

Hate counsels not in such a quality;⁶

But lest you should not understand me well —

And⁸ yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought —

I would detain you here some month or two

10 Before you venture¹⁰ for me. I could teach you

How to choose right, but then I am forsworn.¹¹

So¹² will I never be. So may you miss me.

But if you do, you’ll make me wish a sin,

That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes,

15 They have o’erlooked¹⁵ me and divided me.

One half of me is yours, the other half yours,

Mine own, I would¹⁷ say. But if mine, then yours,

And so all yours. O, these naughty¹⁸ times

Puts bars¹⁹ between the owners and their rights!

20 And so, though²⁰ yours, not yours. Prove it so,

Let fortune go to hell for it, not I.

I speak too long, but ’tis to peise²² the time,

To eke ²³ it and to draw it out in length,

To stay²⁴ you from election.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Let me choose,

For as I am, I live upon the rack.²⁶

PORTIA

PORTIA Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess

What treason there is mingled with your love.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO None but that ugly treason of mistrust,²⁹

30 Which makes me fear³⁰ the enjoying of my love.

There may as well be amity and life

’Tween snow and fire, as³² treason and my love.

PORTIA

PORTIA Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack,

Where men enforcèd³⁴ do speak anything.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Promise me life, and I’ll confess the truth.

PORTIA

PORTIA Well then, confess and live.³⁶

BASSANIO

BASSANIO ‘Confess and love’

Had been the very sum of my confession.

O happy torment, when my torturer

40 Doth teach me answers for deliverance!⁴⁰

But let me to⁴¹ my fortune and the caskets.

PORTIA

PORTIA Away, then! I am locked in one of them.

If you do love me, you will find me out.

Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof.⁴⁴

45 Let music sound while he doth make his choice,

Then if he lose, he makes a swan-like end,⁴⁶

Fading in music. That the comparison

May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream

And wat’ry death-bed for him. He may win,

50 And what is music then? Then music is

Even as the flourish⁵¹ when true subjects bow

To a new-crownèd monarch. Such it is,

As are those dulcet⁵³ sounds in break of day,

That creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear,

55 And summon him to marriage. Now he goes,

With no less presence,⁵⁶ but with much more love,

Than young Alcides,⁵⁷ when he did redeem

The virgin tribute paid by howling⁵⁸ Troy

To the sea-monster. I stand for⁵⁹ sacrifice,

60 The rest aloof are the Dardanian⁶⁰ wives,

With blearèd visages,⁶¹ come forth to view

The issue⁶² of th’exploit. Go, Hercules!

Live thou,⁶³ I live. With much, much more dismay

I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.⁶⁴

Here music

A song the whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself

[SINGER]

[SINGER] Tell me where is fancy⁶⁵ bred,

Or⁶⁶ in the heart, or in the head?

How begot,⁶⁷ how nourishèd?

Reply, reply.

It is engendered in the eyes,

465 With gazing fed, and fancy dies

In the cradle⁷¹ where it lies.

Let us all ring fancy’s knell.⁷²

I’ll begin it — Ding, dong, bell.

ALL

ALL Ding, dong, bell.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO So may the outward shows be least themselves,⁷⁵

The world is still⁷⁶ deceived with ornament.

In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,

But, being seasoned with a gracious⁷⁸ voice,

Obscures the show of evil? In religion,

80 What damnèd error, but some sober brow⁸⁰

Will bless it and approve⁸¹ it with a text,

Hiding the grossness⁸² with fair ornament?

There is no vice so simple⁸³ but assumes

Some mark of virtue on his⁸⁴ outward parts;

85 How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false

As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins

The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars,⁸⁷

Who, inward searched,⁸⁸ have livers white as milk.

And these assume but valour’s excrement⁸⁹

90 To render them redoubted.⁹⁰ Look on beauty,

And you shall see ’tis purchased by the weight,

Which therein works a miracle in nature,

Making them lightest⁹³ that wear most of it:

So are those crispèd⁹⁴ snaky golden locks

95 Which makes such wanton⁹⁵ gambols with the wind

Upon supposèd fairness,⁹⁶ often known

To be the dowry⁹⁷ of a second head,

The skull that bred them in the sepulchre.

Thus ornament is but the guilèd⁹⁹ shore

100

100 To a most dangerous sea, the beauteous scarf

Veiling an Indian¹⁰¹ beauty; in a word,

The seeming truth which cunning times put on

To entrap the wisest. Therefore, then, thou gaudy¹⁰³ gold,

Hard food for Midas,¹⁰⁴ I will none of thee;

105

105 Nor none of thee,¹⁰⁵ thou pale and common drudge

’Tween man and man. But thou, thou meagre lead,

Which rather threaten’st than dost promise aught,

Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence,

And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!

110

PORTIA

PORTIA How all the other passions fleet¹¹⁰ to air, Aside

As¹¹¹ doubtful thoughts and rash-embraced despair

And shudd’ring fear and green-eyed jealousy!

O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy,

In measure¹¹⁴ rain thy joy, scant this excess.

115

115 I feel too much thy blessing. Make it less,

For fear I surfeit.¹¹⁶

BASSANIO

BASSANIO What find I here? He opens the lead casket

Fair Portia’s counterfeit!¹¹⁸ What demigod

Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes?¹¹⁹

120

120 Or whether,¹²⁰ riding on the balls of mine,

Seem they in motion? Here are severed¹²¹ lips,

Parted with sugar breath, so sweet a bar¹²²

Should sunder¹²³ such sweet friends. Here in her hairs

The painter plays the spider, and hath woven

125

125 A golden mesh t’entrap the hearts of men

Faster¹²⁶ than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes —

How could he see to do them? Having made one,

Methinks it¹²⁸ should have power to steal both his

And leave itself unfurnished.¹²⁹ Yet look how far

130

130 The substance¹³⁰ of my praise doth wrong this shadow

In underprizing it, so far this shadow

Doth limp behind the substance. Here’s the scroll,

The continent¹³³ and summary of my fortune.

‘You that choose not by the view Reads

135

135 Chance as fair¹³⁵ and choose as true.

Since this fortune falls to you,

Be content and seek no new.

If you be well pleased with this

And hold your fortune for your bliss,

140

140 Turn you where your lady is

And claim her with a loving kiss.’

A gentle scroll. Fair lady, by your leave,

I come by note¹⁴³ to give and to receive.

Like one of two contending in a prize¹⁴⁴

145

145 That thinks he hath done well in people’s eyes,

Hearing applause and universal shout,

Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt

Whether those peals of praise be his¹⁴⁸ or no,

So, thrice-fair lady, stand I, even so,

150

150 As doubtful whether what I see be true,

Until confirmed, signed, ratified¹⁵¹ by you.

PORTIA

PORTIA You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand,

Such as I am; though for myself alone

I would not be ambitious in my wish,

155

155 To wish myself much better, yet for you

I would be trebled twenty times myself,

A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich,

That only to stand high in your account,¹⁵⁸

I might in virtues, beauties, livings,¹⁵⁹ friends,

160

160 Exceed account.¹⁶⁰ But the full sum of me

Is sum of nothing, which to term in gross¹⁶¹

Is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractisèd,¹⁶²

Happy in this, she is not yet so old

But she may learn. Happier than this,

165

165 She is not bred so dull but she can learn;

Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit

Commits itself to yours to be directed,

As from her lord, her governor, her king.

Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours

170

170 Is now converted.¹⁷⁰ But now I was the lord

Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,

Queen o’er myself, and even now, but now,

This house, these servants and this same myself

Are yours, my lord. I give them with this ring,

175

175 Which when you part from, lose or give away,

Let it presage ¹⁷⁶ the ruin of your love

And be my vantage¹⁷⁷ to exclaim on you. Puts a ring on his finger

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Madam, you have bereft me of all words,

Only my blood¹⁷⁹ speaks to you in my veins,

180

180 And there is such confusion¹⁸⁰ in my powers,

As after some oration fairly spoke

By a belovèd prince, there doth appear

Among the buzzing pleasèd multitude,

Where every something¹⁸⁴ being blent together,

185

185 Turns to a wild¹⁸⁵ of nothing, save of joy

Expressed¹⁸⁶ and not expressed. But when this ring

Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence.

