THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ENTRY of ‘a book of The Merchant of Venice or otherwise called The Jew of Venice’ in the Stationers’ Register on 22July 1598 probably represents an attempt by Shakespeare’s company to prevent the unauthorized printing of a popular play: it eventually appeared in print as ‘The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice’ in 1600, when it was said to have ‘been divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlain his servants’; probably Shakespeare wrote it in 1596 or 1597. The alternative title—The Jew of Venice—may reflect Shylock’s impact on the play’s first audiences. The play is constructed on the basis of two romantic tales using motifs well known to sixteenth-century readers. The story of Giannetto (Shakespeare’s Bassanio) and the Lady (Portia) of Belmont comes from an Italian collection of fifty stories published under the title of II Pecorone (‘the big sheep’, or ‘dunce’) and attributed to one Ser Giovanni of Fiorentino. Written in the later part of the fourteenth century, the volume did not appear until 1558. No sixteenth-century translation is known, so (unless there was a lost intermediary) Shakespeare must have read it in Italian. It gave him the main outline of the plot involving Antonio (the merchant), Bassanio (the wooer), Portia, and the Jew (Shylock). The pound of flesh motif was available also in other versions, one of which, in Alexander Silvayn’s The Orator (translated 1596), influenced the climactic scene (4.1) in which Shylock attempts to exact the full penalty of his bond. In the story from II Pecorone the lady (a widow) challenges her suitors to seduce her, on pain of the forfeiture of their wealth, and thwarts them by drugging their wine. Shakespeare more romantically shows a maiden required by her father’s will to accept only a wooer who will forswear marriage if he fails to make the right choice among caskets of gold, silver and lead. The story of the caskets was readily available in versions by John Gower (in his Confessio Amantis) and Giovanni Boccaccio (in his Decameron), and in an anonymous anthology (the Gesta Romanorum). Shakespeare added the character ofJessica, Shylock’s daughter who elopes with the Christian Lorenzo—perhaps influenced by episodes in Christopher Marlowe’s play The Jew of Malta (c.1589)—and made many adjustments to the stories from which he borrowed. The Merchant of Venice is a natural development from Shakespeare’s earlier comedies, especially The Two Gentlemen of Verona, with its heroine disguised as a boy and its portrayal of the competing demands of love and friendship. But Portia is the first of his great romantic heroines, and Shylock his first great comic antagonist. Though the play grew out of fairy tales, its moral scheme is not entirely clear cut: the Christians are open to criticism, the Jew is true to his own code of conduct. The response of twentieth-century and later audiences has been complicated by racial issues; in any case, the role of Shylock affords such strong opportunities for an actor capable of arousing an undercurrent of sympathy for a vindictive character that it has sometimes unbalanced the play in performance. But the so-called trial scene (4.1) is unfailing in its impact on audiences, and the closing episodes modulate skilfully from romantic lyricism to high comedy, while sustaining the play’s concern with true and false values. THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice BASSANIO, his friend and Portia’s suitor LEONARDO, Bassanio’s servant SHYLOCK, a Jew JESSICA, his daughter TUBAL, a Jew LANCELOT, a clown, first Shylock’s servant and then Bassanio’s GOBBO, his father PORTIA, an heiress NERISSA, her waiting-gentlewoman DUKE of Venice Magnificoes of Venice A jailer, attendants, and servants

The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice

Atto 1, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio, Salerio, and Solanio
ANTONIO	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 stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me That I have much ado to know myself.
SALERIO	Your mind is tossing on the ocean, There where your argosies with portly sail, Like signors and rich burghers on the flood— Or as it were the pageants of the sea— Do overpeer the petty traffickers That curtsy to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings.
SOLANIO	(to Antonio) 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.
SALERIO	My wind cooling my broth Would blow me to an ague when I thought What harm a wind too great might do at sea. I should not see the sandy hour-glass run But I should think of shallows and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew, decks in sand, Vailing her hightop lower than her ribs To kiss her burial. Should I go to church And see the holy edifice of stone 30 And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks Which, touching but my gentle vessel’s side, Would scatter all her spices on the stream, Enrobe 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.
ANTONIO	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.
SOLANIO	Why then, you are in love. ANTONIOFie, fie.
SOLANIO	Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad Because you are not merry, and ’twere as easy For you to laugh, and leap, and say you are merry Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus, Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: Some that will evermore peep through their eyes And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper, And other of such vinegar aspect That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Graziano
SOLANIO	Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Graziano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well. We leave you now with better company.
SALERIO	I would have stayed till I had made you merry If worthier friends had not prevented me.
ANTONIO	Your worth is very dear in my regard. I take it your own business calls on you, And you embrace th’occasion to depart.
SALERIO	Good morrow, my good lords. 65
BASSANIO	Good signors both, when shall we laugh? Say, when? You grow exceeding strange. Must it be so?
SALERIO	We’ll make our leisures to attend on yours.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Salerio and Solanio
LORENZO	My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, We two will leave you; but at dinner-time I pray you have in mind where we must meet.
BASSANIO	I will not fail you.
GRAZIANO	You look not well, Signor Antonio. You have too much respect upon the world. They lose it that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvellously changed.
ANTONIO	I hold the world but as the world, Graziano— A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one.
GRAZIANO	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 grandsire cut in alabaster, Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio— I love thee, and ‘tis my love that speaks— There are a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pond, And do a wilful 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 ope my lips, let no dog bark.’ O 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 damn 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 gudgeon, this opinion.— Come, good Lorenzo.—Fare ye well a while. I’ll end my exhortation after dinner.
LORENZO	(to Antonio and Bassanio) Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. 105 I must be one of these same dumb wise men, For Graziano never lets me speak.
GRAZIANO	Well, keep me company but two years more Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.
ANTONIO	Fare you well. I’ll grow a talker for this gear.
GRAZIANO	Thanks, i’faith, for silence is only commendable In a neat’s tongue dried and a maid not vendible.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Graziano and Lorenzo
ANTONIO	Yet is that anything now?
BASSANIO	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 all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search.
ANTONIO	Well, tell me now what lady is the same To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, That you today promised to tell me of.
BASSANIO	’Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have disabled mine estate By something showing a more swelling port Than my faint means would grant continuance, Nor do I now make moan 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 gaged. 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.
ANTONIO	I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it, And if it stand as you yourself still do,
(didascalia)	Within the eye of honour, be assured
ANTONIO	My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie all unlocked to your occasions.
BASSANIO	In my schooldays, when I had lost one shaft, I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight The selfsame way, with more advised watch, To find the other forth; and by adventuring both, I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof Because what follows is pure innocence. I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth, That which I owe is lost; but if you please 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.
ANTONIO	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 me be done, And I am pressed unto it. Therefore speak.
BASSANIO	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 Colchis’ strand, And many Jasons come in quest of her. O 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
ANTONIO	Thou know’st 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 thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. Go presently enquire, and so will I, Where money is; and I no question make To have it of my trust or for my sake.
(didascalia)	Exeunt [severally]

Atto 1, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia with Nerissa, her waiting-woman
PORTIA	By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.
NERISSA	You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are; and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit 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.
PORTIA	Good sentences, and well pronounced.
NERISSA	They would be better if well followed.
PORTIA	If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good 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 mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o‘er a cold decree. Such a hare is madness, the youth, to skip o’er the meshes of good counsel, the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O 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, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?
NERISSA	Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations; therefore the lottery 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 towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?
PORTIA	I pray thee overname them, and as thou namest them I will describe them; and according to my description, level at my affection.
NERISSA	First there is the Neapolitan prince.
PORTIA	Ay, 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.
NERISSA	Then is there the County Palatine.
PORTIA	He doth nothing but frown, as who should say ‘An 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 unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!
NERISSA	How say you by the French lord, Monsieur le Bon?
PORTIA	God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but he—why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan‘s, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. If a throstle sing, he falls straight a-cap’ring. 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 love me to madness, I shall never requite him.
NERISSA	What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England?
PORTIA	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 pennyworth 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.
NERISSA	What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?
PORTIA	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.
NERISSA	How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony’s nephew?
PORTIA	Very vilely in the morning when he is sober, and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk. When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst he is little better than a beast. An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.
NERISSA	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.
PORTIA	Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a deep glass of Rhenish 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.
NERISSA	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 suit unless you may be won by some other sort than your father’s imposition depending on the caskets. 102
PORTIA	If I live to be as old as Sibylla 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 wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence; and I pray God grant them a fair departure.
NERISSA	Do you not remember, lady, in your father’s time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat? III
PORTIA	Yes, yes, it was Bassanio—as I think, so was he called.
NERISSA	True, madam. He of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon was the best deserving a fair lady.
PORTIA	I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise.
(didascalia)	Enter a Servingman
PORTIA	How now, what news?
SERVINGMAN	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.
PORTIA	If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, Nerissa. (To the Servingman) Sirrah, go before. Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, Another knocks at the door. Exeunt

Atto 1, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew SHYLOCK Three thousand ducats. Well.
BASSANIO	Ay, sir, for three months.
SHYLOCK	For three months. Well.
BASSANIO	For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
SHYLOCK	Antonio shall become bound. Well.
BASSANIO	May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?
SHYLOCK	Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.
BASSANIO	Your answer to that.
SHYLOCK	Antonio is a good man.
BASSANIO	Have you heard any imputation to the contrary ?
SHYLOCK	Ho, no, no, no, no !My meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition. He hath an argosy 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, water thieves and land thieves—I mean pirates—and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats. I think I may take his bond.
BASSANIO	Be assured you may.
SHYLOCK	I will be assured I may, and that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?
BASSANIO	If it please you to dine with us.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK aside Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into! 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio
(didascalia)	To Antonio What news on the Rialto? To Bassanio Who is he comes here?
BASSANIO	This is Signor Antonio.
(didascalia)	Bassanio and Antonio speak silently to one another
SHYLOCK	(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 usance 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 sacred 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.
BASSANIO	Shylock, do you hear?
SHYLOCK	I am debating of my present store, And by the near guess of my memory I cannot instantly raise up the gross Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, Will furnish me. But soft—how many months
(didascalia)	Do you desire ? To Antonio Rest you fair, good signor.
SHYLOCK	Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
ANTONIO	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 ye would?
SHYLOCK	Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
ANTONIO	And for three months.
SHYLOCK	I had forgot—three months. (To Bassanio) You told me so.— Well then, your bond; and let me see—but hear you, Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage.
ANTONIO	I do never use it.
SHYLOCK	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; ay, he was the third—
ANTONIO	And what of him? Did he take interest?
SHYLOCK	No, not take interest, not, as you would say, Directly int’rest. Mark what Jacob did: When Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied Should fall as Jacob’s hire, the ewes, being rank, In end of autumn turned to the rams, 80 And when the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in the act, The skilful 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 parti-coloured lambs; and those were Jacob’s. This was a way to thrive; and he was blest; And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.
ANTONIO	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 gold and silver ewes and rams?
SHYLOCK	I cannot tell. I make it breed as fast. But note me, signor—
ANTONIO	Mark you this, Bassanio? The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
SHYLOCK	Three thousand ducats. ’Tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve—then let me see the rate.
ANTONIO	Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?
SHYLOCK	Signor Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For suff‘rance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog, 110 And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, 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 moneys‘—you say so, You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshold. Moneys 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 ducats?’ Or Shall I bend low, and in a bondman’s key, With bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness Say this:‘Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last; You spurned me such a day; another time You called me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys’?
ANTONIO	I am as like to call thee so again, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends; for when did friendship take A breed for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who if he break, thou mayst with better face Exact the penalty.
SHYLOCK	Why, look you, how you storm I I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stained me with, Supply your present wants, and take no doit Of usance for my moneys; and you’ll not hear me. This is kind I offer.
BASSANIO	This were kindness.
SHYLOCK	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 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 pleaseth me.
ANTONIO	Content, in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, And say there is much kindness in the Jew.
BASSANIO	You shall not seal to such a bond for me. I’ll rather dwell in my necessity.
ANTONIO	Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it.
(didascalia)	Within these two months—that’s a month before
ANTONIO	This bond expires—I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
SHYLOCK	O father Abram, what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect 160 The thoughts of others! (To Bassanio) 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, beeves, or goats. I say, To buy his favour I extend this friendship. If he will take it, so. If not, adieu, And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
ANTONIO	Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
SHYLOCK	Then meet me forthwith at the notary’s. Give him direction for this merry bond, And I will go and purse the ducats straight, See to my house—left in the fearful guard Of an unthrifty knave—and presently I’ll be with you.
ANTONIO	Hie thee, gentle Jew. Exit Shylock The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.
BASSANIO	I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind.
ANTONIO	Come on. In this there can be no dismay. My ships come home a month before the day. Exeunt
(didascalia)	2.1 Flourish of cornetts. Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train
MOROCCO	(to Portia) Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus’ fire scarce 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 clime Have loved it too. I would not change this hue Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
PORTIA	In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes. Besides, the lott’ry 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, Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have looked on yet For my affection.
MOROCCO	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 Sophy and a Persian prince That won three fields of Sultan Suleiman, I would o’erstare the sternest 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 a roars for prey, To win the lady. But alas the while, If Hercules and Lichas 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 rage, And so may I, blind Fortune leading me, Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving.
PORTIA	You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
MOROCCO	Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
PORTIA	First, forward to the temple. After dinner Your hazard shall be made.
MOROCCO	Good fortune then, To make me blest or cursèd’st among men.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot the clown
LANCELOT	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 ‘Gobbo, Lancelot Gobbo, good Lancelot,’ or ‘good Gobbo,’ or ‘good Lancelot Gobbo—use your legs, take the start, run away.’ My conscience says ‘No, take heed, honest Lancelot, take heed, honest Gobbo,’ or, as aforesaid, ‘honest Lancelot Gobbo—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 Lancelot’—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, ‘Lancelot, budge not’; ‘Budge!’ says the fiend; ‘Budge not’, says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well’; ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ To be ruled by my conscience I should stay with the Jew my master who, 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 incarnation; 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.
(didascalia)	Enter old Gobbo, blind, with a basket
GOBBO	Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT	(aside) O 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.
GOBBO	Master young gentleman, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT	Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left, marry at the very next turning, turn of no hand but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house.
GOBBO	By God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Lancelot that dwells with him dwell with him or no?
LANCELOT	Talk you of young Master Lancelot? (Aside) Mark me now, now will I raise the waters. (To Gobbo) Talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO	No master, sir, but a poor man’s son. His father, though I say’t, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.
LANCELOT	Well, let his father be what a will, we talk of young Master Lancelot.
GOBBO	Your worship’s friend, and Lancelot, sir.
LANCELOT	But I pray you, ergo old man, ergo I beseech you, talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO	Of Lancelot, an’t please your mastership.
LANCELOT	Ergo Master Lancelot. Talk not of Master Lancelot, 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.
GOBBO	Marry, God forbid The boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT aside Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? (To Gobbo) Do you know me, father?
GOBBO	Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman. But I pray you tell me, is my boy-God rest his soul— alive or dead?
LANCELOT	Do you not know me, father?
GOBBO	Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.
LANCELOT	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. (Kneeling) Give me your blessing. Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long—a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.
GOBBO	Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you are not Lancelot, my boy.
LANCELOT	Pray you, let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. 81
GOBBO	I cannot think you are my son.
LANCELOT	I know not what I shall think of that, but I am Lancelot the Jew’s man, and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.
GOBBO	Her name is Margery indeed. I’ll be sworn, if thou be Lancelot thou art mine own flesh and blood. He feels Lancelot’s head Lord worshipped might he be, what a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail. 90
LANCELOT	It should seem then that Dobbin’s tail grows backward. I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.
GOBBO	Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present. How ’gree you now?
LANCELOT	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 not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio with Leonardo and followers
LANCELOT	O rare fortune! Here comes the man. To him, father, for I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer.
BASSANIO	(toone of his men) 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 Graziano to come anon to my lodging. Exit one
LANCELOT	(to Gobbo) To him, father.
GOBBO	(to Bassanio) God bless your worship.
BASSANIO	Gramercy. Wouldst thou aught with me? 115
GOBBO	Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy—
LANCELOT	(to Bassanio) Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man that would, sir, as my father shall specify.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve—
LANCELOT	Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire as my father shall specify.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) His master and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce cater-cousins.
LANCELOT	(to Bassiano) 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 frutify unto you.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is—
LANCELOT	(to Bassiano) 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.
BASSANIO	One speak for both. What would you?
LANCELOT	Serve you, sir.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
BASSANIO	(to Lancelot) 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.
LANCELOT	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.
BASSANIO	Thou speak‘st it well. (To Gobbo) Go, father, with thy son. (To Lancelot) Take leave of thy old master and enquire My lodging out. (To one of his men) Give him a livery More guarded than his fellows’. See it done. 150
LANCELOT	(to Gobbo) Father, in. I cannot get a service, no, I have ne’er a tongue in my head—well! He looks at his palm If any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here’s a simple line of life, here’s a small trifle of wives—a[as, fifteen wives is nothing. Eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man, and then to scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a featherbed—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. Exit with old Gobbo
BASSANIO	I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed, Return in haste, for I do feast tonight My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee. Go.
LEONARDO	My best endeavours shall be done herein. He begins to leave. Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO	(to Leonardo) Where’s your master?
LEONARDO	Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio.
BASSANIO	Graziano.
GRAZIANO	I have a suit to you.
BASSANIO	You have obtained it.
GRAZIANO	You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont.
BASSANIO	Why then, you must. But hear thee, Graziano, Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice- Parts that become thee 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 misconstered in the place I go to, 180 And lose my hopes.
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio, hear me. If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Wear prayer books in my pocket, look demurely— Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 185 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.
BASSANIO	Well, we shall see your bearing.
GRAZIANO	Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me By what we do tonight.
BASSANIO	No, that were pity. I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends That purpose merriment. But fare you well. I have some business.
GRAZIANO	And I must to Lorenzo and the rest. But we will visit you at supper-time. Exeunt severally

Atto 2, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica and Lancelot., the clown
JESSICA	I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee. And, Lancelot, 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.
LANCELOT	Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan; most sweet Jew; if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu.
JESSICA	Farewell, good Lancelot. Exit Lancelot Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to 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

Atto 2, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Graziano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Salanio LORENZO
(didascalia)	Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour.
GRAZIANO	We have not made good preparation.
SALERIO	We have not spoke as yet of torchbearers.
SOLANIO	’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered, And better in my mind not undertook.
LORENZO	‘Tis now but four o’clock. We have two hours To furnish us.
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot with a letter
LORENZO	Friend Lancelot, what’s the news?
LANCELOT	(presenting the letter) An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. 11
LORENZO	(taking the letter) I know the hand. In faith, ’tis a fair hand, And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ.
GRAZIANO	Love-news, in faith.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT to Lorenzo By your leave, sir.
LORENZO	Whither goest thou?
LANCELOT	Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the Christian.
LORENZO	Hold, here, take this. (Giving money) Tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her. Speak it privately. Go. Exit Lancelot Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? I am provided of a torchbearer.
SALERIO	Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
SOLANIO	And so will I.
LORENZO	Meet me and Graziano At Graziano’s lodging some hour hence.
SALERIO	’Tis good we do so. Exit with Solanio
GRAZIANO	Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
LORENZO	I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed How I shall take her from her father’s house, What gold and jewels she is furnished with, What page’s suit she hath in readiness. If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake; And never dare misfortune cross her foot Unless she do it under this excuse: That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me. Peruse this as thou goest. He gives Graziano the letter Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock the Jew and his man that was, Lancelot the clown
SHYLOCK	Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio. (Calling) What, Jessica! (To Lancelot) Thou shalt not gormandize As thou hast done with me. (Calling) What, Jessica! (To Lancelot) And sleep and snore and rend apparel out. (Calling) Why, Jessica, I say!
LANCELOT	(calling) Why, Jessica!
SHYLOCK	Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
LANCELOT	Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica
JESSICA	(to Shylock) Call you? What is your will?
SHYLOCK	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, 15 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.
LANCELOT	I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect your reproach.
SHYLOCK	So do I his.
LANCELOT	And they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a masque, but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black Monday last at six o’clock i’th’ morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in th’afternoon.
SHYLOCK	What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica, Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-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 fopp’ry enter My sober house. By Jacob’s staff I swear I have no mind of feasting forth tonight. But I will go. (To Lancelot) Go you before me, sirrah. Say I will come.
LANCELOT	I will go before, sir. (Aside to Jessica) Mistress, look out at window for all this. There will come a Christian by Will be worth a Jewës eye. Exit
SHYLOCK	(to Jessica) What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha?
JESSICA	His words were ‘Farewell, mistress’; nothing else.
SHYLOCK	The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder, Snail-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.
(didascalia)	Exit at one door
JESSICA	Farewell; and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost.
(didascalia)	Exit at another door
(didascalia)	2.6 Enter the masquers, Graziano and Salerio, with torchbearers
GRAZIANO	This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo Desired us to make stand.
SALERIO	His hour is almost past.
GRAZIANO	And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock.
SALERIO	O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly To seal love’s bonds new made than they are wont To keep obligèd faith unforfeited.
GRAZIANO	That ever holds. Who riseth 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 pace them first? All things that are Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. How like a younker or a prodigal The scarfed barque puts from her native bay, Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind! How like the prodigal doth she return, With over-weathered ribs and ragged sails, Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo, with a torch
SALERIO	Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter.
LORENZO	Sweet friends, your patience 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 therein. Approach. Here dwells my father Jew. (Calling) Ho, who’s within?
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica above in boy’s apparel
JESSICA	Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.
LORENZO	Lorenzo, and thy love.
JESSICA	Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, For who love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
LORENZO	Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
JESSICA	Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains. I am glad ’tis 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 transformèd to a boy.
LORENZO	Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.
JESSICA	What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured.
LORENZO	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.
JESSICA	I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
(didascalia)	Exit above
GRAZIANO	Now, by my hood, a gentile, and no Jew.
LORENZO	Beshrew 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica below
LORENZO	What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away. Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
(didascalia)	Exit with Jessica and Salerio
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio
ANTONIO	Who’s there?
GRAZIANO	Signor Antonio? 60
ANTONIO	Fie, fie, Graziano, where are all the rest? ‘Tis nine o’clock. Our friends all stay for you. No masque tonight. The wind is come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard. I have sent twenty out to seek for you. 65
GRAZIANO	I am glad on’t. I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone tonight. Exeunt
(didascalia)	2.7 Flourish of cornetts. Enter Portia with Morocco and both their trains
PORTIA	Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. The curtains are drawn aside, revealing three caskets (To Morocco) Now make your choice.
MOROCCO	This 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 as blunt: ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ How shall I know if I do choose the right?
PORTIA	The one of them contains my picture, Prince. If you choose that, then I am yours withal.
MOROCCO	Some god direct my judgement! Let me see. I will survey th‘inscriptions back again. What says this leaden casket? 15 ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard for lead? This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught 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 deserve 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 Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds Of wide Arabia are as throughfares 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 o‘er a brook to see fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is’t like that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation To think so base a thought. It were too gross To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she’s immured, Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? O 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 insculped 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. He is given a key
PORTIA	There, take it, Prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Morocco opens the golden casket
MOROCCO	O hell! What have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing. ‘All that 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 infold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, Your answer had not been enscrolled. Fare you well; your suit is cold.’ Cold indeed, and labour lost. Then farewell heat, and welcome frost. Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train
PORTIA	A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. The curtains are drawn. Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 8

