 Dramatis personae of the Merchant of Venice. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Dramatis personae. The Duke of Venice, read by Filippo Joachim. The Prince of Morocco, suitor to Portia. Read by Mark Smith. The Prince of Aragon, suitor to Portia. Read by David Nickel. Antonio, a merchant of Venice. Read by David O'Connell. Bassanio, his friend. Read by MB. Solanio, friend to Antonio and Bassanio. Read by Roslyn Wills. Salarino, friend to Antonio and Bassanio. Read by Laurie Ann Walden. Gratiano, friend to Antonio and Bassanio. Read by David Leeson. Lorenzo, in love with Jessica. Read by Aaron Elliott. Shylock, a rich Jew. Read by E.T.K. Tybal, a Jew, his friend. Read by Carolyn Francis. Launcelot Garbo, a clown, servant to Shylock. Read by L. Lambert Lawson. Old Garbo, father to Launcelot. Read by David Lawrence. Leonardo, servant to Bassanio. Read by Laurie Ann Walden. Balthazar, servant to Portia. Read by David Lawrence. Stefano, servant to Portia. Read by Lucy Perry. Portia, a rich heiress. Read by Ariel Libshaw. Narissa, her waiting maid. Read by Megan Kunkel. Jessica, daughter to Shylock. Read by Elizabeth Klett. Clerk in court. Read by Ernst Putinama. And narrated by Dennis Sayers. End of Dramatis Personae. Act one of The Merchant of Venice. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org. The Merchant of Venice. By William Shakespeare. Act one. Scene one. Venice. A street. Enter Antonio. Salorino. And Salanio. In Sooth, I know not why I am so sad. It wearies me. You say it wearies you. But how I caught it, found it, or came by it. What stuffed is made of, whereof it is born. I am to learn. And such a want-wit sadness makes of me that I have much adieu to know myself. Your mind is tossing on the ocean. There were your arguses with portly sail. Like seniors and rich burgers on the flood. Or as it were, the pageants of the sea. Do over-peer the petty traffickers that curtsy to them. Do them reverence, as they fly by them with their woven wings. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth the better part of my affections would be with my hopes abroad. I should be still plucking the grass to know where sits the wind, peering in maps for ports and piers and roads, and every object that might make me fear misfortune to my ventures out of doubt would make me sad. My wind, cooling my broth, would blow me to an egg when I thought what harm a wind too great might do at sea. I should not see the sandy hourglass run, but I should think of shallows and of flats, and see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand, veiling her high top lower than her ribs to kiss her burial. Should I go to church and see the holy edifice of stone, and not but think me straight of dangerous rocks, which, touching but my gentle vessel's side, would scatter all her spices on the stream, enrode the roaring waters with my silks, and, in a word, but even now worth this, and now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought to think on this, and shall I lack the thought that such a thing bechanced would make me sad? But tell not me, I know Antonio is sad to think upon his merchandise. Believe me, no. I thank my fortune for it, my ventures are not in one bottom trusted, nor to one place. Nor is my whole estate upon the fortune of this present year. Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. Why, then you are in love. Fie, fie. Not in love, neither? Then let us say you are sad because you are not merry, and where is easy for you to laugh and leap and say you are merry because you are not sad. Now by two-headed Janus Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time, some that will evermore peep through their eyes and laugh like parrots at a bag-piper. And others of such vinegar aspect that they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, though nesters where the jest be laughable. Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare you well. We leave you now with better company. I would have stayed till I had made you merry if worthier friends had not prevented me. Your worth is very dear in my regard. I take it your own business calls on you, and you embrace the occasion to depart. Good morrow, my good lords. Good seniors both. When shall we laugh? Say when. You grow exceeding strange, must it be so? We'll make our leisure to attend on yours. Exiant Salarino and Salanio. My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio we too will leave you, but at dinner time I pray you have in mind where we must meet. I will not fail you. You look not well, senior Antonio. You have too much respect upon the world. They lose it that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvelously changed. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano. A stage where every man must play a part, and mine a sad one. Let me play the fool. With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come, and let my liver rather heat with wine than my heart cool with mortifying groans. Why should a man whose blood is warm within sit like his grand sire, cut in alabaster, sleep when he wakes and creep into the jaundice by being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio, I love thee, and his my love that speaks. There are a sort of men whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond, and do a willful stillness entertain with purpose to be dressed in an opinion of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit. As who should say, I am Sir Oracle, and when I open my lips let no dog bark. Oh, my Antonio, I do know of these that therefore only are reputed wise for saying nothing, when I am very sure, if they should speak, would almost jam those ears which hearing them would call their brothers fools. I'll tell thee more of this another time, but fish not with this melancholy bait, for this fool guj in this opinion. Come, good Lorenzo, very well a while. I'll end my exhortation after dinner. Well, we will leave you then till dinner time. I must be one of these same dumb wise men for Graziano never lets me speak. Well, keep me company but two years, Moe, and thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. Fare you well. I'll grow a talker for this gear. And thanks, if faith, for silence is only commendable in a neat tongue dried and a maid not vindable. Exceint Graziano and Lorenzo. Is that anything now? Graziano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff. You shall seek them all day, or you find them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search. Well, tell me now, what lady is the same to whom you swore a secret pilgrimage that you today promised to tell me of? Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, how much I have disabled my estate by something showing a more swelling port than my faint means would grant continuance. Nor do I now make Moe to be abridged from such a noble rate. But my chief care is to come fairly off from the great debts wherein my time, something too prodigal, hath left me gauged. To you, Antonio, I owe the most, in money and in love. And from your love, I have a warranty to unburden all my plots and purposes how to get clear of all the debts I owe. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it. And if it stand as you yourself still do within the eye of honour, be assured, my purse, my person, my extremist means lie all unlocked to your occasions. In my school days, when I had lost one shaft, I shot his fellow of the self-same flight, the self-same way and the more advised watch, to find the other forth. And by adventuring both, I oft found both. I urged this childhood proof because what follows is pure innocence. I owe you much, and like a willful youth that which I always lost. But if you pleased to shoot another arrow, that self-way which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt as I will watch the aim, or to find both or bring your latter hazard back again and thankfully rest debtor for the first. You know me well, and herein spend but time to wind about my love with circumstance. And out of doubt, you do me now more wrong in making question of my uttermost than if you had made waste of all I have. Then do but say to me what I should do that in your knowledge may by may be done, and I am pressed unto it. Nor speak. In Belmont is a lady richly left, and she is fair, and fairer than that word of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair, speechless messages. Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued to Cato's daughter Brutus Portia. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth for the four winds blow in from every coast renowned suitors, and her sunny locks hang on her temples like a golden fleece, which makes her seat of Belmont caucus-strand, and many Jason's come inquest of her. Oh, my Antonio, had I but the means to hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift that I should questionless be fortunate. Thou knowest that all my fortunes are at sea, neither have I money nor commodity to raise a present sum. Therefore go forth, try what my credit can in Venice do, that shall be racked even to the uttermost to furnish the Belmont Fair Portia. Go presently, inquire, and so will I where money is, and I no question make the habit of my trust or for my sake. Excellent. Seeing too, Belmont, a room in Portia's house, enter Portia and Nerissa. By my truth, Nerissa, my little body is a weary of this great world. You would be, sweet madame, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are, and yet, for odd I see, they are as sick that surfay with too much as they that starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean. Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. Good sentences and well pronounced. They would be better if well followed. If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's cottages, princes, palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow my known teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps or a cold decree. Such a hair is madness the youth to skip or the meshes of good counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. Oh, me, the word choose. I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike. So is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Narissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? The father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations. Therefore the watery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you. Will no doubt never be chosen by any rightly, but one who you shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection toward any of these princely suitors that are already come? I pray thee over name them, and as thou namest them I will describe them, and according to my description level at my affection. First there's a near pot in Prince. Aye, that's a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse, and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith. Then there's the county peltine. He doth nothing but frown, as who should say, and you will not have me choose? He hears merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmanorly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a doth's head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two. How say you by the French Lord, Monsieur Le Bon? God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but he, why he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than the count peltine, he is every man in no man. If a throssel sing he falls straight a capering, he will fence with his own shadow. If I should marry him I should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me I would forgive him, for if he loved me to madness I shall never requite him. What say you then to Thuckenbridge, the young baron of England? You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me nor I him. He hath neither Latin, French nor Italian, and you will come into the court and swear that I have a poor penny-worth in the English. He is a proper man's picture, but alas, who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour everywhere. What think you of the Scottish Lord, his neighbour? That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again when he was able. I think the Frenchman became his surety and sealed under for another. I like you the young German, the dick of Saxon his nephew. Very vilely in the morning when he is sober, and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk. When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst he is little better than a beast. And the worst fall that ever fell I hope I shall make shift to go without him. If he should offer to choose and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father's will if you should refuse to accept him. Therefore for fear of the worst I pray thee set a deep glass of renish wine on the contrary casket, for if the devil be within and that temptation without, I know he will choose it. I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these lords. They have acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeed to return to their home and to trouble you with no more suits, unless you may be won by some other sort than your father's imposition, depending on the caskets. If I live to be as old as Sibyla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of woors are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I doubt on his very absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montenoret? Yes, yes, it was Bessonio. As I think, so was he called. True, madame, he, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving affair, lady. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise. Enter a servant. How now, what news? The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take their leave, and there is a forerunner come from a fifth. The Prince of Morocco, who brings word the Prince, his master, will be here tonight. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should strive me than wive me. Come, Narissa. Sira, go before. Whilst we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door. Excellent. Scene three. Venice, a public place. Enter Bassanio and Shylock. Three thousand dockets. Well. Aye, sir, for three months. For three months. Well. For the witch, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Antonio shall become bound. Well. May you stead me. May you pleasure me. Shall I know your answer? Three thousand dockets for three months and Antonio bound. Your answer to that. Antonio is a good man. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? No, no, no, no. My meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition. He hath an argacy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies. I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath squandered abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors, but men. There be land rats and water rats, land thieves and water thieves, I mean pirates, and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is notwithstanding sufficient. Three thousand dockets. I think I may take his bond. Be assured you may. I will be assured I may, and that I may be assured I will be think me. May I speak with Antonio? If it please you to dine with us. Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil unto. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on Rialto? Who is he comes here? Enter Antonio. This is Sr. Antonio. Aside. How like a fawning publican he looks. I hate him, for he is a Christian. But more, for that in low simplicity he lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usurances here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our secret nation, and he rails even there where merchants most do congregate on me, my bargains and my well-won thrift, which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe if I forgive him. Shylock, do you hear? I am debating of my present store, and by the near-guests of my memory I cannot instantly raise up the gross of full three thousand dockets. What of that? Tybal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, will furnish me. But soft, how many months do you desire? To Antonio. Rest, you fair good senior, your worship was the last man in our mouths. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow by taking nor by giving of excess, yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom. To Bassanio. Is he yet possessed how much you would? Aye, aye, three thousand dockets. And for three months. I had forgot. Three months, you told me so. Well then, your bond, and let me see. But hear you, we thought you said you neither lend nor borrow upon advantage. I do never use it. When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep, this Jacob from our holy Abram was, as his wise mother wrought in his behalf, the third possessor, aye, he was the third. And what of him? Did he take interest? No, not take interest, not as you would say directly interest. Mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromised, that all the inlings which were streaked and pie should fall as Jacob's hires, the ewes, being rank, in end of autumn turned to their arms. And when the work of generation was between these woolly breeders in the act, the skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands. And in the doing of the deed of kind he stuck them up before the fulsome ewes, who then, conceiving, did in eaning time fall party-coloured lambs, and those were Jacob's. This was a way to thrive, and he was blessed. And thrift is blessing if men steal it not. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for, a thing not in his power to bring to pass, but swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven. Was this inserted to make interest good? Or is your golden silver ooze and rams? I cannot tell. I make it breed as fast. But note me, senor. Mark you this, Bassanio. The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witnesses like a villain with a smiling cheek. A goodly apple rotten at the heart. Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath. Three thousand dockets. It is a good round sum. Three months from twelve, then let me see the rate. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? Senor Antonio, many a time and often the realto you have rated me about my monies and my usances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me Miss Believer, cutthroat dog, and spet upon my Jewish gabardine, and all for use of that which is mine own. Well, then, it now appears you need my help. Go to then. You come to me and you say, Shylock, we would have monies. You say so. You that did voyage your room upon my beard, and foot me as you spun a stranger curl over your threshold. Monies is your suit. What should I say to you? Should I not say, hath a dog money? Is it possible a cur can lend three thousand dockets? Or shall I bend low, and in abondment's key with baited breath and whispering humbleness say this? Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last, you spurned me on such a day, another time you called me dog, and for these courtesies I'll lend you thus much monies. I am as like to call thee so again, to spet on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not as to thy friends. For when did friendship take a breed for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy, who, if he break, thou mayest with better face exact the penalty. Why, look how you storm! I would be friends with you, and have your love. Forget the shames that you have stained me with. Supply your present once, and take no droid of usins for my monies, and you'll not hear me. This is kind I offer. This were kindness. This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary, seal me there your single bond, and in a merry sport. If you repay me not on such a day, in such a place, such sum or sums, as there are expressed in the condition, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseeth me. Content in faith. I'll seal to such a bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew. You shall not seal to such a bond for me, or rather dwell in my necessity. Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it. Within these two months, that's a month before this bond expires, I do expect return of thrice three times the value of this bond. Father Abram, what these Christians are, whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect the thoughts of others. Pray, you tell me this, if he should break his day, what should I gain by the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of man's flesh taken from a man is not so estimable, profitable, neither, as flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, to buy his favor, I extend this friendship. If he will take it, so. If not, and you, and for my love I pray you, wrong me not. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. Then meet me forthwith at the notaries, give him the action for this merry bond, and I will go and purse the ducket straight. See to my house left in the fearful god of an unthrifty nave, and presently I'll be with you. Hi thee, gentle Jew. Exit Shylock. This Hebrew will turn Christian. He grows kind. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. Come on. In this there can be no dismay. My ships come home a month before the day. Exit. End of Act 1. T-2 of the Merchant of Venice. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit LibriVox.org. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Act 2. Scene 1. Belmont, a room in Portia's house. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco and his followers. Portia, Narissa, and others of her train. It's like me not for my complexion. The shadowed livery of the burnish sun to whom I am a neighbor, and near bread. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, where Phoebus' fire scares thaws the icicles, and let us make incision for your love to prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear the best regarded virgins of our climb have loved it too. I would not change this hue except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. In terms of choice I am not solely led by nice direction of a maiden's eyes. Besides, the lottery of my destiny bars me the right of voluntary choosing. But if my father had not scanted me, and hedged me by his wit, to yield myself his wife who wins me by that means I told you, your self-renowned prince, then stood as fair as any commer I have looked on yet for my affection. Even for that I thank you. Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets to try my fortune. By this scimitar that slew the Sophie and a Persian prince that won three fields of sultan Solomon, I would o'erstear the sternus eyes that look, outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, pluck the young-sucking cubs from the she-bear, yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey to win thee, lady, but alas the while. If Hercules and Lycus play at dice, which is the better man, the greater throw may turn by fortune from the weaker hand. So is Alcides beaten by his page, and so may I, blind fortune leading me, miss that which one unworthier may attain, and die with grieving. You must take your chance, and either not attempt to choose at all, or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong, never to speak to lady afterward in way of marriage, therefore be advised. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance. First forward to the temple, after dinner your hazard shall be made. Good fortune, then, to make me blessed or cursed among men. Cornets and exeunt. Scene two. Venice, a street. Enter Lonsalat Gobo. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew, my master. The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, saying to me, Gobo, Lonsalat Gobo, good Lonsalat, or good Gobo, or good Lonsalat Gobo, use your legs, take the start, run away. My conscience says, no, take heed, honest Lonsalat. Take heed, honest Gobo, or, as aforesaid, honest Lonsalat Gobo, do not run, scorn running with thy heels. Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack. Via, says the fiend, away, says the fiend. For the heavens rouse up a brave mind, says the fiend, and run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, my honest friend Lonsalat, being an honest man's son, or rather, an honest woman's son. For indeed my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste. Well, my conscience says Lonsalat, budge not. Budge says the fiend, budge not, says my conscience. Conscience, say I, you counsel well. Fiend, says I, you counsel well. To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew, my master, who, God bless the mark, is a kind of devil. And, to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal. And, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel, I will run fiend. My heels are at your commandment, I will run. Enter Old Gobo with a basket. Master Young Man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jews? Aside. Oh heavens, this is my true begotten Father, who, being more than sand-blind, high gravel-blind, knows me not. I will try confusions with him. Master Young Gentlemen, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jews? Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left, Mary, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. By God's saunties, to a be a hard way to hit, can you tell me whether one Launcelot that dwells with him, dwell with him or no? Talk you of Young Master Launcelot? Aside. Mark me now. Now will I raise the waters. Talk you of Young Master Launcelot? No, Master, sir, but a poor man's son, his father, though I say it, is an honest, exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live. Well, let his father be what a will. We talk of a Young Master Launcelot. Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir. But I pray you, Ergo, old man, Ergo, I beseech you. Talk you of Young Master Launcelot? Of Launcelot. Ain't pleasure a mastership. Ergo, Master Launcelot, talk not of Master Launcelot, Father. For the Young Gentleman, according to fates and destinies and such odd sayings, the sisters three and such branches of learning is indeed deceased, or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven. Mary, God forbid, the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Do I look like a cudgel or a hovelpost or a staff or a prop? Do you know me, Father? I'll act the day. I know you not, Young Gentleman, but I pray you tell me, it is my boy. God rest his soul, alive or dead. Do you not know me, Father? I'll act, sir. I am Sanbine. I know you not. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me. It is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son. Give me your blessing. Truth will come to light. Murder cannot be hid long. A man's son may, but in the end, truth will out. Pray you, sir. Stand up. I am sure you are not Launcelot, my boy. Pray you. Let's have no more fooling about it. Give me your blessing. I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. I cannot think you are my son. I know not what I shall think of that. But I am Launcelot, the Jew's man, and I am sure Marjorie, your wife, is my mother. I am his Marjorie, indeed. I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art my own flesh and blood. Lord, worship might he be. What a beard has thou got. Thou has got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin, my through-horse, has on his tail. It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward. I am sure he had more hair on his tail than I have on my face when I last saw him. Lord, how art thou changed. How dost thou and thy master agree? My master brought him a present. I'll greet you now. Well, well, but for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground. My master's a very Jew. Give him a present. Give him a halter. I am famished in his service. You may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come. Give me your present to one Master Bassanio, who indeed gives rare new liveries. If I serve him not, I will run as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune, here comes the man to him, Father, for I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer. Enter Bassanio with Leonardo with other followers. You may do so, but let it be so hasted that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See these letters delivered, put the liveries to making and desire Bassanio to come and on to my lodging. Exit a servant. To him, Father. God bless your worship. Grimorsi, what's thou ought with me? Here is my son, sir, a poor boy. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man. That would, sir, as my father shall specify. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say to serve. Indeed, the short and the long is I serve the Jew and have a desire as my father shall specify. His master and he, saving your worship's reference, are scarce cater cousins. To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being, I hope, an old man, shall fruitify unto you. I have here a dish of dubs that I would bestow upon your worship and my suit is. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself as your worship shall know by this honest old man. And, though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father. One speak for you both. What would you? Serve you, sir. That is the very defect of the matter, sir. I know thee well. Thou hast obtained thy suit. Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, and hath preferred thee, if it be preferment, to leave a rich Jew's service to become the follower of so poor a gentleman. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir. You have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. Thou speaks it well. Go, father, with thy son. Take leave of thy old master and inquire my lodging out. To a servant. Give him a livery more guarded than his fellow. See it done. Father in, I cannot get a service. No, I have never a tongue in my head. Looking on his palm. Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table which Doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go, too. Here's a simple line of life. Here's a small trifle of wives. Alas, fifteen wives is nothing. Eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming in for one man. And then to scrape drowning thrice and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed. Here are simple scapes. Well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come. I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. Excient, lonsolent, and old gobo. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed return in haste. For I do feast tonight with my best esteemed acquaintance. High thee, go. My best endeavour shall be done herein. Enter Graciano. Where's your master? Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit. Signor Bassanio. Graciano. I have suit to you. You have obtained it. You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont. Why, then, you must. But hear thee, Graciano, thou art too wild, too rude, too voice. Parts that become me happily enough and in such eyes as ours appear not faults. But where thou art not known, why there they show something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain to allay with some cold drops of modesty thy skipping spirit. Lest through thy wild behaviour I be misconstrued in the place I go to and lose my hopes. Signor Bassanio, hear me. I cannot put on a sober habit. Talk with respect and swear, but now and then, where prayer books in my pocket look demurely, nay more, while Grace is saying, hood mine eyes, thus with my hat, and sigh and say, Amen. Use all the observance of civility, like one well studied in a sad ostent to please his grandam. Never trust me more. Well, we shall see your bearing. But I bar to-night. You shall not gauge me by what we do to-night. No, that will pity. I would entreat you rather to put on your boldest suit of mirth, for we are friends that purpose merriment. But farewell, I have some business. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest, but we will visit you at supper-time. Excellent. Scene three. The same. A room in Shylock's house. Here, Jessica, and Launcelot. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. But fare thee well. There is a docket for thee. And Launcelot, soon at supper, shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest. Give him this letter. Do it secretly. And so farewell, I would not have my father see me in talk with thee. Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian do not play the nave, and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu. Farewell, good Launcelot. Exit Launcelot. Alack. Be my father's child. But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian, and thy loving wife. Exit. Scene four. The same. A street. Enter Graciano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio. Nay, we will slink away in suppertime, disguise us at my lodging, and return all in an hour. We have not made good preparation. We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers. Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered, and better in my mind not undertook. Tis now, but four o'clock we have two hours to furnish us. Enter Launcelot with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what is the news? And it shall please you to break up this. It shall seem to signify. I know the hand in faith tis a fair hand, and whither that a paper it writ on is the fair hand that writ. Love news in faith. By your leave, sir. Whither goest thou? Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master, the Christian. Here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her, speak it privately. Go, gentlemen. Exit Launcelot. Will you prepare you for this mask tonight? I am provided of a torchbearer. I, Mary, I'll be gone about it straight. And so will I. Meet me and Graciano at Graciano's lodging some hour hence. Tis good we do so. Exit Salarino Was not that letter from fair Jessica? I must needs tell the all. She hath directed how I shall take her from her father's house, what gold and jewels she is furnished with, what pages suit she hath in readiness, if ere a Jew her father come to heaven, it will be for his gentle daughter's sake. And never dare misfortune cross her foot unless she do it under this excuse, that she is issued to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me, pursue this as thou goest. Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. Exit. Scene five. The same. Before Shylock's house. Enter Shylock and Launcelot. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, the appearance of old Shylock and Bassanio. But, Jessica, thou shalt not gormand eyes as thou has done with me. What, Jessica? And sleep and snore and rend the peril out. Why, Jessica, I say. Why, Jessica? Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Your worship was want to tell me I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Jessica. Call you. What is your will? I am bid forth to supper, Jessica. There are my keys. But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love. They flatter me. But yet I'll go in hate to feed upon the prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, look to my house. I am right loath to go. There is some ill a brewing towards my rest for I did dream of money bags tonight. I beseech you, sir. Go. My young master Doth expect your reproach. So do I his. And they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a mask. But if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black Monday. Lasted six o'clock in the morning. Falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. What? Are there masks? Here you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors and when you hear the drum and the mild squealing of the rye-necked fife, clamber not you up to the casements then, nor thrust your head into the public street to gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces. But stop my house's ears. I mean my casements. Let not the sound of shallow phoppery enter my sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear I have no mind of feasting forth tonight. But I will go. Go you before me, Sarah. Say I will come. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out the window for all this. There will come a Christian by. We'll be worth a Jewess's eye. Exit, Lancelot. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, huh? His words were farewell, Mistress. Nothing else. The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder. Snail's slow in profit and he sleeps by day more than the Wildcat. Drones hive not with me. Therefore I part with him and part with him to one that I would have him help to waste his borrowed purse. Well, Jessica, go in. Perhaps I will return immediately. Do as I bid you, shut doors after you, fast-bind, fast-find, a proverb never stale in thrifty mind. Exit. Farewell. And if my fortune be not crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost. Exit. Scene six. The same. Intergraciano and Salarino. Mast. This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo desired us to make stand. His hour is almost past. And it is marvel he outdwells his hour for lovers ever run before the clock. Oh, ten times faster Venus pigeons fly to seal love's bonds new-made than they are want to keep a bligid faith unforfeited. That ever holds. Who rises from a feast with that keen appetite that he sits down? Where is the horse that doth untread again his tedious measures with the unbated fire that he did paste in first? All things that are are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. How like a yunker or a prodigal the scarfed bark puts from her native bay hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind. How like the prodigal doth she return with overweathered ribs and ragged sails lean, rent, and beggard by the strumpet wind. Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter. Enter Lorenzo. Sweet friends, you're patient for my long abode. Not I, but my affairs have made you wait. When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then. Approach? Here dwells my father Jew. Ho, who's within? Enter Jessica. Above. In boys' clothes. Who are you? Tell me for more certainty. Albeit, I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lorenzo, and I love. Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed. For who love I so much? And now who knows but you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains. I am glad, his night, you do not look on me, for I am much ashamed of my exchange. But love is blind, and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit. For if they could, Cupid himself would blush to see me thus transformed to a boy. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. What must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good Soothe, are too, too light. Why, it is an office of discovery love, and I should be obscured. So are you, sweet, even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once, for the close night doth play the runaway, and we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself with some more duckets, and be with you straight. Exit above. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. Be shrew me, but I love her heartily, for she is wise if I can judge of her, and fair she is if that mine eyes be true. And true she is, as she hath proved herself, and therefore like herself wise, fair, and true. Shall she be placed in my constant soul? Enter, Jessica. What art thou come? On, gentlemen, away, our masking mates buy this time for a stay. Exit with, Jessica, and Salarino. Enter, Antonio. Who's there? Signor Antonio. Phi Phi, Gratiano. Where are all the rest? Till nine o'clock our friends all stay for you. No mask to-night, the wind has come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard. I have sent twenty out to seek for you. I am glad, Aunt. I desire no more delight than to be under sail and gone to-night. Exit. Scene seven. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. Flourish of cornets. Enter Portia with the Prince of Morocco and their trains. Go draw aside the curtains and discover the several caskets to this noble prince. Now make your choice. The first of gold, who this inscription bears, who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. The second silver, which this promise carries, who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warning all is blunt, who chooseth me must give in hazard all he hath. How shall I know if I do choose the right? The one of them contains my picture, Prince. If you choose that, then I am yours with all. Some God direct my judgment. Let me see. I will survey the inscriptions back again. What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me must give in hazard all he hath. Must give. For what? For lead? Hazard for lead. This casket threatens. Men that hazard all do it in hope of fair advantages. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. I'll then nor give nor hazard ought for lead. What says the silver with her virgin hue? Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. As much as he deserves, pause there, Morocco, and weigh thy value with an even hand. If thou beest rated by thy estimation, thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough may not extend so far as to the lady. And yet to be afeard of my deserving were but a weak disabling of myself. As much as I deserve. Why, that's the lady. I do in birth desert her, and in fortunes, in graces, and in qualities of breeding. But more than these, in love I do deserve. What if I strayed no farther but chose here? Let's see once more this saying graved in gold. Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. Why, that's the lady. All the world desires her. From the four corners of the earth they come to kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint. The hercanean deserts and the vasty wilds of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now for princes to come view Fair Portia. The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head spits in the face of heaven, is no bar to stop the foreign spirits. But they come as over a brook to see Fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is it like that lead contains her? To her damnation to think so base a thought, it were too gross to rib her sercloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she's immured? Being ten times undervalued to tried gold. Oh, sinful thought! Never so rich a gem was set in worse than gold. They have in England a coin that bears the figure of an angel, stamped in gold, but that's in sculpt upon. But here an angel in a golden bed lies all within. Deliver me the key. Here do I choose and thrive I as I may. There, take it, Prince. And if my form lie there, then I am yours. He unlocks the golden casket. Oh, hell! What have we here? A carrion death within whose empty eye there is a written scroll. I'll read the writing. All the glisters is not gold. Often have you heard that told. Many a man his life hath sold, but my outside to behold. Gilded tombs do worms enfold. Had you been as wise as bold, young in limbs, in judgment old, your answer had not been in scrolled. Fare you well. Your suit is cold. Cold indeed! Had labour lost. Fare well, heat, and welcome frost. Portia adieu. I have to grieve to heart to take a tedious leave. Thus loses part. Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains. Go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. Excient. Scene eight. Venice. Enter Salarino and Salanio. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail. With him is Gratiano gone along, and in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. The villain Jew without cries raised the Duke who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. He came too late. The ship was under sail. But there the Duke was given to understand that in a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. Besides, Antonio certified the Duke they were not with Bassanio in his ship. I never heard a passion so confused, so strange, outrageous and so variable as the dog Jew did utter in the streets. My daughter, oh my duckets, oh my daughter, fled with a Christian, oh my Christian duckets, justice, the law, my duckets, and my daughter, a sealed bag, two sealed bags of duckets, of double duckets stolen from me by my daughter and jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones stolen by my daughter. Justice, find the girl, she hath the stones upon her and the duckets. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, crying, his stones, his daughter, and his duckets. Let good Antonio look he keep his day or he shall pay for this. Mary, well remembered. I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday who told me, in the narrow seas that part the French in English, there miscarried a vessel of our country richly fraught. I thought upon Antonio when he told me and wished in silence that it were not his. You were best to tell Antonio what you hear, yet do not suddenly for it may grieve him. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. Bassanio told him he would make some speed of his return. He answered, do not so, slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, but stay the very riping of the time, and for the Jews bond which he hath of me, let it not enter in your mind of love. Be Mary and employ your chiefest thoughts to courtship and such fair ostents of love as shall conveniently become you there. And even there his eye being big with tears, turning his face he put his hand behind him, and with affection wondrous sensible he wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. I think he only loves the world for him. I pray thee let us go and find him out and quicken his embrace at heaviness with some delight or other. Do we so? Excellent. Scene 9 Belmont. A room in Portia's house. Enter Nerissa with a servitor. Quick, quick! I pray thee, draw the curtain straight. The Prince of Aragon hath tain his earth and comes to his election presently. Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Aragon. Portia and their trains. Behold, there stand the casket's noble prince. If you choose that wherein I am contained, straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnised. But if you fail, without more speech, my Lord, you must be gone from hence immediately. I am enjoined by oath to observe three things. First, never to unfold to anyone which casket twas I chose. Next, if I fail of the right casket, never in my life to woo a maid in way of marriage. Lastly, if I do fail in fortune of my choice, immediately to leave you and be gone. To these injunctions everyone doth swear that comes to hazard for my worthless self. And so have I addressed me. Fortune now to my heart's hope. Gold, silver and base lead. Who chooses me must give and hazard all he have. You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see. Who chooses me shall gain what many men desire. What many men desire? That many may be meant by the fool multitude that choose by show, not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, which prize not to the interior, but like the marthlet builds in the weather on the outward wall, even in the force and road of casualty. I will not choose what many men desire, because I will not jump with common spirits and rank me with the barbarous multitudes. Why then? To thee, thou silver treasure house, tell me once more what title thou dost bear. Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves. And well said, too. For who shall go about to cousin fortune and be honourable without the stamp of merit? Let none presume to wear an undeserved dignity. Oh, that his states, degrees and offices were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour were purchased by the merit of the wearer. How many then should cover that stand bare? How many be commanded that command? How much low peasantry would then be gleaned from the true seed of honour? And how much honour picked from the chaff and ruin of the times to be new varnished? Well, but do my choice. Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves. I will assume dessert. Give me a key for this, and instantly unlock my fortunes here. He opens the silver casket. Too long a pause for that which you find there. What's here? The portrait of a blinking idiot presenting me a schedule? I will read it. How much unlike are thou to Portia? How much unlike my hopes and my deservings? Who chooses me shall have as much as he deserves. Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? Is that my prize? Are my desserts no better? To offend and judge are distinct offices and of opposed natures. What is here? Seven times tried this. Seven times tried that judgment is that did never choose a miss. Some there be that shadows kiss. Such have but a shadow's bliss. There be fools alive, I wish. Silver door, and so was this. Take what wife you will to bed. I will ever be your head. So be gone you are sped. Still more fool I shall appear by the time I linger here. With one fool's head I came to woo. But I go away with two. Sweet adieu. I'll keep my oath patiently to bear my oath. Exit Aragon with his train. Thus hath the candle singed the moth. Oh, these deliberate fools! When they do choose, they have the wisdom by their wit to lose. The ancient saying is no heresy. Hanging in wyving goes by destiny. Come, draw the curtain, Narissa. Enter a servant. Where is my lady? Here, what would my lord? Madam, there is a lighted at your gate a young Venetian, one that comes before to signify the approaching of his lord. From whom he bringeth sensible regreets to wit, besides commends and courteous breath, gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen so likely an ambassador of love. A day in April never came so sweet to show how costly summer was at hand, as this forspurrer comes before his lord. No more, I pray thee. I am half a fear thou wilt say anon he is some kind to thee. Thou spent such high day wit in praising him. Come, Narissa, for I long to see quick cupid's post that comes so mannerly. Vesenia, lord love, if thy will it be. Excellent. End of Act II. Act III of the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Act III Scene I Venice, a street. Enter Salanio and Salarino. Now what news on the realtor? Why, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas, the good ones I think they call the place. The very dangerous flat and fatal where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say. If my gossip report be an honest woman of her word. I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever nap ginger or made her neighbors believe she wept for the death of a third husband, but it is true without any slips of prolixity or crossing the plain highway of talk that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio, hath to keep his name company. Come the full stop. What sayest thou? Why, the end is he hath lost a ship. I would it might prove the end of his losses. Let me say amen betimes lest the devil cross my prayer for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. Enter Shilok. You knew none so well, none so well as you of my daughter's flight. That certain I for my part knew the tailor that made the wing she flew with all. And Shilok for his own part knew the bird was fledged and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. She is damned for it. That certain if the devil may be her judge. My own flesh and blood to rebel. Out upon it old carrion rebels it at these years. I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood. There is more difference between the flesh and hers than between jet and ivory. More between your bloods than there is between red wine and rinish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no? There I have another bad match, a bankrupt, a prodigal who dares scare show his head on the realto, a beggar that used to come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond. He was wont to call me usera. Let him look to his bond. I will lend money for a Christian courtesy. Let him look to his bond. Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou will not take his flesh. What's that good for? To bait fish with all. If it will feed nothing else it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million. Laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, slaughtered my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies. And what is reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes, hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is. If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong our Christian what is his humility? Revenge! If a Christian wrong a Jew what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge? The villain you teach me I will execute and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. Enter a servant. Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both. Enter... Here comes another of the tribe a third cannot be matched unless the devil himself turned Jew. Excellent! Salanio, Salarino and Servant. How now, Tybal? What news from Genoa has found my daughter? I often came where I did hear of her but cannot find her. Why? There! There! The diamond gone cost me two thousand dockets in Frankfurt. The curse never fell upon our nation till now. I never felt it till now. Two thousand dockets in that and other precious, precious jewels. I would, my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear which she would hurst at my foot in the dockets in her coffin. What news of them? Why so? And I know not what's spent in the search why thou loss upon loss the thief gone with so much and so much to find the thief and no satisfaction no revenge no ill luck stirring but what lights on my shoulders no size but of my breathing no tears but of my shedding. Yes, other men have ill luck too. Antonio as I heard in Genua what, what, what ill luck, ill luck hath an argacy cast away coming from Triplus Oh, I thank God I thank God is it true, is it true? I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck Oh, I thank thee, good Tybal Good news Good news Where, in Genua your daughter spent in Genua as I heard one night four-scored dockets Oh, now sticks a dagger in me I shall never see my gold again four-scored dockets at the sitting four-scored dockets There came divers of Antonio's creditors to my company to Venice that swear he cannot choose but break it I'll plague him, I'll torture him I am glad of it One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey Oh, out upon her thou torturist me, Tybal it was my turquoise I had it of Leia when I was a bachelor I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys But Antonio is certainly undone Nay, that's true that's very true Go, Tybal Fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before I will have the heart of him if he forfeit for were he out of Venice I can make but merchandise I