O, then be bold¹⁸⁸ to say Bassanio’s dead!

NERISSA

NERISSA My lord and lady, it is now our time,

190

190 That¹⁹⁰ have stood by and seen our wishes prosper,

To cry, good joy: good joy, my lord and lady!

GRATIANO

GRATIANO My lord Bassanio and my gentle lady,

I wish you all the joy that you can wish,

For I am sure you can wish none¹⁹⁴ from me.

195

195 And when your honours mean to solemnize

The bargain of your faith,¹⁹⁶ I do beseech you,

Even¹⁹⁷ at that time I may be married too.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO With all my heart, so¹⁹⁸ thou canst get a wife.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO I thank your lordship, you have got me one.

200

200 My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:

You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid.²⁰¹

You loved, I loved, for intermission²⁰²

No more pertains to me, my lord, than you;

Your fortune stood²⁰⁴ upon the caskets there,

205

205 And so did mine too, as the matter falls,²⁰⁵

For wooing here until I sweat again,

And swearing till my very roof²⁰⁷ was dry

With oaths of love, at last,²⁰⁸ if promise last,

I got a promise of this fair one here

210

210 To have her love, provided that your fortune

Achieved her mistress.

PORTIA

PORTIA Is this true, Nerissa?

NERISSA

NERISSA Madam, it is so,²¹³ so you stand pleased withal.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Yes, faith,²¹⁵ my lord.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO We’ll play²¹⁷ with them the first boy for a thousand ducats.

NERISSA

NERISSA What, and stake down?²¹⁸

GRATIANO

GRATIANO No, we shall ne’er win at that sport,²¹⁹ and stake down.

220

220 But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel?²²⁰

What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio?

Enter Lorenzo, Jessica and Salerio

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither,

If that the youth ²²³ of my new interest here

Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave,

225

225 I bid my very²²⁵ friends and countrymen,

Sweet Portia, welcome.

PORTIA

PORTIA So do I, my lord. They are entirely welcome.

LORENZO

LORENZO I thank your honour. For my part, my lord,

My purpose was not to have seen you here,

230

230 But meeting with Salerio by the way,

He did entreat me, past all saying nay,

To come with him along.

SALERIO

SALERIO I did, my lord,

And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio

235

235 Commends him²³⁵ to you. Gives Bassanio a letter

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Ere I ope²³⁶ his letter,

I pray you tell me how my good friend doth.

SALERIO

SALERIO Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind,

Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there

240

240 Will show you his estate.²⁴⁰

[Bassanio] opens the letter

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Nerissa, cheer²⁴¹ yond stranger, bid her welcome.

Your hand, Salerio. What’s the news from Venice?

How doth that royal²⁴³ merchant, good Antonio?

I know he will be glad of our success,

245

245 We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.

SALERIO

SALERIO I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost.

PORTIA

PORTIA There are some shrewd²⁴⁷ contents in yond same paper,

That steals the colour from Bassanio’s cheek.

Some dear friend dead, else nothing in the world

250

250 Could turn so much the constitution²⁵⁰

Of any constant²⁵¹ man. What, worse and worse?

With leave,²⁵² Bassanio: I am half yourself,

And I must freely have the half of anything

That this same paper brings you.

255

BASSANIO

BASSANIO O sweet Portia,

Here are a few of the unpleasant’st words

That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady,

When I did first impart my love to you,

I freely told you all the wealth I had

260

260 Ran in my veins. I was a gentleman,

And then I told you true. And yet, dear lady,

Rating²⁶² myself at nothing, you shall see

How much I was a braggart. When I told you

My state²⁶⁴ was nothing, I should then have told you

265

265 That I was worse than nothing, for indeed,

I have engaged²⁶⁶ myself to a dear friend,

Engaged my friend to his mere²⁶⁷ enemy,

To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady,

The paper as²⁶⁹ the body of my friend,

270

270 And every word in it a gaping wound,

Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio?

Hath all his ventures failed? What, not one hit?²⁷²

From Tripolis, from Mexico and England,

From Lisbon, Barbary ²⁷⁴ and India?

275

275 And not one vessel scape the dreadful²⁷⁵ touch

Of merchant-marring²⁷⁶ rocks?

SALERIO

SALERIO Not one, my lord.

Besides, it should appear,²⁷⁸ that if he had

The present²⁷⁹ money to discharge the Jew,

280

280 He²⁸⁰ would not take it. Never did I know

A creature that did bear the shape of man

So keen and greedy to confound²⁸² a man.

He plies the duke at morning and at night,

And doth impeach²⁸⁴ the freedom of the state,

285

285 If they deny him justice. Twenty merchants,

The duke himself and the magnificoes²⁸⁶

Of greatest port²⁸⁷ have all persuaded with him,

But none can drive him from the envious²⁸⁸ plea

Of forfeiture,²⁸⁹ of justice and his bond.

290

JESSICA

JESSICA When I was with him I have heard him swear

To Tubal and to Chus,²⁹¹ his countrymen,

That he would rather have Antonio’s flesh

Than twenty times the value of the sum

That he did owe him: and I know, my lord,

295

295 If law, authority and power deny not,

It will go hard with²⁹⁶ poor Antonio.

PORTIA

PORTIA Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,

The best-conditioned²⁹⁹ and unwearied spirit

300

300 In doing courtesies,³⁰⁰ and one in whom

The ancient Roman honour more appears

Than any that draws breath in Italy.

PORTIA

PORTIA What sum owes he the Jew?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO For me three thousand ducats.

305

PORTIA

PORTIA What, no more?

Pay him six thousand and deface³⁰⁶ the bond.

Double six thousand and then treble that,

Before a friend of this description

Shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault.

310

310 First go with me to church and call me wife,

And then away to Venice to your friend,

For never shall you lie by Portia’s side

With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold

To pay the petty debt twenty times over.

315

315 When it is paid, bring your true friend along.

My maid Nerissa and myself meantime

Will live as maids and widows. Come, away!

For you shall hence³¹⁸ upon your wedding day.

Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer,³¹⁹

320

320 Since you are dear³²⁰ bought, I will love you dear.

But let me hear the letter of your friend.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Reads ‘Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate³²³ is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit, and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I might see you at my death. Notwithstanding,³²⁵ use your pleasure, if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.’

PORTIA

PORTIA O love! Dispatch³²⁷ all business, and be gone!

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Since I have your good leave to go away,

I will make haste; but till I come again,

330

330 No bed shall e’er be guilty of my stay,

No rest be interposer ’twixt us twain.³³¹

Exeunt

[Act 3 Scene 3]^3.3

running scene 15

Enter [Shylock] the Jew and Solanio and Antonio and the Jailer

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Jailer, look¹ to him, tell not me of mercy.

This is the fool that lends out money gratis.²

Jailer, look to him.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Hear me yet, good Shylock.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I’ll have my bond. Speak not against my bond,

I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.

Thou calledst me dog before thou hadst a cause,

But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.

The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,

10 Thou naughty¹⁰ jailer, that thou art so fond

To come abroad¹¹ with him at his request.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I pray thee hear me speak.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I’ll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak.

I’ll have my bond and therefore speak no more.

15 I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed¹⁵ fool,

To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield

To Christian intercessors. Follow not,

I’ll have no speaking. I will have my bond.

Exit Jew

SOLANIO

SOLANIO It is the most impenetrable cur

20 That ever kept²⁰ with men.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Let him alone.

I’ll follow him no more with bootless²² prayers.

He seeks my life, his reason well I know;

I oft delivered from his forfeitures

25 Many that have at times made moan²⁵ to me:

Therefore he hates me.