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Salerio and Solanio
SALERIO	Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail. With him is Graziano gone along, And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
SOLANIO	The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke, Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
SALERIO	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.
SOLANIO	I never heard a passion so confused, So strange, outrageous, and so variable As the dog Jew did utter in the streets. ‘My daughter! O, my ducats! O, my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O, my Christian ducats I Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter! A sealed bag, two sealèd bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter! And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats!’
SALERIO	Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, ‘His stones, his daughter, and his ducats!’
SOLANIO	Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this.
SALERIO	Marry, well remembered. I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday, Who told me in the narrow seas that part The French and 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.
SOLANIO	You were best to tell Antonio what you hear— Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
SALERIO	A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. Bassanio told him he would make some speed Of his return. He answered, ‘Do not so. Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time; And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of love. Be merry, 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.
SOLANIO	I think he only loves the world for him. I pray thee let us go and find him out, And quicken his embraced heaviness With some delight or other.
SALERIO	Do we so. Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 9

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Nerissa and a servitor
NERISSA	Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight. The Prince of Aragon hath ta’en his oath, And comes to his election presently.
(didascalia)	The servitor draws aside the curtain, revealing the three caskets. Flourish of cornetts. Enter Aragon, his train, and Portia
PORTIA	Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince. If you choose that wherein I am contained, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized. But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately.
ARAGON	I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to anyone 10 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. 15
PORTIA	To these injunctions everyone doth swear That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARAGON	And so have I addressed me. Fortune now To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead. He reads the leaden casket ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see. ‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’ ‘What many men desire’—that ‘many’ may be meant By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, Which pries not to th’interior but, like the martlet, 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 chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves’— And well said too, for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume To wear an undeserved dignity. O, that estates, 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 to my choice. ‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’ I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
(didascalia)	He is given a key. He opens the silver casket
PORTIA	Too long a pause for that which you find there.
ARAGON	What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot Presenting me a schedule. I will read it. How much unlike art thou to Portia! How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! ‘Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.’ Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head? Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
PORTIA	To offend and judge are distinct offices, And of opposed natures.
ARAGON	What is here? He reads the schedule ‘The fire seven times tried this; Seven times tried that judgement is That did never choose amiss. Some there be that shadows kiss; Such have but a shadow’s bliss. There be fools alive, iwis, Silvered o’er; 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 wroth.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train
PORTIA	Thus hath the candle singed the moth. O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. 80
NERISSA	The ancient saying is no heresy: Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
PORTIA	Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Nerissa draws the curtain.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	Where is my lady?
PORTIA	Here. What would my lord?
MESSENGER	Madam, there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian, one that comes before To signify th’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 90 So likely an ambassador of love. A day in April never came so sweet To show how costly summer was at hand As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
PORTIA	No more, I pray thee, I am half afeard Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him. Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.
NERISSA	Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be! Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Solanio and Salerio
SOLANIO	Now, what news on the Rialto?
SALERIO	Why, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas—the Goodwins I think they call the place—a 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.
SOLANIO	I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger or made her neighbours 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—O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company—
SALERIO	Come, the full stop.
SOLANIO	Ha, what sayst thou? Why, the end is he hath lost a ship.
SALERIO	I would it might prove the end of his losses.
SOLANIO	Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer—
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock
SOLANIO	for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. How now, Shylock, what news among the merchants?
SHYLOCK	You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight.
SALERIO	That’s certain. I for my part knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal.
SOLANIO	And Shylock for his own part knew the bird was fledge, and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam.
SHYLOCK	She is damned for it.
SALERIO	That’s certain, if the devil may be her judge.
SHYLOCK	My own flesh and blood to rebel!
SOLANIO	Out upon it, old carrion, rebels it at these years?
SHYLOCK	I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood.
SALERIO	There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no?
SHYLOCK	There I have another bad match. A bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond. He was wont to call me usurer: let him look to his bond. He was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy: let him look to his bond.
SALERIO	Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?
SHYLOCK	To bait fish withal. 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, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his 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 a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
(didascalia)	Enter a Man from Antonio
MAN	(to Solanio and Salerio) Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both.
SALERIO	We have been up and down to seek him.
(didascalia)	Enter Tubal
SOLANIO	Here comes another of the tribe. A third cannot be matched unless the devil himself turn Jew.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Solanio and Salerio, with Antonio’s Man
SHYLOCK	How now, Tubal? What news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter?
TUBAL	I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.
SHYLOCK	Why, there, there, there, there. A diamond gone cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt. The curse never fell upon our nation till now—I never felt it till now. Two thousand ducats in that and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin! No 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, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o’ my shoulders, no sighs but o’ my breathing, no tears but o’ my shedding.
TUBAL	Yes, other men have ill luck too. Antonio, as I heard in Genoa—
SHYLOCK	What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?
TUBAL	Hath an argosy cast away coming from Tripolis.
SHYLOCK	I thank God, I thank God! Is it true, is it true?
TUBAL	I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck.
SHYLOCK	I thank thee, good Tubal. Good news, good news! Ha, ha—heard in Genoa?
TUBAL	Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night fourscore ducats.
SHYLOCK	Thou stick’st a dagger in me. I shall never see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting? Fourscore ducats?
TUBAL	There came divers of Antonio’s creditors in my company to Venice that swear he cannot choose but break.
SHYLOCK	I am very glad of it. I’ll plague him, I’ll torture him. I am glad of it. 109
TUBAL	One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.
SHYLOCK	Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal. It was my turquoise. I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. TUBAL, But Antonio is certainly undone.
SHYLOCK	Nay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, 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 what merchandise I will. Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. Go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. Exeunt severally

Atto 3, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Portia, Nerissa, Graziano, and all their trains. The curtains are drawn aside revealing the three caskets
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) I pray you tarry. 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 counsels not in such a quality. 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. Beshrew your eyes, They have o‘erlooked me and divided me. 15 One half of me is yours, the other half yours— Mine own, I would say, but if mine, then yours, And so all yours. O, 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 ’tis to piece the time, To eke it, and to draw it out in length To stay you from election.
BASSANIO	Let me choose, For as I am, I live upon the rack. 25
PORTIA	Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess What treason there is mingled with your love.
BASSANIO	None but that ugly treason of mistrust Which makes me fear th‘enjoying of my love. There may as well be amity and life ’Tween snow and fire as treason and my love.
PORTIA	Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, Where men enforced do speak anything.
BASSANIO	Promise me life and I’ll confess the truth.
PORTIA	Well then, confess and live.
BASSANIO	’Confess and love’ 35 Had been the very sum of my confession. O happy torment, when my torturer Doth teach me answers for deliverance! But let me to my fortune and the caskets.
PORTIA	Away then. I am locked in one of them. If you do love me, you will find me out. Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. Let music sound while he doth make his choice. Then if he lose he makes a swanlike end, Fading in music. That the comparison May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream And wat‘ry 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 blearèd visages come forth to view The issue of th’exploit. Go, Hercules. Live thou, I live. With much much more dismay I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.
(didascalia)	Here music. A song the whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself
(didascalia)	ONE FROM PORTIA’S TRAIN
PORTIA	Tell me where is fancy bred, Or in the heart, or in the head? How begot, how nourished?
(didascalia)	ALL Reply, reply.
(didascalia)	ONE FROM PORTIA’S TRAIN
PORTIA	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.
ALL	Ding, dong, bell.
BASSANIO	(aside) 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 damned error but some sober brow Will bless it and approve it with a text, Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? 80 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 valour’s excrement To render them redoubted. Look on beauty And you shall see ‘tis purchased by the weight, Which therein works a miracle in nature, 90 Making them lightest that wear most of it. So are those crisped, snaky, golden locks Which makes such wanton gambols with the wind Upon supposed fairness, often known To be the dowry of a second head, The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. 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. (Aloud) Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. (To the silver casket) 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 than eloquence, 106 And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!
PORTIA	(aside) How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, And shudd’ring fear, and green-eyed jealousy. 110 O love, be moderate! Allay thy ecstasy. In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess. I feel too much thy blessing: make it less, For fear I surfeit. Bassanio opens the leaden casket
BASSANIO	What find I here? Fair Portia’s counterfeit. What demi-god 115 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’untrap the hearts of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes— How could he see to do them? Having made one, 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. ‘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.’ 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, That thinks he hath done well in people’s eyes, Hearing applause and universal shout, Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt Whether those peals of praise be his or no. So, thrice-fair lady, stand I even so, As doubtful whether what I see be true Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you.
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 virtues, beauties, livings, friends, Exceed account. But the full sum of me Is sum of something which, to term in gross, Is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised, 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 170 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, And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
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 beloved prince there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased multitude, 180 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.
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 ladyl’
GRAZIANO	My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish, For I am sure you can wish none from me. And when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you Even at that time I may be married too.
BASSANIO	With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.
GRAZIANO	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 that your fortune Achieved her mistress.
PORTIA	Is this true, Nerissa?
NERISSA	Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal.
BASSANIO	And do you, Graziano, mean good faith? 210
GRAZIANO	Yes, faith, my lord.
BASSANIO	Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage.
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) We’ll play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats.
NERISSA	What, and stake down?
GRAZIANO	No, we shall ne’er win at that sport and stake down.
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a messenger from Venice
GRAZIANO	But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel! What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio!
BASSANIO	Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither, If that the youth of my new int’rest here Have power to bid you welcome. (To Portia) By your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome.
PORTIA	So do I, my lord. They are entirely welcome.
LORENZO	I thank your honour. 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.
SALERIO	I did, my lord, And I have reason for it. Signor Antonio Commends him to you. He gives Bassanio a letter
BASSANIO	Ere I ope his letter I pray you tell me how my good friend doth.
SALERIO	Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind. His letter there Will show you his estate. Bassanio opens the letter and reads
GRAZIANO	Nerissa, (indicating Jessica) cheer yon stranger. Bid her welcome. 235 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.
SALERIO	I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost.
PORTIA	There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper That steals the colour 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, And I must freely have the half of anything That this same paper brings you.
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 I told 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, The paper as the body of my friend, And every word in it a gaping wound Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio? Hath all his ventures failed? What, not one hit? 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, The Duke himself, and the magnificoes Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him, But none can drive him from the envious plea 280 Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.
JESSICA	When I was with him I have heard him swear To Tubal and to Cush, 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.
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?
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 honour more appears Than any that draws breath in Italy.
PORTIA	What sum owes he the Jew?
BASSANIO	For me, three thousand ducats.
PORTIA	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 thorough 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 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. 310 Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. But let me hear the letter of your friend.
(didascalia)	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.’
PORTIA	O, love! Dispatch all business, and be gone.
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 Nor rest be interposer ’twixt us twain. Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock the Jew, Solanio, Antonio, and the jailer
SHYLOCK	Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of mercy. This is the fool that lent out money gratis. Jailer, look to him.
ANTONIO	Hear me yet, good Shylock.
SHYLOCK	I’ll have my bond. Speak not against my bond. I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. Thou called’st 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.
ANTONIO	I pray thee hear me speak.
SHYLOCK	I’ll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak. I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more. 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
SOLANIO	It is the most impenetrable cur That ever kept with men.
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.
SOLANIO	I am sure the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
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 the 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. Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthasar, a man of Portia’s
LORENZO	(to Portia) Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly In bearing thus the absence of your lord. But if you knew to whom you show this honour, 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 Than customary bounty can enforce you.
PORTIA	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 lineaments, of manners, 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 too 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. For mine own part, I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation, Only attended by Nerissa 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.
LORENZO	Madam, with all my heart, I shall obey you in all fair commands.
PORTIA	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.
LORENZO	Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!
JESSICA	I wish your ladyship all heart’s content.
PORTIA	I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Lorenzo and Jessica
PORTIA	Now, Balthasar, As I have ever found thee honest-true, So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, And use thou all th’endeavour of a man In speed to Padua. See thou render this Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario, And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed Unto the traject, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.
BALTHASAR	Madam, I go with all convenient speed. Exit
PORTIA	Come on, Nerissa. I have work in hand That you yet know not of. We’ll see our husbands Before they think of us.
NERISSA	Shall they see us?
PORTIA	They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit That they shall think we are accomplishèd With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager, When we are both accoutered 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 of frays 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 withal. 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 Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks Which I will practise.
NERISSA	Why, shall we turn to men?
PORTIA	Fie, what a question’s that If thou wert 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. Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot the clown, and Jessica
LANCELOT	Yes, truly; for look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore I promise you I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter, therefore be o’ good cheer, for truly I think you are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard hope, neither.
JESSICA	And what hope is that, I pray thee?
LANCELOT	Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew’s daughter.
JESSICA	That were a kind of bastard hope indeed. So the sins of my mother should be visited upon me.
LANCELOT	Truly then, I fear you are damned both by father and mother. Thus, when I shun Scylla your father, I fall into Charybdis your mother. Well, you are gone both ways.
JESSICA	I shall be saved by my husband. He hath made me a Christian.
LANCELOT	Truly, the more to blame he! We were Christians enough before, e’en 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo
JESSICA	I’ll tell my husband, Lancelot, what you say. Here he comes.
LORENZO	I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Lancelot, if you thus get my wife into corners.
JESSICA	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.
LORENZO	(to Lancelot) I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the Negro’s belly. The Moor is with child by you, Lancelot. LANCELOT It is much that the Moor should be more than reason, but if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed more than I took her for.
LORENZO	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, sirrah, bid them prepare for dinner.
LANCELOT	That is done, sir. They have all stomachs.
LORENZO	Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you Then bid them prepare dinner.
LANCELOT	That is done too, sir; only ’cover’ is the word.
LORENZO	Will you cover then, sir?
LANCELOT	Not so, sir, neither. I know my duty.
LORENZO	Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee understand a plain man in his plain meaning. Go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.
LANCELOT	For the table, sir, it shall be served in. For the meat, sir, it shall be covered. For your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits shall govern. Exit
LORENZO	O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good 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’st thou, Jessica? And now, good sweet, say thy opinion: How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife?
JESSICA	Past all expressing. It is very meet The Lord Bassanio live an upright life, For, having such a blessing in his lady, He finds the joys of heaven here on earth, And if on earth he do not merit it, In reason he should never come to heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match And on the wager lay two earthly women, And Portia one, there must be something else Pawned with the other; for the poor rude world Hath not her fellow.
LORENZO	Even such a husband Hast thou of me as she is for a wife.
JESSICA	Nay, but ask my opinion too of that!
LORENZO	I will anon. First let us go to dinner.
JESSICA	Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach.
LORENZO	No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk. Then, howsome‘er thou speak’st, ’mong other things I shall digest it.
JESSICA	Well, I’ll set you forth. Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter the Duke, the magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, Graziano, and Salerio
DUKE	What, is Antonio here?
ANTONIO	Ready, so please your grace.
DUKE	I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy.
ANTONIO	I have heard Your grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify His rigorous course, but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury, and am armed To suffer with a quietness of spirit The very tyranny and rage of his.
DUKE	Go one, and call the Jew into the court.
SALERIO	He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord.
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock
DUKE	Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks—and I think so too— That thou but lead‘st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act, and then ’tis thought Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty, And where thou now exacts the penalty— Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh— Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touched with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back Enough to press a royal merchant down And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
SHYLOCK	I have possessed your grace of what I purpose, And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond. If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom. You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh than to receive Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that, But say it is my humour. Is it answered? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats To have it baned? What, are you answered yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig, Some that are mad if they behold a cat, And others when the bagpipe sings i’th’ nose Cannot contain their urine; for affection, Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your answer: As there is no firm reason to be rendered Why he cannot abide a gaping pig, Why he a harmless necessary cat, Why he a woollen bagpipe, but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame As to offend himself being offended, So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answered?
BASSANIO	This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty.
SHYLOCK	I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
BASSANIO	Do all men kill the things they do not love?
SHYLOCK	Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
BASSANIO	Every offence is not a hate at first.
SHYLOCK	What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
ANTONIO	I pray you think you question with the Jew. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven, You may as well do anything most hard As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgement and the Jew his will.
BASSANIO	(to Shylock) For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
SHYLOCK	If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them. I would have my bond.
DUKE	How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring none?
SHYLOCK	What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts Because you bought them. Shall I say to you ‘Let them be free, marry them to your heirs. Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be seasoned with such viands.’ You will answer ‘The slaves are ours.’ So do I answer you. The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is dearly bought. ’Tis mine, and I will have it. If you deny me, fie upon your law: There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgement. Answer: shall I have it?
DUKE	Upon my power I may dismiss this court Unless Bellario, a learned doctor Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here today.
SALERIO	My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.
(didascalia)	Bring us the letters. Call the messenger. Exit Salerio
BASSANIO	Good cheer, Antonio. What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
ANTONIO	I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me. You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, Than to live still and write mine epitaph.
(didascalia)	Enter Salerio, with Nerissa apparelled as a judge’s clerk
DUKE	Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
NERISSA	From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. She gives a letter to the Duke. Shylock whets his knife on his shoe
BASSANIO	(to Shylock) Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
SHYLOCK	To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there.
GRAZIANO	Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can, No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
SHYLOCK	No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
GRAZIANO	O, be thou damned, inexorable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused! Thou almost mak‘st me waver in my faith To hold opinion with Pythagoras That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallowed dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved, and ravenous.
SHYLOCK	Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
DUKE	This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?
NERISSA	He attendeth here hard by To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.
DUKE	With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place.
(didascalia)	Exeunt three or four
DUKE	Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. (Reads) ‘Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, the merchant. We turned o’er many books together. He is furnished with my opinion which, bettered with his own learning—the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend—comes with him at my importunity to fill up your grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.’
(didascalia)	Enter three or four with Portia as Balthasar
DUKE	You hear the learn’d Bellario, what he writes; And here, I take it, is the doctor come. (To Portia) Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?
PORTIA	I did, my lord.
DUKE	You are welcome. Take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court?
PORTIA	I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
DUKE	Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Antonio and Shylock stand forth
PORTIA	Is your name Shylock?
SHYLOCK	Shylock is my name.
PORTIA	Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, Yet in such rule that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. (To Antonio) You stand within his danger, do you not?
ANTONIO	Ay, so he says.
PORTIA	Do you confess the bond?
ANTONIO	I do.
PORTIA	Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK	On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
PORTIA	The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway. It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself, And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.
SHYLOCK	My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
PORTIA	Is he not able to discharge the money?
BASSANIO	Yes, here I tender it for him in the court, Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And, I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority. To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will.
PORTIA	It must not be. There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established. ’Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state. It cannot be.
SHYLOCK	A Daniel come to judgement, yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!
PORTIA	I pray you let me look upon the bond.
SHYLOCK	Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
PORTIA	Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee.
SHYLOCK	An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.
PORTIA	Why, this bond is forfeit, And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant’s heart. (To Shylock) Be merciful. Take thrice thy money. Bid me tear the bond.
SHYLOCK	When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge. You know the law. Your exposition Hath been most sound. I charge you, by the law Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgement. By my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me. I stay here on my bond.
ANTONIO	Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgement.
PORTIA	Why, then thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife—
SHYLOCK	O noble judge, O excellent young man!
PORTIA	For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHYLOCK	’Tis very true. O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
PORTIA	(to Antonio) Therefore lay bare your bosom.
SHYLOCK	Ay, his breast. So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge? ‘Nearest his heart’—those are the very words.
PORTIA	It is so. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh?
SHYLOCK	I have them ready.
PORTIA	Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
SHYLOCK	Is it so nominated in the bond?
PORTIA	It is not so expressed, but what of that? ’Twere good you do so much for charity.
SHYLOCK	I cannot find it. ’Tis not in the bond.
PORTIA	(to Antonio) You, merchant, have you anything to say?
ANTONIO	But little. I am armed and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well. Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you, For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom; it is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife. Tell her the process of Antonio’s end. Say how I loved you. Speak me fair in death, And when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I’ll pay it instantly, with all my heart.
BASSANIO	Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself, But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you.
(didascalia)	PORTIA aside
BASSANIO	Your wife would give you little thanks for that If she were by to hear you make the offer.
GRAZIANO	I have a wife who, I protest, I love. I would she were in heaven so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
(didascalia)	NERISSA aside
GRAZIANO	’Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK aside
GRAZIANO	These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter. Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband rather than a Christian. (Aloud) We trifle time. I pray thee pursue sentence.
PORTIA	A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine. The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
SHYLOCK	Most rightful judge!
PORTIA	And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it.
SHYLOCK	Most learned judge! A sentence: (to Antonio) come, prepare.
PORTIA	Tarry a little. There is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’. Take then thy bond. Take thou thy pound of flesh. But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice.
GRAZIANO	O upright judge! Mark, Jew! O learned judge!
SHYLOCK	Is that the law?
PORTIA	Thyself shalt see the act; For as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st.
GRAZIANO	O learnèd judge! Mark, Jew—a learnèd judge!
SHYLOCK	I take this offer, then. Pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.
BASSANIO	Here is the money.
PORTIA	Soft, the Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste. He shall have nothing but the penalty.
GRAZIANO	O Jew, an upright judge, a learned judge!
PORTIA	(to Shylock) Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st more Or less than a just pound, be it but so much As makes it light or heavy in the substance Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
GRAZIANO	A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.
PORTIA	Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
SHYLOCK	Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO	I have it ready for thee. Here it is.
PORTIA	He hath refused it in the open court. He shall have merely justice and his bond.
GRAZIANO	A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
SHYLOCK	Shall I not have barely my principal?
PORTIA	Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.
SHYLOCK	Why then, the devil give him good of it. I’ll stay no longer question.
PORTIA	Tarry, Jew. The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party ‘gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state, And the offender’s life lies in the mercy Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice— In which predicament I say thou stand’st, For it appears by manifest proceeding That indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.
GRAZIANO	(to Shylock) Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself— And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord. Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.
DUKE	(to Shylock) That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s. The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
PORTIA	Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
SHYLOCK	Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live.
PORTIA	What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
GRAZIANO	A halter, gratis. Nothing else, for God’s sake.
ANTONIO	So please my lord the Duke and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it Upon his death unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter. Two things provided more: that for this favour He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift Here in the court of all he dies possessed Unto his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.
DUKE	He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronouncèd here.
PORTIA	Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?
SHYLOCK	I am content.
PORTIA	(to Nerissa) Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
SHYLOCK	I pray you give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it.
DUKE	Get thee gone, but do it.
GRAZIANO	(to Shylock) In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers. Had I been judge thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
(didascalia)	Exit Shylock
DUKE	(to Portia) Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.
PORTIA	I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth.
DUKE	I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For in my mind you are much bound to him.
(didascalia)	Exit Duke and his train
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
ANTONIO	And stand indebted over and above In love and service to you evermore.
PORTIA	He is well paid that is well satisfied, And I, delivering you, am satisfied, And therein do account myself well paid. My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you know me when we meet again. I wish you well; and so I take my leave.
BASSANIO	Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further. Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
PORTIA	You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
(didascalia)	To Antonio Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for
PORTIA	your sake. (To Bassanio) And for your love I’ll take this ring from you. Do not draw back your hand. I’ll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this.
BASSANIO	This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle. I will not shame myself to give you this.
PORTIA	I will have nothing else, but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
BASSANIO	There’s more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation. Only for this, I pray you pardon me.
PORTIA	I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. You taught me first to beg, and now methinks You teach me how a beggar should be answered.
BASSANIO	Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife, And when she put it on she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
PORTIA	That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a madwoman, And know how well I have deserved this ring, She would not hold out enemy for ever For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Portia and Nerissa
ANTONIO	My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Let his deservings and my love withal Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandëment.
BASSANIO	Go, Graziano, run and overtake him. Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
(didascalia)	Exit Graziano
BASSANIO	Come, you and I will thither presently, And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia and Nerissa, still disguised
PORTIA	Enquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
(didascalia)	Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO	Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en. My lord Bassanio upon more advice Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat Your company at dinner.
PORTIA	That cannot be. His ring I do accept most thankfully, And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.
GRAZIANO	That will I do.
NERISSA	Sir, I would speak with you. (Aside to Portia) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
PORTIA	(aside to Nerissa) Thou mayst; I warrant we shall have old swearing That they did give the rings away to men. But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too. Away, make haste. Thou know’st where I will tarry.
(didascalia)	Exit at one door
NERISSA	(to Graziano) Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
(didascalia)	Exeunt at another door

