act 3 scene 2 pg 51 onwards

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Act 3 scene 2 pg 51 onwards

ORIGINAL TEXT MODERN TEXT

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BASSANIO

So may the outward shows be least

themselves.

The world is still deceived with

ornament.

In law, what plea so tainted and

corrupt

But, being seasoned with a gracious

voice,

Obscures the show of evil? In religion,

What damnèd error, but some sober

brow

Will bless it and approve it with a text,

Hiding the grossness with fair

ornament?

There is no vice so simple but

assumes

Some mark of virtue on his outward

parts.

How many cowards whose hearts are

all as false

As stairs of sand wear yet upon their

chins

The beards of Hercules and frowning

Mars,

Who, inward searched, have livers

white as milk,

And these assume but valor’s

excrement

To render them redoubted. Look on

beauty,

And you shall see ’tis purchased by

BASSANIO

You can’t always judge a

book by its cover. People are

often tricked by false

appearances. In court,

someone can deliver a false

plea but hide its wickedness

with a pretty voice. In religion,

don’t serious men defend sins

with Scripture, covering up

evil with a show of good.

Every sin in the world

manages to make itself look

good somehow. How many

people are cowards at heart

but wear beards like Hercules

or Mars, the god of war? Take

another example: beauty. It

can be bought by the ounce in

makeup, which works

miracles. Women who wear it

the most are respected the

least. It’s the same thing with

hair. Curly golden hair moves

so nicely in the wind and

makes a woman beautiful. But

you can buy that kind of hair

as a wig, and wigs are made

from dead people’s hair.

Decoration’s nothing but a

danger, meant to trick and

trap the viewer. A lovely,



the weight,

Which therein works a miracle in

nature,

Making them lightest that wear most of

it.

So are those crispèd snaky golden

locks

Which maketh such wanton gambols

with the wind,

Upon supposèd fairness, often known

To be the dowry of a second head,

The skull that bred them in the

sepulcher.Thus ornament is but the guilèd shore

To a most dangerous sea, the

beauteous scarf

Veiling an Indian beauty—in a word,

The seeming truth which cunning

times put on

To entrap the wisest. Therefore then,

thou gaudy gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of

thee.

Nor none of thee, thou pale and

common drudge

'Tween man and man. But thou, thou

meagre lead,

Which rather threaten’st than dost

promise aught,

Thy paleness moves me more thaneloquence,

And here choose I. Joy be the

consequence!

cunning shore can distract a

man from the perils of a

stormy sea, just as a pretty

scarf can hide a dangerous

dark-skinned beauty.

Nowadays, everyone’s fooled

by appearances. So I’ll have

nothing to do with that gaudy

gold box—it’s like the gold

that Midas couldn’t eat. And

I’ll have nothing to do with the

pale silver either, the metal

that common coins are madeof. But this humble lead one,

though it looks too threatening

to promise me anything good,

moves me more than I can

say. So this is the one I

choose. I hope I’m happy with

my choice!

PORTIA

(aside) How all the other

PORTIA

(to herself) All my other emotions



passions fleet to air,

As doubtful thoughts, and rash-

embraced despair,

And shuddering fear, and

green-eyed jealousy!

O love, be moderate. Allay thy

ecstasy.

In measure rein thy joy. Scant

this excess.

I feel too much thy blessing.

Make it less,

For fear I surfeit.

are vanishing into thin air, as all my

doubts and desperation and fears

and jealousy are all flying away!

Oh, I need to calm down, make my

love and my joy less intense. I’m

feeling this too strongly. Please

make my love less, or I’m going to

overindulge, making myself sick.

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BASSANIO

(opening the lead casket)

What find I here?

Fair Portia’s counterfeit! What

demigod

Hath come so near creation? Move

these eyes?

Or whether, riding on the balls of

mine,

Seem they in motion? Here are

severed lips,

Parted with sugar breath. So sweet

a bar

Should sunder such sweet friends.

Here in her hairs,

The painter plays the spider and

hath woven

A golden mesh t' entrap the hearts

of men

Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But

her eyes—

How could he see to do them?

Having made one,

BASSANIO

(opening the lead

box) What do we have

here? A picture of beautiful

Portia! What artist

captured her likeness so

well? Are these eyes

moving? Or do they just

seem to move as my eyes

move? Her sweet breath

forces her lips open, a

lovely divider of lovely lips.

