Portia and the Merchant of Venice: All for Love or Money

8/18/2019 Portia and the Merchant of Venice: All for Love or Money

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/portia-and-the-merchant-of-venice-all-for-love-or-money 1/94

Portia and the Merchant of Venice: All for Love or Money

adapted by

John Freed

Playwright's website:(http://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywright )

E-mail: ([email protected] )

1

http://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywright

mailto:[email protected]

http://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywright




Synopsis and ationale

This entertaining and accessile !ersion of "The

#erchant of $enice% highlights the play&s main conflict

' the tug of lo!e etween a youngmiddleaged ortia

and *ntonio with the studly +assanio as the pri,e. -or

modern audiences this story line often gets o!er

shadowed y the antiemitic slaps directed at the

multidimensional hyloc.

0 firmly elie!e that historically hyloc was intended

y haespeare to e far less a representati!e of

1udaism than a camouflaged standin for the uritan

aners who were taing o!er the 2nglish middleclass.

*ntonio&s se!erest criti3ues of hyloc&s usiness

practices target this "money should eget more money%

prime directi!e of these emerging capitalists and itsun4hristian potentialities.

haespeare&s original for me mars the 5estern

cultural paradigm shifts from the pursuit of common-

wealth 6*ntonio&s goods trading practices7 to the

pursuit of personal wealth 6hyloc&s moneylending

ones7 and the transformation of people into commodities

alternating etween ortia or +assanio as the ojecti!e

of the enterprise.

This !ersion opens with ortia in +elmont so that theaudience etter understands why *ntonio is sad that his

oyfriend is heading off to see his "fortune% and

why *ntonio will do practically anything in the

progression of the plot to eep +assanio ound to him.

*s additional onuses 0 reduced the running time y

more than thirty minutes while retaining haespeare&s

complex interplay of themes and pro!iding more parts

for women and di!erse race actors.

2



!ast of !haracters

In Belmont:

Portia ' a youngmiddleaged heiress li!ing in the

magic ingdom of +elmont teetering

precariously on the brin" of

spinsterhood # co$ld be Asian

%erissa ' ortia&s lady in waiting in lo!e with

ratiano # co$ld be Asian

Prince of Morocco (same actor plays Duke of

Venice) unsuccessful suitor

to ortia African-American

Vario$s servants and messengers&

In Venice:

Antonio ' a middleaged merchant of $enice in lo!e

with +assanio

assanio ' *ntonio&s studly young friend and

pursuer of ortia

(ratiano the jester friend of +assanio in lo!e

with erissa

Loren)o # more soer friend of +assanio in lo!e

with 1essica

Salania and Salaria ' society women friends of

*ntonio the play&s chorus 6 %*+E: cast as

men in original #of$7

Shyloc" ' a rich 1ewish capitalist ban"er, father

of 1essica

essica ' daughter of hyloc in lo!e with

;oren,o preferaly cast as mi.ed race

onathan ' hyloc&s English P$ritan, capitalist

ban"er friend costumed similarly to hyloc in

3



uritan dra gar.

6 %*+E: <riginally in #of$ the 1ewish Tual7

La$ncelot (obbo ' (same actor plays 1onathan

ao!e) a clownish ser!ant first to hyloc then

to +assanio

/$"e of Venice (same actor plays Prince of

Morocco in Belmont)

4



A!+ 0

Scene 1

0n elmont& A room in P*+0A'S castle&

Enter PORTIA and ERI!!A

P*+0A

0n true faith erissa my little ody is aweary of

this great world.

%E0SSA

=ou would e sweet madam if your miseries were inthe same aundance as your good fortunes are.

P*+0A

ood sentences and well pronounced.

%E0SSA

They would e etter if well followed.

P*+0A

0t is a good priest that follows his own instructions:

0 can easier teach twenty what were good to e donethan e one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.

+ut this reasoning is not in the fashion to

choose me a husand. < me the word &choose>& 0 may

neither choose whom 0 would nor refuse whom 0

dislie? so is the will of a li!ing daughter cured

y the will of a dead father. 0s it not hard

erissa that 0 cannot choose one nor refuse none

%E0SSA =our father was e!er !irtuous? and holy men at their

death ha!e good inspirations: therefore the lottery

that he hath de!ised in these three chests of gold

sil!er and lead whereof who chooses his meaning

chooses you will no dout ne!er e chosen y any

5



rightly ut one who shall rightly lo!e. +ut what

warmth is there in your affection towards any of

these princely suitors that are already come

P*+0A

0 pray thee name them? and as thou names

them 0 will descrie them? and according to my

description you can tae the measure of my affection.

%E0SSA

-irst there is the eapolitan prince.

P*+0A

*y that&s a colt indeed for he doth nothing ut

tal of his horse? and he maes it a great

appropriation to his own good parts that he can

shoe him himself. 0 am much afeard my lady his

mother played false with a lac smith.

%E0SSA

Aow lie you the young erman the Bue of axony&s

nephew

P*+0A

$ery !ilely in the morning when he is soer and

most !ilely in the afternoon when he is drun: when

he is est he is a little worse than a man and

when he is worst he is little etter than a east:

%E0SSA

0f he should offer to choose and choose the right

caset you should refuse to perform your father&s

will if you should refuse to accept him.

P*+0A

Therefore for fear of the worst 0 pray thee set a

deep glass of rhenish wine on the contrary caset

for if the de!il e within and that temptation

without 0 now he will choose it. 0 will do any

thing erissa ere 0&ll e married to a sponge.

%E0SSA

=ou need not fear lady the ha!ing any of these

lords: they ha!e ac3uainted me with their

6



determinations? which is indeed to return to their

home and to troule you with no more suit unless

you may e won y some other sort than your father&s

imposition depending on the choice of the casets.

P*+0A

0f 0 li!e to e as old as iylla the 3ueen of 1erusalem

0 will die as chaste as Biana unless 0 e otained

y the manner of my father&s will.

0 am glad this parcel of wooers

are so reasonale for there is not one among them

ut 0 dote on his !ery asence and 0 pray od grant

them a hasty departure.

%E0SSA

Bo you not rememer lady in your father&s time a

$enetian a scholar and a soldier that came hitherin company of the #ar3uis of #ontferrat

P*+0A

=es yes it was +assanio? as 0 thin he was so

called.

%E0SSA

True madam: he of all the men that e!er my foolish

eyes looed upon seemed the est deser!ing of a fair

lady.

P*+0A

0 rememer him well and 0 rememer him worthy of thy

praise.

Enter a !er"in#$man

Aow now> what news

SEVA%+

The two strangers see for you madam to tae

their lea!e: and there is a messenger come from athird the rince of #orocco who rings word the

prince his master will e here tonight.

7



P*+0A

0f 0 could id the third welcome with so good a

heart as 0 can id the others farewell 0 should

e glad of his approach. 4ome erissa.

T%ey e&it'

8



A!+ 0

Scene 2

0n Venice& 0n Antonio's parlor

ATOIO and lady friends !AARIA and !AAIA at

%i#% tea'

A%+*%0*

0n sooth 0 now not why 0 am so sad:

0t wearies me? you say it wearies you?

+ut how 0 caught it found it or came y it

5hat stuff it&s made of whereof it is orn

0 am to learn.

SALA0A

=our mind is surely tossing on the seas?5here your ships with portly sail

;ie rich urghers on the Cialto

That tower ao!e the petty trafficers

4urtsying to them

-ly past on their wo!en wings.

SALA%0A

+elie!e me good *ntonio had 0 the worry

of your fortunes 0 would e plucing the grass

eering at maps for ports and piers and roads?

*nd e!ery oject that might mae me fear#isfortune to my !entures out of dout

5ould mae me sad.

SALA0A

#y reath cooling my roth

5ould low me to a fit when 0 thought

5hat harm a wind too great at sea might do.

*nd 0 should thin of shallows and of flats

*nd see my anta ;ucia doced in sand

Aer hightop sails lower than her ris

To iss her own urial.

hould 0 go to church

*nd see the holy edifice of stone

*nd not thin me straight of dangerous rocs

5hich touching ut my gentle !essel&s side

9



5ould scatter all her spices on the stream

2nroe the roaring waters with my sils

*nd that which once was worth

so much is now nothing worth.

0 now *ntonio is sad to thin upon

the jeopardy of his merchandise.

A%+*%0*

+elie!e me no good ladies.

#y !entures are not in one ottom trusted

or to one place? nor is my whole estate

Dpon the fateful fortunes of this present year:

Therefore my merchandise maes me not sad.

SALA%0A

5hy then you must e in lo!e.

A%+*%0* (o"er$reactin#)

-ie fie>

SALA0A

ot in lo!e neither Then let us say you are sad

+ecause you are not merry: and &twere as easy

-or you to laugh and leap and say you are merry

+ecause you are not sad.

Enter BA!!AIO ORE*O and +RATIAO

SALA%0A (actin# sli#%tly em,arrassed and rus%in# tolea"e)

Aere comes +assanio your most nole insman

-are ye well *ntonio.

5e lea!e you now with etter company.

SALA0A

0 would ha!e stayed till 0 had made you merry

0f worthier friends had not pre!ented me.

A%+*%0*

=our worth is !ery dear in my regard.0 tae it your own affairs calls on you

*nd you emrace the occasion to depart.

SALA0A

ood morrow gentlemen.

10



ASSA%0*

ood morrow gentle ladies when shall we all laugh

say when

=ou grow exceedingly strange: must it e so that you

need to go

SALA%0A

5e&ll mae our leisures to attend on yours at another

time.

E-IT !AARIA and !AAIA'

L*E%3*

#y ;ord +assanio since you ha!e found *ntonio

5e two shall also lea!e you: ut at dinnertime0 pray you eep in mind where we must meet.

ASSA%0*

0 will not fail you.

(A+0A%*

=ou loo not well ignior *ntonio?

=ou ha!e too much respect upon the world:

They lose it that do uy it with much care:

+elie!e me you are mar!elously changed.

A%+*%0*

0 hold the world ut as the world ratiano?

* stage where e!ery man must play a part

*nd mine a sad one.

(A+0A%*

;et me play the fool&s part:

5ith mirth and laughter let old wrinles come

*nd let my li!er rather heat with wine

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.

5hy should a man whose lood is warm withinit lie his grandsire cut in alaaster

0&ll tell thee more of this another time:

+ut fish not with this melancholy ait

11



4ome good ;oren,o. -are ye well awhile:

0&ll end my exhortation after dinner.

L*E%3*

5ell we will lea!e you then till dinnertime:

0 must play the dum wise man

-or ratiano ne!er lets me spea.

(A+0A%*

Eeep me company ;oren,o ut two years more

Thou shalt not now the sound of thine own !oice.

-or silence is only commendale

0n a neat&s tongue dried and a maid not !endile.

T%ey e&it' +RATIAO and ORE*O

A%+*%0*

5as that any thing now that ratiano spoe of

ASSA%0*

Ae speas an infinite deal of nothing more

than any man in all $enice. Ais reasons are as two

grains of wheat hid in two ushels of chaff: you

shall see all day ere you find them and when you

ha!e them they are usually not worth the searching.

A%+*%0*

5ell tell me now what lady is the sameTo whom you swore a secret pilgrimage

That you today promised to tell me of

ASSA%0*

0t is well nown to you *ntonio

Aow much 0 ha!e disaled mine estate.

#y chief care

0s to come fairly off from the great dets

5herein my time something too prodigal

Aath left me.

To you *ntonio

0 owe the most in money and in lo!e

*nd from your lo!e 0 ha!e a warranty

To unurden all my plots and purposes

12



Aow to get clear of all the dets 0 owe.

A%+*%0*

0 pray you good +assanio let me now it?

*nd if it stand as you yourself still do

5ithin the eye of honour e assured

#y purse my person my extremest means

;ie all unloced to your occasions.

ASSA%0*

0n my schooldays when 0 had lost one shaft

0 shot his fellow of the selfsame flight

The selfsame way with more ad!ised watch

To find the other forth and y !enturing oth

0 oft found oth:

0 urge this childhood proof

+ecause what follows is pure innocence.

0 owe you much and lie a willful youth

That which 0 owe is lost? ut if you please

To shoot another arrow that self way

(flirtin# .it% Antonio)

5hich you did shoot the first 0 do not dout

*s 0 will watch the aim to find oth.

A%+*%0*

=ou now me well and herein spend ut time

To wind aout my lo!e with circumstance?