Atto 5, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo and Jessica
LORENZO	The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees And they did make no noise—in such a night Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night.
JESSICA	In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself, And ran dismayed away.
LORENZO	In such a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage.
JESSICA	In such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Aeson.
LORENZO	In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont.
JESSICA	In such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne’er a true one.
LORENZO	In such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
JESSICA	I would outnight you, did nobody come. But hark, I hear the footing of a man.
(didascalia)	Enter Stefano, a messenger
LORENZO	Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
STEFANO	A friend.
LORENZO	A friend—what friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?
STEFANO	Stefano is my name, and I bring word My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours.
LORENZO	Who comes with her?
STEFANO	None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet returned?
LORENZO	He is not, nor we have not heard from him. But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot, the clown
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola, sola! Wo, ha, ho! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Who calls?
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola!—Did you see Master Lorenzo? (Calling) Master Lorenzo! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Leave hollering, man: here.
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola!—Where, where?
LORENZO	Here.
LANCELOT	Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news. My master will be here ere morning. Exit
LORENZO	(to Jessica) Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter. Why should we go in? My friend Stefano, signify, I pray you,
(didascalia)	Within the house your mistress is at hand,
LORENZO	And bring your music forth into the air. Exit Stefano How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica.
(didascalia)	They sit
LORENZO	Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold. There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins. Such harmony is in immortal souls, But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
(didascalia)	Enter Musicians
LORENZO	(To the Musicians) Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn. With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear, And draw her home with music. The Musicians play
JESSICA	I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
LORENZO	The reason is your spirits are attentive, For do but note a wild and wanton herd Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods, Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage But music for the time doth change his nature. The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
(didascalia)	Enter Portia and Nerissa, as themselves
PORTIA	That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams— So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
NERISSA	When the moon shone we did not see the candle.
PORTIA	So doth the greater glory dim the less. A substitute shines brightly as a king Until a king be by, and then his state Empties itself as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music, hark.
NERISSA	It is your music, madam, of the house.
PORTIA	Nothing is good, I see, without respect. Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.
NERISSA	Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.
PORTIA	The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark When neither is attended, and I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day, When every goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren. How many things by season seasoned are To their right praise and true perfection!
(didascalia)	She sees Lorenzo and Jessica
PORTIA	Peace, ho!
(didascalia)	Music ceases
PORTIA	The moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awaked.
(didascalia)	LORENZO rising That is the voice,
PORTIA	Or I am much deceived, of Portia.
PORTIA	He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo— By the bad voice.
LORENZO	Dear lady, welcome home.
PORTIA	We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, Which speed we hope the better for our words. Are they returned?
LORENZO	Madam, they are not yet, But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming.
PORTIA	Go in, Nerissa. Give order to my servants that they take No note at all of our being absent hence; Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.
(didascalia)	A tucket sounds
LORENZO	Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet. We are no tell-tales, madam. Fear you not.
PORTIA	This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick. It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Graziano, and their followers. Graziano and Nerissa speak silently to one another
BASSANIO	We should hold day with the Antipodes If you would walk in absence of the sun.
PORTIA	Let me give light, but let me not be light; For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me. But God sort all. You are welcome home, my lord.
BASSANIO	I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound.
PORTIA	You should in all sense be much bound to him, For as I hear he was much bound for you.
ANTONIO	No more than I am well acquitted of.
PORTIA	Sir, you are very welcome to our house. It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong. In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk. Would he were gelt that had it for my part, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
PORTIA	A quarrel, ho, already! What’s the matter?
GRAZIANO	About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring That she did give me, whose posy was For all the world like cutlers’ poetry Upon a knife—‘Love me and leave me not’.
NERISSA	What talk you of the posy or the value? You swore to me when I did give it you That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave. Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths You should have been respective and have kept it. Gave it a judge’s clerk?—no, God’s my judge, The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.
GRAZIANO	He will an if he live to be a man.
NERISSA	Ay, if a woman live to be a man.
GRAZIANO	Now by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk, A prating boy that begged it as a fee. I could not for my heart deny it him.
PORTIA	You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift, A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger, And so riveted with faith unto your flesh. I gave my love a ring, and made him swear Never to part with it; and here he stands. I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it, Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth That the world masters. Now, in faith, Graziano, You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief. An ’twere to me, I should be mad at it.
BASSANIO	(aside) Why, I were best to cut my left hand off And swear I lost the ring defending it.
(didascalia)	GRAZIANO to Portia
BASSANIO	My lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed Deserved it, too, and then the boy his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begged mine, And neither man nor master would take aught But the two rings.
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you received of me.
BASSANIO	If I could add a lie unto a fault I would deny it; but you see my finger Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone.
PORTIA	Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed Until I see the ring.
NERISSA	(to Graziano) Nor I in yours Till I again see mine.
BASSANIO	Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And would conceive for what I gave the ring, And how unwillingly I left the ring When naught would be accepted but the ring, You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
PORTIA	If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honour to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring. What man is there so much unreasonable, If you had pleased to have defended it With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty To urge the thing held as a ceremony? Nerissa teaches me what to believe. I’ll die for’t but some woman had the ring.
BASSANIO	No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begged the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffered him to go displeased away, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforced to send it after him. I was beset with shame and courtesy. My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady, For by these blessèd candles of the night, Had you been there I think you would have begged The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
PORTIA	Let not that doctor e’er come near my house. Since he hath got the jewel that I loved, And that which you did swear to keep for me, I will become as liberal as you. I’ll not deny him anything I have, No, not my body nor my husband’s bed. Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus. If you do not, if I be left alone, Now by mine honour, which is yet mine own, I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
NERISSA	(to Graziano) And I his clerk, therefore be well advised How you do leave me to mine own protection.
GRAZIANO	Well, do you so. Let not me take him then, For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
ANTONIO	I am th’unhappy subject of these quarrels.
PORTIA	Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.
BASSANIO	Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong, And in the hearing of these many friends I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Wherein I see myself—
PORTIA	Mark you but that? In both my eyes he doubly sees himself, In each eye one. Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit.
BASSANIO	Nay, but hear me. Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with thee.
ANTONIO	(to Portia) I once did lend my body for his wealth Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring, Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly.
PORTIA	Then you shall be his surety. Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other.
ANTONIO	Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.
BASSANIO	By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!
PORTIA	I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.
NERISSA	And pardon me, my gentle Graziano, For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this last night did lie with me.
GRAZIANO	Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer where the ways are fair enough I What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?
PORTIA	Speak not so grossly. You are all amazed. Here is a letter. Read it at your leisure. It comes from Padua, from Bellario. There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, And even but now returned. I have not yet Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome, And I have better news in store for you Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon. There you shall find three of your argosies Are richly come to harbour suddenly. You shall not know by what strange accident I chanced on this letter.
ANTONIO	I am dumb!
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Were you the doctor and I knew you not?
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?
NERISSA	Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it Unless he live until he be a man.
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow. When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
ANTONIO	(to Portia) Sweet lady, you have given me life and living, For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road.
PORTIA	How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts, too, for you.
NERISSA	Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee. There do I give to you and Jessica From the rich Jew a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possessed of.
LORENZO	Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people.
PORTIA	It is almost morning, And yet I am sure you are not satisfied Of these events at full. Let us go in, And charge us there upon inter’gatories, And we will answer all things faithfully.
GRAZIANO	Let it be so. The first inter’gatory That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is Whether till the next night she had rather stay, Or go to bed now, being two hours to day. But were the day come, I should wish it dark Till I were couching with the doctor’s clerk. Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring. Exeunt 1 HENRY IV
THE	play described in the 1623 Folio as The First Part of Henry the Fourth had been entered on the Stationers’ Register on 25 February 1598 as The History of Henry the Fourth, and that is the title of the first surviving edition, of the same year. An earlier edition, doubtless also printed in 1598, is known only from a single, eight-page fragment. Five more editions appeared before the Folio. The printing of at least two editions within a few months, and the fact that one of them was read almost out of existence, reflect a matter of exceptional topical interest. The earliest title-page advertises the play’s portrayal of ‘the humorous conceits of Sir John Falstaff’; but when it was first acted, probably in 1596 or 1597, this character bore the name of his historical counterpart, the Protestant martyr Sir John Oldcastle. Shakespeare changed his surname as the result of protests from Oldcastle’s descendants, the influential Cobham family, one of whom—William Brooke, 7th Lord Cobham—was Elizabeth I’s Lord Chamberlain from August 1596 till he died on 5 March 1597. Our edition restores Sir John’s original surname for the first time in printed texts (though there is reason to believe that even after the earliest performances the name ’Oldcastle’ was sometimes used on the stage), and also restores Russell and Harvey, names Shakespeare was probably obliged to alter to Bardolph and Peto. Shakespeare had already shown Henry IV’s rise to power, and his troubled state of mind on achieving it, in Richard II; that play also shows Henry’s dissatisfaction with his wayward son, Prince Harry, later Henry V. 1 Henry IV continues the story, but in a very different dramatic style. A play called The Famous Victories of Henry V, entered in the Stationers’ Register in 1594, was published anonymously, in a debased and shortened text, in 1598. This text—which also features Oldcastle as a reprobate—gives a sketchy version of the events portrayed in 1 and 2 Henry IV and Henry V. Shakespeare must have known the original play, but in the absence of a full text we cannot tell how much he depended on it. The surviving version contains nothing about the rebellions against Henry IV, for which Shakespeare seems to have gone to IIolinshed’s, and perhaps other, Chronicles; he draws also on Samuel Daniel’s poem The First Four Books of the Civil Wars (1595). 1 Henry IV is the first of Shakespeare’s history plays to make extensive use of the techniques of comedy. On a national level, the play shows the continuing problems of Henry Bolingbroke, insecure in his hold on the throne, and the victim of rebellions led by Worcester, Hotspur (Harry Percy), and Glyndwr. These scenes are counterpointed by others, written mainly in prose, which, in the manner of a comic sub-plot, provide humorous diversion while also reflecting and extending the concerns of the main plot. Henry suffers not only public insurrection but the personal rebellion of Prince Harry, in his unprincely exploits with the reprobate old knight, Oldcastle. Sir John has become Shakespeare’s most famous comic character, but Shakespeare shows that the Prince’s treatment of him as a surrogate father who must eventually be abandoned has an intensely serious side.
THE PERSONS OF THE	PLAY

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio, Salerio, and Solanio
ANTONIO	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 stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me That I have much ado to know myself.
SALERIO	Your mind is tossing on the ocean, There where your argosies with portly sail, Like signors and rich burghers on the flood— Or as it were the pageants of the sea— Do overpeer the petty traffickers That curtsy to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings.
SOLANIO	(to Antonio) 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.
SALERIO	My wind cooling my broth Would blow me to an ague when I thought What harm a wind too great might do at sea. I should not see the sandy hour-glass run But I should think of shallows and of flats, And see my wealthy Andrew, decks in sand, Vailing her hightop lower than her ribs To kiss her burial. Should I go to church And see the holy edifice of stone 30 And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks Which, touching but my gentle vessel’s side, Would scatter all her spices on the stream, Enrobe 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.
ANTONIO	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.
SOLANIO	Why then, you are in love. ANTONIOFie, fie.
SOLANIO	Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad Because you are not merry, and ’twere as easy For you to laugh, and leap, and say you are merry Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus, Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: Some that will evermore peep through their eyes And laugh like parrots at a bagpiper, And other of such vinegar aspect That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Graziano
SOLANIO	Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Graziano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well. We leave you now with better company.
SALERIO	I would have stayed till I had made you merry If worthier friends had not prevented me.
ANTONIO	Your worth is very dear in my regard. I take it your own business calls on you, And you embrace th’occasion to depart.
SALERIO	Good morrow, my good lords. 65
BASSANIO	Good signors both, when shall we laugh? Say, when? You grow exceeding strange. Must it be so?
SALERIO	We’ll make our leisures to attend on yours.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Salerio and Solanio
LORENZO	My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, We two will leave you; but at dinner-time I pray you have in mind where we must meet.
BASSANIO	I will not fail you.
GRAZIANO	You look not well, Signor Antonio. You have too much respect upon the world. They lose it that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvellously changed.
ANTONIO	I hold the world but as the world, Graziano— A stage where every man must play a part, And mine a sad one.
GRAZIANO	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 grandsire cut in alabaster, Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio— I love thee, and ‘tis my love that speaks— There are a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pond, And do a wilful 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 ope my lips, let no dog bark.’ O 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 damn 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 gudgeon, this opinion.— Come, good Lorenzo.—Fare ye well a while. I’ll end my exhortation after dinner.
LORENZO	(to Antonio and Bassanio) Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. 105 I must be one of these same dumb wise men, For Graziano never lets me speak.
GRAZIANO	Well, keep me company but two years more Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.
ANTONIO	Fare you well. I’ll grow a talker for this gear.
GRAZIANO	Thanks, i’faith, for silence is only commendable In a neat’s tongue dried and a maid not vendible.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Graziano and Lorenzo
ANTONIO	Yet is that anything now?
BASSANIO	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 all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search.
ANTONIO	Well, tell me now what lady is the same To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, That you today promised to tell me of.
BASSANIO	’Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have disabled mine estate By something showing a more swelling port Than my faint means would grant continuance, Nor do I now make moan 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 gaged. 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.
ANTONIO	I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it, And if it stand as you yourself still do,
(didascalia)	Within the eye of honour, be assured
ANTONIO	My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie all unlocked to your occasions.
BASSANIO	In my schooldays, when I had lost one shaft, I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight The selfsame way, with more advised watch, To find the other forth; and by adventuring both, I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof Because what follows is pure innocence. I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth, That which I owe is lost; but if you please 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.
ANTONIO	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 me be done, And I am pressed unto it. Therefore speak.
BASSANIO	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 Colchis’ strand, And many Jasons come in quest of her. O 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
ANTONIO	Thou know’st 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 thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. Go presently enquire, and so will I, Where money is; and I no question make To have it of my trust or for my sake.
(didascalia)	Exeunt [severally]

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Antonio, Salerio e Solanio
ANTONIO	In verità, non so perché io sia così triste. Mi stanca, e voi dite che stanca voi, ma come l’abbia presa, trovata, o mi sia venuta, di che stoffa sia fatta, donde sia nata, m’è ancora da apprendere; e tale scempia tristezza fa di me che a stento riesco a conoscere me stesso.
SALERIO	La vostra mente è sballottata sull’oceano, là dove le vostre navi d’alto bordo, a vele maestose, come signori e ricchi borghesi sull’onda— o quasi fossero i carri trionfali del mare— sovrastano i piccoli trafficanti che s’inchinano loro, che rendono loro omaggio, mentre volano oltre con le loro ali di tela.
SOLANIO	(a Antonio) Credetemi, signore, se avessi tale impresa in mare la parte migliore dei miei affetti starebbe con le mie speranze lontane. Sarei sempre a strappare fili d’erba per sapere dove siede il vento, a scrutare le mappe per porti, moli e rade, e ogni cosa che potesse farmi temere sventura ai miei carichi, senza dubbio mi farebbe triste.
SALERIO	Il mio fiato a raffreddare il brodo mi soffierebbe addosso la febbre, al pensiero del male che un vento troppo grande può fare in mare. Non vedrei scorrere la sabbia della clessidra senza pensare a secche e a bassifondi, e senza vedere il mio ricco Andrea, i ponti nella sabbia, chinare l’alberatura più in basso delle sue costole per baciare la propria sepoltura. Potrei andare in chiesa e vedere il sacro edificio di pietra 30 senza pensare subito ai pericolosi scogli che, solo sfiorando il fianco del mio gentile vascello, sparpaglierebbero tutte le sue spezie sulla corrente, rivestirebbero delle mie sete le acque ruggenti, e, in una parola, ciò che or ora valeva tanto ora non varrebbe nulla? Avrò io il pensiero di pensare a questo, e mi mancherà il pensiero che una tal cosa accaduta mi farebbe triste? Ma non ditemi altro. Io so che Antonio è triste al pensiero delle sue mercanzie.
ANTONIO	Credetemi, no. Ne ringrazio la mia fortuna: i miei carichi non sono affidati a una sola carena, né a un solo luogo; né tutto il mio avere dipende dalla fortuna dell’anno presente. Dunque non è la mercanzia a farmi triste.
SOLANIO	Ebbene, allora siete preso d’amore. ANTONIOSuvvia, suvvia.
SOLANIO	Nemmeno d’amore? Diciamo dunque che siete triste perché non siete allegro; e sarebbe altrettanto facile che rideste, saltaste e diceste d’essere allegro perché non siete triste. Ora, per Giano bifronte, la Natura ha foggiato strani tipi al suo tempo: certi che sempre sbirciano socchiudendo gli occhi e ridono come pappagalli a un suonatore di cornamusa, e altri d’aspetto così acido che non mostrano i denti in atto di sorriso anche se Nestore giurasse che il motto è da ridere.
(didascalia)	Entrano Bassanio, Lorenzo e Graziano
SOLANIO	Ecco venire Bassanio, il vostro nobilissimo parente, Graziano e Lorenzo. State bene. Vi lasciamo ora in miglior compagnia.
SALERIO	Sarei rimasto finché non v’avessi reso allegro se amici più degni non m’avessero preceduto.
ANTONIO	Il vostro valore m’è assai caro. Immagino che i vostri affari vi chiamino, e voi cogliete l’occasione per accomiatarvi.
SALERIO	Buon giorno, miei buoni signori. 65
BASSANIO	Buoni signori entrambi, quando rideremo? Dite, quando? Vi fate oltremodo estranei. Dev’essere così?
SALERIO	Faremo che i nostri ozi attendano ai vostri.
(didascalia)	Escono Salerio e Solanio
LORENZO	Mio signor Bassanio, poiché avete trovato Antonio, noi due vi lasciamo; ma al tempo del desinare vi prego, tenete a mente dove dobbiamo incontrarci.
BASSANIO	Non vi mancherò.
GRAZIANO	Non state bene, Signor Antonio. Avete troppo riguardo per il mondo. Lo perde chi lo compra con troppa cura. Credetemi, siete mirabilmente cambiato.
ANTONIO	Tengo il mondo per quel che è, Graziano— un palcoscenico dove ognuno deve recitare una parte, e la mia è una parte triste.
GRAZIANO	Ch’io reciti il buffone. Con allegria e riso vengano pure le vecchie rughe, e il mio fegato si scaldi piuttosto col vino che il mio cuore si raffreddi con gemiti mortificanti. Perché un uomo che ha caldo il sangue dentro dovrebbe sedere come il suo avo scolpito in alabastro, dormire da sveglio, e insinuarsi nell’itterizia a forza d’esser bisbetico? Ti dirò, Antonio— io t’amo, ed è il mio amore che parla— v’è una sorta d’uomini i cui volti fanno crosta e velo come uno stagno immoto, e mantengono una quiete voluta col proposito d’esser vestiti d’una fama di saggezza, gravità, profondo ingegno, come a dire: ‘Io sono Ser Oracolo, e quando apro le labbra, nessun cane abbai.’ O mio Antonio, ne conosco di questi che solo per ciò son reputati saggi, per non dir nulla; mentre son certissimo che, se parlassero, dannerebbero quasi quegli orecchi i quali, udendoli, chiamerebbero pazzi i loro fratelli. Te ne dirò di più un’altra volta. Ma non pescare con quest’esca di malinconia questo ghiozzo sciocco, questa fama.— Vieni, buon Lorenzo.—State bene per un poco. Finirò la mia esortazione dopo il pranzo.
LORENZO	(a Antonio e Bassanio) Bene, vi lasciamo dunque fino al tempo del desinare. 105 Devo essere uno di questi stessi muti saggi, ché Graziano non mi lascia mai parlare.
GRAZIANO	Bene, tienimi compagnia due anni ancora e non conoscerai più il suono della tua stessa lingua.
ANTONIO	State bene. Diverrò un chiacchierone per questa faccenda.
GRAZIANO	Grazie, in fede mia, ché il silenzio è lodevole soltanto in una lingua di bue essiccata e in una fanciulla invendibile.
(didascalia)	Escono Graziano e Lorenzo
ANTONIO	Ebbene, è questo qualcosa, adesso?
BASSANIO	Graziano parla d’una quantità infinita di nulla, più d’ogni altro uomo in tutta Venezia. I suoi ragionamenti sono come due chicchi di grano nascosti in due staia di pula: si può cercare tutto il giorno prima di trovarli, e quando li si ha non valgono la ricerca.
ANTONIO	Bene, ditemi ora chi è quella dama alla quale giuraste un segreto pellegrinaggio, e di cui oggi prometteste di parlarmi.
BASSANIO	Non v’è ignoto, Antonio, quanto abbia dissestato il mio patrimonio mostrando un tenore alquanto più fastoso di quanto i miei scarsi mezzi potessero sostenere; né ora mi lamento d’esser ridotto da un tal nobile tenore; ma la mia cura maggiore è d’uscire onestamente dai grandi debiti in cui il mio tempo, alquanto troppo prodigo, m’ha lasciato impegnato. A voi, Antonio, devo il più, in denaro e in amore, e dal vostro amore ho garanzia per svelare tutti i miei disegni e propositi su come liberarmi di tutti i debiti che ho.
ANTONIO	Vi prego, buon Bassanio, fatemelo sapere; e se sta, come voi stesso sempre state,
(didascalia)	sotto lo sguardo dell’onore, siate certo
ANTONIO	che la mia borsa, la mia persona, i miei mezzi estremi stanno tutti aperti alle vostre necessità.
BASSANIO	Ai tempi di scuola, quando avevo perduto una freccia, ne scagliavo la compagna, dello stesso volo, per la stessa via, con più avveduta attenzione, per ritrovar la prima; e rischiandole entrambe spesso le ritrovavo entrambe. Adduco questa prova d’infanzia perché ciò che segue è pura innocenza. Molto vi devo, e, da giovane sconsiderato, quel che devo è perduto; ma se vi piace scagliare un’altra freccia per quella medesima via per cui scagliaste la prima, non dubito, poiché sorveglierò il tiro, di ritrovarle entrambe o di riportarvi indietro l’ultimo rischio, restando con gratitudine debitore della prima.
ANTONIO	Mi conoscete bene, e qui non fate che perdere tempo ad avvolgere il mio amore di circostanze; e senza dubbio mi fate ora maggior torto mettendo in questione il mio estremo che se aveste dilapidato tutto ciò che ho. Dunque ditemi soltanto che cosa devo fare che a vostra scienza possa esser fatto da me, e vi son pronto. Perciò parlate.
BASSANIO	A Belmonte è una dama riccamente lasciata erede, ed è bella, e, più bella di quella parola, di mirabili virtù. Talvolta dai suoi occhi ricevetti bei messaggi senza parole. Il suo nome è Porzia, in nulla inferiore alla figlia di Catone, la Porzia di Bruto; né il vasto mondo ignora il suo valore, ché i quattro venti soffiano da ogni costa pretendenti famosi, e le sue chiome solari le pendono sulle tempie come un vello d’oro, che fa della sua sede di Belmonte il lido di Colchide, e molti Giasoni vengono in cerca di lei. O mio Antonio, avessi io solo i mezzi per tener luogo di rivale con uno di loro, ho un animo che mi presagisce tal fortuna che senza dubbio sarei felice
ANTONIO	Tu sai che tutte le mie fortune sono in mare, né ho denaro né merce per raccogliere una somma presente. Perciò va’— prova ciò che può il mio credito in Venezia; sarà teso fino all’estremo per fornirti a Belmonte, alla bella Porzia. Va’ subito a informarti, e così farò io, dov’è il denaro; e non metto in dubbio d’averlo per il mio credito o per riguardo a me.
(didascalia)	Escono [separatamente]