And look at her hair,

looking like a golden mesh

to trap the hearts of men,

like little flies in a cobweb.

The painter was like a

spider in creating it so

delicately. But her eyes—

how could he keep looking

at them long enough to

paint them? I would’ve

expected that when he



140

Methinks it should have power to

steal both his

And leave itself unfurnished. Yet

look how far

The substance of my praise doth

wrong this shadow

In underprizing it, so far this

shadow

Doth limp behind the substance.

Here’s the scroll,

The continent and summary of my

fortune.

(reads) “You that choose not by the view,

Chance as fair and choose as true.

Since this fortune falls to you,

Be content and seek no new.

If you be well pleased with this

And hold your fortune for your

bliss,

Turn you where your lady is

And claim her with a loving kiss.”

finished one of them, it

would have enraptured him

and kept him from painting

the other. But I’m giving

only faint praise of the

picture, just as the picture,

as good as it is, is only a

faint imitation of the real

woman herself. Here’s the

scroll that sums up my

fate:

(he reads)

“You who don’t judge bylooks alone,

Have better luck, and

make the right choice.

Since this prize is yours,

Be happy with it, and don’t

look for a new one.

If you’re happy with what

you’ve won

And accept this prize as

your blissful destiny,

Then turn to where your

lady is,

And claim her with a loving

kiss.”


145

A gentle scroll. Fair lady, by

your leave,

I come by note to give and to

receive.

Like one of two contending in a

prize

A nice message. My lady, with

your permission, this note

authorizes me to give myself to

you with a kiss. But I’m in a daze,

like someone who’s just won a

contest and thinks that all the



150

That thinks he hath done well in

people’s eyes,

Hearing applause and universal

shout,

Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a

doubt

Whether these pearls of praise

be his or no—

So, thrice fair lady, stand I even

so,

As doubtful whether what I see

be true

Until confirmed, signed, ratifiedby you.

applause and cheering is for him,

but isn’t sure yet. And so,

beautiful lady, I’m standing here

just like that, wondering whether

all this can be true until you tell

me it is.

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170

PORTIA

You see me, Lord Bassanio,

where I stand

Such as I am. Though for

myself alone

I would not be ambitious in my

wish

To wish myself much better, yet

for you

I would be trebled twenty times

myself —

A thousand times more fair, ten

thousand times more rich—

That only to stand high in your

account

I might in virtue, beauties,

livings, friends

Exceed account. But the full

sum of me

Is sum of something which, to

term in gross,

PORTIA

You see me standing here, Lord

Bassanio. What you see is what

you get. Though I wouldn’t wish

to be better for my own sake, for

your sake I wish I were twenty

times more than myself —a

thousand times more beautiful

and ten thousand times richer —

just so you might value me more,

so my good qualities, beauty,

possessions, and friends would

be more than you could

calculate. What you’re getting is

an innocent and inexperienced

girl. I’m happy that at least I’m

not too old to learn new things.

I’m even happier that I’m not

stupid, and I can learn. I’m

happiest of all that I’m yours now,

my lord, my king, and you can



175

Is an unlessoned girl,

unschooled, unpracticèd;

Happy in this—she is not yet so

old

But she may learn. Happier

than this—

She is not bred so dull but she

can learn.

Happiest of all is that her gentle

spirit

Commits itself to yours to be

directed

As from her lord, her governor,her king.

Myself and what is mine to you

and yours

Is now converted. But now I

was the lord

Of this fair mansion, master of

my servants,

Queen o'er myself. And even

now, but now,

This house, these servants, and

this same myself

Are yours, my lord’s. I give them

with this ring,

Which when you part from, lose,

or give away,

Let it presage the ruin of your

love

guide me as you wish. Everything

I am and everything I have now

belongs to you. Just a minute

ago I was the owner of this

beautiful mansion, master of

these servants, and queen over

myself. But as of right this

second all these things are yours.

With this ring I give them all to

you.


And be my vantage to exclaim on

you.

(gives BASSANIO a ring)

If you ever give away this ring or

lose it, it means our love’s doomed,

and I’ll have a right to be angry with



you.