*nd out of dout you do me now more wrong

0n maing 3uestion of my uttermost

Than if you had made waste of all 0 ha!e:

Then do ut say to me what 0 should do

That in your nowledge may y me e done

*nd 0 am pressed unto it:

(em,racin# Bassanio c%est to c%est)

Therefore spea.

13



ASSA%0* (steppin# ,ack)

0n +elmont is a lady richly left?

*nd she is fair ut fairer than that word

<f wondrous !irtues: sometimes from her eyes

0 did recei!e fair speechless messages.

Aer name is ortia nothing under!alued

-or the four winds low in from e!ery coast

Cenowned suitors and her sunny locs

Aang on her temples lie a golden fleece?

5hich maes her seat on +elmontFs strand

*nd many 1asons come in 3uest of her.

< my *ntonio had 0 ut the means

To hold a ri!al place with one of them

0 ha!e a mind presages me such thri!ing

That 0 should 3uestionless e fortunate>

A%+*%0*

Thou nows that all my fortunes are at sea?

either ha!e 0 money nor commodity

To raise at present a sum:

(/e ponders')

Therefore go forth?

Try what my credit can in $enice do:

That shall e raced e!en to the uttermost

To furnish thee to +elmont to fair ortia.o presently in3uire and so will 0

5here money is and 0 no 3uestion mae

To ha!e it of my trust for your dear sae.

(T%ey kiss on t%e mout% in t%e Italian male

friend to male friend manner')

T%ey e&it'

14



A!+ 0

Scene 4

0n Venice& A p$blic place&

Enter BA!!AIO and !/0O12

S56L*!7

Three thousand ducats? well.

ASSA%0*

*y sir for three months.

S56L*!7

-or three months? well.

ASSA%0*

-or the which as 0 told you *ntonio shall e ound.

S56L*!7

*ntonio shall ecome ound? well.

ASSA%0*

hall 0 now your answer

S56L*!7

Three thousand ducats for three months and *ntonioound.

ASSA%0*

=our answer to that.

S56L*!7

*ntonio is a good man.

ASSA%0* (angry)

Aa!e you heard any imputation to the contrary

S56L*!7

<h no no no no: my meaning in saying he is a

good man is to ha!e you understand me that he is

sufficient to repay the loan.

15



=et his current means are in supposition: he

hath a ship ound to Tripoli another to the

0ndies? 0 understand moreo!er he hath a third at #exico

a fourth for 2ngland and other !entures he hath

s3uandered aroad.

+ut ships are ut oards sailors ut men.

There e landrats and waterrats waterthie!es

and landthie!es 0 mean pirates

and then there is the peril of waters winds and rocs.

The man is notwithstanding sufficient.

Three thousand ducats? 0 thin 0 may

tae his ond.

ASSA%0*

+e assured you may.

S56L*!7

0 will e assured if 0 may spea with *ntonio himself.

ASSA%0*

=ou may if it please you to dine with us this e!ening.

S56L*!7

<h =es to smell por? to eat of the animal which

your prophet the a,arene conjured the de!il into.

0 will uy with you sell with you tal with you

wal with you and sit with you at tale

ut 0 will not eat with you drin with you

nor pray with you.0s it not the man himself who approaches

Enter ATOIO

ASSA%0*

ignior *ntonio hyloc is inclining to our proposal.

S56L*!7 (aside)

Aow lie a fawning pulican he loos>

0 hate him for he is a 4hristian

+ut more for that in low simplicityAe lends out money gratis and rings down

The rate of usury here with us in $enice.

0f 0 can catch him once upon the hip

0 will feed fat the ancient grudge 0 ear him.

16



Ae hates our sacred nation and he rails

2!en there where merchants most do congregate

<n me my argains and my wellwon thrift

5hich he calls interest. 4ursed e my trie

0f 0 forgi!e him these insults>

(to Antonio) Cest you fair good signior?

=our worship was the last man in our mouths.

A%+*%0*

hyloc although 0 neither lend nor orrow

+y taing nor y gi!ing of excess

=et to supply the ripe wants of my friend

0&ll rea a custom. 0s he yet possessed

Aow much ye would

S56L*!7

*y ay three thousand ducats.

A%+*%0*

*nd for three months.

S56L*!7

0 had forgot? three months? you told me so.

5ell then your ond? and let me see? ut hear you?

#ethought you said you neither lend nor orrow

Dpon ad!antage.

A%+*%0*0 do ne!er use it.

S56L*!7

5hen 1aco gra,ed his uncle ;aan&s sheep

A%+*%0*

*nd what of him did he tae interest

S56L*!7 o not tae interest not as you would say

Birectly interest: #ar what 1aco did.

5hen ;aan and himself were compromised

That all the yeanlings which were streaed and pied

hould fall as 1aco&s hire the ewes eing ran

17



0n the end of autumn turned to the rams

*nd when the wor of generation was

+etween these woolly reeders in the act

The sillful shepherd peeled certain wands

*nd in the doing of the deed of ind

Ae stuc them up efore the fulsome ewes

5ho then concei!ing did in yeaning time

-all particolour&d lams and those were 1aco&s.

This was a way to thri!e and he was lest:

*nd thri!ing is surely a sign of od&s lessing.

A%+*%0*

This was a !enture sir that 1aco ser!ed for?

* thing not in his power to ring to pass

+ut swayed and fashioned y the hand of hea!en

as a miracle.

5as this inserted to mae interest good

<r is your gold and sil!er ewes and rams

S56L*!7

0 cannot tell? 0 mae it reed as fast: +ut note me

signior.

A%+*%0* (aside)

#ar you this +assanio

The de!il can cite cripture for his purpose.

* goodly apple rotten at the heart:

< what a goodly outside falsehood hath>

S56L*!7

Three thousand ducats? it is a good round sum.

Three months from twel!e? then let me see? the rate

A%+*%0*

5ell hyloc shall we e eholding to you

S56L*!7

ignior *ntonio many a time and oft

0n the Cialto you ha!e erated me*out my moneys and my usuries:

till ha!e 0 orne it with a patient shrug

-or sufferance is the adge of all our trie.

=ou call me miselie!er cutthroat dog

18



*nd spit upon my 1ewish gaerdine

*nd all for use of that which is mine own.

5ell then it now appears you need my help:

o to then? you come to me and you say

&hyloc we would ha!e moneys:& you say so?

=ou that did !oid your rheum upon my eard

*nd foot me as you spurn a strange cur

<!er your threshold: moneys is your suit

5hat should 0 say to you

hould 0 not say

&Aath a dog money is it possile

* cur can lend three thousand ducats& <r

hall 0 end low and in a ondman&s ey

5ith ated reath and whispering humleness ay this?

&-air sir you spit on me on 5ednesday last?

=ou spurned me such a day? another time

=ou called me dog? and for these courtesies0&ll lend you thus much moneys

A%+*%0*

0 am as lie to call thee so again

To spit on thee again to spurn thee too.

0f thou wilt lend this money lend it not

*s to thy friends? for when did friendship tae

* reed for arren metal of his friend

+ut lend it rather to thine enemy

5ho if he rea thou mayst with etter face

2xact the penalty.

S56L*!7

5hy loo you how you storm>

0 would e friends with you and ha!e your lo!e

-orget the shames that you ha!e stained me with

upply your present wants and tae not a it

<f interest for my moneys.

-or doesn&t od command in oth of our Aoly +oos

0f you lend money to one of my people among you who is

needyBo not charge him interest. 0f you tae your neighor&s

cloa as a pledge

Ceturn it him y sunset ecause his cloa is the only

co!ering

Ae has for his ody. 5hat else will he sleep in

19



+ecause of your great need 0 shall thus e

compassionate.

This is a deed of ind that 0 offer.

ASSA%0*

This were indness indeed.

S56L*!7

This indness will 0 show.

o with me to a notary seal me there

=our single ond? and in a merry sport

0f you repay me not on such a day

0n such and such a place such sum or sums as are

2xpressed in the condition let the forfeit

+e nominated for . . for . . . let&s say an

e3ual pound

<f your fair flesh to e cut off and taen0n what part of your ody pleaseth me.

A%+*%0*

4ontent in faith: 0&ll seal to such a ond

*nd e!en report there is much indness in the 1ew.

ASSA%0*

=ou shall not seal to such a ond for me:

0&d rather dwell in the po!erty of my necessity.

A%+*%0*5hy fear not man? 0 will not forfeit it:

5ithin these two months that&s a month efore

This ond expires 0 do expect return

<f thrice three times the !alue of this ond.

S56L*!7

< father *raham what these 4hristians are

5hose own hard dealings teaches them suspect

The thoughts of others> ray you tell me this?

0f he should rea his day what should 0 gain

+y the exaction of the forfeiture

* pound of man&s flesh taen from a man

0s not so estimale profitale neither

*s flesh of muttons eefs or goats. 0 say

To uy his fa!our 0 extend this friendship:

20



0f he will tae it so? if not adieu?

*nd for my lo!e 0 pray you wrong me not.

A%+*%0*

=es hyloc 0 will seal unto this ond.

S56L*!7

0 am deating of my present store

*nd y the near guess of my memory

0 cannot instantly raise up the full three thousand

ducats.

5hat of that

1onathan an 2nglish fellow of my aning trie

4an furnish me. +ut soft> how many months

Bo you desire

A%+*%0*

o more than three will satisfy our need.

S56L*!7

#eet me forthwith at the notary&s?

i!e him direction for this merry ond

*nd 0 will go and purse the ducats straight

*nd ring them to you this !ery night.

A%+*%0*

Aie thee gentle 1ew.

E&it !%ylock

The Aerew will turn 4hristian: he grows ind.

ASSA%0*

0 lie not fair terms and a !illain&s mind.

A%+*%0*

4ome on: in this there can e no dismay?

#y ships come home a month efore the day.

T%ey e&it'

21



A!+ 0

Scene 8

0n elmont& A room in P*+0A'S ho$se&

Enter t%e PRI1E O3 MORO11O4 PORTIA ERI!!A and

ot%ers attendin#

M**!!*

#islie me not for my dar complexion

The shadowed li!ery of the urnished sun

To whom 0 am a near neighor red.

0 would not change this hue for all the world

P*+0A

The lottery of my destiny

+ars me the right of !oluntary choosing:+ut if my father had not hedged me y his wit

to yield myself his wife who wins me y the means 0

told you

=ourself renowned prince then stood as fair

*s any comer 0 ha!e looed on yet

-or my affection.

M**!!*

2!en for that 0 than you:

Therefore 0 pray you lead me to the casets

To try my fortune.

0 would outstare the sternest eyes that loo

<utra!e the heart most daring on the earth

luc the young sucing cus from the sheear

=ea moc the lion when he roars for prey

To win thee fair lady.

P*+0A

=ou must tae your chance

*nd either not attempt to choose at all

<r swear efore you choose if you choose wronge!er to spea to lady afterward

0n way of marriage: therefore e ad!ised.

M**!!*

or will not. 4ome ring me unto my chance.

22



P*+0A

o draw aside the curtains erissa and disco!er

The se!eral casets to this nole prince.

erissa .%eels out t%e ta,le .it% t%e t%ree ,o&es on

it'

ow mae your choice.

M**!!*

Aow shall 0 now if 0 do choose the right

P*+0A

<ne of them contains my picture prince:

0f you choose that then 0 am yours withal.

M**!!*

ome god direct my judgment> ;et me see?

5hat says this leaden caset

&5ho chooseth me must gi!e and ha,ard all he hath.&

#ust gi!e: for what for lead ha,ard for lead

This caset threatens. #en that ha,ard all

Bo it in hope of fair ad!antages:

5hat says the sil!er with her !irgin hue

&5ho chooseth me shall get as much as he deser!es.&*s much as he deser!es> ause there #orocco

*nd weigh thy !alue with an e!en hand:

0f thou e rated y thy estimation

Thou dost deser!e enough? and yet enough

#ay not extend so far as to this nole lady:

*nd yet to e afraid of my deser!ing

5ere ut a wea disaling of myself.

*s much as 0 deser!e> 5hy that&s the lady:

0 do in irth deser!e her and in fortunes

0n graces and in 3ualities of reeding?

+ut more than these in lo!e 0 do deser!e.5hat if 0 strayed no further ut chose here

;et&s see once more this saying gra!ed in gold

&5ho chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.&

5hy that&s the lady? all the world desires her?

23



-rom the four corners of the earth they come

To iss this shrine this mortalreathing saint:

<ne of these three contains her hea!enly picture.

They ha!e in 2ngland

* coin that ears the figure of an angel

tamped in gold ut that&s insculped upon?