will Go, Tybal, and meet me at our synagogue Go, good Tybal, at our synagogue, Tybal Excellent Scene two Belmont room in Portia's house Enter Bassanio, Portia Gratiano Nerissa and Attendance I pray you, Terry pause a day or two before you hazard for in choosing wrong I lose your company therefore forbear a while there's something tells me but it is not love I would not lose you and you know yourself hate me but lest you should not understand me well and yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought I would detain you here some month or two before you venture for me I could teach you how to choose right but then I am forsworn so will I never be so may you miss me but if you do you'll make me wish a sin that I had been forsworn but shrew your eyes they have overlooked me and divided me one half of me is yours the other half yours mine own I would say but if mine then yours and so all yours oh these naughty times puts bars between the owners and their rights and so though yours not yours prove it so let fortune go to hell for it not I I speak too long but his to appease the time to eek it and to draw it out in length let me choose for as I am I live upon the rack upon the rack Bessonio then confess what treason there is mingled with your love none but that ugly treason of mistrust which makes me fear the enjoying of my love there may as well be amity in life between snow and fire as treason and my love I but I fear you speak upon the rack where men in force do speak anything promise me life and I confess the truth well then confess and live confess and love had been the very sum of my confession oh happy torment when my torturer dup teach me answers for deliverance but let me to my fortune and the caskets away then I am locked in one of them if you do love me you will find me out Narissa and the rest stand all aloof let music sound while he doth make his choice then if he lose he makes a swan-like end fading in music that the comparison may stand more proper my eye shall be the stream and watery deathbed for him he may win and what is music then then music is even as the flourish when true subjects bow to a new crowned monarch such it is as are those dulcet sounds in break of day that creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear and summon him to marriage now he goes with no less presence but with much more love than young alcides when he did redeem the virgin tribute paid by howling Troy to the sea monster I stand for sacrifice the rest aloof are the dardanian wives with bleared visages come forth to view the issue of the exploit go Hercules live thou, I live with much much more dismay I view the fight than thou that makes the fray a song while basaniel comments on the caskets to himself tell me where is fancy bread or in the heart or in the head how be he gone, how nor is shared reply reply it is engendered in the eyes with gazing fed and fancy dies in the cradle where it lies let us all ring fancy's knell I'll begin it ding dong bell ding dong bell so may the outward shows be leased themselves the world is still deceived with ornament in law what please so painted and corrupt but being seasoned with a gracious voice obscures the show of evil in religion what damn did 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 and where 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 it is purchased by the weight which therein works a miracle in nature making them lightest that were most of it so are those unlocks which make such wanton gambles with the wind upon supposed fairness often known to be the dowry of a second head the skull that bred them in the supple cur thus ornament is what the guy led shore to a most dangerous sea the beauty a scarf veiling an Indian beauty in a word the seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest therefore thou gotty 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 meager lead which rather threat this than dust promise ought thy plainness moves me more than eloquence and here choose I joy be the consequence aside how all the other passions fleet to air as doubtful thoughts and rash embrace despair and shuddering fear and green eyed jealousy oh love be moderate allay thy ecstasy in measure reign thy joy scant the success I feel too much thy blessing make it less for fear I surf it what find I here opening the leaden casket fair Porsche's counterfeit what demigod have 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 sonder such sweet friends here in her hairs the painter plays the spider and has woven flesh to entrap the hearts of men faster than gnats in cobwebs but her eyes how could he see to do them having made one me thinks it should have powered a steel both his and leave itself unfurnished yet look how far the substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow in underprising it so far this shadow doth limp behind the substance here's the scroll the continent and summary of my fortune you that choose not by the view chances fairer 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 to where your lady is and claim her with a loving kiss a gentle scroll fair lady by your leave kissing her I come by note to give and to receive like one of two contending in a prize that thinks yet 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 and I even so as doubtful whether what I see be true until confirmed, signed ratified by you you see me lord basania 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 virtues, beauties, livings, friends, exceed account but the full sum of me is sum of something which to term in gross is an unlessened girl unschooled, unpracticed 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 or myself and even now but now this house these servants and this same myself are yours my lords I give them with this ring which when you part from lose or give away let it presage the ruin of your love and be my vantage to exclaim on you madam you've 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 beloved prince there doth appear among the buzzing, pleasing 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 oh then be bold to say Bassanio's dead my lord and lady it is now our time that I've stood by and seen I wish it's prospered to cry good joy good joy my lord and lady lord Bassanio and my gentle lady I wish you all the joy that you can wish for I am sure that 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 with all my heart so thou canst get a wife 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 caskets 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 your fortune achieved her mistress is this true Narissa madame it is so you stand pleased with all and do you glasciano mean good faith yes faith my lord our feast shall be much honored in your marriage we'll play with them the first boy for a thousand dockets what steak down no we shall never win at that sport and steak down but who comes here Lorenzo and his infidel what and my old Venetian friend Solanio enter Lorenzo Jessica and Solanio Lorenzo and Solanio welcome hither if that the youth of my new interest here have power to bid you welcome by your leave I bid my very friends and countrymen sweet Portia welcome so do I my lord they are entirely welcome I thank your honor for my part my lord my purpose was not to have seen you here but meeting with Solanio by the way he did entreat me past all saying nay to come with him along I did my lord and I have reason for it senior Antonio commends him to you gives by sonio a letter I hope his letter I pray you tell me how my good friend doth not sick my lord unless it be in mind nor well unless in mind his letter there will show you his right Narissa cheer yon stranger bid her welcome your hand Solanio 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 I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost there are some shrewd contents in yon same paper that steal the color from Bassanio's cheek some dear friend dead as 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 and I must freely have the half of anything that this same paper brings you oh sweet Porsche here are a few of the unpleasantest 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 I told you my state was nothing I should then have told you that I was worse than nothing for indeed I've engaged myself to a dear friend engaged my friend to his mere enemy to feed my means here is a letter lady the paper as the body of my friend and every word in it a gaping wound issuing life flood but is it true Solario have all his ventures failed what not one hit from triples from Mexico and England from Lisbon Barbary and India and not one vessel scape the dreadful touch of Merchant Marring rocks 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 of the Duke himself and the magnificos of greatest port have all persuaded with him but none can drive him from the envious plea of forfeiture of justice and his bond when I was with him I have heard him swear to tibble and to choose 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 is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble? the dearest friend to me the kindest man the best conditioned and unwearyed spirit