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia with Nerissa, her waiting-woman
PORTIA	By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.
NERISSA	You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are; and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit 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.
PORTIA	Good sentences, and well pronounced.
NERISSA	They would be better if well followed.
PORTIA	If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good 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 mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o‘er a cold decree. Such a hare is madness, the youth, to skip o’er the meshes of good counsel, the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O 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, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?
NERISSA	Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations; therefore the lottery 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 towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?
PORTIA	I pray thee overname them, and as thou namest them I will describe them; and according to my description, level at my affection.
NERISSA	First there is the Neapolitan prince.
PORTIA	Ay, 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.
NERISSA	Then is there the County Palatine.
PORTIA	He doth nothing but frown, as who should say ‘An 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 unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!
NERISSA	How say you by the French lord, Monsieur le Bon?
PORTIA	God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but he—why, he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan‘s, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. If a throstle sing, he falls straight a-cap’ring. 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 love me to madness, I shall never requite him.
NERISSA	What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England?
PORTIA	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 pennyworth 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.
NERISSA	What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?
PORTIA	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.
NERISSA	How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony’s nephew?
PORTIA	Very vilely in the morning when he is sober, and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk. When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst he is little better than a beast. An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.
NERISSA	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.
PORTIA	Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a deep glass of Rhenish 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.
NERISSA	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 suit unless you may be won by some other sort than your father’s imposition depending on the caskets. 102
PORTIA	If I live to be as old as Sibylla 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 wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence; and I pray God grant them a fair departure.
NERISSA	Do you not remember, lady, in your father’s time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat? III
PORTIA	Yes, yes, it was Bassanio—as I think, so was he called.
NERISSA	True, madam. He of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon was the best deserving a fair lady.
PORTIA	I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise.
(didascalia)	Enter a Servingman
PORTIA	How now, what news?
SERVINGMAN	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.
PORTIA	If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, Nerissa. (To the Servingman) Sirrah, go before. Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, Another knocks at the door. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entra Porzia con Nerissa, la sua damigella
PORTIA	In fede mia, Nerissa, il mio piccolo corpo è stanco di questo gran mondo.
NERISSA	Lo sareste, dolce signora, se le vostre miserie fossero in altrettanta abbondanza quanto lo sono le vostre fortune; eppure, per quel che vedo, son malati del pari quelli che si rimpinzano di troppo e quelli che patiscono la fame per nulla. Non è dunque mediocre felicità l’essere collocati nel mezzo. La sovrabbondanza incanutisce prima, ma la sufficienza vive più a lungo.
PORTIA	Buone sentenze, e bene pronunciate.
NERISSA	Sarebbero migliori se bene seguite.
PORTIA	Se fare fosse facile quanto sapere ciò che è bene fare, le cappelle sarebbero chiese, e i tuguri dei poveri palazzi di principi. È buon predicatore chi segue i propri insegnamenti. Più facilmente posso insegnare a venti ciò che sarebbe bene fare, che essere una dei venti a seguire il mio proprio insegnamento. Il cervello può dettar leggi al sangue, ma un temperamento caldo salta oltre un freddo decreto. Tale lepre è la follia, la gioventù, che scavalca le reti del buon consiglio, lo storpio. Ma questo ragionare non serve a scegliermi un marito. Ahimè, la parola ‘scegliere’ non posso né scegliere chi vorrei né rifiutare chi mi dispiace; così il volere d’una figlia viva è frenato dal volere d’un padre morto. Non è duro, Nerissa, che io non possa sceglierne uno né rifiutarne alcuno?
NERISSA	Vostro padre fu sempre virtuoso, e gli uomini santi in punto di morte hanno buone ispirazioni; perciò la lotteria ch’egli ha ideato con quei tre scrigni d’oro, d’argento e di piombo, dei quali chi sceglie il suo significato sceglie voi, senza dubbio non sarà mai scelta rettamente da alcuno se non da uno che voi rettamente amerete. Ma quale calore v’è nel vostro affetto verso alcuno di questi principeschi pretendenti già giunti?
PORTIA	Ti prego, passali in rassegna, e via via che li nomini io li descriverò; e secondo la mia descrizione, misura il mio affetto.
NERISSA	Primo, c’è il principe napoletano.
PORTIA	Ah, quello è davvero un puledro, ché non fa altro che parlare del suo cavallo, e si fa gran merito, fra le sue buone qualità, di saperlo ferrare da sé. Temo assai che la sua signora madre abbia peccato con un maniscalco.
NERISSA	Poi c’è il Conte Palatino.
PORTIA	Non fa altro che aggrottare le ciglia, come a dire: ‘Se non mi volete, fate voi’. Ode racconti allegri e non sorride. Temo che, invecchiando, diventerà il filosofo piangente, essendo così pieno di scortese tristezza in gioventù. Preferirei sposare un teschio di morte con un osso in bocca che uno di questi due. Dio mi difenda da questi due!
NERISSA	Che dite del signore francese, Monsieur le Bon?
PORTIA	Dio l’ha fatto, e dunque passi per uomo. In verità, so che è peccato essere schernitrice, ma lui—ebbene, ha un cavallo migliore di quello del napoletano, un miglior brutto vezzo d’aggrottar le ciglia del Conte Palatino. È ogni uomo in nessun uomo. Se canta un tordo, subito si mette a saltellare. Tirerebbe di scherma con la propria ombra. Se lo sposassi, sposerei venti mariti. Se mi disprezzasse, lo perdonerei, poiché se m’amasse fino alla follia, non potrei mai contraccambiarlo.
NERISSA	Che dite dunque di Falconbridge, il giovane barone d’Inghilterra?
PORTIA	Sai che non gli dico nulla, ché egli non intende me, né io lui. Non sa né latino, né francese, né italiano, e tu potresti venire in tribunale e giurare che io ho un ben misero soldo d’inglese. È il ritratto d’un uomo ben fatto, ma ahimè, chi può conversare con una pantomima? E com’è stranamente vestito! Credo che abbia comprato il farsetto in Italia, le brache tonde in Francia, il berretto in Germania, e i suoi modi dappertutto.
NERISSA	Che pensate del signore scozzese, suo vicino?
PORTIA	Che ha in sé una carità da buon vicino, ché si prese a prestito uno schiaffo dall’inglese e giurò che glielo avrebbe reso quando avesse potuto. Credo che il francese si facesse suo garante, e firmasse sotto per un altro.
NERISSA	Come vi piace il giovane tedesco, il nipote del Duca di Sassonia?
PORTIA	Assai villanamente la mattina, quando è sobrio, e villanissimamente il pomeriggio, quando è ubriaco. Quando è al meglio è poco peggio d’un uomo, e quando è al peggio è poco meglio d’una bestia. E se cadesse la peggior sorte che mai cadde, spero che riuscirò ad arrangiarmi senza di lui.
NERISSA	Se si offrisse di scegliere, e scegliesse lo scrigno giusto, voi ricusereste di compiere il volere di vostro padre se ricusaste di accettarlo.
PORTIA	Perciò, per paura del peggio, ti prego, poni un gran bicchiere di vino del Reno sullo scrigno sbagliato; ché se il diavolo è dentro e quella tentazione è fuori, so che sceglierà quello. Farò qualunque cosa, Nerissa, piuttosto che essere maritata a una spugna.
NERISSA	Non dovete temere, signora, d’aver alcuno di questi signori. M’hanno reso partecipe delle loro decisioni, che sono invero di tornarsene alla loro casa e di non importunarvi con altra domanda, a meno che voi non possiate esser conquistata per altra via che non sia la condizione imposta da vostro padre con gli scrigni. 102
PORTIA	Se vivrò tanto da esser vecchia come Sibilla, morirò casta come Diana, a meno che non mi si ottenga secondo il modo del testamento di mio padre. Son lieta che questo drappello di pretendenti sia così ragionevole, ché non ve n’è uno fra loro di cui non adori proprio l’assenza; e prego Dio che conceda loro una bella partenza.
NERISSA	Non ricordate, signora, ai tempi di vostro padre, un veneziano, letterato e soldato, che venne qui in compagnia del Marchese di Monferrato? III
PORTIA	Sì, sì, era Bassanio—così credo si chiamasse.
NERISSA	È vero, signora. Egli, fra tutti gli uomini su cui abbiano mai posato i miei sciocchi occhi, era il più degno d’una bella dama.
PORTIA	Lo ricordo bene, e lo ricordo degno della tua lode.
(didascalia)	Entra un Servitore
PORTIA	Ebbene, che novità?
SERVITORE	I quattro stranieri vi cercano, signora, per accomiatarsi, ed è giunto un messo innanzi a un quinto, il Principe del Marocco, il quale reca notizia che il Principe suo padrone sarà qui stanotte.
PORTIA	Se potessi dare il benvenuto al quinto con altrettanto buon cuore con cui posso dare addio agli altri quattro, mi rallegrerei del suo arrivo. Se ha la condizione d’un santo e la carnagione d’un diavolo, preferirei che mi confessasse piuttosto che mi sposasse. Vieni, Nerissa. (Al Servitore) Tu, va’ innanzi. Mentre chiudiamo il cancello dietro un pretendente, un altro bussa alla porta. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew SHYLOCK Three thousand ducats. Well.
BASSANIO	Ay, sir, for three months.
SHYLOCK	For three months. Well.
BASSANIO	For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
SHYLOCK	Antonio shall become bound. Well.
BASSANIO	May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?
SHYLOCK	Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.
BASSANIO	Your answer to that.
SHYLOCK	Antonio is a good man.
BASSANIO	Have you heard any imputation to the contrary ?
SHYLOCK	Ho, no, no, no, no !My meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition. He hath an argosy 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, water thieves and land thieves—I mean pirates—and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats. I think I may take his bond.
BASSANIO	Be assured you may.
SHYLOCK	I will be assured I may, and that I may be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?
BASSANIO	If it please you to dine with us.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK aside Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into! 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio
(didascalia)	To Antonio What news on the Rialto? To Bassanio Who is he comes here?
BASSANIO	This is Signor Antonio.
(didascalia)	Bassanio and Antonio speak silently to one another
SHYLOCK	(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 usance 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 sacred 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.
BASSANIO	Shylock, do you hear?
SHYLOCK	I am debating of my present store, And by the near guess of my memory I cannot instantly raise up the gross Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, Will furnish me. But soft—how many months
(didascalia)	Do you desire ? To Antonio Rest you fair, good signor.
SHYLOCK	Your worship was the last man in our mouths.
ANTONIO	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 ye would?
SHYLOCK	Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.
ANTONIO	And for three months.
SHYLOCK	I had forgot—three months. (To Bassanio) You told me so.— Well then, your bond; and let me see—but hear you, Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow Upon advantage.
ANTONIO	I do never use it.
SHYLOCK	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; ay, he was the third—
ANTONIO	And what of him? Did he take interest?
SHYLOCK	No, not take interest, not, as you would say, Directly int’rest. Mark what Jacob did: When Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied Should fall as Jacob’s hire, the ewes, being rank, In end of autumn turned to the rams, 80 And when the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in the act, The skilful 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 parti-coloured lambs; and those were Jacob’s. This was a way to thrive; and he was blest; And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.
ANTONIO	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 gold and silver ewes and rams?
SHYLOCK	I cannot tell. I make it breed as fast. But note me, signor—
ANTONIO	Mark you this, Bassanio? The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
SHYLOCK	Three thousand ducats. ’Tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve—then let me see the rate.
ANTONIO	Well, Shylock, shall we be beholden to you?
SHYLOCK	Signor Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For suff‘rance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog, 110 And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, 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 moneys‘—you say so, You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshold. Moneys 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 ducats?’ Or Shall I bend low, and in a bondman’s key, With bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness Say this:‘Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last; You spurned me such a day; another time You called me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys’?
ANTONIO	I am as like to call thee so again, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends; for when did friendship take A breed for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who if he break, thou mayst with better face Exact the penalty.
SHYLOCK	Why, look you, how you storm I I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stained me with, Supply your present wants, and take no doit Of usance for my moneys; and you’ll not hear me. This is kind I offer.
BASSANIO	This were kindness.
SHYLOCK	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 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 pleaseth me.
ANTONIO	Content, in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, And say there is much kindness in the Jew.
BASSANIO	You shall not seal to such a bond for me. I’ll rather dwell in my necessity.
ANTONIO	Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it.
(didascalia)	Within these two months—that’s a month before
ANTONIO	This bond expires—I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
SHYLOCK	O father Abram, what these Christians are, Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect 160 The thoughts of others! (To Bassanio) 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, beeves, or goats. I say, To buy his favour I extend this friendship. If he will take it, so. If not, adieu, And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
ANTONIO	Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
SHYLOCK	Then meet me forthwith at the notary’s. Give him direction for this merry bond, And I will go and purse the ducats straight, See to my house—left in the fearful guard Of an unthrifty knave—and presently I’ll be with you.
ANTONIO	Hie thee, gentle Jew. Exit Shylock The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind.
BASSANIO	I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind.
ANTONIO	Come on. In this there can be no dismay. My ships come home a month before the day. Exeunt
(didascalia)	2.1 Flourish of cornetts. Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train
MOROCCO	(to Portia) Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus’ fire scarce 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 clime Have loved it too. I would not change this hue Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
PORTIA	In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes. Besides, the lott’ry 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, Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have looked on yet For my affection.
MOROCCO	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 Sophy and a Persian prince That won three fields of Sultan Suleiman, I would o’erstare the sternest 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 a roars for prey, To win the lady. But alas the while, If Hercules and Lichas 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 rage, And so may I, blind Fortune leading me, Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving.
PORTIA	You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
MOROCCO	Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
PORTIA	First, forward to the temple. After dinner Your hazard shall be made.
MOROCCO	Good fortune then, To make me blest or cursèd’st among men.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entra Bassanio con Shylock l’ebreo SHYLOCK Tremila ducati. Bene.
BASSANIO	Sì, signore, per tre mesi.
SHYLOCK	Per tre mesi. Bene.
BASSANIO	Per i quali, come vi dissi, Antonio si obbligherà.
SHYLOCK	Antonio si obbligherà. Bene.
BASSANIO	Potete assistermi? Volete favorirmi? Avrò la vostra risposta?
SHYLOCK	Tremila ducati per tre mesi, e Antonio obbligato.
BASSANIO	La vostra risposta a questo.
SHYLOCK	Antonio è un buon uomo.
BASSANIO	Avete udito qualche imputazione in contrario ?
SHYLOCK	Oh, no, no, no, no !Il mio intento, dicendo ch’egli è un buon uomo, è di farvi intendere ch’egli è solvibile. Eppure i suoi averi sono in congettura. Ha una nave d’alto bordo diretta a Tripoli, un’altra alle Indie. Intendo inoltre, al Rialto, ch’egli ne ha una terza in Messico, una quarta per l’Inghilterra, e altre imprese sparpagliate all’estero. Ma le navi non sono che assi, i marinai non sono che uomini. Vi sono topi di terra e topi d’acqua, ladri d’acqua e ladri di terra—intendo i pirati—e poi c’è il pericolo delle acque, dei venti e degli scogli. L’uomo è, nondimeno, solvibile. Tremila ducati. Credo di poter accettare la sua obbligazione.
BASSANIO	Siate certo che potete.
SHYLOCK	Voglio esser certo di potere, e per esserne certo, ci penserò su. Posso parlare con Antonio?
BASSANIO	Se vi piace pranzare con noi.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK a parte Sì, per fiutare il porco, per mangiare della dimora nella quale il vostro profeta il Nazareno cacciò il diavolo! Comprerò con voi, venderò con voi, parlerò con voi, camminerò con voi, e così di seguito; ma non mangerò con voi, non berrò con voi, né pregherò con voi.
(didascalia)	Entra Antonio
(didascalia)	A Antonio Che notizie al Rialto? A Bassanio Chi è costui che viene qui?
BASSANIO	Questi è il Signor Antonio.
(didascalia)	Bassanio e Antonio parlano sottovoce fra loro
SHYLOCK	(a parte) Come somiglia a un pubblicano adulatore. L’odio perché è cristiano; ma più perché, in bassa semplicità, presta denaro gratis, e abbassa il tasso dell’usura qui da noi a Venezia. Se una volta posso prenderlo all’anca ingrasserò l’antico rancore che gli porto. Odia la nostra sacra nazione, e inveisce, proprio là dove più si radunano i mercanti, contro me, i miei affari, e il mio ben guadagnato profitto— ch’egli chiama interesse. Maledetta sia la mia tribù s’io lo perdono.
BASSANIO	Shylock, udite?
SHYLOCK	Sto ponderando la mia scorta presente, e a giudizio approssimativo della mia memoria non posso raccogliere sull’istante la somma di ben tremila ducati. Che importa? Tubal, un ricco ebreo della mia tribù, me li fornirà. Ma piano—quanti mesi
(didascalia)	desiderate ? A Antonio Salute a voi, buon signore.
SHYLOCK	Vostra signoria era l’ultimo uomo sulle nostre bocche.
ANTONIO	Shylock, sebbene io non presti né prenda a prestito prendendo o dando eccedenza, pure, per sovvenire ai bisogni urgenti del mio amico romperò un’usanza. (A Bassanio) È già informato di quanto volete?
SHYLOCK	Sì, sì, tremila ducati.
ANTONIO	E per tre mesi.
SHYLOCK	Avevo dimenticato—tre mesi. (A Bassanio) Così mi diceste.— Bene dunque, la vostra obbligazione; e vediamo—ma sentite, mi parve diceste di non prestare né prendere a prestito a interesse.
ANTONIO	Non ne faccio mai uso.
SHYLOCK	Quando Giacobbe pascolava le pecore di suo zio Labano— questo Giacobbe fu, del nostro santo Abramo, come la sua saggia madre operò in suo favore, il terzo erede; sì, egli era il terzo—
ANTONIO	E che ne fu di lui? Prese interesse?
SHYLOCK	No, non prese interesse, non, come direste voi, direttamente interesse. Notate ciò che fece Giacobbe: quando Labano ed egli s’accordarono che tutti gli agnelli nati striati e pezzati toccassero a Giacobbe per mercede, le pecore, in calore, sul finir dell’autunno si volsero ai montoni, 80 e quando l’opera della generazione era in atto fra questi lanosi riproduttori, l’abile pastore mi scortecciò certe verghe, e nel compiersi dell’atto di natura le piantò dinanzi alle pecore in fregola, le quali, concependo allora, al tempo del parto figliarono agnelli screziati; e quelli furono di Giacobbe. Questo fu un modo di prosperare; ed egli fu benedetto; e il guadagno è benedizione, se non lo si ruba.
ANTONIO	Fu un’impresa, signore, per la quale Giacobbe servì— cosa non in suo potere di far accadere, ma retta e foggiata dalla mano del cielo. Fu inserito questo per giustificare l’interesse, o il vostro oro e argento son pecore e montoni?
SHYLOCK	Non saprei. Io lo faccio figliare altrettanto in fretta. Ma notatemi, signore—
ANTONIO	Udite questo, Bassanio? Il diavolo sa citare la Scrittura per il suo scopo. Un’anima malvagia che adduce santa testimonianza è come un malvagio dalla guancia sorridente, una bella mela marcia nel cuore. Oh, che bell’esteriore ha la falsità!
SHYLOCK	Tremila ducati. È una bella somma tonda. Tre mesi su dodici—vediamo dunque il tasso.
ANTONIO	Ebbene, Shylock, vi saremo obbligati?
SHYLOCK	Signor Antonio, molte volte e spesso al Rialto m’avete rampognato per i miei denari e le mie usure. Sempre l’ho sopportato con paziente scrollata di spalle, ché il patire è il distintivo di tutta la nostra tribù. Mi chiamate miscredente, tagliagole, cane, 110 e sputate sul mio gabbano giudaico, e tutto per l’uso di ciò che è mio. Ebbene, ora appare che avete bisogno del mio aiuto. Suvvia, dunque. Venite da me, e dite: ‘Shylock, vorremmo del denaro’—così dite, voi, che vuotaste il vostro catarro sulla mia barba, e mi cacciate a pedate come si scaccia un cane forestiero oltre la vostra soglia. Denaro è la vostra domanda. Che dovrei dirvi? Non dovrei dire: ‘Ha denaro un cane? È possibile che un botolo presti tremila ducati?’ Oppure dovrò inchinarmi, e in tono di servo, col fiato sospeso e sussurrante umiltà dire così: ‘Egregio signore, mi sputaste addosso mercoledì scorso; mi cacciaste a pedate il tal giorno; un’altra volta mi chiamaste cane; e per queste cortesie vi presterò tanto denaro’?
ANTONIO	Son ben capace di chiamarti così di nuovo, di sputarti addosso di nuovo, e di scacciarti pure. Se vuoi prestare questo denaro, non prestarlo come ai tuoi amici; ché quando mai l’amicizia prese figliatura di sterile metallo dal proprio amico? Prestalo piuttosto al tuo nemico, il quale, se manca, con miglior faccia potrai colpire con la penale.
SHYLOCK	Ma guardate un po’ come tempestate I Vorrei essere amico vostro, e avere il vostro affetto, dimenticare le onte di cui m’avete macchiato, sovvenire ai vostri bisogni presenti, e non prendere un quattrino d’usura per il mio denaro; e voi non volete ascoltarmi. È bontà, questa che offro.
BASSANIO	Questa sarebbe bontà.
SHYLOCK	Questa bontà mostrerò. Venite con me da un notaio, sigillatemi là la vostra semplice obbligazione, e, per un allegro scherzo, se non mi ripagate nel tal giorno, nel tal luogo, la tal somma o somme quali sono espresse nella condizione, sia la penale stabilita in una libbra esatta della vostra bella carne, da tagliarsi e prendersi in quella parte del vostro corpo che a me piaccia.
ANTONIO	D’accordo, in fede mia. Sigillerò una tale obbligazione, e dirò che v’è molta bontà nell’ebreo.
BASSANIO	Non sigillerete una tale obbligazione per me. Preferisco restare nella mia necessità.
ANTONIO	Ma non temere, amico; non incorrerò nella penale.
(didascalia)	Entro questi due mesi—cioè un mese prima
ANTONIO	che questa obbligazione scada—attendo un ritorno di tre volte tre volte il valore di questo impegno.
SHYLOCK	O padre Abramo, che gente sono questi cristiani, i cui duri traffici insegnano loro a sospettare 160 i pensieri altrui! (A Bassanio) Ditemi, vi prego, questo: se mancasse al giorno fissato, che guadagnerei dall’esazione della penale? Una libbra di carne d’uomo tolta a un uomo non è così pregiata, né così redditizia, come carne di montoni, di buoi o di capre. Dico: per comprare il suo favore offro questa amicizia. Se vuole accettarla, bene. Se no, addio, e, per il mio affetto, vi prego, non mi fate torto.
ANTONIO	Sì, Shylock, sigillerò questa obbligazione.
SHYLOCK	Allora trovatemi subito dal notaio. Dategli istruzione per questa allegra obbligazione, e io andrò a metter subito in borsa i ducati, a badare alla mia casa—lasciata alla malfida custodia d’uno scioperato furfante—e fra poco sarò da voi.
ANTONIO	Affrettati, gentile ebreo. Esce Shylock L’ebreo si farà cristiano; diventa gentile.
BASSANIO	Non mi piacciono bei termini e mente di malvagio.
ANTONIO	Andiamo. In questo non v’è motivo di sgomento. Le mie navi tornano a casa un mese prima del giorno. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train
MOROCCO	(to Portia) Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus’ fire scarce 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 clime Have loved it too. I would not change this hue Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
PORTIA	In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes. Besides, the lott’ry 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, Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have looked on yet For my affection.
MOROCCO	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 Sophy and a Persian prince That won three fields of Sultan Suleiman, I would o’erstare the sternest 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 a roars for prey, To win the lady. But alas the while, If Hercules and Lichas 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 rage, And so may I, blind Fortune leading me, Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving.
PORTIA	You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
MOROCCO	Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
PORTIA	First, forward to the temple. After dinner Your hazard shall be made.
MOROCCO	Good fortune then, To make me blest or cursèd’st among men.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Squillo di cornetti. Entra il Principe del Marocco, un moro bruno tutto vestito di bianco, e tre o quattro seguaci vestiti allo stesso modo, con Porzia, Nerissa e il loro séguito
MAROCCO	(a Porzia) Non mi disprezzate per il mio colorito, l’ombrosa livrea del sole brunito, cui son vicino e presso il quale son nato. Portatemi la più bella creatura nata a settentrione, dove il fuoco di Febo a stento scioglie i ghiaccioli, e facciamoci incisione per il vostro amore per provare quale sangue sia più rosso, il suo o il mio. Ti dico, signora, che quest’aspetto mio ha atterrito i valorosi. Per il mio amore giuro, le vergini più stimate del nostro clima l’hanno pure amato. Non muterei questa tinta se non per rubarvi i pensieri, mia gentile regina.
PORTIA	Quanto alla scelta, non son guidata soltanto dalla schizzinosa direzione degli occhi d’una fanciulla. Inoltre, la lotteria del mio destino mi vieta il diritto di scegliere volontariamente. Ma se mio padre non m’avesse limitata, e col suo accorgimento costretta a darmi in moglie a chi mi vinca col mezzo che v’ho detto, voi stesso, illustre Principe, stareste altrettanto bene, quanto ogni altro venuto ch’io abbia finora guardato, per il mio affetto.
MAROCCO	Anche per questo vi ringrazio. Perciò vi prego, conducetemi agli scrigni a tentar la mia fortuna. Per questa scimitarra, che uccise il Sofì e un principe persiano che vinse tre battaglie contro il Sultano Solimano, sfiderei con lo sguardo gli occhi più severi che guardino, supererei in ardire il cuore più audace della terra, strapperei i cuccioli lattanti all’orsa, sì, schernirei il leone quando rugge per la preda, per conquistare la dama. Ma ahimè, intanto, se Ercole e Lica giocano ai dadi a chi sia l’uomo migliore, il tiro maggiore può venire per sorte dalla mano più debole. Così Alcide è battuto dalla sua ira, e così posso io, guidato dalla cieca Fortuna, mancare ciò che un men degno può ottenere, e morire di dolore.
PORTIA	Dovete correre il vostro rischio, e o non tentare affatto di scegliere, o giurare, prima di scegliere, che se sceglierete male non parlerete mai più ad alcuna dama in vista di matrimonio. Perciò pensateci.
MAROCCO	Né lo farò. Venite, conducetemi alla mia sorte.
PORTIA	Prima, avanti al tempio. Dopo il pranzo si farà il vostro azzardo.
MAROCCO	Buona fortuna, dunque, che mi renda il più beato o il più maledetto fra gli uomini.
(didascalia)	Squillo di cornetti. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot the clown
LANCELOT	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 ‘Gobbo, Lancelot Gobbo, good Lancelot,’ or ‘good Gobbo,’ or ‘good Lancelot Gobbo—use your legs, take the start, run away.’ My conscience says ‘No, take heed, honest Lancelot, take heed, honest Gobbo,’ or, as aforesaid, ‘honest Lancelot Gobbo—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 Lancelot’—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, ‘Lancelot, budge not’; ‘Budge!’ says the fiend; ‘Budge not’, says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well’; ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ To be ruled by my conscience I should stay with the Jew my master who, 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 incarnation; 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.
(didascalia)	Enter old Gobbo, blind, with a basket
GOBBO	Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT	(aside) O 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.
GOBBO	Master young gentleman, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT	Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left, marry at the very next turning, turn of no hand but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house.
GOBBO	By God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Lancelot that dwells with him dwell with him or no?
LANCELOT	Talk you of young Master Lancelot? (Aside) Mark me now, now will I raise the waters. (To Gobbo) Talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO	No master, sir, but a poor man’s son. His father, though I say’t, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.
LANCELOT	Well, let his father be what a will, we talk of young Master Lancelot.
GOBBO	Your worship’s friend, and Lancelot, sir.
LANCELOT	But I pray you, ergo old man, ergo I beseech you, talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO	Of Lancelot, an’t please your mastership.
LANCELOT	Ergo Master Lancelot. Talk not of Master Lancelot, 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.
GOBBO	Marry, God forbid The boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT aside Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? (To Gobbo) Do you know me, father?
GOBBO	Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman. But I pray you tell me, is my boy-God rest his soul— alive or dead?
LANCELOT	Do you not know me, father?
GOBBO	Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.
LANCELOT	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. (Kneeling) Give me your blessing. Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long—a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.
GOBBO	Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you are not Lancelot, my boy.
LANCELOT	Pray you, let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. 81
GOBBO	I cannot think you are my son.
LANCELOT	I know not what I shall think of that, but I am Lancelot the Jew’s man, and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.
GOBBO	Her name is Margery indeed. I’ll be sworn, if thou be Lancelot thou art mine own flesh and blood. He feels Lancelot’s head Lord worshipped might he be, what a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail. 90
LANCELOT	It should seem then that Dobbin’s tail grows backward. I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.
GOBBO	Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present. How ’gree you now?
LANCELOT	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 not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio with Leonardo and followers
LANCELOT	O rare fortune! Here comes the man. To him, father, for I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer.
BASSANIO	(toone of his men) 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 Graziano to come anon to my lodging. Exit one
LANCELOT	(to Gobbo) To him, father.
GOBBO	(to Bassanio) God bless your worship.
BASSANIO	Gramercy. Wouldst thou aught with me? 115
GOBBO	Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy—
LANCELOT	(to Bassanio) Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man that would, sir, as my father shall specify.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve—
LANCELOT	Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire as my father shall specify.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) His master and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce cater-cousins.
LANCELOT	(to Bassiano) 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 frutify unto you.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is—
LANCELOT	(to Bassiano) 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.
BASSANIO	One speak for both. What would you?
LANCELOT	Serve you, sir.
GOBBO	(to Bassiano) That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
BASSANIO	(to Lancelot) 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.
LANCELOT	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.
BASSANIO	Thou speak‘st it well. (To Gobbo) Go, father, with thy son. (To Lancelot) Take leave of thy old master and enquire My lodging out. (To one of his men) Give him a livery More guarded than his fellows’. See it done. 150
LANCELOT	(to Gobbo) Father, in. I cannot get a service, no, I have ne’er a tongue in my head—well! He looks at his palm If any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here’s a simple line of life, here’s a small trifle of wives—a[as, fifteen wives is nothing. Eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man, and then to scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a featherbed—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. Exit with old Gobbo
BASSANIO	I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed, Return in haste, for I do feast tonight My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee. Go.
LEONARDO	My best endeavours shall be done herein. He begins to leave. Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO	(to Leonardo) Where’s your master?
LEONARDO	Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio.
BASSANIO	Graziano.
GRAZIANO	I have a suit to you.
BASSANIO	You have obtained it.
GRAZIANO	You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont.
BASSANIO	Why then, you must. But hear thee, Graziano, Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice- Parts that become thee 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 misconstered in the place I go to, 180 And lose my hopes.
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio, hear me. If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Wear prayer books in my pocket, look demurely— Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 185 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.
BASSANIO	Well, we shall see your bearing.
GRAZIANO	Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me By what we do tonight.
BASSANIO	No, that were pity. I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends That purpose merriment. But fare you well. I have some business.
GRAZIANO	And I must to Lorenzo and the rest. But we will visit you at supper-time. Exeunt severally