SOLANIO

SOLANIO I am sure the duke

Will never grant²⁸ this forfeiture to hold.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO The duke cannot deny the course of law,

30 For the commodity³⁰ that strangers have

With us in Venice, if it be denied,

Will much impeach the justice of the state,

Since that³³ the trade and profit of the city

Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go.

35 These griefs and losses have so bated me,³⁵

That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.

Well, jailer, on. Pray God, Bassanio come

To see me pay his debt, and then I care not.

Exeunt

[Act 3 Scene 4]^3.4

running scene 16

Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica and [Balthasar,] a man of Portia’s

LORENZO

LORENZO Madam, although I speak it in your presence,

You have a noble and a true conceit²

Of godlike amity,³ which appears most strongly

In bearing thus the absence of your lord.

5 But if you knew to whom⁵ you show this honour,

How true a gentleman you send relief,⁶

How dear a lover⁷ of my lord your husband,

I know you would be prouder of the work

Than customary⁹ bounty can enforce you.

PORTIA

PORTIA I never did repent for doing good,

Nor shall not now, for in companions

That do converse and waste¹² the time together,

Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,

There must be needs¹⁴ a like proportion

15 Of lineaments,¹⁵ of manners and of spirit;

Which makes me think that this Antonio,

Being the bosom lover¹⁷ of my lord,

Must needs be like my lord. If it be so,

How little is the cost I have bestowed

20 In purchasing the semblance²⁰ of my soul

From out the state of hellish cruelty!

This comes too near the praising of myself:

Therefore no more of it. Hear other things.

Lorenzo, I commit into your hands

25 The husbandry²⁵ and manage of my house

Until my lord’s return; for mine own part,

I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow

To live in prayer and contemplation,

Only attended by Nerissa here,

30 Until her husband and my lord’s return.

There is a monastery two miles off,

And there we will abide. I do desire you

Not to deny³³ this imposition,

The which my love and some necessity

35 Now lays upon you.

LORENZO

LORENZO Madam, with all my heart,

I shall obey you in all fair commands.

PORTIA

PORTIA My people³⁸ do already know my mind,

And will acknowledge you and Jessica

40 In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.

So fare you well till we shall meet again.

LORENZO

LORENZO Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you.

JESSICA

JESSICA I wish your ladyship all heart’s content.

PORTIA

PORTIA I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased

45 To wish it back on you: fare you well Jessica.

Exeunt [Jessica and Lorenzo]

Now, Balthasar,

As I have ever found thee honest-true,⁴⁷

So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, Gives a letter

And use thou all the endeavour of a man

50 In speed to Padua. See thou render ⁵⁰ this

Into my cousin’s hand, Doctor Bellario,

And look what⁵² notes and garments he doth give thee,

Bring them, I pray thee with imagined⁵³ speed

Unto the traject,⁵⁴ to the common ferry

55 Which trades⁵⁵ to Venice; waste no time in words,

But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.

BALTHASAR

BALTHASAR Madam, I go with all convenient speed.

[Exit]

PORTIA

PORTIA Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand

That you yet know not of; we’ll see our husbands

60 Before they think of us.

NERISSA

NERISSA Shall they see us?

PORTIA

PORTIA They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit,⁶²

That they shall think we are accomplishèd⁶³

With that we lack.⁶⁴ I’ll hold thee any wager,

65 When we are both accoutred⁶⁵ like young men,

I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two,

And wear my dagger with the braver⁶⁷ grace,

And speak between⁶⁸ the change of man and boy

With a reed voice, and turn two mincing⁶⁹ steps

70 Into a manly stride, and speak of frays⁷⁰

Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint⁷¹ lies,

How honourable ladies sought my love,

Which I denying, they fell sick and died.

I could not do withal.⁷⁴ Then I’ll repent,

75 And wish for all that, that I had not killed them;

And twenty of these puny⁷⁶ lies I’ll tell,

That men shall swear I have discontinued school

Above⁷⁸ a twelvemonth. I have within my mind

A thousand raw⁷⁹ tricks of these bragging Jacks,

80 Which I will practise.

NERISSA

NERISSA Why, shall we turn to⁸¹ men?

PORTIA

PORTIA Fie, what a question’s that,

If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!

But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device⁸⁴

85 When I am in my coach, which stays for us

At the park gate; and therefore haste away,

For we must measure⁸⁷ twenty miles today.

Exeunt

[Act 3 Scene 5]

running scene 17

Enter [Lancelet the] Clown and Jessica

LANCELET

LANCELET Yes, truly, for look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children: therefore, I promise² you, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation³ of the matter: therefore be of good cheer, for truly I think you are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard⁵ hope neither.

JESSICA

JESSICA And what hope is that, I pray thee?

LANCELET

LANCELET Marry, you may partly hope that your father got⁷ you not, that you are not the Jew’s daughter.

JESSICA

JESSICA That were a kind of bastard hope indeed. So the sins of my mother should be visited upon me.

LANCELET

LANCELET Truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla,¹² your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother; well, you are gone both ways.

JESSICA

JESSICA I¹⁴ shall be saved by my husband. He hath made me a Christian.

LANCELET

LANCELET Truly, the more to blame he. We¹⁵ were Christians enow before, e’en as many as could well live one by¹⁶ another. This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs. If we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money.¹⁸

Enter Lorenzo

JESSICA

JESSICA I’ll tell my husband, Lancelet, what you say. Here he comes.

LORENZO

LORENZO I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Lancelet, if you thus get²⁰ my wife into corners.

JESSICA

JESSICA Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo. Lancelet and I are²² out. He tells me flatly there is no mercy for me in heaven because I am a Jew’s daughter. And he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth, for in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork.

LORENZO

LORENZO I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting²⁶ up of the negro’s belly. The Moor²⁷ is with child by you, Lancelet.

LANCELET

LANCELET It is much²⁸ that the Moor should be more than reason, but if she be less than an honest²⁹ woman, she is indeed more than I took her for.

LORENZO

LORENZO How every fool can play upon the word! I think the best grace³⁰ of wit will shortly turn into silence, and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots. Go in, sirrah, bid them³² prepare for dinner.

LANCELET

LANCELET That is done, sir, they have all stomachs.³³

LORENZO

LORENZO Goodly lord, what a wit-snapper³⁴ are you? Then bid them prepare dinner.

LANCELET

LANCELET That is done too, sir, only ‘cover’³⁵ is the word.

LORENZO

LORENZO Will you cover then, sir?

LANCELET

LANCELET Not so, sir, neither. I know my duty.³⁷

LORENZO

LORENZO Yet more quarrelling with occasion!³⁸ Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go to thy fellows;⁴⁰ bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.

LANCELET

LANCELET For⁴² the table, sir, it shall be served in: for the meat, sir, it shall be covered: for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits⁴³ shall govern.

Exit Clown [Lancelet]

LORENZO

LORENZO O dear discretion,⁴⁵ how his words are suited!

The fool hath planted in his memory

An army of good words, and I do know

A many⁴⁸ fools that stand in better place,

Garnished⁴⁹ like him, that for a tricksy word

Defy the matter.⁵⁰ How cheerest thou, Jessica?

And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,

How dost thou like the lord Bassanio’s wife?

JESSICA

JESSICA Past all expressing.⁵³ It is very meet

The lord Bassanio live an upright life,

For, having such a blessing in his lady,

He finds the joys of heaven here on earth.

And if on earth he do not merit it,

In reason ⁵⁸ he should never come to heaven.

Why, if two gods should play some heav’nly match

And on the wager lay⁶⁰ two earthly women,

And Portia one, there must be something else

Pawned⁶² with the other, for the poor rude world

Hath not her fellow.⁶³

LORENZO

LORENZO Even⁶⁴ such a husband

Hast thou of⁶⁵ me as she is for a wife.

JESSICA

JESSICA Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.

LORENZO

LORENZO I will anon. First, let us go to dinner.