(she gives BASSANIO the ring)

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BASSANIO

Madam, you have bereft me of all

words.

Only my blood speaks to you in my

veins.

And there is such confusion in my

powers

As after some oration fairly spoke

By a belovèd prince there doth

appear

Among the buzzing pleasèd

multitude,

Where every something, being blent

together,

Turns to a wild of nothing, save of

joy,

Expressed and not expressed. But

when this ring

Parts from this finger, then parts life

from hence.

O, then be bold to say Bassanio’s

dead!

BASSANIO

Madam, you’ve left me speechless,

but my feelings are responding to

your words. I’m as confused as a

crowd of people going wild after

hearing their prince give a speech.

But the day I take this ring off will be

the day I die. If you see me without

it, you can be confident I’m dead.

NERISSA

My lord and lady, it is now our time,

That have stood by and seen our

wishes prosper,

To cry, “Good joy, good joy, my lord

and lady!”

NERISSA

My lord and lady, it’s now our turn,

who have been watching as our

dreams came true. Now we can

shout, “Congratulations,

congratulations, my lord and lady!”

195

GRATIANO

My Lord Bassanio and my gentle

lady,

I wish you all the joy that you can

GRATIANO

My Lord Bassanio, and my dear

lady, I wish you all the joy I can wish

for. And when you get married, I



wish,

For I am sure you can wish none

from me.

And when your honors mean to

solemnize

The bargain of your faith, I do

beseech you

Even at that time I may be married

too.

hope I can be married at the same

time.

200

BASSANIO

With all my heart, so thou canst get

a wife.

BASSANIO

Absolutely, if you can find a wife by

then.

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210

GRATIANO

I thank your lordship, you have got

me one.

My eyes, my lord, can look as swift

as yours.

You saw the mistress, I beheld the

maid.

You loved, I loved. For intermission

No more pertains to me, my lord,

than you.

Your fortune stood upon the casket

there,

And so did mine too, as the matter

falls.

For wooing here until I sweat again,

And swearing till my very roof was

dry

With oaths of love, at last—if

promise last—

I got a promise of this fair one here

To have her love, provided that your

fortune

GRATIANO

I think I’ve found one already, thanks

to you, my lord. I can fall in love just

as quickly as you can, and I loved

Nerissa as soon as I laid eyes on

her. You fell in love with Portia, and I

fell in love with Nerissa, because I’m

not in the habit of delaying any more

than you are, my lord. Your fate

depended on those boxes, and it

turns out that mine did too. I couldn’t

help but chase her. I started making

love vows to her till my mouth was

dry. Then finally she said she loved

me and would marry me if you two

got married as well.



Achieved her mistress.

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PORTIA

Is this true, Nerissa?

PORTIA

Is that true, Nerissa?

NERISSA

Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal.

NERISSA

Yes, madam, it is, if it’s all right with

you.

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BASSANIO

And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?

BASSANIO

And do you mean what you’re saying,

Gratiano?

GRATIANO

Yes, faith, my lord.

GRATIANO

Yes, my lord.

BASSANIO

Our feast shall be much honored in your marriage.

BASSANIO

Then we’d be honored to have you join

us in our wedding ceremony.

GRATIANO

(to NERISSA ) We’ll play with them the first boy for a

GRATIANO

(to NERISSA ) Let’s bet them a

thousand ducats that we will have a



thousand ducats. son first.

220

NERISSA

What, and stake down?

NERISSA

You want to stake the money downnow?

GRATIANO

No, we shall ne'er win at that sport and stake down.

But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel?

What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio?

GRATIANO



stake,” I’ll never be able to have a son.

But who’s this coming? Lorenzo and

his pagan girlfriend? What, and my old

Venetian friend Salerio?

Enter LORENZO , JESSICA , and SALERIO , a

messenger from Venice

LORENZO and JESSICA enter

with SALERIO , a messenger from

Venice.

225

BASSANIO

Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither,

If that the youth of my new interest here

Have power to bid you welcome.

BASSANIO

Welcome, Lorenzo and Salerio. I hope

my position in this new house is firm

enough to allow me the right to

welcome my friends.

(to PORTIA ) With your permission,



(to PORTIA )

By your leave,

I bid my very friends and countrymen,

Sweet Portia, welcome.