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entra Lancelot il buffone
LANCELOT	Certamente la mia coscienza mi consentirà di fuggire da questo ebreo, mio padrone. Il demonio m’è al gomito e mi tenta, dicendomi ‘Gobbo, Lancelot Gobbo, buon Lancelot,’ oppure ‘buon Gobbo,’ oppure ‘buon Lancelot Gobbo—usa le gambe, prendi il via, scappa.’ La mia coscienza dice ‘No, bada, onesto Lancelot, bada, onesto Gobbo,’ ovvero, come s’è detto, ‘onesto Lancelot Gobbo—non correre, sdegna di correre coi tuoi talloni.’ Ebbene, il coraggiosissimo demonio mi dice di far fagotto. ‘Via!’ dice il demonio; ‘Fuori!’ dice il demonio. ‘Per il cielo, sveglia un animo ardito,’ dice il demonio, ‘e corri.’ Ebbene, la mia coscienza, appesa al collo del mio cuore, mi dice assai saggiamente: ‘Mio onesto amico Lancelot’—essendo io figlio d’un uomo onesto, o piuttosto figlio d’una donna onesta, ché in verità mio padre aveva un certo sapore, una certa inclinazione; aveva una specie di gusto—ebbene, la mia coscienza dice: ‘Lancelot, non ti muovere’; ‘Muoviti!’ dice il demonio; ‘Non ti muovere’, dice la mia coscienza. ‘Coscienza,’ dico io, ‘tu consigli bene’; ‘Demonio,’ dico io, ‘tu consigli bene.’ A lasciarmi guidare dalla mia coscienza dovrei restare con l’ebreo mio padrone, il quale, con rispetto parlando, è una specie di diavolo; e per fuggire dall’ebreo dovrei lasciarmi guidare dal demonio, il quale, salva la vostra riverenza, è il diavolo in persona. Certamente l’ebreo è proprio il diavolo incarnazione; e in coscienza mia, la mia coscienza non è che una specie di dura coscienza a osar consigliarmi di restare con l’ebreo. Il demonio dà il consiglio più amichevole. Correrò, demonio. I miei talloni sono ai vostri comandi. Correrò.
(didascalia)	Entra il vecchio Gobbo, cieco, con una cesta
GOBBO	Messer giovanotto, voi, di grazia, qual è la via per casa di Messer Ebreo ?
LANCELOT	(a parte) O cieli, questo è il mio vero genitore, il quale, essendo più che mezzo cieco—cieco da ghiaia grossa—non mi riconosce. Proverò a fargli delle confusioni.
GOBBO	Messer giovane gentiluomo, di grazia, qual è la via per casa di Messer Ebreo ?
LANCELOT	Voltate sulla vostra mano destra alla prossima svolta, ma alla svolta seguente sulla sinistra; anzi, proprio alla svolta successiva, non voltate da nessuna mano, ma scendete indirettamente alla casa dell’ebreo.
GOBBO	Per i santini di Dio, sarà una via difficile da imbroccare. Sapete dirmi se un certo Lancelot che sta con lui, stia con lui o no?
LANCELOT	Parlate del giovane Messer Lancelot? (A parte) Attenzione ora, ora solleverò le acque. (A Gobbo) Parlate del giovane Messer Lancelot?
GOBBO	Nessun messere, signore, ma il figlio d’un pover’uomo. Suo padre, benché lo dica io, è un uomo onesto e straordinariamente povero, e, grazie a Dio, campa bene.
LANCELOT	Ebbene, sia suo padre quel che vuole, noi parliamo del giovane Messer Lancelot.
GOBBO	Amico di vostra signoria, e Lancelot, signore.
LANCELOT	Ma di grazia, ergo vecchio, ergo vi supplico, parlate del giovane Messer Lancelot?
GOBBO	Di Lancelot, se piace a vostra signoria.
LANCELOT	Ergo Messer Lancelot. Non parlate di Messer Lancelot, padre, ché il giovane gentiluomo, secondo i fati e i destini e simili strane sentenze—le tre sorelle e simili rami del sapere—è invero trapassato; o, come direste in termini semplici, andato in cielo.
GOBBO	Perbacco, Dio non voglia Il ragazzo era proprio il bastone della mia vecchiaia, il mio vero sostegno.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT a parte Sembro io un randello o un palo di tugurio, un bastone o un sostegno? (A Gobbo) Mi riconoscete, padre?
GOBBO	Ahimè, giorno triste, non vi conosco, giovane gentiluomo. Ma di grazia ditemi, il mio ragazzo—Dio abbia in pace la sua anima— è vivo o morto?
LANCELOT	Non mi riconoscete, padre?
GOBBO	Ahimè, signore, son mezzo cieco. Non vi conosco.
LANCELOT	Anzi, in verità, anche se aveste gli occhi potreste non riconoscermi. È un padre saggio quello che conosce il proprio figlio. Ebbene, vecchio, vi darò notizie di vostro figlio. (Inginocchiandosi) Datemi la vostra benedizione. La verità verrà alla luce; l’assassinio non si può celare a lungo—il figlio d’un uomo sì, ma alla fine la verità verrà fuori.
GOBBO	Di grazia, signore, alzatevi. Son sicuro che non siete Lancelot, il mio ragazzo.
LANCELOT	Di grazia, non si scherzi più su questo, ma datemi la vostra benedizione. Io sono Lancelot, il vostro ragazzo che fu, il vostro figliolo che è, il vostro figlio che sarà. 81
GOBBO	Non posso credere che tu sia mio figlio.
LANCELOT	Non so che pensarne, ma io sono Lancelot, l’uomo dell’ebreo, e son certo che Margery vostra moglie è mia madre.
GOBBO	Il suo nome è davvero Margery. Lo giurerei: se tu sei Lancelot, sei la mia stessa carne e il mio sangue. Tasta la testa di Lancelot Sia lodato il Signore, che barba ti sei fatto! Hai più pelo sul mento di quanto Dobbin, il mio cavallo da timone, ne abbia sulla coda. 90
LANCELOT	Parrebbe dunque che la coda di Dobbin cresca all’indietro. Son certo che aveva più pelo sulla coda di quanto io ne abbia sul viso, l’ultima volta che lo vidi.
GOBBO	Signore, come sei cambiato! Come andate d’accordo tu e il tuo padrone? Gli ho portato un regalo. Come v’intendete ora?
LANCELOT	Bene, bene; ma per parte mia, poiché ho puntato tutto sulla fuga, non avrò riposo finché non avrò corso un buon tratto di terreno. Il mio padrone è un ebreo perfetto. Dargli un regalo?—dategli un capestro! Muoio di fame al suo servizio. Potete contare ogni mio dito con le mie costole. Padre, son lieto che siate venuto. Date il vostro regalo a un certo Messer Bassanio, che sì dà splendide livree nuove. Se non servo lui, correrò fin dove Dio ha terra.
(didascalia)	Entra Bassanio con Leonardo e séguito
LANCELOT	Oh rara fortuna! Ecco venire l’uomo. A lui, padre, ché son ebreo io se servo l’ebreo un momento di più.
BASSANIO	(auno dei suoi uomini) Potete far così, ma sia fatto con tanta fretta che la cena sia pronta al più tardi alle cinque dell’orologio. Fate consegnare queste lettere, mettete in lavorazione le livree, e desiderate che Graziano venga fra poco al mio alloggio. Esce uno
LANCELOT	(a Gobbo) A lui, padre.
GOBBO	(a Bassanio) Dio benedica vostra signoria.
BASSANIO	Grazie mille. Vuoi qualcosa da me? 115
GOBBO	Ecco mio figlio, signore, un povero ragazzo—
LANCELOT	(a Bassanio) Non un povero ragazzo, signore, ma l’uomo del ricco ebreo che vorrebbe, signore, come mio padre specificherà.
GOBBO	(a Bassiano) Ha una grande infezione, signore, come si direbbe, di servire—
LANCELOT	In breve, il lungo e il corto è che io servo l’ebreo, e ho un desiderio, come mio padre specificherà.
GOBBO	(a Bassiano) Il suo padrone e lui, salva la riverenza di vostra signoria, sono a mala pena in buoni rapporti.
LANCELOT	(a Bassiano) Per esser breve, la pura verità è che l’ebreo, avendomi fatto torto, mi induce, come mio padre—essendo, spero, un vecchio—vi frutificherà.
GOBBO	(a Bassiano) Ho qui un piatto di colombi che vorrei donare a vostra signoria, e la mia domanda è—
LANCELOT	(a Bassiano) In brevissimo, la domanda è impertinente a me stesso, come vostra signoria saprà da questo onesto vecchio; e benché lo dica io, benché vecchio, pure, pover’uomo, mio padre.
BASSANIO	Uno parli per entrambi. Che volete?
LANCELOT	Servirvi, signore.
GOBBO	(a Bassiano) Questo è proprio il difetto della faccenda, signore.
BASSANIO	(a Lancelot) Ti conosco bene. Hai ottenuto la tua richiesta. Shylock, il tuo padrone, m’ha parlato quest’oggi, e t’ha promosso, se è promozione lasciare il servizio d’un ricco ebreo per divenire il seguace d’un gentiluomo così povero.
LANCELOT	Il vecchio proverbio è assai bene spartito fra il mio padrone Shylock e voi, signore: voi avete la grazia di Dio, signore, ed egli ha abbastanza.
BASSANIO	Lo dici bene. (A Gobbo) Va’, padre, con tuo figlio. (A Lancelot) Congedati dal tuo vecchio padrone e informati del mio alloggio. (A uno dei suoi uomini) Dategli una livrea più gallonata di quella dei compagni. Fate che sia fatto. 150
LANCELOT	(a Gobbo) Padre, entrate. Non riesco a trovare un servizio, no, non ho mai una lingua in bocca—bene! Si guarda il palmo Se v’è uomo in Italia che abbia una tavola più bella da offrire per giurare sul libro, io avrò buona fortuna. Suvvia, ecco una bella linea della vita, ecco una piccola bazzecola di mogli—a[as, quindici mogli non è nulla. Undici vedove e nove fanciulle sono una semplice entrata per un uomo solo, e poi scampare tre volte all’annegamento, ed essere in pericolo di vita sul bordo d’un letto di piume—ecco degli scampi da poco. Ebbene, se la Fortuna è donna, è una brava ragazza per questa faccenda. Padre, venite. Mi congederò dall’ebreo in un batter d’occhio. Esce col vecchio Gobbo
BASSANIO	Ti prego, buon Leonardo, pensa a questo. Comprate queste cose e riposte con ordine, torna in fretta, ché stasera do banchetto ai miei conoscenti più stimati. Affrettati. Va’.
LEONARDO	I miei migliori sforzi saranno posti in ciò. Comincia ad andarsene. Entra Graziano
GRAZIANO	(a Leonardo) Dov’è il vostro padrone?
LEONARDO	Laggiù, signore, passeggia. Esce
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio.
BASSANIO	Graziano.
GRAZIANO	Ho una richiesta da farvi.
BASSANIO	L’avete ottenuta.
GRAZIANO	Non dovete negarmela. Devo venire con voi a Belmonte.
BASSANIO	Ebbene, dovete. Ma senti, Graziano, sei troppo sfrenato, troppo rude e ardito di voce— qualità che ti si addicono abbastanza felicemente, e a occhi come i nostri non paiono difetti; ma dove non sei conosciuto, là esse appaiono alquanto troppo licenziose. Ti prego, prenditi la pena di temperare con qualche fredda goccia di modestia il tuo spirito saltellante, ché per la tua condotta sfrenata io non sia frainteso nel luogo dove vado, 180 e non perda le mie speranze.
GRAZIANO	Signor Bassanio, ascoltatemi. Se non assumo un abito sobrio, se non parlo con rispetto, e non bestemmio che di rado, se non porto libri di preghiere in tasca, se non guardo compunto— anzi di più, se mentre si dice la grazia non incappuccio i miei occhi 185 così col mio cappello, e non sospiro, e non dico ‘Amen’, e non uso ogni osservanza di civiltà, come uno ben esercitato in una grave apparenza per piacere alla sua nonna, non fidatevi mai più di me.
BASSANIO	Bene, vedremo il vostro contegno.
GRAZIANO	No, ma escludo stanotte. Non mi misurerete da ciò che facciamo stanotte.
BASSANIO	No, sarebbe un peccato. Vi pregherei piuttosto d’indossare il vostro abito più audace d’allegria, ché abbiamo amici che si propongono festa. Ma state bene. Ho degli affari.
GRAZIANO	E io devo andare da Lorenzo e dagli altri. Ma vi faremo visita al tempo della cena. Escono separatamente

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica and Lancelot., the clown
JESSICA	I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee. And, Lancelot, 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.
LANCELOT	Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan; most sweet Jew; if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu.
JESSICA	Farewell, good Lancelot. Exit Lancelot Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to 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

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Jessica e Lancelot., il buffone
JESSICA	Mi dispiace che tu lasci così mio padre. La nostra casa è un inferno, e tu, allegro diavolo, le toglievi un poco del sapore del tedio. Ma sta’ bene. Ecco un ducato per te. E, Lancelot, presto, a cena, vedrai Lorenzo, che è ospite del tuo nuovo padrone. Dagli questa lettera, fallo di nascosto; e così addio. Non vorrei che mio padre mi vedesse in colloquio con te.
LANCELOT	Addio. Le lacrime fanno le veci della mia lingua, bellissima pagana; dolcissima ebrea; se un cristiano non fa il furfante e non ti conquista, m’inganno di molto. Ma addio. Queste sciocche gocce annegano alquanto il mio spirito virile. Addio.
JESSICA	Addio, buon Lancelot. Esce Lancelot Ahimè, che odioso peccato è il mio a vergognarmi d’essere figlia di mio padre! Ma benché io sia figlia del suo sangue, non lo sono dei suoi costumi. O Lorenzo, se manterrai la promessa porrò fine a questa lotta, facendomi cristiana e tua amorosa sposa. Esce