+ut here an angel in a golden ed

;ies all within. Beli!er me the ey:

Aere do 0 choose and thri!e 0 as 0 may>

P*+0A

There tae it prince? and if my form lie there

Then 0 am yours.

/e unlocks t%e #olden casket

M**!!*

< hell> what ha!e we here

* carrion Beath within whose empty eye

There is a written scroll> 0&ll read the writing.

"*ll that glitters is not gold?

<ften ha!e you heard that told:

#any a man his life hath sold

+ut my outside to ehold:

ilded toms do worms enfold.

-are you well? your suit is cold.4old indeed? and laour lost:

Then farewell heat and welcome frost>%

ortia adieu. 0 ha!e too grie!ed a heart

To tae a tedious lea!e: thus losers depart.

E&it' 3louris% of cornets

P*+0A

* gentle riddance. Braw the curtains.

%E0SSA

The ancient saying is no heresy

Aanging and wi!ing goes y destiny.

LA!7*9+

24



A!+ 0

Scene

0n Venice& 0n Shyloc"'s ho$se

*%A+5A%

5hy should we e pulicly scorned for gaining interest

for our money ;ast unday my preacher plainly spoe

this passage from #atthew.

Reads from %is ,i,le

"Ae who had recei!ed the one talent came forward

saying G#aster 0 new you to e a hard man and 0

went and hid your talent in the ground. Aere you ha!e

what is yours.F +ut his master answered him G=ou

wiced and slothful ser!ant> =ou new that 0 reapwhere 0 ha!e not sown and gather where 0 scattered no

seed.

Then you ought to ha!e in!ested my money with the

aners and at my coming 0 should ha!e recei!ed what

was my own with interest. o tae the talent from him

and gi!e it to him who has the ten talents.

-or to e!eryone who has will more e gi!en and he will

ha!e an aundance. +ut from the one who has not e!en

what he has will e taen away. *nd cast the worthlessser!ant into the outer darness.%

S56L*!7

-rom this your #essiah has charged us aners

with joint stewardship of the world

so that our talents will increase its aundance:

*%A+5A%

*nd if we profit much from this it is a lessing

and the greater the profit the greater the lessing.

0f od shows you a way in which you lawfully can get

more than in another way (without wrong to your soul

or to any other) if you refuse this and choose the

less gainful way you oppose your calling as odFs

steward.

25



*ntonio has een our shared ostacle. Thus am 0

honored to underwrite your endea!or.

LA!7*9+

A!+ 0

Scene ;

0n Venice& A street&

Enter A51EOT

LA9%!EL*+

4ertainly my conscience will ser!e me to run fromthis 1ew my master. The fiend is at mine elow and

tempts me saying to me &;auncelot oo use your

legs tae the start run away.

#y conscience says &o? tae heed& honest ;auncelot?

do not run? scorn running with thy

heels.& 0 should e ruled y the

fiend who sa!ing your re!erence is the de!il

himself. 4ertainly the aner 1ew is the !ery de!il

incarnate? and in my conscience my conscience is

ut a ind of hard conscience to offer to counsel

me to stay with the 1ew. The fiend gi!es the morefriendly counsel: 0 will run fiend? my heels are

at your command? 0 will run for 0 am a 1ew

if 0 ser!e the 1ew any longer.

Enter Bassanio

ASSA%0*

0 now thee well? hyloc thy master spoe with me

this day

*nd hath preferred thee if it e preferment

To lea!e a rich 1ew&s ser!ice to ecomeThe follower of so poor a gentleman as myself.

=ou ha!e our permission to tae lea!e of thy old

master and see

my lodging out. There find your new li!ery.

26



E&it auncelot' Enter +RATIAO

(A+0A%*

ignior +assanio>

ASSA%0*

ratiano>

(A+0A%*

0 ha!e a suit to you.

ASSA%0*

=ou ha!e otained it.

(A+0A%*

=ou must not deny me: 0 must go with you to +elmont.

ASSA%0*

5hy then you must. +ut hear me ratiano?

Thou art too wild too rude and old of !oice?

arts that ecome thee happily enough

*nd in such eyes as ours appear not faults?

+ut where thou art not nown why there they show

omething too lieral. ray thee tae pain

To allay with some cold drops of modesty

Thy sipping spirit lest through thy wild eha!ior0 e misconstrued in the place 0 go to

*nd lose my hopes.

(A+0A%*

ignior +assanio hear me:

0f 0 do not put on a soer hait

Tal with respect and swear ut now and then

5ear prayeroos in my pocet loo demurely

ay more while grace is saying hood mine eyes

Thus with my hat and sigh and say &amen&

Dse all the oser!ance of ci!ility.

ASSA%0*

5ell we shall see your earing.

27



(A+0A%*

ay ut 0 ar tonight: you shall not gauge me

+y what we do tonight.

ASSA%0*

o that were a pity:

0 would entreat you rather to put on

=our oldest suit of mirth for we ha!e friends

That purpose merriment. +ut fare you well:

0 ha!e some usiness.

(A+0A%*

*nd 0 must to ;oren,o and the rest:

+ut we will !isit you at suppertime.

T%ey e&it'

28



A!+ 0

Scene <

0n Venice& A room in S56L*!7'S ho$se&

Enter 6E!!I1A and A51EOT

ESS0!A

0 am sorry thou wilt lea!e my father so:

<ur house is hell and thou a merry de!il

Bidst ro it of some taste of tediousness.

+ut fare thee well there is a ducat for thee:

*nd ;auncelot soon at supper shalt thou see

;oren,o who is thy new master&s guest:

i!e him this letter? do it secretly?

*nd so farewell: 0 would not ha!e my father

ee me in tal with thee.

LA9%!EL*+

*dieu> tears exhiit my tongue. #ost eautiful

pagan most sweet 1ew> if a 4hristian did not play

the na!e and get thee 0 am much decei!ed. +ut

adieu: these foolish drops do something drown my

manly spirit: adieu.

ESS0!A

-arewell good ;auncelot.

E&it auncelot

*lac what heinous sin is it in me

To e ashamed to e my father&s child>

+ut though 0 am a daughter to his lood

0 am not to his partan manners. < ;oren,o

0f thou eep promise 0 shall end this strife

+ecome a 4hristian and thy lo!ing wife.

LA!7*9+

29



A!+ 0

Scene =


Enter +RATIAO and ORE*O

L*E%3*

ay we will slin away in suppertime

Bisguise us at my lodging and return

*ll in an hour.

(A+0A%*

5e ha!e not made good preparation.

5e ha!e not spoe us yet of torchearers.

L*E%3*

0t is now ut four o&cloc: we ha!e two hours

To furnish us.

Enter A51EOT .it% a letter

-riend ;auncelot what&s the news

LA9%!EL*+

*n it shall please you to rea up

this it shall seem to signify.

L*E%3*

0 now the hand: in faith it is a fair hand?

*nd whiter than the paper it writ on

0s the fair hand that writ.

(A+0A%*

;o!enews in faith.

LA9%!EL*+

+y your lea!e sir.

L*E%3*

5hither goest thou

30



LA9%!EL*+

#arry sir to id my old master the

1ew to sup tonight with my new master the 4hristian.

L*E%3*

Aold here tae this: tell gentle 1essica

0 will not fail her? spea it pri!ately.

o gentlemen

E&it auncelot

5ill you prepare you for this mas3ue tonight

(A+0A%*

5as not that letter from fair 1essica

L*E%3*

0 must needs tell thee all. he hath directed

Aow 0 shall tae her from her father&s house

5hat gold and jewels she is furnished with

5hat page&s suit she hath in readiness.

0f e&er the 1ew her father come to hea!en

0t will e for his gentle daughter&s sae:

-air 1essica shall e our torchearer this e!ening.

T%ey e&it'

31



A!+ 0

Scene >

0n Venice& 0n S56L*!7'S ho$se&

Enter !/0O12 and A51EOT

S56L*!7 (speakin# to %is ser"ant and callin# for

6essica)

5ell thou shalt see thy eyes shall e thy judge

The difference of old hyloc and +assanio:

5hat 1essica>thou shalt not gormandi,e

*s thou hast done with me:5hat 1essica>

*nd sleep and snore and wear out your li!ery.

5hy 1essica 0 say>

LA9%!EL*+ (similarly callin# out)

5hy 1essica>

S56L*!7

5ho id thee call 0 do not id thee call.

LA9%!EL*+

=our worship was wont to tell me that

0 should do more without idding.

Enter 6essica

ESS0!A

4all you me father 5hat is your will

S56L*!7

!%ylock opens 6essica7s mot%er7s 8e.elry ,o& and

%olds up many necklaces'

*ll of these your mother would ha!e cheerfully pawned

to spend one more day ali!e with you.

ESS0!A

0s this why you called me here so earnestly

32



(Returnin# t%e necklaces to t%e ,o& and lockin# it

t%en %andin# t%e set of keys to %is dau#%ter' 3ills

t%e t%e money ,a# .it% t%e ducats for Bassanio')

S56L*!7

0 am id forth to supper 1essica:

Aere are my eys to the house.

+ut wherefore should 0 go

0 am not id for lo!e? they flatter me:

+ut yet 0&ll go in hate to feed upon

The prodigal 4hristian. 1essica my girl

;oo to my house. 0 am right loath to go:

There is some ill arewing towards my rest

-or 0 did dream of moneyags tonight.

LA9%!EL*+

0 eseech you sir go: my young master doth expectyour reproach.

S56L*!7

o do 0 his.

LA9%!EL*+

*nd they ha!e conspired together 0 will not say you

shall see a mas3ue? ut if you do then it was not

for nothing that my nose fell aleeding on

+lac#onday last at six o&cloc in the morning.

S56L*!7

5hat are there mas3ues Aear you me 1essica:

;oc up my doors? and when you hear the drum

*nd the !ile s3uealing of the wryneced fife

4lamer not you up to the casements then

or thrust your head into the pulic street

To ga,e on 4hristian fools with !arnished faces

+ut stop my house&s ears 0 mean my casements:

;et not the sound of shallow foppery enter

#y soer house. +y 1aco&s staff 0 swear

0 ha!e no mind of feasting forth tonight:+ut 0 will go. o you efore me sirrah?

ay 0 will come.

LA9%!EL*+

0 will go efore sir. (aside) #istress loo out at

33



window for all this There will come a 4hristian

oy will e worth a 1ewess& eye.

/e e&its'

S56L*!7

5hat says that fool of Aagar&s offspring ha

ESS0!A

Ais words were &-arewell mistress?& nothing else.

S56L*!7

The fool is ind enough ut a huge feeder?

nailslow in profit and he sleeps y day

#ore than the wildcat: drones hi!e not with me?

Therefore 0 part with him and part with himTo one that would ha!e him help to waste

Ais orrowed purse. 5ell 1essica go in?

erhaps 0 will return immediately:

Bo as 0 id you? shut doors after me:

-ast ind fast find?

* pro!er ne!er stale in thrifty mind.

/e e&its'

ESS0!A

-arewell? and if my stars e not crossed0 ha!e a father you a daughter lost.

!%e e&its'

34



A!+ 0

Scene 1?&

0n Venice in front of Shyloc"'s ho$se

Enter +RATIAO and *;*0* mas9ued

(A+0A%* (musin#)

This is the penthouse under which ;oren,o

Besired me to mae stand.

*nd it is a mar!el that he outdwells his hour

-or lo!ers more usually run efore the cloc

To seal lo!e&s onds newmade.

5ho rises from a feast

5ith that een appetite that he sits down

*ll things that are*re with more spirit chased than enjoyed.

Aas ;oren,o&s appetite een satisfied already

That 0 now not of

Enter ORE*O

L*E%3*

weet friend 0 than you for your patience.

ot 0 ut my affairs ha!e made you wait:

5hen you shall please to play the thief for a wife

0&ll watch as long for you then. *pproach?Aere dwells my father 1ew. Ao> who&s within

Enter 6E!!I1A a,o"e in ,oy7s clot%es

ESS0!A

5ho are you Tell me for more certainty

*leit 0&ll swear that 0 now your tongue.

L*E%3*

;oren,o and thy lo!e.

ESS0!A

;oren,o certain and my lo!e indeed

-or who lo!e 0 so much *nd now who nows

+ut you ;oren,o whether 0 am yours

35



L*E%3*

Aea!en and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.

ESS0!A

Aere catch this caset? it is worth the pains.

0 am glad it is night you do not loo on me

-or 0 am much ashamed of my exchange:

+ut lo!e is lind and lo!ers cannot see

The pretty follies that themsel!es commit?

-or if they could 4upid himself would lush

To see me thus transformed to a oy.