JESSICA

JESSICA Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach.⁶⁸

LORENZO

LORENZO No, pray thee let it serve for table-talk,

Then, howsome’er thou speak’st, ’mong other things

I shall digest⁷¹ it.

JESSICA

JESSICA Well, I’ll set you forth.⁷²

Exeunt

Act 4 [Scene 1]^4.1

running scene 18

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio and Grattano [with Salerio and others]

DUKE

DUKE What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Ready, so please your grace.

DUKE

DUKE I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer³

A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch

5 Uncapable of pity, void and empty

From⁶ any dram of mercy.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I have heard

Your grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify⁸

His rigorous course, but since he stands obdurate⁹

10 And that no lawful means can carry me

Out of his envy’s¹¹ reach, I do oppose

My patience to his fury, and am armed

To suffer with a quietness of spirit

The very tyranny¹⁴ and rage of his.

DUKE

DUKE Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

SALERIO

SALERIO He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord.

Enter Shylock

DUKE

DUKE Make room, and let him stand before our¹⁷ face.

Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,

That thou but¹⁹ lead’st this fashion of thy malice

20 To the last²⁰ hour of act, and then ’tis thought

Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse²¹ more strange

Than is thy strange²² apparent cruelty;

And where thou now exact’st the penalty,

Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,

25 Thou wilt not only loose²⁵ the forfeiture,

But, touched with humane gentleness and love,

Forgive a moiety²⁷ of the principal,

Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

That have of late so huddled on his back,

30 Enow to press a royal merchant ³⁰ down

And pluck commiseration of his state

From brassy bosoms³² and rough hearts of flints,

From stubborn Turks and Tartars,³³ never trained

To offices of tender courtesy.

35 We all expect a gentle³⁵ answer, Jew.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I have possessed³⁶ your grace of what I purpose,

And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn

To have the due³⁸ and forfeit of my bond.

If you deny it, let the danger³⁹ light

40 Upon your charter⁴⁰ and your city’s freedom.

You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have

A weight of carrion⁴² flesh than to receive

Three thousand ducats: I’ll not answer that,

But say it is my humour;⁴⁴ is it answered?

45 What if my house be troubled with a rat

And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats

To have it baned?⁴⁷ What, are you answered yet?

Some men there are love⁴⁸ not a gaping pig,

Some that are mad if they behold a cat,

50 And others when the bagpipe sings i’th’nose⁵⁰

Cannot contain their urine, for affection,⁵¹

Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood

Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:

As there is no firm reason to be rendered,

55 Why he⁵⁵ cannot abide a gaping pig,

Why he,⁵⁶ a harmless necessary cat,

Why he, a woollen bagpipe, but of force

Must yield to such inevitable shame

As to offend, himself being offended.

60 So can I give no reason, nor I will not,

More than a lodged⁶¹ hate and a certain loathing

I bear Antonio, that I follow⁶² thus

A losing⁶³ suit against him. Are you answered?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,

65 To excuse the current⁶⁵ of thy cruelty.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I am not bound to please thee with my answer.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Do all men kill the things they do not love?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Every offence is not a hate at first.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I pray you think⁷¹ you question with the Jew:

You may as well go stand upon the beach

And bid the main flood⁷³ bate his usual height,

Or even as well use question⁷⁴ with the wolf

75 Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb.

You may as well forbid the mountain pines

To wag⁷⁷ their high tops and to make no noise

When they are fretted⁷⁸ with the gusts of heaven.

You may as well do anything most hard⁷⁹

80 As seek to soften that — than⁸⁰ which what harder? —

His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you

Make no more offers, use no further means,

But with all brief and plain conveniency ⁸³

Let me have judgement and the Jew his will.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK If every ducat in six thousand ducats

Were in six parts and every part a ducat,

I would not draw⁸⁸ them. I would have my bond!

DUKE

DUKE How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring⁸⁹ none?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong?⁹⁰

You have among you many a purchased slave,

Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,

You use in abject and in slavish parts,⁹³

Because you bought them. Shall I say to you,

95 Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?

Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds

Be made as soft as yours and let their palates

Be seasoned with such viands?⁹⁸ You will answer ‘

The slaves are ours.’ So do I answer you:

100

100 The pound of flesh which I demand of him

Is dearly bought, ’tis mine and I will have it.

If you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

I stand for¹⁰⁴ judgement. Answer: shall I have it?

105

DUKE

DUKE Upon my power I may dismiss this court,

Unless Bellario, a learnèd doctor,

Whom I have sent for to determine this,

Come here today.

SALERIO

SALERIO My lord, here stays without¹⁰⁹

110

110 A messenger with letters from the doctor,

New come from Padua.

DUKE

DUKE Bring us the letters. Call the messenger.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!

The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,

115

115 Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I am a tainted¹¹⁶ wether of the flock,

Meetest¹¹⁷ for death. The weakest kind of fruit

Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me;

You cannot better be employed, Bassanio,

120

120 Than to live still and write mine epitaph.

Enter Nerissa [dressed like a law clerk]

DUKE

DUKE Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

NERISSA

NERISSA From both. My lord Bellario greets your grace. She gives the Duke a letter while Shylock whets his knife on his shoe

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK

To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

125

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,

Thou mak’st thy knife keen.¹²⁶ But no metal can,

No, not the hangman’s¹²⁷ axe, bear half the keenness

Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

130

GRATIANO

GRATIANO O, be thou damned, inexecrable¹³⁰ dog!

And for thy life¹³¹ let justice be accused.

Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith

To hold opinion with Pythagoras,¹³³

That souls of animals infuse themselves

135

135 Into the trunks of men. Thy currish ¹³⁵ spirit

Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter,

Even from the gallows did his fell¹³⁷ soul fleet,

And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallowed¹³⁸ dam,

Infused itself in thee, for thy desires

140

140 Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Till thou canst rail¹⁴¹ the seal from off my bond,

Thou but offend’st¹⁴² thy lungs to speak so loud:

Repair¹⁴³ thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To endless ruin. I stand here for law.

145

DUKE

DUKE This letter from Bellario doth commend

A young and learnèd doctor in our court;

Where is he?

NERISSA

NERISSA He attendeth here hard¹⁴⁸ by,

To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.

150

DUKE

DUKE With all my heart. Some three or four of you

Go give him courteous conduct to this place.

[Exeunt some]

Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.

Reads ‘Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation¹⁵⁴ was with me a young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o’er many books together. He is furnished¹⁵⁷ with my opinion, which — bettered with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend — comes with him, at my importunity,¹⁵⁹ to fill up your grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend¹⁶⁰ estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial¹⁶² shall better publish his commendation.’

Enter Portia for Balthasar Dressed like a lawyer

You hear the learnèd Bellario, what he writes,

And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

165

165 Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario?

PORTIA

PORTIA I did, my lord.

DUKE

DUKE You are welcome. Take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference¹⁶⁸

That holds this present question¹⁶⁹ in the court?

170

PORTIA

PORTIA I am informèd throughly¹⁷⁰ of the cause.

Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

DUKE

DUKE Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

PORTIA

PORTIA Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Shylock is my name.

175

PORTIA

PORTIA Of a strange nature is the suit you follow,

Yet in such rule¹⁷⁶ that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn¹⁷⁷ you as you do proceed.—

You stand within his danger,¹⁷⁸ do you not?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Ay, so he says.

180

PORTIA

PORTIA Do you confess¹⁸⁰ the bond?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I do.

PORTIA

PORTIA Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK:

SHYLOCK On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

PORTIA

PORTIA The quality of mercy is not strained,¹⁸⁴

185

185 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:¹⁸⁶

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

’Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes

The thronèd monarch better than his crown.