in doing courtesies and one in whom the ancient Roman honour more appears than any that draws breath in Italy what sum owes he the Jew? for me three thousand ducats what no more? pay him six thousand and deface the 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 your cautious side with an unquiet soul you shall have gold to pay the petty debt twenty times over when it is paid bring your true friend along my maid Nerissa and myself meantime will live as maids and widows come away for you shall 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 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 oh love dispatch all business and be gone since I have your good leave to go away I will make haste but till I come again no bed shall air be guilty of my stay no rest be interposer twix dust wane excellent scene three Venice a street enter Shylock Salarino Antonio and Jailer Jailer look to him tell me not of mercy this is the fool that lent out money gratis Jailer look to him hear me yet good Shylock I'll have my bond speak not against my bond I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond thou calls me dog before thou hadst a cause but since I am a dog before my fangs the Duke shall grant me justice I do wonder thou naughty Jailer that thou art so fun to come abroad with him at his request I pray thee hear me speak I'll have my bond I'll not hear thee speak I'll have my bond and therefore speak no more I'll not be made a soft had 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 it is the most impenetrable cur that ever kept with men 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 I am sure the Duke will never grant this forfeiture to hold the Duke cannot deny the course of law for the commodity that strangers have with us in Venice fit be denied so much impeach the justice of the state since that the trade and profit of the city consisteth of all nations therefore go these griefs and losses have so baited me that I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh tomorrow to my bloody creditor well Gauler on pray God Bassanio come to see me pay his debt and then I care not excellent scene four Belmont a room in Portia's house enter Portia Narissa Lorenzo Jessica and Balthazar madam although I speak it in your presence you have a noble and a true conceit of God like amity which appears most strongly in bearing thus the absence of your Lord but if you knew to whom you show this honor how true a gentleman you send relief how dear a lover of my Lord your husband I know you would be prouder of the work then customary bounty can enforce you I never did repent for doing good nor shall not now for in companions that do converse and waste the time together whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love there must be needs a like proportion of liniments winners and of spirit which makes me think that this Antonio being the bosom lover of my Lord must needs be like my Lord if it be so how little is the cost I have bestowed in purchasing the semblance of my soul from out the state of hellish cruelty this comes to near the praising of myself therefore no more of it hear other things Lorenzo I commit into your hands the husbandry and manage of my house until my Lord's return I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow to live in prayer and contemplation only attended by Narissa here until her husband and my Lord's return there is a monastery two miles off and there we will abide I do desire you not to deny this imposition the which my love and some necessity now lays upon you madam with all my heart I shall obey you in all fair commands my people do already know my mind and will acknowledge you and Jessica in place of Lord Bassanio and myself so fare you well till we shall meet again fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you I wish your ladyship all hearts content I thank you for your wish and am well pleased to wish it back on you fare you well Jessica excellent Jessica and Lorenzo now both is our as I have ever found the honest true so let me find these still take this same letter and use thou all the endeavor of a man in speed to Padua see thou render this into my cousin's hands Dr. Bellario and look what notes and garments he doth give thee bring them I pray thee with imagined speed unto the tragic to the common fairy which trades to Venice waste no time in words but get thee gone I shall be there before thee madam I go with all convenient speed exit come on Narissa I have work and that you yet know not of we'll see our husbands before they think of us shall they see us they shall Narissa but in such a habit that they shall think we are accomplished with that we lack I'll hold thee any wager when we are both accoutre'd like young men I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two and wear my dagger with the braver grace and speak between the change of man and boy with a reed voice and turn two mincing steps into a manly stride and speak a phrase like a fine bragging youth and tell quaint lies how honourable ladies sought my love which I denying they fell sick and died I could not do with all then I'll repent and wish for all that that I had not killed them and twenty of these puny lies I'll tell that men shall swear I have discontinued school about a twelve month I have within my mind a thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks which I will practice why so attentive men? what a question's that if thou were near a lewd interpreter but come I'll tell thee all my whole device when I am in my coach which stays for us at the park gate and therefore haste away for we must measure twenty miles today excellent scene five the same a garden enter Lancelot and Jessica yes, truly for look you the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children therefore I promise you I fear you and I was always playing with you and so now I speak my agitation of the matter therefore be good of cheer for truly I think you are damned there is but one hope in it that can do you any good and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither and what hope is that I pray thee you may partly hope that your father got you not that you are not the jew's daughter that were a kind of bastard hope indeed so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother thus when I shunned Skyla your father I fall into carib this your mother well you are gone both ways I shall be saved by my husband he hath made me a Christian the more to blame he we were Christians and now before Ian as many as could well live one by another this making of Christians will raise the price of hogs if we grow all to be pork eaters we shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money I'll tell my husband Lancelot what you say here he comes enter Lorenzo I shall grow jealous of you shortly Lancelot if you thus get a wife into corners nay you need not fear us Lorenzo Lancelot and I are out he tells me flatly there's no mercy for me in heaven because I am a jew's daughter and he says you are no good member of the commonwealth for in converting jews to Christians you raise the price of pork I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the negro's belly the more is with child by you Lancelot it is much that the more should be more than reason but if she be less than an honest woman she is indeed more than I took her for how every fool can play upon the word I think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots go in Sarah bid them prepare for dinner that is done sir they have all stomachs goodly lord what a wit snapper are you then bid them prepare dinner that is done too sir only cover is the word will you cover then sir not so sir neither I know my duty yet more quarreling with occasion wilt thou show the whole wealth of I wit in an instant I pray thee understand a plain man in his plain meaning go to thy fellows bid them cover the table serve in the meat and we will come in to dinner for the table sir it shall be served in for the meat sir it should be covered for your coming in to dinner sir why let it be as humors and conceits shall govern exit oh dear discretion how his words are suited the fool hath planted in his memory an army of words and I do know a many fools that stand in better place garnished like him that for a tricksy word defy the matter how cheer is thou Jessica and now good sweet say thy opinion how does thou like the lord Bassanio's wife past all expressing it is very meet the lord Bassanio live in upright life for having such a blessing in his lady the boys of heaven here on earth and if on earth he do not merit it in reason he should never come to heaven why if two gods should play some heavenly match and on the wager lay two earthly women and poor she won there must be something else pond with the other for the poor rude world hath not her fellow even such a husband hath thou of me as she is for a wife nay but ask my opinion too of that I will and on first let us go to dinner nay let me praise you while I have a stomach no pray thee let it serve for table talk then how so error thou speakest among other things I shall digest it well I'll set you forth excellent end of act three