L*E%3*

Bescend for you must e our torchearer.

ESS0!A

5hat must 0 hold a candle to my shame

L*E%3* (%oldin# up a mask)

=ou are so sweet

2!en in the lo!ely garnish of a oy.

+ut come at once?

-or here down elow is your mas

That fellows with the night to cloa our flight.

ESS0!A

0 will mae fast the doors and gild myself

5ith some more ducats and e with you straight.

E&it a,o"e

(A+0A%*

ow y my oath a entile surely and no 1ew.

L*E%3*

+eshrew me ut 0 lo!e her heartily?

-or she is wise if 0 can judge of her

*nd dar as she is is fairest in my sight

*nd true she is as she hath pro!ed herself

*nd therefore lie herself wise wild and truehall she e placed in my constant soul.

6essica appears .it% t%em and oren:o li#%ts t%e

torc% and #i"es it to %er to carry'

36



5e must away and 3uicly? our mas3uing mates await.

E&it oren:o and 6essica

+ratiano deli,erately stays ,e%ind to pick up

some of t%e ducats t%at 6essica %ad dropped'

Enter ATOIO

A%+*%0*

5ho&s there

(A+0A%* (%idin# t%e money in %is pocket)

<h ignior *ntonio> 0t is ratiano.

A%+*%0*

-ie fie ratiano> where are the rest

0t is past nine o&cloc: our friends had stayed for you.+ut 0 ha!e sought to find you and

Ceport there will e no mas3ue tonight:

The wind has come aout?

+assanio presently will go aoard.

(A+0A%*

0 am glad on it: 0 desire no more delight

Than to e under sail and e gone tonight.

T%ey e&it'

37



A!+ 0

Scene 11&

0n Venice& *n the street&

Enter !AARIA and !AAIA

SALA0A

0 saw +assanio under sail:

5ith him is ratiano gone along?

*nd in their ship 0 am sure ;oren,o is not.

SALA%0A

The 1ew with outcries raised the due

5ho went with him to search +assanio&s ship

for his renegade daughter.

SALA0A

Ae came too late the ship was under sail:

+ut there the due was pri!ately gi!en to understand

That in a gondola were seen together

;oren,o and his amorous 1essica:

+esides *ntonio had already certified to the due

They were not with +assanio in his ship.

SALA%0A

0 ne!er heard a passion so confused

o strange outrageous and so !ariale*s the 1ew did howl in the streets:

&#y daughter> < my ducats> < my daughter>

-led with a 4hristian> < my 4hristian ducats>

1ustice> the law> my ducats and my daughter>

* sealed ag two sealed ags of ducats

<f doule ducats stolen from me y my daughter>

*nd jewels two stones two rich and precious stones

tolen y my daughter> 1ustice> find the girl?

he hath the stones upon her and the ducats.&

SALA0A

5hy all the oys in $enice follow him

4rying his stones his daughter and his ducats.

38



SALA%0A

;et good *ntonio e sure to eep his repayment date.

<r he shall pay the penalty for the 1ew&s wrath.

SALA0A

#arry well rememered.

0 reasoned with a -renchman yesterday

5ho told me in the narrow seas that part

The -rench and 2nglish there miscarried

* !essel of our country richly fraught:

0 thought upon *ntonio when he told me?

*nd wished in silence that it were not his.

SALA%0A

=ou were est not to tell *ntonio what you heard

Dntil it is confirmed his.

SALA0A

* inder gentleman treads not the earth.

0 saw +assanio and *ntonio part:

+assanio told him he would mae some speed

<f his return: he answered &Bo not so?

luer not usiness for my sae +assanio

+ut stay the !ery ripening of the time?

*nd for the 1ew&s ond which he hath of me

;et it not enter in your mind of lo!e:

+e merry and employ your chiefest thoughts

To courtship and such fair ostents of lo!e*s shall con!eniently ecome you there:&

*nd e!en there his eye eing ig with tears

Turning his face he put his hand ehind him

*nd with affection wondrous sensile

Ae wrung +assanio&s hand? and issed his mouth.

SALA%0A

0 thin he only lo!es the world for him.

0 pray thee let us go and find him out

*nd 3uicen his emraced hea!iness

5ith some delight or other.

SALA0A

Bo we so.

T%ey e&it'

39



A!+ 0

Scene 12&

0n elmont& +he reception room in P*+0A's castle

Enter erissa'

%E0SSA

#adam there is alighted at your gate

* young $enetian one that comes efore

To signify the approaching of his lord?

-rom whom he ringeth gifts of rich !alue.

=et 0 ha!e not seen

o liely an amassador of lo!e:

* day in *pril ne!er came so sweet

To show how costly summer was at hand*s this forespurrer comes efore his lord.

P*+0A

4ome come erissa? for 0 long to see

Huic 4upid&s post that comes so mannerly.

%E0SSA

+assanio lord ;o!e is my wish if thy will it e>

T%ey e&it'

40



A!+ 0

Scene 14


Enter !AAIA and !AARIA

SALA%0A

ow what news on the Cialto

SALA0A

5hy yet it li!es there uncheced that *ntonio hath

a ship of rich lading wreced on the narrow seas?

the oodwins 0 thin they call the place? a !ery

dangerous flat and fatal where the carcasses of many

a tall ship lie uried as they say if my gossipCeport e an honest woman of her word.

SALA%0A

0 would she were as lying a gossip in that as e!er

stole ginger or made her neighours elie!e she

wept for the death of a third husand. +ut it is

true without any slips of prolixity or crossing the

plain highway of tal that the good *ntonio the

honest *ntonio< that 0 had a title good enough

to eep his name company>

SALA0A

4ome the full stop.

SALA%0A

Aa> what sayest thou 5hy the end is it was his ship

that was lost etween 2ngland and -rance.

SALA0A

0 would it might pro!e the end of his losses.

SALA%0A ;et me say &amen& etimes lest the de!il cross my

prayer for here he comes in the lieness of a 1ew.

Enter !/0O12

41



Aow now hyloc> what news among the aners

S56L*!7

=ou now none so well none so well as you of my

daughter&s flight.

SALA%0A

That&s certain: 0 for my part new the tailor

that made the wings she flew withal.

SALA0A

*nd hyloc you new the ird was fully fledged?

and that it is the complexion of them all to lea!e the

nest.

S56L*!7

he is damned for it.

SALA%0A

That&s certain if the de!il were her judge.

S56L*!7

#y own flesh and lood to reel>

SALA0A

There is more difference etween thy flesh and hers

than etween jet and i!ory? more etween your loods

than there is etween red wine and rhenish. +uttell us do you hear whether *ntonio ha!e had any

loss at sea or no

S56L*!7

There 0 ha!e another ad match: a anrupt a

prodigal who dare scarce show his head on the

Cialto? a eggar that was used to come so smug upon

the mart? let him loo to his ond: he was wont to

call me usurer? let him loo to his ond: he was

wont to lend money for a 4hristian courtesy? let him

loo to his ond.

SALA0A

5hy 0 am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not tae

his flesh: what&s that good for

42



S56L*!7

To ait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else

it will feed my re!enge. Ae hath disgraced me and

hindered me half a million? laughed at my losses

moced at my gains scorned my nation thwarted my

argains cooled my friends heated mine

enemies? and what&s his reason 0 am a 1ew. Aath

not a 1ew eyes hath not a 1ew hands organs

dimensions senses affections passions fed with

the same food hurt with the same weapons suject

to the same diseases healed y the same means

warmed and cooled y the same winter and summer as

a 4hristian is

0f you pric us do we not leed

if you ticle us do we not laugh if you poison

us do we not die and if you wrong us shall we notre!enge 0f we are lie you in the rest we will

resemle you in that. 0f a 1ew wrong a 4hristian

what is his humility Ce!enge. 0f a 4hristian

wrong a 1ew what should his sufferance e y

4hristian example 5hy re!enge. The !illainy you

teach me 0 will execute and it shall go hard ut 0

will etter the instruction.

Enter a !er"ant

SEVA%+

entle ladies my master *ntonio is at his house anddesires to spea with you oth.

SALA0A

5e ha!e een up and down to see him.

Enter 6onat%an

SALA%0A

Aere comes another of his trie: a third cannot e

matched unless the de!il himself turn 1ew.

E-IT !AAIA !AARIA and !er"ant

S56L*!7

Aow now 1onathan> what news from enoa hast thou

found my daughter

43



*%A+5A%

0 often came where 0 did hear of her ut cannot find

her.

S56L*!7

5hy there there there there> a diamond gone

cost me two thousand ducats in -ranfort> The curse

ne!er fell upon our nation till now? 0 ne!er felt it

till now: two thousand ducats in that? and other

precious precious jewels. 0 would my daughter

were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear>

would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in

her coffin> o news of them

5hy so: and 0 now

not what&s spent in the search: why thou loss uponloss> the thief gone with so much and so much to

find the thief? and no satisfaction no re!enge:

nor no in luc stirring ut what lights on my

shoulders? no sighs ut of my reathing? no tears

ut of my shedding.

*%A+5A%

=es other men ha!e ill luc too: *ntonio as 0

heard in enoa

S56L*!7 5hat what what ill luc ill luc

*%A+5A%

Aath an argosy cast away coming from Tripoli.

S56L*!7

0 than od 0 than od. 0s&t true is&t true

onathan

0 spoe with some of the sailors that escaped the

wrec.

S56L*!7

0 than thee good 1onathan: good news good news>

ha ha> where in enoa

44



*%A+5A%

=our daughter spent in enoa as 0 heard in one

night fourscore ducats.

S56L*!7

Thou stics a dagger in me: 0 shall ne!er see my gold

again: fourscore ducats at a sitting> fourscore ducats>

*%A+5A%

There came di!ers of *ntonio&s creditors in my

company to $enice that swear he cannot choose ut

rea.

S56L*!7

0 am !ery glad of it: 0&ll plague him? 0&ll torture

him: 0 am glad of it.

*%A+5A%

<ne of them showed me a ring that he had of your

daughter for a money.

S56L*!7

<ut upon her> Thou tortures me 1onathan: it was my

tur3uoise? 0 had it of ;eah when 0 was a achelor:

0 would not ha!e gi!en it for a wilderness of moneys.

*%A+5A%

+ut *ntonio is certainly undone.

S56L*!7

ay that&s true that&s !ery true. o 1onathan fee

me an officer? espea him a fortnight efore.

They ha!e stolen the heart of my only child

and 0 shall tae

full measure for measure from this *ntonio.

0 shall mae such merchandise of him as 0 will.

0 shall ha!e the heart of him if he forfeit.

o go 1onathan and meet me again at our hall.

T%ey e&it'

45



A!+ 0

Scene 18&


Enter BA!!AIO PORTIA +RATIAO ERI!!A and

Attendants

P*+0A

0 pray you tarry: pause a day or two

+efore you ha,ard? for in choosing wrong

0 lose your company:

Turn away your eyes

They ha!e o&erloo&d me and di!ided me?

<ne half of me is yours the other half yours

#ine own 0 would say? ut if mine then yours*nd so all yours.

ASSA%0*

;et me choose

-or as 0 am 0 li!e upon the rac.

P*+0A

Dpon the rac +assanio then confess

5hat treason there is mingled with your lo!e.

ASSA%0*

There may as well e amity

+etween snow and fire as treason and my lo!e.

+ut lead me to my fortune . . ..

P*+0A

0 am loc&d in one of them:

0f you do lo!e me you will find me out.

erissa and the rest stand all aloof.

;et music sound while he doth mae his choice?Then if he lose he maes a swanlie end.

%E0SSA (sin#in#)

Tell me where is fancy red

46



0n the heart or in the head

Aow egot how nourished

0t is in the eyes engendered

5here fancy thri!es y ga,ing fed?

0s it gold sil!er or is it lead

ASSA%0*

o here choose 0? ray joy e the conse3uence>

Bassanio attempts to c%oose t%e #old ,o& ,ut

erissa pulls it ,ack and mo"es %is %and to t%e

lead one'

ASSA%0* (aside)

5hy isn&t she in the gold ox That doesn&t mae

sense to me.

P*+0A (aside)

Aow all the other passions fleet to air

*s doutful thoughts and rashemraced despair

*nd shuddering fear and greeneyed jealousy> < lo!e

+e moderate? allay thy ecstasy

0n measure rein thy joy? scant this excess.

0 feel too much thy lessing: mae it less

-or fear 0 surfeit.

ASSA%0*5hat find 0 here

Openin# t%e lead casket

-air ortia&s portrait> 5hat demigod

Aath come so near creation #o!e these eyes

<r whether riding on the alls of mine

eem they in motion

Aere&s the scroll

The continent and summary of my fortune.