190

190 His sceptre shows¹⁹⁰ the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread¹⁹² and fear of kings.

But mercy is above this sceptred sway,¹⁹³

It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,

195

195 It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest¹⁹⁶ God’s

When mercy seasons¹⁹⁷ justice: therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That in the course of justice,¹⁹⁹ none of us

200

200 Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render²⁰¹

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea,

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

205

205 Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK My²⁰⁶ deeds upon my head! I crave the law,

The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA

PORTIA Is he not able to discharge²⁰⁸ the money?

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Yes, here I tender²⁰⁹ it for him in the court,

210

210 Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er

On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.

If this will not suffice, it must appear²¹³

That malice bears down truth.²¹⁴ And I beseech you

215

215 Wrest once²¹⁵ the law to your authority.

To do a great right, do a little wrong,

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

PORTIA

PORTIA It must not be; there is no power in Venice

Can alter a decree establishèd.

220

220 ’Twill be recorded for²²⁰ a precedent,

And many an error by the same example

Will rush into the state. It cannot be.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK A Daniel²²³ come to judgement! Yea, a Daniel!

O wise young judge, how do I honour thee!

225

PORTIA

PORTIA I pray you let me look upon the bond.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. Gives Portia the bond

PORTIA

PORTIA Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven.

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

230

230 No, not for Venice.

PORTIA

PORTIA Why, this bond is forfeit,

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

Nearest the merchant’s heart. Be merciful.

235

235 Take thrice thy money, bid me tear the bond.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK When it is paid according to the tenure.²³⁶

It doth appear you are a worthy judge,

You know the law, your exposition

Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law,

240

240 Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,

Proceed to judgement. By my soul I swear,

There is no power in the tongue of man

To alter me. I stay here on my bond.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Most heartily I do beseech the court

245

245 To give the judgement.

PORTIA

PORTIA Why then, thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK O noble judge! O excellent young man!

PORTIA

PORTIA For the intent and purpose of the law

250

250 Hath²⁵⁰ full relation to the penalty,

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK ’Tis very true. O wise and upright judge!

How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

PORTIA

PORTIA Therefore lay bare your bosom.

255

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Ay, his breast,

So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge?

‘Nearest his heart’, those are the very words.

PORTIA

PORTIA It is so. Are there balance²⁵⁸ here to weigh

The flesh?

260

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I have them ready.

PORTIA

PORTIA Have by²⁶¹ some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,

To stop²⁶² his wounds, lest he should bleed to death.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond?

PORTIA

PORTIA It is not so expressed, but what of that?

265

265 ’Twere good you do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I cannot find it, ’tis not in the bond. Looking at the bond

PORTIA

PORTIA Come, merchant, have you anything to say?

ANTONIO

ANTONIO But little. I am armed²⁶⁸ and well prepared.

Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well.

270

270 Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you,

For herein Fortune shows herself more kind

Than is her custom. It is still²⁷² her use

To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,

To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow

275

275 An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance

Of such misery doth she cut me off.

Commend me to your honourable wife.

Tell her the process²⁷⁸ of Antonio’s end.

Say how I loved you; speak me²⁷⁹ fair in death.

280

280 And when the tale is told, bid her be judge

Whether Bassanio had not once a love.²⁸¹

Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,

And he repents not that he pays your debt.

For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

285

285 I’ll pay it instantly with²⁸⁵ all my heart.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Antonio, I am married to a wife

Which²⁸⁷ is as dear to me as life itself,

But life itself, my wife, and all the world,

Are not with me esteemed above thy life.

290

290 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all

Here to this devil, to deliver ²⁹¹ you.

PORTIA

PORTIA Your wife would give you little thanks for that,

If she were by to hear you make the offer.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love.

295

295 I would she were in heaven, so she could

Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

NERISSA

NERISSA ’Tis well you offer it behind her back,

The wish would make else²⁹⁸ an unquiet house.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter.

300

300 Would³⁰⁰ any of the stock of Barabbas Aside?

Had been her husband rather than a Christian!

We trifle³⁰² time. I pray thee pursue sentence.

PORTIA

PORTIA A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine.

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

305

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Most rightful judge!

PORTIA

PORTIA And you must cut this flesh from off his breast.

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Most learnèd judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

PORTIA

PORTIA Tarry a little, there is something else.

310

310 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood,

The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’.

Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,

But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods

315

315 Are by the laws of Venice confiscate³¹⁵

Unto the state of Venice.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO O upright judge! Mark,³¹⁷ Jew. O learnèd judge!

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Is that the law?

PORTIA

PORTIA Thyself shalt see the act,

320

320 For as thou urgest justice, be assured

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I take this offer, then. Pay the bond thrice

And let the Christian go.

325

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Here is the money.

PORTIA

PORTIA Soft!³²⁶

The Jew shall³²⁷ have all justice. Soft, no haste.

He shall have nothing but the penalty.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO O Jew! An upright judge, a learnèd judge!

330

PORTIA

PORTIA Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more

But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st more

Or less than a just³³³ pound, be it so much

As makes it light or heavy in the substance,³³⁴

335

335 Or the division of the twentieth part

Of one poor scruple,³³⁶ nay, if the scale do turn

But in the estimation³³⁷ of a hair,

Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!

340

340 Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.³⁴⁰

PORTIA

PORTIA Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Give me my principal,³⁴² and let me go.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I have it ready for thee, here it is.

PORTIA

PORTIA He hath refused it in the open court.

345

345 He shall have merely ³⁴⁵ justice and his bond.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!

I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Shall I not have barely³⁴⁸ my principal?

PORTIA

PORTIA Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,

350

350 To be taken so at thy peril, Jew.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Why, then the devil give him good³⁵¹ of it!

I’ll stay³⁵² no longer question. Starts to go

PORTIA

PORTIA Tarry, Jew.

The law hath yet another hold on you.

355

355 It is enacted in the laws of Venice,

If it be proved against an alien³⁵⁶

That by direct or indirect attempts

He seek the life of any citizen,

The party gainst the which he doth contrive³⁵⁹

360

360 Shall seize³⁶⁰ one half his goods, the other half

Comes to the privy coffer³⁶¹ of the state,

And the offender’s life lies in³⁶² the mercy

Of the duke only, gainst³⁶³ all other voice.

In which predicament, I say, thou stand’st,

365

365 For it appears, by manifest proceeding,³⁶⁵

That indirectly, and directly too,

Thou hast contrived against the very life

Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred

The danger³⁶⁹ formerly by me rehearsed.

370

370 Down³⁷⁰ therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself,

And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,

Thou hast not left the value of a cord:³⁷³

Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.³⁷⁴

375

DUKE

DUKE That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.

For³⁷⁷ half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s,

The other half comes to the general state,

Which humbleness³⁷⁹ may drive unto a fine.

380

PORTIA

PORTIA Ay, for³⁸⁰ the state, not for Antonio.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that.

You take my house when you do take the prop

That doth sustain my house. You take my life

When you do take the means whereby I live.

385

PORTIA

PORTIA What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

GRATIANO

GRATIANO A halter³⁸⁶ gratis. Nothing else, for God’s sake.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO So³⁸⁷ please my lord the duke and all the court

To quit³⁸⁸ the fine for one half of his goods,

I am content, so³⁸⁹ he will let me have

390

390 The other half in use,³⁹⁰ to render it,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman

That lately stole his daughter.

Two things provided more: that for this favour

He presently³⁹⁴ become a Christian.

395

395 The other, that he do record a gift

Here in the court of all he dies possessed ³⁹⁶

Unto his son³⁹⁷ Lorenzo and his daughter.

DUKE

DUKE He shall do this, or else I do recant

The pardon that I late³⁹⁹ pronouncèd here.

400

PORTIA

PORTIA Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I am content.

PORTIA

PORTIA Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK I pray you give me leave to go from hence,

I am not well. Send the deed after me,

405

405 And I will sign it.

DUKE

DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO In christening thou shalt have two godfathers.

Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,⁴⁰⁸

To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font.⁴⁰⁹

Exit [Shylock]

410

DUKE

DUKE Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. To Portia

PORTIA

PORTIA I humbly do desire your grace of⁴¹¹ pardon.