Portia, I welcome my good friends and

countrymen.


230

PORTIA

So do I, my lord.

They are entirely welcome.

PORTIA

I do too, my lord. They’re entirely

welcome.

235

LORENZO

(to BASSANIO ) I thank your honor.

For my part, my lord,

My purpose was not to have seen

you here.

But meeting with Salerio by the

way,

He did entreat me, past all saying

nay,

To come with him along.

LORENZO

(to BASSANIO ) Thank you, sir. I

didn’t intend to come see you. But

I ran into Salerio on the way, and

he begged me to come along with

him until I couldn’t say no.

SALERIO

I did, my lord.

And I have reason for it. Signor

Antonio

Commends him to you.

(gives BASSANIO letter)

SALERIO

That’s true, and with good

reason. This letter is for you from

Signor Antonio. (he

gives BASSANIO a letter)

BASSANIO

Ere I ope his letter,

I pray you tell me how my good

friend doth.

BASSANIO

Before I open this letter, please

tell me how my good friend is

doing.

SALERIO

Not sick, my lord, unless it be in

SALERIO

He’s not sick, my lord, but he’s



240 mind,

Nor well, unless in mind. His letter

there

Will show you his estate.

very upset, and his problems are

serious. His letter will tell you how

he’s doing.

BASSANIO opens the letter and

reads it

BASSANIO opens the letter and

reads it.

245

GRATIANO

(indicating JESSICA )

Nerissa, cheer yond stranger. Bid

her welcome.—

Your hand, Salerio. What’s the

news from Venice?

How doth that royal merchant,

good Antonio?

I know he will be glad of our

success.

We are the Jasons, we have won

the fleece.

GRATIANO

(pointing at JESSICA ) Nerissa,

welcome this stranger. —Salerio,

welcome. Any news from Venice?

How’s the great merchant Antonio

doing? I know he’ll be happy to

hear of our success. We’re like

the ancient hero Jason, we went

looking for the Golden Fleece and

we won it!

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SALERIO

I would you had won the fleece that he

hath lost.

SALERIO



fleece he lost.

250

255

PORTIA

There are some shrewd contents in

yond same paper

That steals the color from Bassanio’s

cheek.

Some dear friend dead, else nothing in

the world

Could turn so much the constitution

Of any constant man. What, worse

and worse?—

With leave, Bassanio, I am half

yourself,

PORTIA

Something bad in that letter is making Bassanio

turn pale. Some good friend of his must have died,

because nothing else in the world could change a

man so much. What, does the news only get

worse?—Please, Bassanio, I’m half of you, so let

me bear half the burden this letter brings you.



And I must freely have the half of

anything

That this same paper brings you.

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265

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BASSANIO

O sweet Portia,

Here are a few of the unpleasant’st

words

That ever blotted paper. Gentle lady,

When I did first impart my love to you,

I freely told you, all the wealth I had

Ran in my veins. I was a gentleman,

And then I told you true. And yet, dear

lady,

Rating myself at nothing, you shall see

How much I was a braggart. When Itold you

My state was nothing, I should then

have told you

That I was worse than nothing, for

indeed

I have engaged myself to a dear

friend,

Engaged my friend to his mere enemy

To feed my means.

Here is a letter, lady,

BASSANIO

Oh Portia, these are some of the worst words that

ever stained a piece of paper. My darling, when I

gave my love to you, I told you that all the wealth I

had ran within my veins—that I have noble blood,

but no money. When I said that, I told you the truth.

But my dear, when I said I was worth nothing, I was

actually bragging—I should’ve said that I wasworse than nothing. I’ve borrowed money from a

dear friend who in turn borrowed money from his

mortal enemy for my sake. Here’s a letter, my dear.

The paper’s like my friend’s body, and every word

in it is a bleeding wound on that body.—But is it

true, Salerio? Have all his business ventures

failed? Not even one success? He had ships to

Tripolis, Mexico, England, Lisbon, North Africa, and

India, and not one of these ships avoided the

rocks?



The paper as the body of my friend,

And every word in it a gaping wound,

Issuing life blood.—But is it true,

Salerio?

Have all his ventures failed? What, not

one hit?

From Tripolis, from Mexico and

England,

From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?