"=ou that choose not y the !iew

4hance as fair and choose as true>

47



ince this fortune falls to you

+e content and see no new

0f you e well pleased with this

*nd hold your fortune for your liss

Turn you where your lady is

*nd claim her with a lo!ing iss.%

;ie one of two contending in a pri,e

That thins he hath done well in people&s eyes

Aearing applause and uni!ersal shout

iddy in spirit still ga,ing in a dout

5hether these pearls of praise e his or no?

o thrice fair lady stand 0 e!en so?

*s doutful whether what 0 see e true

Dntil confirmed signed ratified y you.

Bid 0 win the pri,e or no

P*+0A

=ou see me ;ord +assanio where 0 stand

uch as 0 am: though for myself alone

0 would not e amitious in my wish

To wish myself much etter? yet for you

0 would e treled twenty times myself?* thousand times more fair ten thousand times more

rich?

That only to stand high in your account

0 might in !irtue eauties li!ings friends

2xceed account? ut the full sum of me

0s sum of something which to term in gross

0s an unlesson&d girl unschool&d unpractised?

Aappy in this she is not yet so old

+ut she may learn? happier than this

he is not red so dull ut she can learn?Aappiest of all is that her gentle spirit

4ommits itself to yours to e directed

(slo.ly kneelin# ,efore Bassanio)

48



*s from her lord her go!ernor her ing.

#yself and what is mine to you and yours

0s now con!erted.

(Portia s%ould #radually speak as if dru##ed and

on %er knees' May,e erissa could .ipe %er

fore%ead .it% a damp clot% or somet%in# to mark

reco"erin# %er senses' Portia s%ould say t%e ne&t

lines as if a.akenin# from a trance and re#ainin#

conscious control')

+ut now 0 was the lord

<f this fair mansion master of my ser!ants

Hueen o&er myself: and e!en now ut now

(takin# a rin# from %er fin#er)

0 gi!e them with this ring?5hich when you part from lose or gi!e away

;et it presage the ruin of your lo!e

*nd e my ad!antage to claim on you.

ASSA%0*

#adam you ha!e ereft me of all words

+ut when this ring

arts from this finger then parts life from hence:

< then e old to say +assanio&s dead>

%E0SSA

#y lord and lady it is now our time

That ha!e stood y and seen our wishes prosper

To cry good joy: good joy my lady and my lord>

(A+0A%*

#y lord +assanio and my gentle lady

0 wish you all the joy that you could wish for?

*nd when your honours mean to solemni,e

The argain of your faith 0 do eseech you2!en at that time 0 may e married too.

ASSA%0*

5ith all my heart ut where can you find a wife

49



(A+0A%*

0 than your lordship you ha!e got me one.

#y eyes my lord can loo as swift as yours:

=ou saw the mistress 0 eheld the maid?

=ou lo!ed 0 lo!ed during the intermission.

0 got a promise of this fair one here

To ha!e her lo!e pro!ided that your fortune

*chie!ed her mistress.

P*+0A

0s this true erissa

%E0SSA

#adam it is so you stand pleased withal.

ASSA%0*

*nd do you ratiano mean good faith

(A+0A%*

=es faith my lord.

ASSA%0*

<ur feast shall e douly honoured in our doule

marriage.

(A+0A%*

5e&ll gamle etween us? the first oy for a thousand

ducats.

%E0SSA

5hat and stae down

(A+0A%*

o? we shall ne&er win at that sport and stae down.

+ut who comes here ;oren,o and his saucy infidel

Enter ORE*O and 6E!!I1A

ASSA%0*;oren,o and 1essica welcome hither?

+y your lea!e

0 id my $enetian friends weet ortia welcome.

P*+0A

50



They are entirely welcome.

L*E%3*

-or my part my lord

#y purpose was not to ha!e interrupted you here?

+ut ignior *ntonio implored me to deli!er this

letter to you.

+i"es Bassanio a letter

ASSA%0*

2re 0 ope his letter

0 pray you tell me how does my good friend.

L*E%3*

ot sic my lord unless it e in mind?

or well unless in mind: his letter there5ill show you his state.

(A+0A%*

erissa cheer yon stranger? id her welcome.

=our hand ;oren,o: what&s the news from $enice

Aow doth that royal merchant good *ntonio

0 now he will e glad of our success?

5e are the 1asons we ha!e won the fleece.

L*E%3*

0 would you had won the fleece that he hath lost.

P*+0A

There are some shrewd contents in the paper

That steals the colour from +assanio&s chee:

ome dear friend dead? else nothing in the world

4ould turn so much the constitution

<f any constant man. 5hat worse and worse>

5ith lea!e +assanio: 0 am half yourself

*nd 0 must freely ha!e the half of anything

That this same paper rings you.

ASSA%0*

< sweet ortia

Aere are a few of the unpleasantest words

That e!er lotted paper>

51



entle lady

5hen 0 did first impart my lo!e to you

0 freely told you all the wealth 0 had

Can in my !eins 0 was a gentleman?

*nd then 0 told you true: and yet dear lady

Cating myself at nothing you shall see

Aow much 0 was a raggart. 5hen 0 told you

#y state was nothing 0 should then ha!e told you

That 0 was worse than nothing? for indeed

0 ha!e engaged myself to a dear friend

2ngaged my friend to his worst enemy

To feed my means.

Aere is a letter lady?

The paper as the ody of my friend

*nd e!ery word in it a gaping wound

0ssuing lifelood. +ut is it true

Aa!e all his !entures failed 5hat not one hit-rom Tripoli from #exico and 2ngland

-rom ;ison +arary and 0ndia

*nd not one !essel escape the dreadful touch

<f merchantmarring rocs

L*E%3*

ot one my lord.

+esides it should appear that if he had

The present money to discharge the 1ew

Ae would not tae it. e!er did 0 now

* creature that did ear the shape of mano een and greedy to confound a man:

Ae plies the due at morning and at night

*nd doth impeach the freedom of the state

0f they deny him justice: twenty merchants

The due himself and the magnificoes

<f greatest port ha!e all persuaded with him?

+ut none can dri!e him from the en!ious plea

<f forfeiture of justice and his ond.

ESS0!A

5hen 0 was with him 0 ha!e heard him swearTo 1onathan and to 4hus his countrymen

That he would rather ha!e *ntonio&s flesh

Than twenty times the !alue of the sum

That he did owe him: and 0 now my lord

0f law authority and power deny not

52



0t will go hard with poor *ntonio.

P*+0A

0s it your dear friend that is thus in troule

ASSA%0*

The dearest friend to me the indest man

The estconditioned and unwearied spirit

0n doing courtesies and one in whom

The ancient Coman honour more appears

Than any that draws reath in 0taly.

P*+0A

5hat sum owes he the 1ew

ASSA%0*

-or me three thousand ducats.

P*+0A

5hat no more

ay him six thousand and deface the ond?

Boule six thousand and then trele that

+efore a friend of this description

hall lose a hair through +assanio&s fault.

-irst go with me to church and call me wife

*nd then away to $enice to your friend?

-or ne!er shall you lie y ortia&s side

5ith an un3uiet soul. =ou shall ha!e goldTo pay the petty det twenty times o!er:

5hen it is paid ring your true friend along.

#y maid erissa and myself meantime

5ill li!e as maids and widows. 4ome away>

-or you shall hence upon your weddingday:

+id your friends welcome show a merry cheer:

ince you are dear ought 0 will lo!e you dear.

+ut let me hear the letter of your friend.

ASSA%0*;Reads< weet +assanio my ships ha!e all

miscarried my creditors grow cruel my estate is

!ery low my ond to the 1ew is forfeit? and since

in paying it it is impossile 0 should li!e all

dets are cleared etween you and 0 if 0 might ut

53



see you at my death. otwithstanding use your

pleasure: if your lo!e do not persuade you to come

let not my letter.

P*+0A

< lo!e dispatch all usiness and e gone>

ASSA%0*

ince 0 ha!e your good lea!e to go away

0 will mae haste: ut till 0 come again

o ed shall e&er e guilty of my stay

o rest e interposer &twixt us twain.

T%ey e&it'

LA!7*9+

0%+EM0SS0*%

54



A!+ 00

Scene 1


Enter !/0O12 !AARIA , ATOIO and 6ailer

S56L*!7

1ailer loo to him: tell not me of mercy? This is the

fool that lent out money gratis: jailer loo to him.

A%+*%0*

Aear me yet good hyloc.

S56L*!7

0&ll ha!e my ond? spea not against my ond:

0 ha!e sworn an oath that 0 will ha!e my ond.Thou called me dog efore thou hadst a cause?

+ut since 0 am a dog eware my fangs:

The due shall grant me justice.

A%+*%0*

0 pray thee hear me spea.

S56L*!7

0&ll ha!e my ond? 0 will not hear thee spea:

0&ll ha!e my ond? and therefore spea no more.

0&ll not e made a soft and dulleyed foolTo shae the head relent and sigh and yield

To 4hristian intercessors. -ollow not?

0&ll ha!e no speaing: 0 will ha!e my ond.

!%ylock e&its'

SALA0A

0t is the most impenetrale cur

That e!er ept with men.

A%+*%0*

;et him alone:

0&ll follow him no more with ootless prayers.

Ae sees my life? his reason well 0 now:

0 oft deli!ered from his forfeitures

55



#any that ha!e at times made moan to me?

Therefore he hates me.

The loss of my estate will e nothing

0f the ;ord please to join my soul nearer to himself

*nd loose it more from worldly creature comforts.

SALA0A

0 am sure the due

5ill ne!er grant this forfeiture to hold.

A%+*%0*

The due cannot deny the course of law:

-or the commerce that strangers ha!e

5ith us in $enice if it e denied

5ill much impeach the justice of his state?ince that the trade and profit of the city

4onsists of all nations. Therefore go:

These griefs and losses ha!e so ated me

That 0 shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

Tomorrow to my loody creditor.

5ell jailer on. ray od +assanio come

To see me pay his det and then 0 care not>

T%ey e&it'

56



A!+ 0

Scene 2


Enter PORTIA ERI!!A ORE*O 6E!!I1A and

ser"ant

L*E%3*

0f you new to whom you show this honour

Aow true a gentleman you send relief

Aow dear a lo!er of my lord your husand has een

0 now you would e prouder of this wor

Than customary ounty can enforce you.

P*+0A

0 ne!er did repent for doing goodor shall not now: for in companions

That do con!erse and waste the time together

5hose souls do ear an e3ual yoe <f lo!e

There must e needs a lie proportion

5hich maes me thin that this *ntonio

+eing the osom lo!er of my lord

#ust needs e lie my lord.

;oren,o 0 commit into your hands

The management of my houseDntil my lord&s return:

-or mine own part

0 ha!e toward hea!en reathed a secret !ow

To li!e in prayer and contemplation

<nly attended y erissa here

Dntil her husand and my lord&s return:

There is a monastery two miles off?

*nd there will we aide.

L*E%3*

#adam with all my heart?

0 shall oey you in all fair commands.

57



P*+0A

#y people do already now my mind

*nd will acnowledge you and 1essica

0n place of ;ord +assanio and myself.

*nd so farewell till we shall meet again.

L*E%3*

-air thoughts and happy hours attend on you>

ESS0!A

0 wish your ladyship all heart&s content.

P*+0A

0 than you for your wish and am well pleased

To wish it ac on you: fare you well 1essica.

E&it 6E!!I1A and ORE*O

ow my faithful ser!ant

Tae this same letter

0n speed to adua: see thou render this

0nto my cousin&s hand Boctor +ellario?

*nd loo what notes and garments he doth gi!e thee

+ring them 0 pray thee unto the common ferry

5hich trades to $enice.

5aste no time in words

+ut get thee gone: 0 shall e there efore thee.

SEVA%+#adam 0 go with all con!enient speed.

!er"ant e&its'

P*+0A

4ome on erissa? 0 ha!e wor in hand

That you yet now not of: we&ll see our husands

+efore they thin of us.

%E0SSA

hall they see us

P*+0A

They shall erissa? ut in such a hait

That they shall thin we are accomplished

5ith that when we were seeming ladies laced.

58



0&ll hold thee any wager

5hen we are oth dressed lie young men

0&ll pro!e the prettier fellow of the two

*nd wear my dagger with the ra!er grace

*nd spea etween the change of man and oy

5ith a reed !oice and turn two mincing steps

0nto a manly stride and spea of frays

;ie a fine ragging youth and tell 3uaint lies

Aow honourale ladies sought my lo!e

5hich 0 denying they fell sic and died.