I must away this night toward Padua,

And it is meet⁴¹³ I presently set forth.

DUKE

DUKE I am sorry that your⁴¹⁴ leisure serves you not.

415

415 Antonio, gratify⁴¹⁵ this gentleman,

For in my mind you are much bound to him.

Exit Duke and his train

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend

Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted

Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof,⁴¹⁹

420

420 Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew

We freely cope⁴²¹ your courteous pains withal. Offers money

ANTONIO

ANTONIO And stand indebted, over and above,

In love and service to you evermore.

PORTIA

PORTIA He is well paid that is well satisfied,

425

425 And I, delivering you, am satisfied

And therein do account⁴²⁶ myself well paid.

My mind was never yet more mercenary.

I pray you know⁴²⁸ me when we meet again.

I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Starts to leave

430

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Dear sir, of force I must attempt⁴³⁰ you further.

Take some remembrance of us as a tribute,

Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you:

Not to deny me, and to pardon me.⁴³³

PORTIA

PORTIA You press⁴³⁴ me far, and therefore I will yield.

435

435 Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake. To Antonio

And, for your love,⁴³⁶ I’ll take this ring from you. To Bassanio

Do not draw back your hand, I’ll take no more,

And you in⁴³⁸ love shall not deny me this.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle!

440

440 I will not shame myself to give you this.

PORTIA

PORTIA I will have nothing else but only this,

And now methinks I have a mind to⁴⁴² it.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO There’s more depends on this than on the value.

The dearest⁴⁴⁴ ring in Venice will I give you,

445

445 And find it out by proclamation.

Only for this, I pray you pardon me.

PORTIA

PORTIA I see, sir, you are liberal ⁴⁴⁷ in offers.

You taught me first to beg, and now methinks

You teach me how a beggar should be answered.

450

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife,

And when she put it on, she made me vow

That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.

PORTIA

PORTIA That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts.

An if your wife be not a madwoman,

455

455 And know how well I have deserved this ring,

She would not hold out enemy forever

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

Exeunt [Portia and Nerissa]

ANTONIO

ANTONIO My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.

Let his deservings and my love withal

460

460 Be valued against your wife’s commandment.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him.

Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,

Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste!

Exit Gratiano

Come, you and I will thither presently,

465

465 And in the morning early will we both

Fly⁴⁶⁶ toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.

Exeunt

[Act 4 Scene 2]

running scene 19

Enter Portia and Nerissa Still disguised

PORTIA

PORTIA Inquire¹ the Jew’s house out, give him this deed,

And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight Gives her a deed

And be³ a day before our husbands home.

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter Gratiano

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Fair sir, you⁵ are well o’erta’en.

My lord Bassanio upon more advice⁶

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat

Your company at dinner. Gives her the ring

PORTIA

PORTIA That cannot be;

10 His ring I do accept most thankfully,

And so, I pray you tell him. Furthermore,

I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO That will I do.

NERISSA

NERISSA Sir, I would speak with you.

15 I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, Aside to Portia

Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

PORTIA

PORTIA Thou mayst, I warrant. Aside to Nerissa

We shall have old¹⁸ swearing

That they did give the rings away to men;

20 But we’ll outface²⁰ them, and outswear them too.—

Away, make haste! Thou know’st where I will tarry. Aloud

NERISSA

NERISSA Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

Exeunt

Act 5 [Scene 1]^5.1

running scene 20

Enter Lorenzo and Jessica

LORENZO

LORENZO The moon shines bright. In such a night as this,

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees

And they did make no noise, in such a night

Troilus ⁴ methinks mounted the Trojan walls

5 And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents

Where Cressid lay that night.

JESSICA

JESSICA In such a night

Did Thisbe⁸ fearfully o’ertrip the dew,

And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself,⁹

10 And ran dismayed away.

LORENZO

LORENZO In such a night

Stood Dido¹² with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild¹³ sea banks and waft her love

To come again to Carthage.

JESSICA

JESSICA In such a night

Medea¹⁶ gathered the enchanted herbs

That did renew¹⁷ old Aeson.

LORENZO

LORENZO In such a night

Did Jessica steal¹⁹ from the wealthy Jew

20 And with an unthrift²⁰ love did run from Venice

As far as Belmont.

JESSICA

JESSICA In such a night

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,

Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,

25 And ne’er a true one.

LORENZO

LORENZO In such a night

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,²⁷

Slander her love,²⁸ and he forgave it her.

JESSICA

JESSICA I would out-night you,²⁹ did nobody come.

30 But hark, I hear the footing³⁰ of a man.

Enter [Stephano, a] Messenger

LORENZO

LORENZO Who comes so fast in silence of the night?

STEPHANO

STEPHANO A friend.

LORENZO

LORENZO A friend? What friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?

STEPHANO

STEPHANO Stephano is my name, and I bring word

35 My mistress will before the break of day

Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about³⁶

By holy crosses,³⁷ where she kneels and prays

For happy wedlock hours.

LORENZO

LORENZO Who comes with her?

STEPHANO

STEPHANO None but a holy hermit and her maid.

I pray you is my master yet returned?

LORENZO

LORENZO He is not, nor we have not heard from him.

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

And ceremoniously let us prepare

45 Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

Enter Clown [Lancelet]

LANCELET

LANCELET Sola,⁴⁶ sola! Wo ha, ho! Sola, sola!

LORENZO

LORENZO Who calls?

LANCELET

LANCELET Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo?

And Master Lorenzo, sola, sola!

LORENZO

LORENZO Leave hollowing,⁵⁰ man! Here.

LANCELET

LANCELET Sola! Where, where?

LORENZO

LORENZO Here.

LANCELET

LANCELET Tell him there’s a post ⁵³ come from my master, with his horn full of good news: my master will be here ere morning.

[Exit]

LORENZO

LORENZO Sweet soul, let’s in,⁵⁵ and there expect their coming.

And yet no matter. Why should we go in?

My friend Stephano, signify,⁵⁷ pray you,

Within the house, your mistress is at hand,

And bring your music⁵⁹ forth into the air.

[Exit Stephano]

60 How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!

Here will we sit and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night

Become⁶³ the touches of sweet harmony.

Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven⁶⁴ They sit

65 Is thick inlaid with patens⁶⁵ of bright gold.

There’s not the smallest orb⁶⁶ which thou behold’st

But in his motion⁶⁷ like an angel sings,

Still choiring⁶⁸ to the young-eyed cherubins;

Such harmony is in immortal souls,

70 But whilst this muddy⁷⁰ vesture of decay

Doth grossly⁷¹ close it in, we cannot hear it.

[Enter Musicians]

Come, ho, and wake Diana⁷² with a hymn!

With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear,

And draw her home with music.

JESSICA

JESSICA I am never merry when I hear sweet music.

Play music

LORENZO

LORENZO The reason is, your spirits⁷⁶ are attentive.

For do but note a wild and wanton⁷⁷ herd

Or race⁷⁸ of youthful and unhandled colts,

Fetching⁷⁹ mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,

80 Which is the hot condition⁸⁰ of their blood.

If they but⁸¹ hear perchance a trumpet sound,

Or any air⁸² of music touch their ears,

You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,⁸³

Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze

85 By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet⁸⁵

Did feign⁸⁶ that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods,

Since nought so stockish,⁸⁷ hard and full of rage,

But music for time doth change his nature.

The man that hath no music in himself,

90 Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems⁹¹ and spoils.

The motions⁹² of his spirit are dull as night

And his affections⁹³ dark as Erebus.

Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

Enter Portia and Nerissa

PORTIA

PORTIA That light we see is burning in my hall.

How far that little candle throws his beams!

So shines a good deed in a naughty ⁹⁷ world.

NERISSA

NERISSA When the moon shone, we did not see the candle.

PORTIA

PORTIA So doth the greater glory dim the less.