And not one vessel ’scape the

dreadful touch

Of merchant-marring rocks?

SALERIO

Not one, my lord.

Besides, it should appear that

if he had

The present money to

discharge the Jew,

He would not take it. Never

did I know

A creature that did bear the

shape of man

So keen and greedy to

confound a man.

He plies the duke at morning

and at night,

And doth impeach the

freedom of the state

If they deny him justice.

Twenty merchants,

SALERIO

Not one, my lord. Anyway, even

if he had the money now, the

Jew probably wouldn’t take it.

I’ve never seen a creature with

a human shape who was so

eager to destroy a man. He’s at

the duke’s morning and night,

accusing the state of harming

free trade if they deny him

justice. Twenty merchants, the

duke himself, and the highest-

ranking Venetian nobles have

all tried to persuade him to

forget his contract, but nobody

can do it. He’s determined to

get the penalty specified in his

contract with Antonio.



The duke himself, and the

magnificoes

Of greatest port have all

persuaded with him.

But none can drive him from

the envious plea

Of forfeiture, of justice, and

his bond.

295

JESSICA

When I was with him I have

heard him swear

To Tubal and to Chus, his

countrymen,

That he would rather have

Antonio’s flesh

Than twenty times the value of

the sum

That he did owe him. And I

know, my lord,

If law, authority, and power

deny not,

It will go hard with poor Antonio.

JESSICA

When I was still living with him I

heard him swear to Tubal and

Cush, his countrymen, that he’d

rather have Antonio’s flesh than

twenty times the sum Antonio

owed. And I know that unless

the law intervenes, it’ll be bad

news for poor Antonio.

PORTIA

Is it your dear friend that is thus

in trouble?

PORTIA

Is this your good friend who’s in

so much trouble?

300

BASSANIO

The dearest friend to me, the

kindest man,

The best conditioned and

unwearied spirit

In doing courtesies, and one in

whom

The ancient Roman honor more

appears

BASSANIO

Yes, he’s my best friend, the

kindest man and most

courteous to others. He’s more

honorable than anyone else in

Italy.



Than any that draws breath in

Italy.

PORTIA

What sum owes he the Jew?

PORTIA

How much does he owe the

Jew?

305

BASSANIO

For me, three thousand ducats.

BASSANIO

Three thousand ducats.


310

315

320

PORTIA

What, no more?

Pay him six thousand and defacethe bond!

Double six thousand, and then

treble that,

Before a friend of this description

Shall lose a hair through

Bassanio’s fault.

First go with me to church and

call me wife,

And then away to Venice to your

friend.

For never shall you lie by Portia’s

side

With an unquiet soul. You shall

have gold

To pay the petty debt twenty

times over.

When it is paid, bring your truefriend along.

My maid Nerissa and myself

meantime

Will live as maids and widows.

Come, away!

PORTIA

What, that’s all? Pay him six

thousand and cancel the debt.I’d pay twelve thousand before

I’d let a friend like that suffer in

the slightest because of you.

First come with me to church to

get married. Then you can

leave for Venice to see your

friend. You have to go, because

you’ll never sleep next to me

peacefully without settling this.

I’ll give you enough gold to pay

back your debt twenty times

over. When it’s paid, bring your

friend back. Until you get back,

Nerissa and I will live like

virgins and widows. Come on,

let’s go, because you’re going

to leave me the same day weget married. Put on a happy

face, and welcome your friends.

Since it’s costing me a lot to

marry you, I’ll think of you as

even more precious. But let me



For you shall hence upon your

wedding day.

Bid your friends welcome, show a

merry cheer.

Since you are dear bought, I will

love you dear.

But let me hear the letter of your

friend.

hear the letter from your friend.

BASSANIO

(reads)

“Sweet Bassanio, my ships have

all miscarried. My creditors grow

cruel. My estate is very low. My

bond to the Jew is forfeit. And

since in paying it, it is impossible

I should live, all debts are cleared

between you and I if I might but

see you at my death.

Notwithstanding, use your

pleasure. If your love do not

persuade you to come, let not my

letter.”