0 ha!e within my mind

* thousand raw trics of these ragging 1acs

5hich 0 will practice.

%E0SSA

5hy shall we turn into men

P*+0A

-ie what a lewd 3uestion is that

0&ll tell thee all my whole de!ice

5hen 0 am in the coach which stays for us

*t the par gate? and therefore haste away

-or we must measure twenty miles today.

T%ey e&it'

59



A!+ 00

S!E%E 4& 0n elmont& A garden&

Enter A51EOT and 6E!!I1A

LA9%!EL*+

=es truly? for loo you the sins of the father

are to e laid upon the children: for truly 0 thin you

are damned. There is ut one hope in it that can do

you any good? and that is ut a ind of astard

hope.

ESS0!A

*nd what hope is that 0 pray thee

LA9%!EL*+

#arry you may partly hope that your father got younot that you are not the 1ew&s daughter.

ESS0!A

That were a ind of astard hope indeed: so the

sins of my mother should e !isited upon me.

LA9%!EL*+

Truly then 0 fear you are damned oth y father and

mother: thus when 0 shun cylla your father 0

fall into 4harydis your mother: well you are

gone oth ways.

ESS0!A

0 shall e sa!ed y my husand? he hath made me a

4hristian.

LA9%!EL*+

This maing of 4hristians will raise the

price of hogs: if we all grow to e poreaters

shortly we shall not find a rasher left on the coals.

Enter ORE*O

ESS0!A

0&ll tell my husand ;auncelot what you say: here he

comes.

60



L*E%3*

0 shall grow jealous of you shortly ;auncelot if

you thus get my wife into corners.

ESS0!A

ay you need not fear us ;oren,o: ;auncelot and 0

ha!e had a falling out. Ae tells me flatly there is

no mercy for me in hea!en ecause 0 am a 1ew&s

daughter: and he says you are not a good memer of

the commonwealth for in con!erting 1ews to

4hristians you will raise the price of por.

L*E%3*

o in sirrah? id them prepare for dinner.

LA9%!EL*+

That is done sir? they ha!e all stomachs.

L*E%3*

0 pray thee understand a plain man in his plain

meaning: go to thy fellows? id them co!er the tale

ser!e in the meat and we will come in to dinner.

LA9%!EL*+

-or the tale sir it shall e ser!ed in? for the

meat sir it shall e co!ered? for your coming in

to dinner sir why let it e as humours and

conceits shall go!ern you.

L*E%3*

ood ;ord what a witsnapper you are. ot one word

more. +e gone and do your idding as 0 ha!e plainly

spoen it

auncelot e&its :ippin# %is mout% s%ut'

Aow cheerest thou 1essica

*nd now good sweet say thy opinion

Aow dost thou lie the ;ord +assanio&s wife

ESS0!A

ast all expressing.

;ord +assanio has such a lessing in his lady

That he may disco!er the joys of hea!en here on earth.

61



L*E%3*

2!en such a husand

Aast thou of me as she is for a wife.

ESS0!A

ay ut why don&t you as me that 3uestion as well

L*E%3*

0 will soon enough: first let us go to dinner.

ESS0!A

ay let me praise you while 0 ha!e the stomach for it.

L*E%3*

o pray thee let it ser!e for taletal?

Then howsoe!er thou spea&st among other things

0 might find it at all digestile.

ESS0!A

0 recommend then you eep a physic at the ready.

T%ey e&it'

62



A!+ 00

Scene 8

0n Venice& A co$rt of @$stice&

Enter t%e D52E t%e Ma#nificoes ATOIO

BA!!AIO +RATIAO !AARIA !AAIA and ot%ers

/97E

5hat is *ntonio here

A%+*%0*

Ceady so please your grace.

/97E

0 am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer

* stony ad!ersary.

A%+*%0*

0 ha!e heard

=our grace hath taen great pains to 3ualify

Ais rigorous course? ut since he stands ostinate

*nd that no lawful means can carry me

<ut of his en!y&s reach 0 do oppose

#y patience to his fury and am armed

To suffer with a 3uietness of spirit

2!ery tyranny and rage of his.

/97E

4all the 1ew into the court.

A0L*

Ae is ready at the door: he comes my lord.

Enter !/0O12

/97E

#ae room and let him stand efore our face.

hyloc the world thins and 0 thin so tooThat thou ut lead&st this fashion of thy malice

To the last hour of act? and then it is thought

Thou will show thy mercy and remorse more strange

Than is thy strange apparent cruelty?

*nd where thou now exact the penalty

63



5hich is a pound of this poor merchant&s flesh.

Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture

+ut touched with human gentleness and lo!e

-orgi!e a portion of the principal?

lancing an eye of pity on his losses

That ha!e of late so huddled on his ac

2nough to press a royal merchant down

*nd pluc commiseration of his state

-rom rassy osoms and rough hearts of flint

-rom stuorn Turs and Tartars ne!er trained

To offices of a tender course

5e all expect a gentle answer 1ew.

S56L*!7

0 ha!e possessed your grace of what 0 purpose?

*nd y our holy aath ha!e 0 sworn

To ha!e the due and forfeit of my ond:

0f you deny it let the danger lightDpon your charter and your city&s freedom.

=ou&ll as me why 0 rather choose to ha!e

* weight of carrion flesh than to recei!e

Three thousand ducats: 0&ll not answer that:

+ut say it is my humour: is it answered

5hat if my house e trouled with a rat

*nd 0 e pleased to gi!e ten thousand ducats

To ha!e it aned 5hat are you answered yet

ome men there are lo!e not a gaping pig?

ome that are mad if they ehold a cat?*nd others when the agpipe sings in the nose

4annot contain their urine: for affection

#istress of passion sways it to the mood

<f what it lies or loathes.

ow for your answer:

*s there is no firm reason to e rendered

5hy he cannot aide a gaping pig?

5hy he a harmless necessary cat?

5hy he a woollen agpipe? ut of force

#ust yield to such ine!itale shame*s to offend himself eing offended?

o can 0 gi!e no reason nor 0 will not

#ore than a lodged hate and a certain loathing

0 ear *ntonio that 0 follow thus

#y suit against him. *re you answered

64



ASSA%0*

This is no answer thou unfeeling man

To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

S56L*!7

0 am not ound to please thee with my answers.

ASSA%0*

Bo all men ill the things they do not lo!e

S56L*!7

Aates any man the thing he would not ill

ASSA%0*

2!ery offense is not a hate at first.

S56L*!7

5hat wouldst thou ha!e a serpent sting thee twice

A%+*%0*

0 pray you thin you 3uestion with the 1ew:

=ou may as well 3uestion with the wolf

5hy he hath made the ewe leat for the lam?

=ou may as well forid the mountain pines

To wag their high tops and to mae no sound

5hen they are fretted with the gusts of hea!en?

=ou may as well do anything most hard*s see to soften his petrified heart:

therefore 0 do eseech you

#ae no more offers use no farther means

+ut with all rief and plain con!eniency

;et me ha!e judgment and the 1ew his will.

ASSA%0* (re"ealin# money ,a#s)

-or thy three thousand ducats here is six.

S56L*!7

5hat judgment shall 0 dread doing5ere in six parts and e!ery part a ducat

0 would not draw them? 0 would ha!e my ond.

/97E

Aow shalt thou hope for mercy rendering none

65



S56L*!7

5hat judgment shall 0 dread doing no wrong

=ou ha!e among you many a purchased sla!e

5hich lie your asses and your dogs and mules

=ou use in aject and in sla!ish ways

+ecause you ought them:

hall 0 say to you

;et them e free marry them to your heirs

5hy sweat they under urdens let their eds

+e made as soft as yours and let their palates

+e seasoned with such !iands

=ou will answer

&The sla!es are ours:& so do 0 answer you:

The pound of flesh which 0 demand of him

0s dearly ought? it is mine and 0 will ha!e it.

0f you deny me fie upon your law>

There is no force in the decrees of $enice.

0 stand for judgment: answer? shall 0 ha!e it

/97E

Dpon my power 0 may dismiss this court

Dnless +ellario a learned doctor

5hom 0 ha!e sent for to determine this

4ome not here today.

A0L*

#y lord here stays without

* messenger with letters from the doctor

ew come from adua.

/97E

+ring us the letter? call the messenger.

ASSA%0*

ood cheer *ntonio> 5hat man courage yet>

The 1ew shall ha!e my flesh lood ones and all2re thou shalt lose for me one drop of lood.

A%+*%0*

0 am a tainted wether of the floc

66



#eetest for death: the weaest ind of fruit

Brops earliest to the ground? and so let me

=ou cannot etter e employed +assanio

Than to li!e still and write mine epitaph.

Enter ERI!!A dressed like a la.yer7s clerk

/97E

4ame you from adua from +ellario

%E0SSA

-rom oth my lord. +ellario greets your grace.

Presentin# a letter

ASSA%0*

5hy dost thou whet thy nife so earnestly

S56L*!7

To cut the forfeiture from that anrupt there.

(A+0A%*

ot on thy sole ut on thy soul harsh 1ew

Thou maes thy nife een? ut no metal can

o not the hangman&s axe ear half the eenness

<f thy sharp en!y. 4an no prayers pierce thee

S56L*!7

o none that thou hast wit enough to mae.

(A+0A%*

< e thou damned execrale dog>

*nd for thy life let justice e accused.

Thou almost maes me wa!er in my faith

To hold opinion with ythagoras

That souls of animals infuse themsel!es

0nto the truns of men: thy currish spirit

o!erned a wolf who hanged for human slaughter

2!en from the gallows did his fell soul flee

*nd whilst thou lay in thy unhallowed dam0nfused itself in thee? for thy desires

*re wolfish loody star!ed and ra!enous.

S56L*!7

Till thou canst rail the seal from off my ond

67



Thou ut offends thy lungs to spea so loud:

Cepair thy wit good youth or it will fall

To cureless ruin. 0 stand here for law.

/97E

This letter from +ellario doth commend

* young and learned doctor to our court.

5here is he

%E0SSA

Ae attends here hard y To now your answer whether

you&ll admit him.

/97E

5ith all my heart. o gi!e him courteous conduct to

this place.

Enter PORTIA dressed like a doctor of la.s

i!e me your hand. 4ome you from old +ellario

P*+0A

0 do my lord.

/97E

=ou are welcome: tae your place.

*re you ac3uainted with the difference

That holds this present 3uestion in the court

P*+0A

0 am informed thoroughly of the cause.

5hich is the merchant here and which the 1ew

/97E

*ntonio and old hyloc oth stand forth.

P*+0A

0s your name hyloc

S56L*!7 hyloc is my name.

P*+0A

<f a strange nature is the suit you follow?

=et in such rule that the $enetian law

68



4annot impugn you as you do proceed.

=ou stand within his danger do you not

A%+*%0*

*y so he says.

P*+0A

Bo you confess the ond

A%+*%0*

0 do.

P*+0A (makin# an announcement to t%e court)

Then must the 1ew e merciful.

S56L*!7

<n what compulsion must 0 Tell me that.

P*+0A

The 3uality of mercy is not strain&d

0t droppeth as the gentle rain from hea!en

Dpon the place eneath: it is twice lest?

0t lesseth him that gi!es and him that taes:

it is mightiest in the mightiest: it ecomes

The throned monarch etter than his crown?

Ais sceptre shows the force of temporal power

The attriute to awe and majesty5herein doth sit the dread and fear of ings?

+ut mercy is ao!e this sceptred sway?

0t is enthroned in the hearts of ings

0t is an attriute to od himself?

*nd earthly power doth then show liest od&s

5hen mercy seasons justice. Therefore 1ew

Though justice e thy plea consider this

That in the course of justice none of us

hould see sal!ation: we do pray for mercy?

*nd that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. 0 ha!e spoe thus muchTo mitigate the justice of thy plea?

5hich if thou follow this strict court of $enice

#ust needs gi!e sentence against the merchant there.

69



S56L*!7

#y deeds upon my head> 0 cra!e the law

The penalty and forfeit of my ond.

P*+0A

0s he not ale to discharge the money

ASSA%0*

=es here 0 tender it for him in the court?

=ea twice the sum: if that will not suffice

0 will e ound to pay it ten times o&er

<n forfeit of my hands my head my heart:

0f this will not suffice it must appear

That malice ears down truth. *nd 0 eseech you

5rest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right do a little wrong

*nd cur this cruel de!il of his will.

P*+0A

0t must not e? there is no power in $enice

4an alter a decree estalished:

&Twill e recorded for a precedent

*nd many an error y the same example

5ill rush into the state: it cannot e.