100

100 A substitute shines brightly as a king

Until a king be by,¹⁰¹ and then his state

Empties itself, as doth an inland brook

Into the main of waters.¹⁰³ Music! Hark!

Music

NERISSA

NERISSA It is your music, madam, of the house.

105

PORTIA

PORTIA Nothing is good, I see, without respect.¹⁰⁵

Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.

NERISSA

NERISSA Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.

PORTIA

PORTIA The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark

When neither is attended,¹⁰⁹ and I think

110

110 The nightingale, if she should sing by day,

When every goose is cackling, would be thought

No better a musician than the wren.

How many things by season¹¹³ seasoned are

To their right praise and true perfection!

115

115 Peace, ho! The moon sleeps with Endymion¹¹⁵

And would not be awaked.

Music ceases

LORENZO

LORENZO That is the voice,

Or I am much deceived, of Portia.

PORTIA

PORTIA He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo,

120

120 By the bad voice.

LORENZO

LORENZO Dear lady, welcome home.

PORTIA

PORTIA We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare,

Which speed,¹²³ we hope, the better for our words.

Are they returned?

125

LORENZO

LORENZO Madam, they are not yet,

But there is come a messenger before,¹²⁶

To signify their coming.

PORTIA

PORTIA Go in, Nerissa.

Give order to my servants that they take

130

130 No note at all of our being absent hence,

Nor you, Lorenzo, Jessica, nor you.

A tucket¹³¹ sounds

LORENZO

LORENZO Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet.

We are no telltales, madam; fear you not.

PORTIA

PORTIA This night methinks is but the daylight sick.

135

135 It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day,

Such as the day is when the sun is hid.

Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Grattano and their followers

BASSANIO

BASSANIO We should¹³⁷ hold day with the Antipodes,

If you would walk in¹³⁸ absence of the sun.

PORTIA

PORTIA Let me give light,¹³⁹ but let me not be light,

140

140 For a light wife doth make a heavy¹⁴⁰ husband,

And never be Bassanio so for me,

But God sort¹⁴² all! You are welcome home, my lord.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend.

This is the man, this is Antonio,

145

145 To whom I am so infinitely bound.

PORTIA

PORTIA You should in all sense be much bound to him,

For, as I hear, he was much bound ¹⁴⁷ for you.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO No more than I am well acquitted of.¹⁴⁸

PORTIA

PORTIA Sir, you are very welcome to our house.

150

150 It must appear in other ways than words:

Therefore I scant¹⁵¹ this breathing courtesy.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong. To Nerissa

In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk.

Would he were gelt¹⁵⁴ that had it, for my part,

155

155 Since you do take it, love, so much at¹⁵⁵ heart.

PORTIA

PORTIA A quarrel, ho, already? What’s the matter?

GRATIANO

GRATIANO About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring

That she did give me, whose posy¹⁵⁸ was

For all the world like cutler’s poetry

160

160 Upon a knife, ‘Love me, and leave me not.’

NERISSA

NERISSA What talk you of the posy or the value?

You swore to me when I did give it you,

That you would wear it till the hour of death

And that it should lie with you in your grave.

165

165 Though¹⁶⁵ not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,

You should have been respective¹⁶⁶ and have kept it.

Gave it a judge’s clerk! But well I know

The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO He will, an if he live to be a man.

170

NERISSA

NERISSA Ay, if a woman live to be a man.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth,

A kind of boy, a little scrubbèd¹⁷² boy,

No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk,

A prating¹⁷⁴ boy, that begged it as a fee.

175

175 I could not for my heart deny it him.

PORTIA

PORTIA You were to blame — I must be plain with you —

To part so slightly¹⁷⁷ with your wife’s first gift.

A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger

And so riveted¹⁷⁹ with faith unto your flesh.

180

180 I gave my love a ring and made him swear

Never to part with it, and here he stands.

I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it,

Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth

That the world masters.¹⁸⁴ Now, in faith, Gratiano,

185

185 You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief.

An ’twere to me, I should be mad¹⁸⁶ at it.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Why, I were best to cut my left hand off Aside

And swear I lost the ring defending it.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO My lord Bassanio gave his ring away

190

190 Unto the judge that begged it and indeed

Deserved it too. And then the boy, his clerk,

That took some pains in writing, he begged mine,

And neither man nor master would take aught

But the two rings.

195

PORTIA

PORTIA What ring gave you my lord?

Not that, I hope, which you received of me.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO If I could add a lie unto a fault,

I would deny it. But you see my finger

Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone.

200

PORTIA

PORTIA Even so void is your false heart of truth.

By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed

Until I see the ring.

NERISSA

NERISSA Nor I in yours till I again see mine.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Sweet Portia,

205

205 If you did know to whom I gave the ring,

If you did know for whom I gave the ring,

And would conceive ²⁰⁷ for what I gave the ring,

And how unwillingly I left the ring,

When nought would be accepted but the ring,

210

210 You would abate the strength of your displeasure.

PORTIA

PORTIA If you had known the virtue²¹¹ of the ring,

Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,

Or your own honour to contain²¹³ the ring,

You would not then have parted with the ring.

215

215 What man is there so much unreasonable,

If²¹⁶ you had pleased to have defended it

With any terms of zeal, wanted²¹⁷ the modesty

To urge²¹⁸ the thing held as a ceremony?

Nerissa teaches me what to believe:

220

220 I’ll die for’t but some woman had the ring.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul,

No woman had it, but a civil doctor,²²²

Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me

And begged the ring; the which I did deny him

225

225 And suffered²²⁵ him to go displeased away —

Even he that had held up²²⁶ the very life

Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?

I was enforced to send it after him.

I was beset with shame and courtesy.

230

230 My honour would not let ingratitude

So much besmear it.²³¹ Pardon me, good lady!

And by these blessèd candles²³² of the night,

Had you been there, I think you would have begged

The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.

235

PORTIA

PORTIA Let not that doctor e’er come near my house.

Since he hath got the jewel that I loved,

And that which you did swear to keep for me,

I will become as liberal²³⁸ as you.

I’ll not deny him anything I have,

240

240 No, not my body nor my husband’s bed.

Know²⁴¹ him I shall, I am well sure of it.

Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus.²⁴²

If you do not, if I be left alone,

Now, by mine honour,²⁴⁴ which is yet mine own,

245

245 I’ll have the doctor for my bedfellow.

NERISSA

NERISSA And I his clerk: therefore be well advised²⁴⁶

How you do leave me to mine own protection.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Well, do you so. Let not me take²⁴⁸ him, then.

For if I do, I’ll mar²⁴⁹ the young clerk’s pen.

250

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I am th’unhappy²⁵⁰ subject of these quarrels.

PORTIA

PORTIA Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Portia, forgive me this enforcèd wrong,

And in the hearing of these many friends,

I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,

255

255 Wherein I see myself—

PORTIA

PORTIA Mark you but that!

In both my eyes he doubly sees himself.²⁵⁷

In each eye, one. Swear by your double²⁵⁸ self,

And there’s an oath of credit.²⁵⁹

260

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Nay, but hear me.

Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear

I never more will break an oath with thee.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I once did lend my body for thy wealth,— To Bassanio

Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring, To Portia

265

265 Had quite miscarried.²⁶⁵ I dare be bound again,

My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord

Will never more break faith advisedly.²⁶⁷

PORTIA

PORTIA Then you shall be his surety.²⁶⁸ Give him this

And bid him keep it better than the other. She gives Antonio the ring

270

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Here, Lord Bassanio. Swear to keep this ring.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!

PORTIA

PORTIA I had it of him. Pardon, Bassanio,

For, by this ring, the doctor lay with²⁷³ me.

NERISSA

NERISSA And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano,

275

275 For that same scrubbèd boy, the doctor’s clerk, Shows her ring

In lieu of²⁷⁶ this last night did lie with me.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Why, this is like the mending of highways

In summer, where the ways are fair²⁷⁸ enough.

What, are we cuckolds²⁷⁹ ere we have deserved it?