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Graziano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Salanio LORENZO
(didascalia)	Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour.
GRAZIANO	We have not made good preparation.
SALERIO	We have not spoke as yet of torchbearers.
SOLANIO	’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered, And better in my mind not undertook.
LORENZO	‘Tis now but four o’clock. We have two hours To furnish us.
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot with a letter
LORENZO	Friend Lancelot, what’s the news?
LANCELOT	(presenting the letter) An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. 11
LORENZO	(taking the letter) I know the hand. In faith, ’tis a fair hand, And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ.
GRAZIANO	Love-news, in faith.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT to Lorenzo By your leave, sir.
LORENZO	Whither goest thou?
LANCELOT	Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the Christian.
LORENZO	Hold, here, take this. (Giving money) Tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her. Speak it privately. Go. Exit Lancelot Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? I am provided of a torchbearer.
SALERIO	Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
SOLANIO	And so will I.
LORENZO	Meet me and Graziano At Graziano’s lodging some hour hence.
SALERIO	’Tis good we do so. Exit with Solanio
GRAZIANO	Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
LORENZO	I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed How I shall take her from her father’s house, What gold and jewels she is furnished with, What page’s suit she hath in readiness. If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake; And never dare misfortune cross her foot Unless she do it under this excuse: That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me. Peruse this as thou goest. He gives Graziano the letter Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Graziano, Lorenzo, Salerio e Salanio LORENZO
(didascalia)	No, ce la svigneremo al tempo della cena, ci travestiremo al mio alloggio, e torneremo tutti entro un’ora.
GRAZIANO	Non abbiamo fatto buoni preparativi.
SALERIO	Non abbiamo ancora parlato dei portatori di torce.
SOLANIO	È cosa vile, se non è ordinata con garbo, e meglio, a parer mio, non intrapresa.
LORENZO	Sono appena le quattro all’orologio. Abbiamo due ore per provvederci.
(didascalia)	Entra Lancelot con una lettera
LORENZO	Amico Lancelot, che novità?
LANCELOT	(porgendo la lettera) Se vi piacerà dissuggellare questa, parrà significarlo. 11
LORENZO	(prendendo la lettera) Conosco la mano. In fede mia, è una bella mano, e più bianca della carta su cui scrisse è la bella mano che scrisse.
GRAZIANO	Novelle d’amore, in fede mia.
(didascalia)	LANCELOT a Lorenzo Con vostra licenza, signore.
LORENZO	Dove vai?
LANCELOT	Perbacco, signore, a invitare il mio vecchio padrone l’ebreo a cenare stasera col mio nuovo padrone il cristiano.
LORENZO	Ferma, ecco, prendi questo. (Dandogli del denaro) Di’ alla gentile Jessica che non le mancherò. Dillo in privato. Va’. Esce Lancelot Signori, volete prepararvi per questa mascherata stanotte? Io sono provvisto d’un portatore di torcia.
SALERIO	Sì, perbacco, vado subito a provvedere.
SOLANIO	E così farò io.
LORENZO	Trovate me e Graziano all’alloggio di Graziano fra un’ora circa.
SALERIO	È bene che facciamo così. Esce con Solanio
GRAZIANO	Non era quella lettera della bella Jessica?
LORENZO	Devo pur dirti tutto. Ella m’ha indicato come dovrò toglierla dalla casa di suo padre, di quanto oro e quanti gioielli è fornita, quale abito da paggio tiene in pronto. Se mai l’ebreo suo padre andrà in cielo sarà per amore della sua gentile figliuola; e mai osi la sventura attraversare il suo cammino se non con questa scusa: ch’ella è progenie d’un ebreo senza fede. Vieni, andiamo. Leggi questa strada facendo. Dà a Graziano la lettera La bella Jessica sarà la mia portatrice di torcia. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock the Jew and his man that was, Lancelot the clown
SHYLOCK	Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio. (Calling) What, Jessica! (To Lancelot) Thou shalt not gormandize As thou hast done with me. (Calling) What, Jessica! (To Lancelot) And sleep and snore and rend apparel out. (Calling) Why, Jessica, I say!
LANCELOT	(calling) Why, Jessica!
SHYLOCK	Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
LANCELOT	Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica
JESSICA	(to Shylock) Call you? What is your will?
SHYLOCK	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, 15 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.
LANCELOT	I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect your reproach.
SHYLOCK	So do I his.
LANCELOT	And they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a masque, but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black Monday last at six o’clock i’th’ morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in th’afternoon.
SHYLOCK	What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica, Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-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 fopp’ry enter My sober house. By Jacob’s staff I swear I have no mind of feasting forth tonight. But I will go. (To Lancelot) Go you before me, sirrah. Say I will come.
LANCELOT	I will go before, sir. (Aside to Jessica) Mistress, look out at window for all this. There will come a Christian by Will be worth a Jewës eye. Exit
SHYLOCK	(to Jessica) What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha?
JESSICA	His words were ‘Farewell, mistress’; nothing else.
SHYLOCK	The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder, Snail-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.
(didascalia)	Exit at one door
JESSICA	Farewell; and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost.
(didascalia)	Exit at another door
(didascalia)	2.6 Enter the masquers, Graziano and Salerio, with torchbearers
GRAZIANO	This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo Desired us to make stand.
SALERIO	His hour is almost past.
GRAZIANO	And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock.
SALERIO	O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly To seal love’s bonds new made than they are wont To keep obligèd faith unforfeited.
GRAZIANO	That ever holds. Who riseth 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 pace them first? All things that are Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. How like a younker or a prodigal The scarfed barque puts from her native bay, Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind! How like the prodigal doth she return, With over-weathered ribs and ragged sails, Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo, with a torch
SALERIO	Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter.
LORENZO	Sweet friends, your patience 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 therein. Approach. Here dwells my father Jew. (Calling) Ho, who’s within?
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica above in boy’s apparel
JESSICA	Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.
LORENZO	Lorenzo, and thy love.
JESSICA	Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, For who love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
LORENZO	Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
JESSICA	Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains. I am glad ’tis 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 transformèd to a boy.
LORENZO	Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.
JESSICA	What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured.
LORENZO	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.
JESSICA	I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
(didascalia)	Exit above
GRAZIANO	Now, by my hood, a gentile, and no Jew.
LORENZO	Beshrew 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica below
LORENZO	What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away. Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
(didascalia)	Exit with Jessica and Salerio
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio
ANTONIO	Who’s there?
GRAZIANO	Signor Antonio? 60
ANTONIO	Fie, fie, Graziano, where are all the rest? ‘Tis nine o’clock. Our friends all stay for you. No masque tonight. The wind is come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard. I have sent twenty out to seek for you. 65
GRAZIANO	I am glad on’t. I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone tonight. Exeunt
(didascalia)	2.7 Flourish of cornetts. Enter Portia with Morocco and both their trains
PORTIA	Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. The curtains are drawn aside, revealing three caskets (To Morocco) Now make your choice.
MOROCCO	This 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 as blunt: ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ How shall I know if I do choose the right?
PORTIA	The one of them contains my picture, Prince. If you choose that, then I am yours withal.
MOROCCO	Some god direct my judgement! Let me see. I will survey th‘inscriptions back again. What says this leaden casket? 15 ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard for lead? This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught 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 deserve 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 Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds Of wide Arabia are as throughfares 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 o‘er a brook to see fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is’t like that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation To think so base a thought. It were too gross To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she’s immured, Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? O 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 insculped 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. He is given a key
PORTIA	There, take it, Prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Morocco opens the golden casket
MOROCCO	O hell! What have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing. ‘All that 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 infold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, Your answer had not been enscrolled. Fare you well; your suit is cold.’ Cold indeed, and labour lost. Then farewell heat, and welcome frost. Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train
PORTIA	A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. The curtains are drawn. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Shylock l’ebreo e il suo servo di prima, Lancelot il buffone
SHYLOCK	Bene, vedrai, i tuoi occhi saranno il tuo giudice, la differenza fra il vecchio Shylock e Bassanio. (Chiamando) Ehi, Jessica! (A Lancelot) Non farai più il ghiottone come hai fatto con me. (Chiamando) Ehi, Jessica! (A Lancelot) E dormire e russare e sciupare i vestiti a forza. (Chiamando) Ehi, Jessica, dico!
LANCELOT	(chiamando) Ehi, Jessica!
SHYLOCK	Chi ti dice di chiamare? Io non ti dico di chiamare.
LANCELOT	Vostra signoria soleva dirmi che non sapevo far nulla senza che me lo si dicesse.
(didascalia)	Entra Jessica
JESSICA	(a Shylock) Chiamate? Qual è il vostro volere?
SHYLOCK	Sono invitato fuori a cena, Jessica. Ecco le mie chiavi. Ma perché dovrei andare? Non son invitato per amore. Mi lusingano, eppure andrò per odio, a pascermi del cristiano prodigo. Jessica, ragazza mia, 15 bada alla mia casa. Mi ripugna assai andare. Qualche male si prepara contro la mia quiete, ché stanotte ho sognato sacchi di denaro.
LANCELOT	Vi supplico, signore, andate. Il mio giovane padrone attende il vostro rimprovero.
SHYLOCK	E io il suo.
LANCELOT	E hanno cospirato insieme. Non dirò che vedrete una mascherata, ma se la vedrete, allora non fu per nulla che il mio naso si mise a sanguinare l’ultimo Lunedì Nero alle sei dell’orologio del mattino, cadendo quell’anno nel Mercoledì delle Ceneri di quattro anni fa nel pomeriggio.
SHYLOCK	Come, ci sono mascherate? Ascoltami, Jessica, chiudi a chiave le mie porte; e quando odi il tamburo e lo stridere vile del piffero dal collo storto, non t’arrampicare allora alle finestre, né sporgere il capo sulla pubblica via per fissare gli sciocchi cristiani dai volti verniciati, ma tappa le orecchie della mia casa—intendo le mie finestre. Non lasciar entrare il suono di sciocca vanità nella mia sobria casa. Per il bastone di Giacobbe giuro che non ho voglia di banchettare fuori stanotte. Ma andrò. (A Lancelot) Va’ tu innanzi a me, messere. Di’ che verrò.
LANCELOT	Andrò innanzi, signore. (A parte a Jessica) Padroncina, guardate alla finestra malgrado tutto. Passerà di qui un cristiano che varrà l’occhio d’un’ebrea. Esce
SHYLOCK	(a Jessica) Che dice quello sciocco della progenie d’Agar, eh?
JESSICA	Le sue parole furono ‘Addio, padroncina’; null’altro.
SHYLOCK	Il buffone è abbastanza buono, ma un gran mangione, lento come lumaca al profitto, e dorme di giorno più del gatto selvatico. I fuchi non fanno alveare con me; perciò me ne separo, e me ne separo a favore d’uno cui vorrei che aiutasse a dissipare la borsa presa a prestito. Bene, Jessica, entra. Forse tornerò subito. Fa’ come ti dico. Chiudi le porte dietro di te. Chi ben lega, ben ritrova— proverbio mai stantìo in mente parsimoniosa.
(didascalia)	Esce da una porta
JESSICA	Addio; e se la mia fortuna non sarà avversata, io ho perduto un padre, voi una figlia.
(didascalia)	Esce da un’altra porta

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter the masquers, Graziano and Salerio, with torchbearers
GRAZIANO	This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo Desired us to make stand.
SALERIO	His hour is almost past.
GRAZIANO	And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock.
SALERIO	O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly To seal love’s bonds new made than they are wont To keep obligèd faith unforfeited.
GRAZIANO	That ever holds. Who riseth 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 pace them first? All things that are Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. How like a younker or a prodigal The scarfed barque puts from her native bay, Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind! How like the prodigal doth she return, With over-weathered ribs and ragged sails, Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo, with a torch
SALERIO	Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter.
LORENZO	Sweet friends, your patience 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 therein. Approach. Here dwells my father Jew. (Calling) Ho, who’s within?
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica above in boy’s apparel
JESSICA	Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.
LORENZO	Lorenzo, and thy love.
JESSICA	Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, For who love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
LORENZO	Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
JESSICA	Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains. I am glad ’tis 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 transformèd to a boy.
LORENZO	Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.
JESSICA	What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured.
LORENZO	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.
JESSICA	I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
(didascalia)	Exit above
GRAZIANO	Now, by my hood, a gentile, and no Jew.
LORENZO	Beshrew 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Jessica below
LORENZO	What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away. Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
(didascalia)	Exit with Jessica and Salerio
(didascalia)	Enter Antonio
ANTONIO	Who’s there?
GRAZIANO	Signor Antonio? 60
ANTONIO	Fie, fie, Graziano, where are all the rest? ‘Tis nine o’clock. Our friends all stay for you. No masque tonight. The wind is come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard. I have sent twenty out to seek for you. 65
GRAZIANO	I am glad on’t. I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone tonight. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano i mascherati, Graziano e Salerio, con portatori di torce
GRAZIANO	Questa è la tettoia sotto la quale Lorenzo ci chiese di far sosta.
SALERIO	La sua ora è quasi passata.
GRAZIANO	Ed è meraviglia ch’egli oltrepassi la sua ora, ché gli amanti corrono sempre innanzi all’orologio.
SALERIO	Oh, dieci volte più veloci volano le colombe di Venere a suggellare i patti d’amore appena stretti che non sogliano a serbare intatta la fede giurata.
GRAZIANO	Questo vale sempre. Chi s’alza da un banchetto con quel vivo appetito con cui vi si sedette? Dov’è il cavallo che ripercorre a ritroso le sue tediose andature con l’immutato fuoco con cui le percorse la prima volta? Tutte le cose che sono sono inseguite con più ardore che godute. Come simile a un giovinetto o a un prodigo la barca imbandierata lascia la sua baia natia, stretta e abbracciata dal vento meretrice! Come simile al prodigo ritorna, con le costole logorate dalle intemperie e le vele a brandelli, magra, lacera e ridotta in miseria dal vento meretrice!
(didascalia)	Entra Lorenzo, con una torcia
SALERIO	Ecco venire Lorenzo. Di questo poi.
LORENZO	Dolci amici, la vostra pazienza per il mio lungo indugio. Non io ma i miei affari v’hanno fatto attendere. Quando vi piacerà far da ladri per delle mogli veglierò altrettanto a lungo per voi. Accostatevi. Qui abita il mio padre ebreo. (Chiamando) Olà, chi è in casa?
(didascalia)	Entra Jessica in alto, in abito da ragazzo
JESSICA	Chi siete? Ditemelo per maggior certezza, benché giurerei di conoscere la vostra voce.
LORENZO	Lorenzo, e il tuo amore.
JESSICA	Lorenzo, certo, e invero il mio amore, ché chi amo io tanto? E ora chi sa, se non voi, Lorenzo, s’io son vostra?
LORENZO	Il cielo e i tuoi pensieri son testimoni che lo sei.
JESSICA	Ecco, prendete questo scrigno. Vale la pena. Son lieta che sia notte, e che non mi guardiate, ché mi vergogno assai del mio travestimento; ma l’amore è cieco, e gli amanti non possono vedere le graziose follie che essi stessi commettono; ché se lo potessero, Cupido stesso arrossirebbe a vedermi così trasformata in ragazzo.
LORENZO	Discendi, ché devi essere la mia portatrice di torcia.
JESSICA	Come, devo reggere la candela alle mie vergogne? Esse di per sé, in verità, sono anche troppo chiare. Suvvia, è un ufficio di scoperta, amore mio, e io dovrei restare oscurata.
LORENZO	E lo sei, dolce mia, pur nel leggiadro travestimento da ragazzo. Ma vieni subito, ché la fitta notte fa la fuggitiva, e siamo attesi alla festa di Bassanio.
JESSICA	Serrerò le porte, e mi dorerò con qualche altro ducato, e sarò subito da voi.
(didascalia)	Esce dall’alto
GRAZIANO	Ora, per il mio cappuccio, una gentile, e non un’ebrea.
LORENZO	Ch’io sia maledetto se non l’amo di cuore, ché è saggia, se so giudicarla; ed è bella, se i miei occhi son veritieri; ed è fedele, come s’è dimostrata; e perciò, simile a sé stessa, saggia, bella e fedele, sarà collocata nella mia costante anima.
(didascalia)	Entra Jessica in basso
LORENZO	Come, sei venuta? Avanti, signori, via. I nostri compagni di maschera a quest’ora ci aspettano.
(didascalia)	Esce con Jessica e Salerio
(didascalia)	Entra Antonio
ANTONIO	Chi è là?
GRAZIANO	Signor Antonio? 60
ANTONIO	Ohibò, ohibò, Graziano, dove sono tutti gli altri? Sono le nove all’orologio. Tutti i nostri amici vi aspettano. Niente mascherata stanotte. Il vento è girato. Bassanio fra poco s’imbarcherà. Ne ho mandati venti a cercarvi. 65
GRAZIANO	Me ne rallegro. Non desidero maggior diletto che d’essere a vele spiegate e via stanotte. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Enter Portia with Morocco and both their trains
PORTIA	Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. The curtains are drawn aside, revealing three caskets (To Morocco) Now make your choice.
MOROCCO	This 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 as blunt: ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ How shall I know if I do choose the right?
PORTIA	The one of them contains my picture, Prince. If you choose that, then I am yours withal.
MOROCCO	Some god direct my judgement! Let me see. I will survey th‘inscriptions back again. What says this leaden casket? 15 ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard for lead? This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught 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 deserve 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 Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds Of wide Arabia are as throughfares 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 o‘er a brook to see fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is’t like that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation To think so base a thought. It were too gross To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she’s immured, Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? O 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 insculped 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. He is given a key
PORTIA	There, take it, Prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Morocco opens the golden casket
MOROCCO	O hell! What have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing. ‘All that 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 infold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, Your answer had not been enscrolled. Fare you well; your suit is cold.’ Cold indeed, and labour lost. Then farewell heat, and welcome frost. Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train
PORTIA	A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. The curtains are drawn. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Squillo di cornetti. Entra Porzia con Marocco e i séguiti d’entrambi
PORTIA	Andate, scostate le tende, e scoprite i vari scrigni a questo nobile principe. Le tende vengono scostate, rivelando tre scrigni (A Marocco) Ora fate la vostra scelta.
MAROCCO	Questo primo d’oro, che porta questa iscrizione: ‘Chi sceglie me guadagnerà ciò che molti uomini desiderano.’ Il secondo d’argento, che reca questa promessa: ‘Chi sceglie me otterrà quanto merita.’ Questo terzo d’opaco piombo, con avvertimento altrettanto rude: ‘Chi sceglie me deve dare e rischiare tutto ciò che ha.’ Come saprò se scelgo il giusto?
PORTIA	Uno di essi contiene il mio ritratto, Principe. Se scegliete quello, allora con esso sono vostra.
MAROCCO	Qualche dio diriga il mio giudizio! Vediamo. Riesaminerò ancora una volta le iscrizioni. Che dice questo scrigno di piombo? 15 ‘Chi sceglie me deve dare e rischiare tutto ciò che ha.’ Deve dare, per che cosa? Per il piombo? Rischiare per il piombo? Questo scrigno minaccia. Gli uomini che rischiano tutto lo fanno nella speranza di bei vantaggi. Una mente d’oro non s’abbassa ad apparenze di scoria. Non darò dunque né rischierò nulla per il piombo. Che dice l’argento col suo colore verginale? ‘Chi sceglie me otterrà quanto merita.’ ‘Quanto merita’: fermati lì, Marocco, e pesa il tuo valore con mano equa. Se sei stimato secondo la tua reputazione meriti abbastanza; eppure ‘abbastanza’ può non estendersi fino alla dama. Eppure temere del mio merito sarebbe solo un debole sminuirmi. Quanto io merito—ebbene, è la dama! La merito per nascita, e per fortune, per grazie, e per qualità d’educazione; ma più di queste, in amore io la merito. E se non andassi oltre, ma scegliessi qui? Vediamo ancora una volta questo motto inciso nell’oro: ‘Chi sceglie me guadagnerà ciò che molti uomini desiderano.’ Ebbene, è la dama! Tutto il mondo la desidera. Dai quattro angoli della terra vengono a baciare questo sacrario, questa santa mortale e viva. I deserti ircani e le vaste solitudini della grande Arabia sono ora come strade maestre per i principi che vengono a mirare la bella Porzia. Il regno delle acque, la cui ambiziosa cresta sputa in faccia al cielo, non è barriera a fermare gli spiriti stranieri, ma vengono come per un ruscello a vedere la bella Porzia. Uno di questi tre contiene il suo celeste ritratto. È verosimile che il piombo la contenga? Sarebbe dannazione pensare un pensiero così vile. Sarebbe troppo grossolano racchiuderne il sudario nell’oscura tomba. O penserò ch’ella sia murata nell’argento, che vale dieci volte meno dell’oro provato? O pensiero peccaminoso! Mai gemma così ricca fu incastonata in meno che oro. Hanno in Inghilterra una moneta che porta la figura d’un angelo impressa nell’oro, ma quello è scolpito di fuori; qui invece un angelo in un letto d’oro giace tutto dentro. Datemi la chiave. Qui scelgo, e mi vada come può. Gli viene data una chiave
PORTIA	Ecco, prendetela, Principe; e se la mia effigie giace là, allora sono vostra. Marocco apre lo scrigno d’oro
MAROCCO	O inferno! Che abbiamo qui? Un teschio di morte, nel cui occhio vuoto c’è un rotolo scritto. Leggerò lo scritto. ‘Non è oro tutto ciò che luccica; spesso l’avete udito dire. Più d’un uomo ha venduto la vita solo per mirare il mio esterno. Le tombe dorate racchiudono vermi. Foste stato saggio quanto audace, giovane di membra, vecchio di giudizio, la vostra risposta non sarebbe stata in rotolo. State bene; la vostra domanda è fredda.’ Fredda invero, e fatica sprecata. Addio dunque calore, e benvenuto gelo. Porzia, addio. Ho il cuore troppo afflitto per un tedioso commiato. Così partono i perdenti.
(didascalia)	Squillo di cornetti. Esce col suo séguito
PORTIA	Un gentile sbarazzarsi. Tirate le tende, andate. Che tutti quelli del suo colorito mi scelgano così. Le tende vengono tirate. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Salerio and Solanio
SALERIO	Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail. With him is Graziano gone along, And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
SOLANIO	The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke, Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
SALERIO	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.
SOLANIO	I never heard a passion so confused, So strange, outrageous, and so variable As the dog Jew did utter in the streets. ‘My daughter! O, my ducats! O, my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O, my Christian ducats I Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter! A sealed bag, two sealèd bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter! And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats!’
SALERIO	Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, ‘His stones, his daughter, and his ducats!’
SOLANIO	Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this.
SALERIO	Marry, well remembered. I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday, Who told me in the narrow seas that part The French and 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.
SOLANIO	You were best to tell Antonio what you hear— Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
SALERIO	A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. Bassanio told him he would make some speed Of his return. He answered, ‘Do not so. Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time; And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of love. Be merry, 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.
SOLANIO	I think he only loves the world for him. I pray thee let us go and find him out, And quicken his embraced heaviness With some delight or other.
SALERIO	Do we so. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Salerio e Solanio
SALERIO	Ma amico, io ho visto Bassanio a vele spiegate. Con lui è partito Graziano, e sulla loro nave, ne son certo, Lorenzo non c’è.
SOLANIO	Il malvagio ebreo con le sue grida destò il Duca, che andò con lui a frugare la nave di Bassanio.
SALERIO	Giunse troppo tardi. La nave era a vele spiegate. Ma là fu dato al Duca d’intendere che in una gondola erano stati visti insieme Lorenzo e la sua amorosa Jessica. Inoltre, Antonio assicurò al Duca che non erano con Bassanio sulla sua nave.
SOLANIO	Mai udii una passione così confusa, così strana, oltraggiosa e così mutevole come quella che il cane d’ebreo proferì per le strade. ‘Mia figlia! O, i miei ducati! O, mia figlia! Fuggita con un cristiano! O, i miei ducati cristiani I Giustizia! La legge! I miei ducati e mia figlia! Un sacco sigillato, due sacchi sigillati di ducati, di doppi ducati, rubatimi da mia figlia! E gioielli, due pietre, due ricche e preziose pietre, rubate da mia figlia! Giustizia! Trovate la ragazza! Ha le pietre addosso, e i ducati!’
SALERIO	Ma sì, tutti i ragazzi di Venezia gli van dietro, gridando: ‘Le sue pietre, sua figlia e i suoi ducati!’
SOLANIO	Bada il buon Antonio di rispettare la sua scadenza, o pagherà per questo.
SALERIO	Perbacco, ben ricordato. Ieri ragionavo con un francese, il quale mi disse che nei mari stretti che dividono i francesi dagli inglesi là naufragò un vascello del nostro paese, riccamente carico. Pensai ad Antonio quando me lo disse, e augurai in silenzio che non fosse suo.
SOLANIO	Fareste bene a dire ad Antonio ciò che udite— ma non di colpo, ché potrebbe affliggerlo.
SALERIO	Gentiluomo più cortese non calca la terra. Vidi Bassanio e Antonio separarsi. Bassanio gli disse che avrebbe messo un po’ di fretta nel suo ritorno. Egli rispose: ‘Non far così. Non sciupare gli affari per amor mio, Bassanio, ma aspetta il pieno maturare del tempo; e quanto all’obbligazione dell’ebreo ch’egli ha di me, non entri nella tua mente d’amore. Sii allegro, e volgi i tuoi pensieri principali al corteggiamento e a quelle belle manifestazioni d’amore che convenientemente ti si addicono colà.’ E proprio allora, l’occhio gonfio di lacrime, volgendo il viso, portò la mano dietro di sé e, con affetto mirabilmente sensibile, strinse la mano di Bassanio; e così si separarono.
SOLANIO	Credo ch’egli ami il mondo soltanto per lui. Ti prego, andiamo a cercarlo, e ravviviamo la sua abbracciata mestizia con qualche diletto o altro.
SALERIO	Facciamolo. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Nerissa and a servitor
NERISSA	Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight. The Prince of Aragon hath ta’en his oath, And comes to his election presently.
(didascalia)	The servitor draws aside the curtain, revealing the three caskets. Flourish of cornetts. Enter Aragon, his train, and Portia
PORTIA	Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince. If you choose that wherein I am contained, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized. But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately.
ARAGON	I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to anyone 10 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. 15
PORTIA	To these injunctions everyone doth swear That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARAGON	And so have I addressed me. Fortune now To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead. He reads the leaden casket ‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see. ‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’ ‘What many men desire’—that ‘many’ may be meant By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, Which pries not to th’interior but, like the martlet, 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 chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves’— And well said too, for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume To wear an undeserved dignity. O, that estates, 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 to my choice. ‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’ I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
(didascalia)	He is given a key. He opens the silver casket
PORTIA	Too long a pause for that which you find there.
ARAGON	What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot Presenting me a schedule. I will read it. How much unlike art thou to Portia! How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! ‘Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.’ Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head? Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
PORTIA	To offend and judge are distinct offices, And of opposed natures.
ARAGON	What is here? He reads the schedule ‘The fire seven times tried this; Seven times tried that judgement is That did never choose amiss. Some there be that shadows kiss; Such have but a shadow’s bliss. There be fools alive, iwis, Silvered o’er; 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 wroth.
(didascalia)	Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train
PORTIA	Thus hath the candle singed the moth. O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. 80
NERISSA	The ancient saying is no heresy: Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
PORTIA	Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Nerissa draws the curtain.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	Where is my lady?
PORTIA	Here. What would my lord?
MESSENGER	Madam, there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian, one that comes before To signify th’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 90 So likely an ambassador of love. A day in April never came so sweet To show how costly summer was at hand As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
PORTIA	No more, I pray thee, I am half afeard Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him. Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.
NERISSA	Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be! Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Nerissa e un servitore
NERISSA	Presto, presto, ti prego, tira subito la tenda. Il Principe d’Aragona ha prestato il suo giuramento, e viene fra poco alla sua scelta.
(didascalia)	Il servitore scosta la tenda, rivelando i tre scrigni. Squillo di cornetti. Entrano Aragona, il suo séguito e Porzia
PORTIA	Ecco, là stanno gli scrigni, nobile Principe. Se scegliete quello in cui io son contenuta, subito saranno celebrati i nostri riti nuziali. Ma se fallite, senz’altre parole, mio signore, dovrete andarvene di qui immediatamente.
ARAGONA	Son vincolato da giuramento a osservare tre cose: primo, di non svelare mai ad alcuno 10 quale scrigno io scelsi. Poi, se sbaglio lo scrigno giusto, di non corteggiare mai in vita mia una fanciulla in vista di matrimonio. Infine, se fallisco nella fortuna della mia scelta, d’abbandonarvi subito e andarmene. 15
PORTIA	A queste ingiunzioni giura ognuno che venga a rischiare per la mia indegna persona.
ARAGONA	E così mi son disposto. Fortuna, ora, alla speranza del mio cuore! Oro, argento e vile piombo. Legge lo scrigno di piombo ‘Chi sceglie me deve dare e rischiare tutto ciò che ha.’ Dovrai apparire più bello prima ch’io dia o rischi. Che dice la cassa d’oro? Ah, vediamo. ‘Chi sceglie me guadagnerà ciò che molti uomini desiderano.’ ‘Ciò che molti uomini desiderano’—quel ‘molti’ può intendersi della sciocca moltitudine, che sceglie secondo l’apparenza, non imparando più di quanto l’occhio credulo insegni, che non fruga nell’interno ma, come la rondine, costruisce all’aperto sul muro esterno, proprio nella forza e nella via del caso. Non sceglierò ciò che molti uomini desiderano, perché non voglio saltare insieme agli spiriti comuni e mettermi in fila con le barbare moltitudini. Ebbene, a te, dunque, tu argentea casa del tesoro. Dimmi ancora una volta quale motto porti. ‘Chi sceglie me otterrà quanto merita’— e ben detto anche, ché chi mai s’adopererà a truffare la fortuna, e a esser onorato senza l’impronta del merito? Nessuno presuma di portare una dignità immeritata. Oh, se i possedimenti, i gradi e le cariche non fossero ottenuti corrottamente, e se il puro onore fosse comprato col merito di chi lo porta! Quanti allora si coprirebbero il capo, che ora stanno scoperti, quanti sarebbero comandati, che ora comandano? Quanta bassa villania sarebbe allora spigolata dal vero seme dell’onore, e quanto onore raccolto dalla pula e dalla rovina dei tempi per esser rinverniciato? Bene; ma alla mia scelta. ‘Chi sceglie me otterrà quanto merita.’ Presumerò il merito. Datemi una chiave per questo, e all’istante schiudete qui le mie fortune.
(didascalia)	Gli viene data una chiave. Apre lo scrigno d’argento
PORTIA	Troppo lunga pausa per ciò che vi trovate.
ARAGONA	Che c’è qui? Il ritratto d’un idiota che batte le palpebre e mi porge un foglio. Lo leggerò. Quanto sei dissimile da Porzia! Quanto dissimile dalle mie speranze e dai miei meriti! ‘Chi sceglie me avrà quanto merita.’ Non meritavo più d’una testa di sciocco? È questo il mio premio? I miei meriti non valgon di più?
PORTIA	Offendere e giudicare sono uffici distinti, e di nature opposte.
ARAGONA	Che c’è qui? Legge il foglio ‘Il fuoco provò questo sette volte; sette volte provato è quel giudizio che non scelse mai male. V’è chi bacia soltanto ombre; costui non ha che la beatitudine d’un’ombra. Vi son sciocchi vivi, davvero, inargentati di fuori; e tale era questo. Prendi a letto qual moglie ti piaccia, io sarò sempre la tua testa. Dunque va’; sei spacciato.’ Ancor più sciocco apparirò col tempo che indugio qui. Con una testa di sciocco venni a corteggiare, ma me ne vado con due. Dolce, addio. Manterrò il mio giuramento e sopporterò pazientemente il mio cruccio.
(didascalia)	Squillo di cornetti. Esce col suo séguito
PORTIA	Così la candela ha bruciacchiato la falena. Oh, questi sciocchi ponderati! Quando scelgono hanno la saggezza di perdere col loro ingegno. 80
NERISSA	L’antico detto non è eresia: l’impiccarsi e l’ammogliarsi vanno per destino.
PORTIA	Vieni, tira la tenda, Nerissa. Nerissa tira la tenda.
(didascalia)	Entra un Messaggero
MESSAGGERO	Dov’è la mia signora?
PORTIA	Qui. Che vuole il mio signore?
MESSAGGERO	Signora, è smontato al vostro cancello un giovane veneziano, che viene innanzi a segnalare l’avvicinarsi del suo signore, dal quale reca sensibili saluti, vale a dire, oltre a complimenti e cortesi parole, doni di gran pregio. Non ho ancora veduto 90 un ambasciatore d’amore così promettente. Mai giorno d’aprile venne così dolce a mostrare quanto sontuosa fosse l’estate vicina come questo precursore viene innanzi al suo signore.
PORTIA	Basta, ti prego, ho quasi paura che fra poco tu dica ch’egli t’è parente, tanto spendi ingegno da giorno di festa a lodarlo. Vieni, vieni, Nerissa, ché non vedo l’ora di scorgere il pronto corriere di Cupido che viene con tanta grazia.
NERISSA	Bassanio, Signore Amore, se tale è il tuo volere! Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Solanio and Salerio
SOLANIO	Now, what news on the Rialto?
SALERIO	Why, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas—the Goodwins I think they call the place—a 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.
SOLANIO	I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger or made her neighbours 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—O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company—
SALERIO	Come, the full stop.
SOLANIO	Ha, what sayst thou? Why, the end is he hath lost a ship.
SALERIO	I would it might prove the end of his losses.
SOLANIO	Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer—
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock
SOLANIO	for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. How now, Shylock, what news among the merchants?
SHYLOCK	You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight.
SALERIO	That’s certain. I for my part knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal.
SOLANIO	And Shylock for his own part knew the bird was fledge, and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam.
SHYLOCK	She is damned for it.
SALERIO	That’s certain, if the devil may be her judge.
SHYLOCK	My own flesh and blood to rebel!
SOLANIO	Out upon it, old carrion, rebels it at these years?
SHYLOCK	I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood.
SALERIO	There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no?
SHYLOCK	There I have another bad match. A bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond. He was wont to call me usurer: let him look to his bond. He was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy: let him look to his bond.
SALERIO	Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?
SHYLOCK	To bait fish withal. 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, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his 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 a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
(didascalia)	Enter a Man from Antonio
MAN	(to Solanio and Salerio) Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both.
SALERIO	We have been up and down to seek him.
(didascalia)	Enter Tubal
SOLANIO	Here comes another of the tribe. A third cannot be matched unless the devil himself turn Jew.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Solanio and Salerio, with Antonio’s Man
SHYLOCK	How now, Tubal? What news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter?
TUBAL	I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.
SHYLOCK	Why, there, there, there, there. A diamond gone cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt. The curse never fell upon our nation till now—I never felt it till now. Two thousand ducats in that and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin! No 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, nor no ill luck stirring but what lights o’ my shoulders, no sighs but o’ my breathing, no tears but o’ my shedding.
TUBAL	Yes, other men have ill luck too. Antonio, as I heard in Genoa—
SHYLOCK	What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?
TUBAL	Hath an argosy cast away coming from Tripolis.
SHYLOCK	I thank God, I thank God! Is it true, is it true?
TUBAL	I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck.
SHYLOCK	I thank thee, good Tubal. Good news, good news! Ha, ha—heard in Genoa?
TUBAL	Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night fourscore ducats.
SHYLOCK	Thou stick’st a dagger in me. I shall never see my gold again. Fourscore ducats at a sitting? Fourscore ducats?
TUBAL	There came divers of Antonio’s creditors in my company to Venice that swear he cannot choose but break.
SHYLOCK	I am very glad of it. I’ll plague him, I’ll torture him. I am glad of it. 109
TUBAL	One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.
SHYLOCK	Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal. It was my turquoise. I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. TUBAL, But Antonio is certainly undone.
SHYLOCK	Nay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, 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 what merchandise I will. Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. Go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. Exeunt severally