S56L*!7

* Baniel come to judgment> yea a Baniel>

< wise young judge how 0 do honour thee>

P*+0A

0 pray you let me loo upon the ond.

S56L*!7

Aere it is most re!erend doctor here it is.

P*+0A

hyloc there&s ten times thy money offered thee.

Thirty thousand ducats.

S56L*!7

*n oath an oath 0 ha!e made an oath to my wife in

hea!en: hall 0 lay perjury upon my soul

o not for all of $enice.

70



P*+0A (loudly to t%e court)

Then this ond is forfeit?

*nd lawfully y this the 1ew may claim

* pound of flesh to e y him cut off

earest the merchant&s heart.

(aside to !%ylock) +e merciful:

Tae ten times thy money? id me tear the ond.

S56L*!7

0 was not paid according to the terms of the contract.

0t doth appear you are a worthy judge?

=ou now the law your exposition

Aath een most sound: 0 charge you y the law

5hereof you are a welldeser!ing pillar

roceed to judgment: y my soul 0 swear

There is no power in the tongue of manTo alter me: 0 stay here on my ond.

A%+*%0*

#ost heartily 0 do eseech the court

To gi!e the judgment.

P*+0A

5hy then thus it is:

=ou must prepare your osom for his nife.

S56L*!7 < nole judge> < excellent young man>

P*+0A

-or the intent and purpose of the law

Aath full relation to the penalty

5hich here appear due upon the ond.

S56L*!7

0t is !ery true: < wise and upright judge>

Aow much more elder art thou than thy loos>

P*+0A

Therefore lay are your osom *ntonio.

S56L*!7

*y his reast:

71



o says the ond: doth it not nole judge

&earest his heart:& those are the !ery words.

P*+0A

0t is so. *re there alances here to weigh the flesh

S56L*!7

0 ha!e them ready.

P*+0A

Aa!e y some surgeon hyloc on your charge

To stop his wounds lest he do leed to death.

S56L*!7

0s it so nominated in the ond

P*+0A

0t is not so expressed: ut what of that

&Twere good you do so much for charity.

S56L*!7

0 cannot find it? it is not in the contract.

P*+0A

=ou merchant ha!e you any thing to say

A%+*%0*

+ut little: 0 am armed and well prepared.i!e me your hand +assanio: fare you well>

rie!e not that 0 am fallen to this for you?

-or herein -ortune shows herself more ind

Than is her custom: it is still her use

To let the wretched man outli!e his wealth

To !iew with hollow eye and wrinled row

*n age of po!erty? from which lingering penance

<f such misery doth she cut me off.

4ommend me to your honourale wife:

Tell her the process of *ntonio&s end?

ay how 0 lo!ed you spea me fair in death?

*nd when the tale is told id her e judge

5hether +assanio had not once a lo!e.

Cepent ut you that you shall lose your friend

*nd he repents not that he pays your det?

72



-or if the 1ew do cut ut deep enough

0&ll pay it presently with all my heart.

ASSA%0*

*ntonio 0 am married to a wife

5hich is as dear to me as life itself?

+ut life itself my wife and all the world

*re not with me esteemed ao!e thy life:

0 would lose all ay sacrifice them all

Aere to this de!il to deli!er you.

P*+0A

=our wife would gi!e you little thans for that

0f she were y to hear you mae the offer.

(A+0A%*

0 ha!e a wife whom 0 protest 0 lo!e:0 would she were in hea!en so she could

2ntreat some power to change this currish 1ew.

%E0SSA

0t is well you offer it ehind her ac?

The wish would mae else an un3uiet house.

S56L*!7 (aside)

0 ha!e a daughter. 0f these e the 4hristian husands

0 would any of the stoc of +arraas had een her

husand rather than such a 4hristian.

5e trifle time: 0 pray thee pursue sentence.

P*+0A

* pound of that same merchant&s flesh is thine:

The court awards it and the law doth gi!e it.

S56L*!7

#ost rightful judge>

P*+0A *nd you must cut this flesh from off his reast:

The law allows it and the court awards it.

S56L*!7

#ost learned judge> * sentence> 4ome prepare>

73



P*+0A

Tarry a little? there is something else.

This ond doth gi!e thee here no jot of lood?

The words expressly are &a pound of flesh:&

Tae then thy ond tae thou thy pound of flesh?

+ut in the cutting it if thou dost shed

<ne drop of 4hristian lood thy lands and goods

*re y the laws of $enice confiscate

Dnto the state of $enice.

(A+0A%*

< upright judge> #ar 1ew: < learned judge>

S56L*!7

0s that the law

P*+0A

Thyself shalt see the act:

-or as thou urges justice e assured

Thou shalt ha!e justice more than thou desirest.

(A+0A%*

< learned judge> #ar 1ew: a learned judge>

S56L*!7

0 tae this offer then? pay the ond twice and let

the 4hristian go.

ASSA%0*

Aere is the money.

P*+0A

oft> The 1ew shall ha!e all justice? soft> no haste:

Ae shall ha!e nothing ut the penalty.

(A+0A%*

< 1ew> an upright judge a learned judge>

P*+0A Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

hed thou no lood nor cut thou less nor more

+ut just a pound of flesh: if thou cut more

<r less than a just pound e it ut so much

*s maes it light or hea!y in the sustance

74



<r the di!ision of the twentieth part

<f one poor scruple nay if the scale do turn

+ut in the estimation of a hair

Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

(A+0A%*

* second Baniel a Baniel 1ew>

ow infidel we ha!e you on the hip.

P*+0A

5hy doth the 1ew pause tae thy forfeiture.

S56L*!7

i!e me ut my principal and let me go.

ASSA%0*

0 ha!e it ready for thee? here it is.

P*+0A

Ae hath refused it in the open court:

Ae shall ha!e merely justice and his ond.

(A+0A%*

* Baniel still say 0 a second Baniel>

0 than thee 1ew for teaching me that word.

S56L*!7

hall 0 not ha!e arely my principal with no interestadded

P*+0A

Thou shalt ha!e nothing ut the forfeiture

To e so taen at thy peril 1ew.

S56L*!7

5hy then the de!il gi!e him good of it>

0&ll stay no longer.

P*+0A Tarry 1ew:

The law hath yet another hold on you.

0t is enacted in the laws of $enice

0f it e pro!ed against an alien

That y direct or indirect attempts

75



Ae see the life of any citi,en

The party against the which he doth contri!e

hall sei,e one half his goods? the other half

4omes to the pri!y coffer of the state?

*nd the offender&s life lies in the mercy

<f the due.

0n which predicament 0 say thou stands?

-or it appears y these manifest proceedings

That indirectly and directly too

Thou hast contri!ed against the !ery life

<f the defendant.

(A+0A%*

+eg that thou mayst ha!e lea!e to hang thyself:

*nd yet thy wealth eing forfeit to the state

Thou hast not left the !alue of the rope to do it?

Therefore thou must e hanged at the state&s expense.

/97E

That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits

0 pardon thee thy life efore thou as it:

-or half thy wealth it is *ntonio&s?

The other half comes to the general state

5hich humleness may dri!e unto a fine.

P*+0A

*y for the state not for *ntonio.

S56L*!7

ay tae my life and all? pardon not that:

=ou tae my house when you do tae the prop

That doth sustain my house? you tae my life

5hen you do tae the means wherey 0 li!e.

P*+0A

5hat mercy can you render him *ntonio

(A+0A%*

* rope gratis? nothing else for od&s sae.

A%+*%0*

o it please my lord the due and all the court

0 am content to return my portion ac to hyloc

pro!ided that he concede two things.

76



<ne that he presently ecomes a 4hristian

and forsaes the practice of usury?

The other that he do record a gift

Aere in the court of all he dies possessed

Dnto his son ;oren,o and his daughter.

/97E

Ae shall do this or else 0 do recant

The pardon that 0 late pronounced here.

P*+0A

*rt thou contented 1ew what dost thou say

S56L*!7

0 am content.

P*+0A

1ailer draw a deed of gift.

S56L*!7

0 pray you gi!e me lea!e to go from hence?

0 am not well: send the deed after me

*nd 0 will sign it.

/97E

et thee gone ut do it.

(A+0A%* (to !%ylock)

0n christening shalt thou ha!e two godfathers '

*ntonio and the Bue.

Aad 0 een the judge thou should ha!e had ten more

To sentence thee to the gallows not the font.

E&it !/0O12

/97E (to Portia)

ir 0 entreat you come home with me to dinner.

P*+0A

0 humly do desire your grace of pardon:

0 must away this night toward adua

*nd it is meet 0 presently set forth.

77



/97E

0 am sorry that your leisure ser!es you not.

*ntonio gratify this gentleman

-or in my mind you are much ound to him.

T%ey e&it' Duke and %is train

ASSA%0*

#ost worthy gentleman 0 and my friend

Aa!e y your wisdom een this day ac3uitted

<f grie!ous penalties? in lieu whereof

Three thousand ducats due unto the 1ew

5e freely offer for your courteous pains withal.

A%+*%0*

*nd stand indeted o!er and ao!e

0n lo!e and ser!ice to you e!ermore.

P*+0A

Ae is well paid that is well satisfied?

*nd 0 deli!ering you am satisfied

*nd therein do account myself well paid:

#y mind was ne!er yet more mercenary.

0 pray you now me when we meet again:

0 wish you well and so 0 tae my lea!e.

ASSA%0*

Bear sir of force 0 must attempt you further:Tae some rememrance of us as a triute

ot as a fee: grant me two things 0 pray you

ot to deny me and to pardon me.

P*+0A

=ou press me far and therefore 0 will yield.

To ATOIO

i!e me your glo!es 0&ll wear them for your sae?

To BA!!AIO

*nd for your lo!e 0&ll tae this ring from you:

Bo not draw ac your hand? 0&ll tae no more?

*nd you in lo!e shall not deny me this.

78



ASSA%0*

This ring good sir alas it is a trifle>

0 will not shame myself to gi!e you this.

P*+0A

0 will ha!e nothing else ut only this?

*nd now methins 0 ha!e a mind to it.

ASSA%0*

There&s more depends on this than on the !alue.

The dearest ring in $enice will 0 gi!e you

*nd find it out y proclamation:

<nly for this 0 pray you pardon me.

P*+0A

0 see sir you are lieral in offers

=ou taught me first to eg? and now methins

=ou teach me how a eggar should e answered.

ASSA%0*

ood sir this ring was gi!en me y my wife?

*nd when she put it on she made me !ow

That 0 should neither sell nor gi!e nor lose it.

P*+0A

That excuse ser!es many men to husand their gifts.*nd if your wife e not a madwoman

*nd now how well 0 ha!e deser!ed the ring

he would not hold out enmity for e!er

-or gi!ing it to me. 5ell peace e with you>

T%ey e&it' Portia and erissa

A%+*%0*

#y ;ord +assanio let him ha!e the ring:

;et his deser!ings and my lo!e withal

+e !alued against your wife&s commandment.

ASSA%0*

o ratiano run and o!ertae him?

i!e him the ring and ring him if thou canst

Dnto *ntonio&s house: away> mae haste.

79



E&it +ratiano

4ome you and 0 will thither presently?

*nd in the morning early will we oth

-ly toward +elmont: come *ntonio.

T%ey e&it'

80



A!+ 00

Scene



P*+0A

0n3uire the 1ew&s house out gi!e him this deed

*nd let him sign it: we&ll away tonight

*nd e a day efore our husands home:

This deed will e well welcomed y ;oren,o.

Enter +RATIAO

(A+0A%*

-air sir you are well o!ertaen#y ;ord +assanio upon more ad!ice

Aath sent you here this ring and doth entreat

=our company at dinner.

P*+0A

That cannot e:

Ais ring 0 do accept most thanfully:

*nd so 0 pray you tell him: furthermore

0 pray you show my youth old hyloc&s house.

(A+0A%*That will 0 do.

%E0SSA

ir 0 would spea with you.

Aside to PORTIA

0&ll see if 0 can get my husand&s ring

5hich 0 did mae him swear to eep for e!er.

P*+0A (aside)Thou mayst 0 warrant.

*way> mae haste: thou now where 0 will tarry.

81



%E0SSA

4ome good sir will you show me to this house

T%ey e&it'

82



A!+ 00

Scene ;

0n elmont& +he garden at P*+0A'S ho$se&

Enter ORE*O and 6E!!I1A

L*E%3*

The moon shines right.

0n such a night as this

The sweet wind did gently iss the trees.