BASSANIO

(he reads)

“Dear Bassanio, my ships have

all been wrecked. My creditors

are getting mean. My money’s

almost run out. I couldn’t pay

my debt to the Jew on the due

date. Since I’ll certainly die

when he takes his collateral out

of my flesh, all debts are

cleared between you and me if I

can just see you again before I

die. In any case, do what you

want. If your affection for me

doesn’t convince you to come,

don’t let my letter do so.”

PORTIA

O love, dispatch all business and

be gone!

PORTIA

Oh, my darling, make your

arrangements and go!

330

BASSANIO

Since I have your good leave to

go away,

I will make haste. But till I come

again,

No bed shall e'er be guilty of my

stay,

BASSANIO

Since you’re letting me leave,

I’ll hurry. But I won’t sleep till I

get back.



No rest be interposer ’twixt us

twain.

Exeunt They exit.

Scene 3

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Enter SHYLOCK , SOLANIO , ANTO

NIO , and the jailer

SHYLOCK , SOLANIO , ANTONIO , and the jailer

enter.

SHYLOCK

Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of

mercy.

This is the fool that lent out moneygratis.

Jailer, look to him.

SHYLOCK

Jailer, watch out for this one. Don’t try to convince me

to feel sorry for him. This is the fool who lent out

money without charging interest. Jailer, keep an eye

on him.

ANTONIO

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

ANTONIO

Listen to me, good Shylock.

5

SHYLOCK

I’ll have my bond. Speak not against

my bond.

I have sworn an oath that I will have

my bond.

SHYLOCK



10

Thou calledst me dog before thou

hadst a cause.

But since I am a dog, beware my

fangs.

The duke shall grant me justice.—I

do wonder,

Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so

fond

To come abroad with him at his

request.



bond . Don’t try to say anything against my taking my

bond. I’ve sworn an oath that I will have my bond. You

called me a dog before you had any reason to. But

since I’m a dog, beware my fangs. The duke will giveme justice.—I do wonder, jailer, how you can be so

foolish as to let this prisoner out of his cell.

ANTONIO

I pray thee, hear me speak.

ANTONIO

Please, listen to me.

15

SHYLOCK

I’ll have my bond. I will not hear

thee speak.

I’ll have my bond, and therefore

speak no more.

SHYLOCK

I want my bond. I won’t listen to you. I want my bond,

so stop talking. I won’t be taken for a fool who sighs

and gives in to Christian meddlers. Don’t follow me.

I’m not talking with you. I want my bond.



I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed

fool

To shake the head, relent and sigh,

and yield

To Christian intercessors. Follow

not.

I’ll have no speaking. I will have my

bond.

Exit SHYLOCK He exits.

SOLANIO

It is the most impenetrable cur

That ever kept with men.

SOLANIO

He’s the most stubborn dog that ever lived among

humans.


20

ANTONIO

Let him alone.I’ll follow him no more with

bootless prayers.

He seeks my life. His reason

well I know.

I oft delivered from his

forfeitures

Many that have at times made

moan to me.

Therefore he hates me.

ANTONIO

Leave him alone. I won’t f ollowhim around with useless pleas

anymore. He wants me dead. I

know the real reason. I’ve often

given money to people who

were unable to pay back their

loans to him. That’s why he

hates me.

25

SOLANIO

I am sure the duke

Will never grant this forfeiture to

hold.

SOLANIO

I’m sure the duke will never

allow this contract to be

enforced.



30

35

ANTONIO

The duke cannot deny the

course of law.

For the commodity that

strangers have

With us in Venice, if it be

denied,

Will much impeach the justice

of his state,

Since that the trade and profit

of the city

Consisteth of all nations.

Therefore go.These griefs and losses have

so bated me,

That I shall hardly spare a

pound of flesh

Tomorrow to my bloody

creditor.—

Well, jailer, on.—Pray God

Bassanio come

To see me pay his debt, and

then I care not.

ANTONIO

The duke can’t deny the law,

because that would threaten the

security of all foreign merchants

in Venice, and that’s how the

city makes its money. If the

government disregards the law,

it will be discredited. So go. I’ve

lost so much weight worrying

about my losses have that I’ll

hardly have a pound of flesh to

spare for my bloody creditor

tomorrow.—Well, jailer, let’sgo.—I hope to God that

Bassanio comes to see me pay

his debt. After that, I don’t care

what happens.

act 3 scene 2 pg 51 onwards

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