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Solanio e Salerio
SOLANIO	Allora, che notizie sul Rialto?
SALERIO	Ebbene, corre ancora colà senza smentita la voce che Antonio abbia una nave di ricco carico naufragata nei mari stretti—i Goodwins, credo chiamino il luogo—una secca assai pericolosa, e fatale, dove giacciono sepolte le carcasse di più d’una gran nave, a quel che dicono, se la mia comare Fama è donna onesta di parola.
SOLANIO	Vorrei che fosse comare bugiarda in questo quanto mai ne sgranocchiò zenzero o fece credere alle vicine che piangeva per la morte d’un terzo marito. Ma è vero, senza scivoloni di prolissità o traversare la piana strada maestra del discorso, che il buon Antonio, l’onesto Antonio—oh, avessi io un titolo abbastanza buono da far compagnia al suo nome—
SALERIO	Suvvia, il punto fermo.
SOLANIO	Eh, che dici? Ebbene, la fine è che ha perduto una nave.
SALERIO	Vorrei che si dimostrasse la fine delle sue perdite.
SOLANIO	Lasciami dire amen per tempo, che il diavolo non attraversi la mia preghiera—
(didascalia)	Entra Shylock
SOLANIO	ché eccolo venire in sembianza d’ebreo. Ebbene, Shylock, che notizie tra i mercanti?
SHYLOCK	Voi sapevate, nessuno così bene, nessuno così bene come voi, della fuga di mia figlia.
SALERIO	Questo è certo. Io per parte mia conoscevo il sarto che fece le ali con cui volò via.
SOLANIO	E Shylock per parte sua sapeva che l’uccello aveva messo le penne, e allora è nell’indole di tutti loro lasciare la madre.
SHYLOCK	Ella è dannata per questo.
SALERIO	Questo è certo, se il diavolo può esserle giudice.
SHYLOCK	La mia stessa carne e il mio sangue ribellarsi!
SOLANIO	Vergogna, vecchia carogna, si ribella a questi anni?
SHYLOCK	Dico che mia figlia è la mia carne e il mio sangue.
SALERIO	C’è più differenza tra la tua carne e la sua che tra il giaietto e l’avorio; più tra i vostri sangui che tra il vino rosso e il renano. Ma dicci, hai sentito se Antonio abbia avuto qualche perdita in mare o no?
SHYLOCK	Là ho un altro cattivo affare. Un fallito, un prodigo, che a stento osa mostrare il capo sul Rialto; un pezzente, che soleva venire così azzimato al mercato. Badi alla sua obbligazione. Soleva chiamarmi usuraio: badi alla sua obbligazione. Soleva prestar denaro per cristiana cortesia: badi alla sua obbligazione.
SALERIO	Ma via, son certo che se non paga tu non prenderai la sua carne. A che serve quella?
SHYLOCK	Ad adescar pesci. Se non nutrirà altro, nutrirà la mia vendetta. Egli m’ha svergognato, e ostacolato per mezzo milione; ha riso delle mie perdite, s’è beffato dei miei guadagni, ha schernito la mia nazione, contrariato i miei affari, raffreddato i miei amici, riscaldato i miei nemici—e qual è la sua ragione?—Sono un ebreo. Non ha occhi un ebreo? Non ha mani un ebreo, organi, dimensioni, sensi, affetti, passioni; nutrito con lo stesso cibo, ferito con le stesse armi, soggetto alle stesse malattie, sanato con gli stessi mezzi, riscaldato e raffreddato dallo stesso inverno e dalla stessa estate d’un cristiano? Se ci pungete, non sanguiniamo? Se ci fate il solletico, non ridiamo? Se ci avvelenate, non moriamo? E se ci fate torto, non ci vendicheremo? Se vi somigliamo nel resto, vi rassomiglieremo anche in questo. Se un ebreo fa torto a un cristiano, qual è la sua umiltà? Vendetta. Se un cristiano fa torto a un ebreo, quale dovrebbe essere la sua sopportazione secondo l’esempio cristiano? Ma vendetta. La villania che m’insegnate io la eseguirò, e sarà ben difficile ch’io non superi l’insegnamento.
(didascalia)	Entra un Uomo da parte di Antonio
UOMO	(a Solanio e Salerio) Signori, il mio padrone Antonio è alla sua casa e desidera parlare con voi due.
SALERIO	Siamo andati su e giù a cercarlo.
(didascalia)	Entra Tubal
SOLANIO	Ecco venire un altro della tribù. Un terzo non si potrebbe appaiare, a meno che il diavolo stesso non si faccia ebreo.
(didascalia)	Escono Solanio e Salerio, con l’Uomo di Antonio
SHYLOCK	Ebbene, Tubal? Che notizie da Genova? Hai trovato mia figlia?
TUBAL	Spesso son giunto dove sentii parlare di lei, ma non riesco a trovarla.
SHYLOCK	Ma sì, ecco, ecco, ecco, ecco. Un diamante andato, costatomi duemila ducati a Francoforte. La maledizione non era mai caduta sulla nostra nazione fino ad ora—io non l’avevo mai sentita fino ad ora. Duemila ducati in quello, e altri preziosi, preziosi gioielli. Vorrei che mia figlia giacesse morta ai miei piedi con i gioielli all’orecchio! Fosse ella nel feretro ai miei piedi e i ducati nella sua bara! Nessuna notizia di loro? Ebbene, sia. E non so quanto s’è speso nella ricerca. Ah tu, perdita su perdita: il ladro fuggito con tanto, e tanto per trovare il ladro, e nessuna soddisfazione, nessuna vendetta, né mala sorte in giro se non quella che cade sulle mie spalle, né sospiri se non del mio respiro, né lacrime se non del mio pianto.
TUBAL	Sì, anche altri uomini hanno mala sorte. Antonio, come ho sentito a Genova—
SHYLOCK	Che, che, che? Mala sorte, mala sorte?
TUBAL	Ha perduto un galeone venendo da Tripoli.
SHYLOCK	Ringrazio Dio, ringrazio Dio! È vero, è vero?
TUBAL	Ho parlato con alcuni dei marinai scampati al naufragio.
SHYLOCK	Ti ringrazio, buon Tubal. Buone notizie, buone notizie! Ah, ah—sentito a Genova?
TUBAL	Vostra figlia ha speso a Genova, come ho sentito, in una sola notte ottanta ducati.
SHYLOCK	Mi conficchi un pugnale addosso. Non rivedrò mai più il mio oro. Ottanta ducati in una sola seduta? Ottanta ducati?
TUBAL	Vennero con me a Venezia diversi creditori di Antonio che giurano ch’egli non può far altro che fallire.
SHYLOCK	Ne sono molto lieto. Lo tormenterò, lo torturerò. Ne sono lieto. 109
TUBAL	Uno di loro mi mostrò un anello che ebbe da vostra figlia in cambio d’una scimmia.
SHYLOCK	Vergogna a lei! Mi torturi, Tubal. Era il mio turchese. L’ebbi da Lia quand’ero scapolo. Non l’avrei dato per una selva di scimmie. TUBAL, Ma Antonio è certamente rovinato.
SHYLOCK	Sì, è vero, è verissimo. Va’, Tubal, assoldami un ufficiale. Ingaggialo quindici giorni prima. Avrò il suo cuore se non paga, ché, fosse lui fuori di Venezia, posso fare quali mercanzie voglio. Va’, Tubal, e raggiungimi alla nostra sinagoga. Va’, buon Tubal; alla nostra sinagoga, Tubal. Escono separatamente