280

PORTIA

PORTIA Speak not so grossly.²⁸⁰ You are all amazed.

Here is a letter, read it at your leisure. She gives a letter

It comes from Padua, from Bellario.

There you shall find that Portia was the doctor,

Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here

285

285 Shall witness I set forth as soon as you,

And but e’en²⁸⁶ now returned. I have not yet

Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome,

And I have better news in store for you

Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon. Gives him a letter

290

290 There you shall find three of your argosies

Are richly²⁹¹ come to harbour suddenly:

You shall not know by what strange accident

I chancèd on this letter.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO I am dumb.²⁹⁴

295

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Were you the doctor and I knew you not?

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?

NERISSA

NERISSA Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it,

Unless he live until he be a man.

BASSANIO

BASSANIO Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.

300

300 When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

ANTONIO

ANTONIO Sweet lady, you have given me life and living;³⁰¹

For here I read for certain that my ships

Are safely come to road.³⁰³

PORTIA

PORTIA How now, Lorenzo?

305

305 My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.

NERISSA

NERISSA Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.

There do I give to you and Jessica,

From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,

After his death, of all he dies possessed of.

310

LORENZO

LORENZO Fair ladies, you drop manna ³¹⁰ in the way

Of starvèd people.

PORTIA

PORTIA It is almost morning,

And yet I am sure you³¹³ are not satisfied

Of these events at full. Let us go in,

315

315 And charge³¹⁵ us there upon inter’gatories,

And we will answer all things faithfully.

GRATIANO

GRATIANO Let it be so. The first inter’gatory³¹⁷

That my Nerissa shall be sworn on³¹⁸ is,

Whether till the next night she had rather stay,³¹⁹

320

320 Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.

But were the day come, I should wish it dark,

Till I were couching³²² with the doctor’s clerk.

Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing

So sore³²⁴ as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.

Exeunt

Textual Notes

Q = First Quarto text of 1600

Q2 = Second Quarto text of 1619

F = First Folio text of 1623

F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632

Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor

SD = stage direction

SH = speech heading (i.e., speaker’s name)

List of parts = Ed

1.1.0 SD Salerio and Solanio = Ed. F = Salarino, and Salanio

1.1.8 SH SALERIO = Ed. F = Sal. Q = Salarino. SHs for first three speeches of Antonio’s friends’ reversed in F, due to confusing SHs in Q: Salarino, Salanio, Salar. 15 SH SOLANIO = Q (Salanio). F = Salar. 28 docked = Ed. F = docks 62 SH SALERIO = Ed. F = Sala. (his next two speeches: Sal.) 70 SD Salerio = Ed. F = Salarino 116 Is = Ed. F = It is 118 are two = F. Q = are as two 157 do me now = Q. F = doe

1.2.4 small = F. Q = meane 12 be one = F. Q = to be one 14 reason is not in = F. Q = reasoning is not in the 17 Is it = Q. F = It is 31 Palatine = Q2. F = Palentine 35 rather to be = F. Q = rather be 37 Bon = Ed. F = Boune 41 throstle = Ed. F = Trassell 43 should = F. Q = shall 51 other = F. Q = Scottish. Altered in F so as not to offend Scottish King James 73 wish = F. Q = pray God grant 80 seek you = F. Q = seeke for you

1.3.26 Rialto = Ed. F = Ryalta 37 well-won = Q. F = well-worne 53 ye = Q. F = he 74 peeled spelled pil’d in F 103 spit spelled spet in F 113 should = F. Q = can 116 spat spelled spet in F 124 of barren = F. Q = for barren 127 penalties = F. Q = penaltie 143 it pleaseth = F. Q = pleaseth 172 terms = Q. F = teames

2.1.0 SD Morocco spelled Morochus in F 32 thee, lady = Q. F = the Ladie 36 page = Ed. F = rage

2.2.1 SH LANCELET = Ed. F = Clo. 2 Gobbo = Q2. F = Iobbe (throughout scene) 17 a kind = F. Q = but a kinde 34 Lancelet = F. Q = Lancelet sir 64 last = Q2. F = lost 123 SD Exit placed two lines earlier in F 133 where they = F. Q = where thou

2.3.9 talk = F. Q = in talk 11 did = Ed. F = doe 12 somewhat = F. Q = something

2.4.0 SD Salerio = Ed. F = Slarino (Sal. for his SHs throughout this scene) 10 shall it = F. Q = it shall 13 Is = Q. F = I

2.5.1 SH SHYLOCK = Q2. F = Iew 26 there = Q. F = their 40 Jewès = Ed. F = Iewes 44 but = F. Q = and

2.6.0 SD Salerio = Ed. F = Salino 2 a stand = F. Q = stand 7 seal = Q. F = steale 18 a prodigal = F. Q = the prodigal 46 you are = F. Q = are you 60 gentlemen = F. Q = gentleman

2.7.5 many men = Q. F = men 10 Line accidentally printed twice in F 70 tombs = Ed. F = timber

2.8.0 SD Salerio = Ed. F = Salarino 6 comes = F. Q = came 8 gondola spelled Gondilo in F 34 You = Q. F = Yo

2.9.7 thou = F. Q = you 45 peasantry = Q. F = pleasantry 102 Bassanio, Lord Love, = Ed. F = Bassanio Lord, loue

3.1.0 SD Salerio = Ed. F = Salarino 5 gossip’s = F. Q = gossip 26 blood = F. Q = my blood 40 what’s the = F. Q = what’s his 50 SH SERVANT = Ed. Not in F 56 of her = Q. F = of ster 62 how much = F. Q = whats 71 heard = Ed. F = here 79 turquoise = Ed. F = Turkies

3.2.0 SD trains = Q. F = traine 17 if = Q. F = of 34 do = Q. F = doth 44 aloof = Q. F = aloose 63 much, much = Q. F = much 69 eyes = F. Q = eye 83 vice = Ed. F = voice 152 me = Q. F = my 161 nothing = F. Q = something 174 lord = F. Q = Lords 199 have = Q. F = gaue 207 roof = Q2. F = rough 213 is so = F. Q = is 322 SH BASSANIO = Ed. Not in F 324 might see = F. Q = might but see 331 No = Q. F = Nor

3.3.2 lends = F. Q = lent

3.4.13 equal spelled egal in F 50 Padua = Ed. F = Mantua 51 hand = F. Q = hands 54 traject = Ed. F = Tranect

3.5.57–8 merit it, In = Ed. F = meane it, it Is. Q = meane it, it In 65 a wife = F. Q = wife

4.1.52 Mistress = Ed. F = Masters 66 answer = F. Q = answers 75 Why…made = Q. Not in F 78 fretted = F. Q = fretten 80 what = F. Q = what’s 112 messenger = Q. F = Messengers 144 endless = F. Q = cureless 165 Came = F. Q = Come 204 court = Q. F = course 224 do I = F. Q = I do 230 No, not = F. Q = Not not 262 should = F. Q = doe 263 Is it so = Q. F = It is not 267 Come = F. Q = You 282 not = F. Q = but 312 Then take = F. Q = Take then 333 it so = F. Q = it but so 340 thee = F. Q = you 350 taken so = F. Q = so taken 407 thou shalt = F. Q = shalt thou 410 home with me = Q. F = with me home

5.1.3 noise = Q. F = nnyse 32 SH STEPHANO = Ed. F = Mes. 41 is = Q. F = it 41 returned = Q. F = rnturn’d 44 us = Q. F = vs vs 55 Sweet soul = Ed. F prints as last words of Lancelet’s speech 57 Stephano = Q2. F = Stephen 57 pray = F. Q = I pray 71 it in = Q. F = in it 88 time = F. Q = the time 163 the hour = F. Q = your hour 167 But…know = F. Q = no God’s my Iudge 232 And by = F. Q = For by 263 thy = F. Q = his 272 Pardon = F. Q = Pardon me 286 but e’en now = F. Q = even but now