0n such a night

Troilus methins mounted the Trojan walls

*nd sigh&d his soul toward the recian tents

5here 4ressida lay that night.

ESS0!A

0n such a night

Bid Thise fearfully o&ertrip the dew

*nd saw the lion&s shadow ere himself

*nd ran dismay&d away.

L*E%3*

0n such a night

Bid 1essica steal from the wealthy 1ew

*nd with an unthrifty lo!e did run away from $enice*s far as +elmont.

ESS0!A

0n such a night

Bid young ;oren,o swear he lo!ed her well

tealing her soul with many !ows of faith

*nd ne&er a true one.

L*E%3*

0n such a night

Bid pretty 1essica lie a little shrewlander her lo!e and he forga!e it her.

ESS0!A

0 would outnight you ut we must go in

to ready the house for ortia&s return

83



T%ey kiss'

L*E%3*

weet soul let&s in.

*nd yet no matter: why should we go in

5e should ring the music forth out into the air.

The man that hath no music in himself

5ho is not mo!ed y the concord of sweet sounds

0s fit for nothing ut treasons and stratagems.

The motions of his spirit are dull as night.

o such man should e trusted.

Music plays on'

ESS0!A

0 am ne!er merry when 0 hear sweet music.

L*E%3*

The reason is your spirits are attenti!e:

Bo ut note a wild and wanton herd

<r race of youthful and unhandled colts

-etching mad ounds ellowing and neighing loud

5hich is the hot condition of their lood?

0f they ut hear perchance a trumpet sound

<r any air of music touch their ears

=ou shall percei!e them mae a mutual stand

Their sa!age eyes turned to a modest ga,e+y the sweet power of music.

;et us in and await our nole lady&s return.

T%ey e&it'

84



A!+ 00

Scene <

0n elmont& 0n P*+0A's garden&


P*+0A

That light we see is urning in my hall.

Aow far that little candle throws his eams>

o shines a good deed in a naughty world.

%E0SSA

5hen the moon shone we did not see the candle.

P*+0A

o doth the greater glory dim the less:* sustitute shines rightly as a ing

Dntil the ing e y and then his state

2mpties itself as doth an inland roo

0nto the main of waters. #usic> har>

%E0SSA

0t is your music madam of the house.

P*+0A

othing is good 0 see without respect:

#ethins it sounds much sweeter than y day.

%E0SSA

ilence estows that !irtue on it madam.

P*+0A

The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lar

5hen neither is attended and 0 thin

The nightingale if she should sing y day

5hen e!ery goose is cacling would e thought

o etter a musician than the wren.

Aow many things y season seasoned areTo their right praise and true perfection>

eace ho> the moon sleeps with 2ndymion

*nd would not e waened.

Music ceases as t%ey enter t%e %ouse'

85



L*E%3*

That is the !oice or 0 am much decei!ed of ortia.

P*+0A

Ae nows me as the lind man nows the cucoo

+y the ad !oice.

L*E%3*

Bear lady welcome home.

P*+0A

5e ha!e een praying for our husands& healths

5hich speed we hope the etter for our words.

*re they returned

L*E%3*

#adam they ha!e not yet?

P*+0A

o in erissa?

i!e order to my ser!ants that they tae

o note at all of our eing asent hence?

or you ;oren,o? 1essica nor you.

A trumpet sounds

L*E%3*=our husand is at hand? 0 hear his trumpet:

5e are no telltales madam? fear you not.

P*+0A

This night methins is ut the daylight sic?

0t loos a little paler: 0t is a day

uch as the day is when the sun is hid.

Enter BA!!AIO ATOIO +RATIAO and t%eir

follo.ers

;et me gi!e light ut let me not e light?

-or a light wife doth mae a hea!y husand

*nd ne!er e +assanio so for me:

+ut od sort all> =ou are welcome home my lord.

86



ASSA%0*

0 than you madam. i!e welcome to my friend.

This is the man this is *ntonio

To whom 0 am so infinitely ound.

P*+0A

=ou should in all sense e much ound to him.

-or as 0 hear he was much ound for you.

A%+*%0*

o more than 0 am well ac3uitted of.

P*+0A

ir you are !ery welcome to our house:

0t must appear in other ways than words

Therefore 0 scant this reathing courtesy.

(A+0A%*

6To 2C0*7 +y yonder moon 0 swear you do me wrong?

0n faith 0 ga!e it to the judge&s cler:

5ould he were gelded that had it for my part

ince you do tae it lo!e so much at heart.

P*+0A

* 3uarrel ho already> what&s the matter

(A+0A%*

*out a hoop of gold a paltry ringThat she did gi!e me whose posy was

&;o!e me and lea!e me not.&

%E0SSA

5hat tal you of the posy or the !alue

=ou swore to me when 0 did gi!e it you

That you would wear it till your hour of death

*nd that it should lie with you in your gra!e:

Though not for me yet for your !ehement oaths

=ou should ha!e een respecti!e and ha!e ept it.

a!e it a judge&s cler> no od&s my judgeThe cler will ne&er wear hair on his face that had it.

(A+0A%*

Ae will if he li!e to e a man.

87



%E0SSA

*y if a woman li!e to e a man.

(A+0A%*

ow y this hand 0 ga!e it to a youth

* ind of oy a little scrued oy

o higher than thyself? the judge&s cler

* prating oy that egged it as a fee:

0 could not for my heart deny it him.

P*+0A

=ou were to lame 0 must e plain with you

To part so slightly with your wife&s first gift:

* thing stuc on with oaths upon your finger

*nd so ri!eted with faith unto your flesh.

0 ga!e my lo!e a ring and made him swear

e!er to part with it? and here he stands?0 dare e sworn for him he would not lea!e it

or pluc it from his finger for the wealth

That the world masters. ow in faith ratiano

=ou gi!e your wife too unind a cause of grief:

*n &twere to me 0 should e mad at it.

ASSA%0* (Aside)

5hy 0 were est to cut my left hand off

*nd swear 0 lost the ring defending it.

(A+0A%*#y ;ord +assanio ga!e his ring away

Dnto the judge that egged it and indeed

Beser!ed it too? and then the oy his cler

That too some pains in writing he egged mine?

*nd neither man nor master would tae aught

+ut the two rings.

P*+0A

5hat ring ga!e you my lord

ot that 0 hope which you recei!ed of me.

ASSA%0*

0f 0 could add a lie unto a fault

0 would deny it? ut you see my finger

Aath not the ring upon it? it is gone.

88



P*+0A

2!en so !oid is your false heart of truth.

+y hea!en 0 will ne&er come in your ed

Dntil 0 see the ring.

%E0SSA

or 0 in yours. Till 0 again see mine.

ASSA%0*

weet ortia

0f you did now to whom 0 ga!e the ring

0f you did now for whom 0 ga!e the ring

*nd would concei!e for what 0 ga!e the ring

*nd how unwillingly 0 left the ring

5hen nought would e accepted ut the ring

=ou would aate the strength of your displeasure.

P*+0A

0f you had nown the !irtue of the ring

<r half her worthiness that ga!e the ring

<r your own honour to contain the ring

=ou would not then ha!e parted with the ring.

5hat man is there so much unreasonale

0f you had pleased to ha!e defended it

5ith any terms of ,eal wanted the modesty

To urge the thing held as a ceremony

erissa teaches me what to elie!e:

0&ll die for it ut some woman had the ring.

ASSA%0*

o y my honour madam y my soul

o woman had it ut a ci!il doctor

5hich did refuse three thousand ducats of me

*nd egged the ring? the which 0 did deny him

*nd suffered him to go displeased away?

2!en he that did uphold the !ery life

<f my dear friend.

5hat should 0 say sweet lady0 was enforced to send it after him?

0 was eset with shame and courtesy?

#y honour would not let ingratitude

o much esmear it. ardon me good lady?

-or y these lessed candles of the night

89



Aad you een there 0 thin you would ha!e egged

The ring of me to gi!e the worthy doctor.

P*+0A

;et not that doctor e&er come near my house:

ince he hath got the jewel that 0 lo!ed

*nd that which you did swear to eep for me

0 will ecome as lieral as you?

0&ll not deny him any thing 0 ha!e

o not my ody nor my husand&s ed:

Enow him 0 shall 0 am well sure of it:

;ie not a night from home? watch me lie *rgus:

0f you do not if 0 e left alone

ow y mine honour which is yet mine own

0&ll ha!e that doctor for my edfellow.

%E0SSA

*nd 0 his cler? therefore e well ad!isedAow you do lea!e me to mine own protection.

(A+0A%*

5ell do you so? let not me tae him then?

-or if 0 do 0&ll mar the young cler&s pen.

A%+*%0*

0 am the unhappy suject of these 3uarrels.

P*+0A

ir grie!e not you? you are welcome notwithstanding.

ASSA%0*

ortia forgi!e me this enforced wrong?

*nd in the hearing of these many friends

0 swear to thee e!en y thine own fair eyes

5herein 0 see myself

P*+0A

#ar you ut that>

0n oth my eyes he douly sees himself?

0n each eye one: swear y your doule self*nd there&s an oath of credit.

ASSA%0*

ay ut hear me:

ardon this fault and y my soul 0 swear

90



0 ne!er more will rea an oath with thee.

A%+*%0*

0 once did lend my ody for his wealth?

5hich ut for him that had your husand&s ring

Aad 3uite miscarried: 0 dare e ound again

#y soul upon the forfeit that your lord

5ill ne!er more rea faith ad!isedly.

P*+0A (%andin# t%e rin# to Antonio)

Then you shall e his surety. i!e him this

*nd id him eep it etter than the other.

A%+*%0*

Aere ;ord +assanio? swear to eep this ring.

ASSA%0*

+y hea!en it is the same 0 ga!e the doctor>

P*+0A

0 had it of him: pardon me +assanio?

-or y this ring the doctor lay with me.

%E0SSA (%andin# %er rin# to +ratiano)

*nd pardon me my gentle ratiano?

-or that same scrued oy the doctor&s cler

0n lieu of this last night did lie with me.

(A+0A%*5hy this is lie the mending of highways

0n summer where the ways are fair enough:

5hat are we cucolds ere we ha!e deser!ed it

P*+0A

pea not so grossly. =ou are all ama,ed:

Aere is a letter? read it at your leisure?

0t comes from adua from +ellario:

There you shall find that ortia was the doctor

erissa there her cler: ;oren,o here

hall witness 0 set forth as soon as you*nd e!en ut now returned? 0 ha!e not yet

2ntered my house.

*ntonio you are welcome?

*nd 0 ha!e etter news in store for you

91



Than you expect: unseal this letter soon?

There you shall find three of your argosies

*re richly come to harour suddenly:

=ou shall not now y what strange accident

0 chanced on this letter.

A%+*%0*

0 am dum.

ASSA%0*

5ere you the doctor and 0 new you not

(A+0A%*

5ere you the cler that is to mae me cucold

%E0SSA

*y ut the cler that ne!er means to do itDnless he li!e until he e a man.

ASSA%0*

weet doctor you shall e my edfellow:

5hen 0 am asent then lie with my wife.

A%+*%0*

weet lady you ha!e gi!en me life and li!ing?

-or here 0 read for certain that my ships

*re safely come to road.

P*+0A

Aow now ;oren,o>

#y cler hath some good comforts too for you.

%E0SSA

*y and 0&ll gi!e them him without a fee.

There do 0 gi!e to you and 1essica

-rom the rich 1ew a special deed of gift

*fter his death of all he dies possessed of.

L*E%3*-air ladies you drop manna in the way

<f star!ing people.

P*+0A

0t is almost morning

92



*nd yet 0 am sure you are not satisfied

<f these e!ents at full. ;et us go in?

*nd charge us there upon interrogatories

*nd we will answer all things faithfully.

(A+0A%*

;et it e so: the first interrogatory

That my erissa shall e sworn on is

5hether till the next night she had rather stay

<r go to ed now eing two hours until day:

+ut when the day come 0 should wish it dar

That 0 were couching with the doctor&s cler.

5ell while 0 li!e 0&ll fear no other thing

o sore as eeping safe erissa&s ring.

T%ey e&it'

Aere is the lin to the -olger ;irary&s open access

electronic edition of "The #erchant of $enice% '

http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/

chapterIJKplayI#$KlocIpL /

93

http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/?chapter=5&play=MV&loc=p7






For information about licensing performances

and stage scripts contact John Freed.

photo co$rtesy: 2?18 Stacy Ale.ander

ohn Breed

freedCchapman&ed$

Abo$t the playwright:



Portia and the Merchant of Venice: All for Love or Money

Documents