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Portia, Nerissa, Graziano, and all their trains. The curtains are drawn aside revealing the three caskets
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) I pray you tarry. 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 counsels not in such a quality. 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. Beshrew your eyes, They have o‘erlooked me and divided me. 15 One half of me is yours, the other half yours— Mine own, I would say, but if mine, then yours, And so all yours. O, 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 ’tis to piece the time, To eke it, and to draw it out in length To stay you from election.
BASSANIO	Let me choose, For as I am, I live upon the rack. 25
PORTIA	Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess What treason there is mingled with your love.
BASSANIO	None but that ugly treason of mistrust Which makes me fear th‘enjoying of my love. There may as well be amity and life ’Tween snow and fire as treason and my love.
PORTIA	Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, Where men enforced do speak anything.
BASSANIO	Promise me life and I’ll confess the truth.
PORTIA	Well then, confess and live.
BASSANIO	’Confess and love’ 35 Had been the very sum of my confession. O happy torment, when my torturer Doth teach me answers for deliverance! But let me to my fortune and the caskets.
PORTIA	Away then. I am locked in one of them. If you do love me, you will find me out. Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. Let music sound while he doth make his choice. Then if he lose he makes a swanlike end, Fading in music. That the comparison May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream And wat‘ry 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 blearèd visages come forth to view The issue of th’exploit. Go, Hercules. Live thou, I live. With much much more dismay I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.
(didascalia)	Here music. A song the whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself
(didascalia)	ONE FROM PORTIA’S TRAIN
PORTIA	Tell me where is fancy bred, Or in the heart, or in the head? How begot, how nourished?
(didascalia)	ALL Reply, reply.
(didascalia)	ONE FROM PORTIA’S TRAIN
PORTIA	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.
ALL	Ding, dong, bell.
BASSANIO	(aside) 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 damned error but some sober brow Will bless it and approve it with a text, Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? 80 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 valour’s excrement To render them redoubted. Look on beauty And you shall see ‘tis purchased by the weight, Which therein works a miracle in nature, 90 Making them lightest that wear most of it. So are those crisped, snaky, golden locks Which makes such wanton gambols with the wind Upon supposed fairness, often known To be the dowry of a second head, The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. 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. (Aloud) Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. (To the silver casket) 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 than eloquence, 106 And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!
PORTIA	(aside) How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, And shudd’ring fear, and green-eyed jealousy. 110 O love, be moderate! Allay thy ecstasy. In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess. I feel too much thy blessing: make it less, For fear I surfeit. Bassanio opens the leaden casket
BASSANIO	What find I here? Fair Portia’s counterfeit. What demi-god 115 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’untrap the hearts of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes— How could he see to do them? Having made one, 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. ‘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.’ 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, That thinks he hath done well in people’s eyes, Hearing applause and universal shout, Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt Whether those peals of praise be his or no. So, thrice-fair lady, stand I even so, As doubtful whether what I see be true Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you.
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 virtues, beauties, livings, friends, Exceed account. But the full sum of me Is sum of something which, to term in gross, Is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised, 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 170 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, And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
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 beloved prince there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased multitude, 180 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.
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 ladyl’
GRAZIANO	My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish, For I am sure you can wish none from me. And when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you Even at that time I may be married too.
BASSANIO	With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.
GRAZIANO	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 that your fortune Achieved her mistress.
PORTIA	Is this true, Nerissa?
NERISSA	Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal.
BASSANIO	And do you, Graziano, mean good faith? 210
GRAZIANO	Yes, faith, my lord.
BASSANIO	Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage.
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) We’ll play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats.
NERISSA	What, and stake down?
GRAZIANO	No, we shall ne’er win at that sport and stake down.
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a messenger from Venice
GRAZIANO	But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel! What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio!
BASSANIO	Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither, If that the youth of my new int’rest here Have power to bid you welcome. (To Portia) By your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome.
PORTIA	So do I, my lord. They are entirely welcome.
LORENZO	I thank your honour. 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.
SALERIO	I did, my lord, And I have reason for it. Signor Antonio Commends him to you. He gives Bassanio a letter
BASSANIO	Ere I ope his letter I pray you tell me how my good friend doth.
SALERIO	Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind. His letter there Will show you his estate. Bassanio opens the letter and reads
GRAZIANO	Nerissa, (indicating Jessica) cheer yon stranger. Bid her welcome. 235 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.
SALERIO	I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost.
PORTIA	There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper That steals the colour 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, And I must freely have the half of anything That this same paper brings you.
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 I told 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, The paper as the body of my friend, And every word in it a gaping wound Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio? Hath all his ventures failed? What, not one hit? 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, The Duke himself, and the magnificoes Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him, But none can drive him from the envious plea 280 Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.
JESSICA	When I was with him I have heard him swear To Tubal and to Cush, 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.
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?
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 honour more appears Than any that draws breath in Italy.
PORTIA	What sum owes he the Jew?
BASSANIO	For me, three thousand ducats.
PORTIA	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 thorough 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 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. 310 Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. But let me hear the letter of your friend.
(didascalia)	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.’
PORTIA	O, love! Dispatch all business, and be gone.
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 Nor rest be interposer ’twixt us twain. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Bassanio, Porzia, Nerissa, Graziano e tutti i loro séguiti. Le tende sono scostate, rivelando i tre scrigni
PORTIA	(a Bassanio) Vi prego, indugiate. Attendete un giorno o due prima d’arrischiare, ché scegliendo male io perdo la vostra compagnia. Dunque astenetevi un poco. C’è qualcosa che mi dice—ma non è amore— che non vorrei perdervi; e voi stesso sapete che l’odio non consiglia in tal maniera. Ma perché non abbiate a intendermi bene— e tuttavia una fanciulla non ha lingua se non il pensiero— vorrei trattenervi qui un mese o due prima che v’avventuriate per me. Potrei insegnarvi come scegliere giusto, ma allora sarei spergiura. Tale non sarò mai; e così potreste perdermi. Ma se accadrà, mi farete desiderare un peccato, d’essere stata spergiura. Maledetti i vostri occhi, m’hanno adocchiata e divisa in due. 15 Una metà di me è vostra, l’altra metà vostra— mia, volevo dire, ma se mia, allora vostra, e così tutta vostra. Oh, questi tempi cattivi mettono sbarre tra i proprietari e i loro diritti; e così, benché vostra, non vostra. Se così è, vada la fortuna all’inferno per questo, non io. Parlo troppo a lungo, ma è per rappezzare il tempo, per allungarlo, e tirarlo per le lunghe a trattenervi dalla scelta.
BASSANIO	Lasciatemi scegliere, ché come sono, vivo sulla tortura. 25
PORTIA	Sulla tortura, Bassanio? Allora confessate quale tradimento sia mescolato al vostro amore.
BASSANIO	Nessuno, se non quel brutto tradimento della diffidenza che mi fa temere il godimento del mio amore. Potrà esservi tanto bene amicizia e vita tra neve e fuoco quanto tradimento e il mio amore.
PORTIA	Sì, ma temo che parliate sulla tortura, dove gli uomini forzati dicono qualsiasi cosa.
BASSANIO	Promettetemi la vita e confesserò la verità.
PORTIA	Bene allora, confessate e vivete.
BASSANIO	’Confessa e ama’ 35 sarebbe stata la somma stessa della mia confessione. Oh, felice tormento, quando il mio torturatore m’insegna le risposte per la liberazione! Ma lasciatemi alla mia fortuna e agli scrigni.
PORTIA	Via dunque. Io son chiusa in uno di essi. Se m’amate, mi troverete. Nerissa e gli altri, state tutti in disparte. Suoni la musica mentre egli fa la sua scelta. Allora, se perde, farà una fine da cigno, svanendo in musica. Perché il paragone stia più proprio, l’occhio mio sarà il ruscello e l’acqueo letto di morte per lui. Può vincere, e che cos’è allora la musica? Allora la musica è proprio come la fanfara quando i sudditi fedeli s’inchinano a un monarca incoronato di fresco. Tale essa è quale son quei dolci suoni allo spuntar del giorno che s’insinuano nell’orecchio dello sposo sognante e lo chiamano alle nozze. Ora egli va, con non minor presenza ma con molto più amore del giovane Alcide, quando riscattò il vergineo tributo pagato da Troia ululante al mostro marino. Io sto per la vittima. Gli altri in disparte sono le mogli dardanie, coi visi lacrimosi venute a mirare l’esito dell’impresa. Va’, Ercole. Vivi tu, ed io vivo. Con molto, molto più sgomento io miro la lotta di te che la sostieni.
(didascalia)	Qui musica. Una canzone mentre Bassanio commenta tra sé gli scrigni
(didascalia)	UNO DEL SÉGUITO DI PORZIA
PORTIA	Dimmi dove nasce la fantasia, o nel cuore, o nella testa? Come generata, come nutrita?
(didascalia)	TUTTI Rispondete, rispondete.
(didascalia)	UNO DEL SÉGUITO DI PORZIA
PORTIA	È generata negli occhi, di sguardi nutrita; e la fantasia muore nella culla dove giace. Suoniamo tutti a morto per la fantasia. Io comincio: din, don, campana.
ALL	Din, don, campana.
BASSANIO	(a parte) Così le apparenze esteriori possono essere meno che se stesse. Il mondo è sempre ingannato dall’ornamento. In legge, qual causa tanto guasta e corrotta che, condita da una voce graziosa, non occulti l’aspetto del male? In religione, quale dannato errore che qualche fronte severa non benedica e non approvi con un testo, nascondendo la sozzura con bell’ornamento? 80 Non v’è vizio tanto schietto che non assuma qualche segno di virtù nelle sue parti esterne. Quanti codardi, i cui cuori sono falsi come scale di sabbia, portano tuttavia sul mento le barbe d’Ercole e di Marte accigliato, che, frugati dentro, hanno fegati bianchi come latte? E costoro assumono solo l’escremento del valore per rendersi temuti. Guarda la bellezza e vedrai ch’è comprata a peso, il che opera in ciò un miracolo di natura, 90 rendendo più leggere quelle che più ne portano. Così son quei ricci serpentini, quelle chiome d’oro che fanno tali lascive capriole col vento sopra una presunta avvenenza, spesso risaputi essere la dote d’una seconda testa, del teschio che li nutrì nel sepolcro. Così l’ornamento non è che la riva insidiosa d’un mare pericolosissimo, la bella sciarpa che vela una bellezza indiana; in una parola, la parvenza di verità che i tempi astuti indossano per irretire i più saggi. (Ad alta voce) Perciò, tu vistoso oro, duro cibo per Mida, non voglio nulla di te. (Allo scrigno d’argento) Né nulla di te, tu pallido e volgare mezzano tra uomo e uomo. Ma tu, tu magro piombo, che più minacci di quanto nulla prometta, il tuo pallore mi muove più dell’eloquenza, 106 e qui scelgo io. Sia gioia la conseguenza!
PORTIA	(a parte) Come tutte le altre passioni svaniscono nell’aria: i pensieri dubbiosi, e la disperazione abbracciata a precipizio, e la paura tremante, e la gelosia dagli occhi verdi. 110 Oh amore, sii moderato! Placa la tua estasi. Piovi con misura la tua gioia; modera questo eccesso. Sento troppo la tua benedizione: falla minore, per paura ch’io ne sia sazio. Bassanio apre lo scrigno di piombo
BASSANIO	Che trovo qui? Il ritratto della bella Porzia. Qual semidio 115 s’è tanto avvicinato alla creazione? Si muovono questi occhi? O forse, cavalcando sulle pupille dei miei, sembrano in moto? Ecco labbra socchiuse divise da un fiato di zucchero. Sì dolce barriera dovrebbe separare sì dolci amiche. Qui nei suoi capelli il pittore fa il ragno, e ha tessuto una rete d’oro per irretire i cuori degli uomini più presto che moscerini nelle ragnatele. Ma i suoi occhi— come poté vedere per farli? Fattone uno, parmi che avrebbe avuto il potere di rubargli entrambi i suoi e lasciar se stesso spoglio. Eppure, guarda quanto la sostanza della mia lode fa torto a quest’ombra sottovalutandola, altrettanto quest’ombra zoppica dietro la sostanza. Ecco il rotolo, il contenente e il sommario della mia fortuna. ‘Tu che non scegli per la vista hai sorte altrettanto bella e scelta altrettanto vera. Poiché questa fortuna a te tocca, sii contento, e non cercarne nuova. Se di questa sei ben contento, e tieni la tua fortuna per tua beatitudine, volgiti là dov’è la tua dama, e reclamala con un bacio d’amore.’ Gentile rotolo. Bella dama, con vostra licenza, vengo per ordine a dare e a ricevere, come uno di due contendenti a un premio, che crede d’aver fatto bene agli occhi della gente, udendo applausi e grido universale, stordito nello spirito, ancora fissando in un dubbio se quegli scrosci di lode siano suoi o no. Così, tre volte bella dama, io sto appunto così, dubbioso se quel che vedo sia vero finché non sia confermato, firmato, ratificato da voi.
PORTIA	Voi mi vedete, signor Bassanio, qui dove sto, tale quale sono. Benché per me sola non sarei ambiziosa nel mio desiderio di volermi assai migliore, pure per voi vorrei essere venti volte triplicata, mille volte più bella, diecimila volte più ricca, sì che, solo per stare alta nella vostra stima, io potessi in virtù, bellezze, beni, amici, superare ogni stima. Ma la somma intera di me è somma di qualcosa che, a dirla alla grossa, è una ragazza senza ammaestramento, senza scuola, senza pratica, felice in questo, che non è ancora tanto vecchia da non poter imparare; più felice ancora, che non è nata tanto ottusa da non poter imparare; felicissima infine perché il suo gentile spirito si affida al vostro per esser guidato come dal suo signore, dal suo governatore, dal suo re. Me stessa e ciò ch’è mio a voi e ai vostri è ora convertito. Or ora io ero la signora di questa bella dimora, padrona dei miei servi, regina di me stessa; e proprio ora, or ora, questa casa, questi servi, e questa me stessa 170 son vostri, del mio signore. Li do con questo anello, dal quale quando vi separerete, o lo perderete, o lo darete via, sia presagio della rovina del vostro amore, e mio vantaggio per gridare contro di voi.
BASSANIO	Signora, m’avete privato d’ogni parola. Solo il mio sangue vi parla nelle mie vene, e v’è tale confusione nelle mie facoltà quale dopo qualche orazione ben pronunciata da un principe amato appare tra la moltitudine ronzante e compiaciuta, 180 dove ogni cosa, mescolandosi insieme, si volge in un deserto di nulla se non di gioia, espressa e non espressa. Ma quando quest’anello si separerà da questo dito, allora la vita si separerà di qui. Oh, allora dite pure arditamente che Bassanio è morto.
NERISSA	Mio signore e mia signora, è ora il nostro tempo, noi che siamo stati da parte e abbiam visto prosperare i nostri voti, di gridare: ’Buona gioia, buona gioia, mio signore e mia signoral’
GRAZIANO	Mio signor Bassanio, e mia gentile signora, vi auguro tutta la gioia che possiate augurarvi, ché son certo che non ne potete augurare alcuna a mio danno. E quando le vostre signorie intenderanno solennizzare il patto della vostra fede, vi supplico che in quello stesso tempo possa sposarmi anch’io.
BASSANIO	Con tutto il cuore, purché tu possa trovarti una moglie.
GRAZIANO	Ringrazio vostra signoria, me n’avete trovata una. I miei occhi, signore, sanno guardare rapidi quanto i vostri. Voi vedeste la padrona, io scorsi la damigella. Voi amaste, io amai; ché l’indugio non s’addice a me più che a voi, signore. La vostra fortuna stava là sugli scrigni, e così la mia pure, come la cosa cade; ché corteggiando qui finché non sudai di nuovo, e giurando finché il mio palato fu secco di giuramenti d’amore, alla fine—se la promessa dura— ottenni una promessa da questa bella qui d’avere il suo amore, purché la vostra fortuna conquistasse la sua padrona.
PORTIA	È vero questo, Nerissa?
NERISSA	Signora, sì, purché ciò vi piaccia.
BASSANIO	E tu, Graziano, dici in buona fede? 210
GRAZIANO	Sì, in fede mia, signore.
BASSANIO	La nostra festa sarà molto onorata dal vostro matrimonio.
GRAZIANO	(a Nerissa) Ci giocheremo con loro il primo maschio per mille ducati.
NERISSA	Come, e con la posta abbassata?
GRAZIANO	No, non vinceremo mai a quel gioco con la posta abbassata.
(didascalia)	Entrano Lorenzo, Jessica e Salerio, un messo da Venezia
GRAZIANO	Ma chi viene qui? Lorenzo e la sua infedele! Come, e il mio vecchio amico veneziano Salerio!
BASSANIO	Lorenzo e Salerio, benvenuti qui, se la giovinezza del mio nuovo diritto in questo luogo ha il potere di darvi il benvenuto. (A Porzia) Con vostra licenza, porgo ai miei veri amici e compatrioti, dolce Porzia, il benvenuto.
PORTIA	Anch’io, mio signore. Sono pienamente i benvenuti.
LORENZO	Ringrazio vostro onore. Per parte mia, signore, non era mio proposito di vedervi qui, ma incontrando Salerio per via egli mi pregò tanto ch’io non potei dir di no di venire insieme con lui.
SALERIO	Sì, signore, e ne ho ragione. Il signor Antonio si raccomanda a voi. Dà a Bassanio una lettera
BASSANIO	Prima ch’io apra la sua lettera vi prego, ditemi come sta il mio buon amico.
SALERIO	Non malato, signore, se non nella mente; né bene, se non nella mente. La sua lettera là vi mostrerà il suo stato. Bassanio apre la lettera e legge
GRAZIANO	Nerissa, (indicando Jessica) rallegra quella straniera. Dalle il benvenuto. 235 La vostra mano, Salerio. Che notizie da Venezia? Come sta quel regale mercante, il buon Antonio? So che sarà lieto del nostro successo. Noi siamo i Giasoni; abbiamo conquistato il vello.
SALERIO	Vorrei che aveste conquistato il vello ch’egli ha perduto.
PORTIA	C’è qualche penoso contenuto in quel foglio che ruba il colore dalla guancia di Bassanio. Qualche caro amico morto, ché null’altro al mondo potrebbe alterare tanto la costituzione d’un uomo costante. Come, di male in peggio? Con licenza, Bassanio, io sono la metà di voi stesso, e devo liberamente avere la metà di tutto ciò che questo foglio vi reca.
BASSANIO	Oh dolce Porzia, ecco alcune delle più spiacevoli parole che mai macchiarono carta. Gentile signora, quando per la prima volta vi confidai il mio amore vi dissi liberamente che tutta la ricchezza ch’io avevo correva nelle mie vene: ero un gentiluomo; e allora vi dissi il vero; e tuttavia, cara signora, stimandomi a nulla, vedrete quanto fossi millantatore. Quando vi dissi che il mio stato era nulla, avrei dovuto allora dirvi ch’ero peggio di nulla, ché in verità mi sono impegnato con un caro amico, ho impegnato il mio amico col suo puro nemico, per alimentare i miei mezzi. Ecco una lettera, signora, la carta come il corpo del mio amico, e ogni parola in essa una piaga aperta che versa sangue vitale. Ma è vero, Salerio? Sono fallite tutte le sue imprese? Come, non una riuscita? Da Tripoli, dal Messico e dall’Inghilterra, da Lisbona, dalla Barberia e dall’India, e non una nave è scampata al terribile tocco degli scogli rovina-mercanti?
SALERIO	Non una, signore. Inoltre, sembrerebbe che, se egli avesse il denaro pronto per soddisfare l’ebreo, quello non lo accetterebbe. Mai conobbi una creatura che portasse forma d’uomo così acuta e avida di rovinare un uomo. Assilla il Duca mattina e notte, e mette in causa la libertà dello stato se gli negano giustizia. Venti mercanti, il Duca stesso, e i magnifici di più alto grado, tutti l’hanno esortato, ma nessuno può distoglierlo dall’invidiosa istanza 280 della penale, della giustizia e della sua obbligazione.
JESSICA	Quando ero con lui l’ho udito giurare a Tubal e a Cus, suoi compatrioti, ch’egli preferirebbe avere la carne di Antonio che venti volte il valore della somma ch’egli gli doveva; e so, signore, che se la legge, l’autorità e il potere non lo impediscono, andrà male per il povero Antonio.
PORTIA	(a Bassanio) È il vostro caro amico che si trova così nei guai?
BASSANIO	L’amico più caro ch’io abbia, l’uomo più gentile, lo spirito meglio disposto e instancabile nel far cortesie, e uno in cui l’antico onore romano appare più che in chiunque altro respiri in Italia.
PORTIA	Quale somma deve all’ebreo?
BASSANIO	Per me, tremila ducati.
PORTIA	Come, non di più? Pagategliene seimila e cancellate l’obbligazione. Raddoppiate i seimila, e poi triplicate quelli, prima che un amico di tal fatta perda un capello per colpa di Bassanio. Prima venite con me in chiesa e chiamatemi moglie, e poi via a Venezia dal vostro amico; ché mai giacerete al fianco di Porzia con l’anima inquieta. Avrete oro per pagare venti volte quel meschino debito. Quando sarà pagato, conducete qui il vostro fedele amico. La mia damigella Nerissa ed io frattanto vivremo come vergini e vedove. Venite, andiamo, ché dovete partire di qui nel giorno delle vostre nozze. Date il benvenuto ai vostri amici, mostrate volto lieto. 310 Poiché siete comprato caro, vi amerò caramente. Ma fatemi udire la lettera del vostro amico.
(didascalia)	BASSANIO (legge) ‘Dolce Bassanio, le mie navi sono tutte naufragate, i miei creditori si fanno crudeli, il mio stato è assai basso, la mia obbligazione con l’ebreo è scaduta, e poiché, pagandola, è impossibile ch’io viva, tutti i debiti sono saldati tra voi e me se solo potessi vedervi alla mia morte. Ciò nonostante, fate come vi piace. Se il vostro amore non vi persuade a venire, non vi persuada la mia lettera.’
PORTIA	Oh, amore! Sbrigate ogni affare, e andate.
BASSANIO	Poiché ho il vostro buon permesso d’andarmene mi affretterò, ma finché non torni nessun letto sarà mai colpevole del mio indugio né il riposo s’interporrà fra noi due. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock the Jew, Solanio, Antonio, and the jailer
SHYLOCK	Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of mercy. This is the fool that lent out money gratis. Jailer, look to him.
ANTONIO	Hear me yet, good Shylock.
SHYLOCK	I’ll have my bond. Speak not against my bond. I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. Thou called’st 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.
ANTONIO	I pray thee hear me speak.
SHYLOCK	I’ll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak. I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more. 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
SOLANIO	It is the most impenetrable cur That ever kept with men.
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.
SOLANIO	I am sure the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
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 the 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. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Shylock l’ebreo, Solanio, Antonio e il carceriere
SHYLOCK	Carceriere, bada a lui. Non parlarmi di misericordia. Questo è lo sciocco che prestava denaro gratis. Carceriere, bada a lui.
ANTONIO	Ascoltami ancora, buon Shylock.
SHYLOCK	Avrò la mia obbligazione. Non parlare contro la mia obbligazione. Ho fatto giuramento che avrò la mia obbligazione. Mi chiamavi cane prima che tu ne avessi motivo, ma poiché sono un cane, guàrdati dalle mie zanne. Il Duca mi concederà giustizia. Mi meraviglio, cattivo carceriere, che tu sia così sciocco da uscire con lui a sua richiesta.
ANTONIO	Ti prego, ascoltami parlare.
SHYLOCK	Avrò la mia obbligazione. Non voglio ascoltarti parlare. Avrò la mia obbligazione, e dunque non parlare più. Non sarò fatto un molle sciocco dall’occhio spento da scuotere il capo, cedere, sospirare e arrendersi a intercessori cristiani. Non seguirmi. Non voglio discorsi. Avrò la mia obbligazione. Esce
SOLANIO	È il cane più impenetrabile che mai sia vissuto tra gli uomini.
ANTONIO	Lascialo stare. Non lo seguirò più con inutili preghiere. Cerca la mia vita. La sua ragione ben la conosco: spesso ho liberato dalle sue penali molti che a volte son venuti a lamentarsi da me. Perciò mi odia.
SOLANIO	Son certo che il Duca non concederà mai che questa penale abbia valore.
ANTONIO	Il Duca non può negare il corso della legge, ché i privilegi che gli stranieri hanno presso di noi a Venezia, se fossero negati, metterebbero assai in causa la giustizia dello stato, poiché il commercio e il profitto della città dipendono da tutte le nazioni. Perciò va’. Questi dolori e queste perdite m’hanno tanto sfinito che a stento potrò risparmiare una libbra di carne domani al mio sanguinario creditore. Bene, carceriere, avanti. Prego Dio che Bassanio venga a vedermi pagare il suo debito, e allora non m’importa. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthasar, a man of Portia’s
LORENZO	(to Portia) Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly In bearing thus the absence of your lord. But if you knew to whom you show this honour, 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 Than customary bounty can enforce you.
PORTIA	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 lineaments, of manners, 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 too 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. For mine own part, I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation, Only attended by Nerissa 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.
LORENZO	Madam, with all my heart, I shall obey you in all fair commands.
PORTIA	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.
LORENZO	Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!
JESSICA	I wish your ladyship all heart’s content.
PORTIA	I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Lorenzo and Jessica
PORTIA	Now, Balthasar, As I have ever found thee honest-true, So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, And use thou all th’endeavour of a man In speed to Padua. See thou render this Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario, And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed Unto the traject, to the common ferry Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.
BALTHASAR	Madam, I go with all convenient speed. Exit
PORTIA	Come on, Nerissa. I have work in hand That you yet know not of. We’ll see our husbands Before they think of us.
NERISSA	Shall they see us?
PORTIA	They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit That they shall think we are accomplishèd With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager, When we are both accoutered 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 of frays 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 withal. 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 Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks Which I will practise.
NERISSA	Why, shall we turn to men?
PORTIA	Fie, what a question’s that If thou wert 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. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Porzia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica e Baldassarre, un uomo di Porzia
LORENZO	(a Porzia) Signora, benché io lo dica in vostra presenza, voi avete un nobile e vero concetto dell’amicizia divina, che appare fortissimo nel sopportare così l’assenza del vostro signore. Ma se sapeste a chi mostrate questo onore, a quanto vero gentiluomo mandate soccorso, a quanto caro amico del mio signore vostro marito, so che sareste più fiera dell’opera di quanto la consueta bontà possa costringervi.
PORTIA	Mai mi son pentita d’aver fatto il bene, né me ne pentirò ora; ché in compagni che conversano e consumano il tempo insieme, le cui anime portano un uguale giogo d’amore, vi dev’essere per forza una simile proporzione di lineamenti, di modi e di spirito, il che mi fa pensare che questo Antonio, essendo l’intimo amico del mio signore, debba per forza somigliare al mio signore. Se è così, quanto poco è il costo che ho sostenuto per riscattare il sembiante della mia anima da uno stato d’infernale crudeltà. Questo s’avvicina troppo al lodare me stessa, perciò non più di ciò. Udite altre cose: Lorenzo, io affido nelle vostre mani il governo e l’amministrazione della mia casa fino al ritorno del mio signore. Quanto a me, ho fatto verso il cielo un voto segreto di vivere in preghiera e contemplazione, servita soltanto da Nerissa qui presente, fino al ritorno di suo marito e del mio signore. C’è un monastero a due miglia di qui, e là dimoreremo. Vi prego di non rifiutare quest’imposizione, che il mio amore e una certa necessità ora vi pongono addosso.
LORENZO	Signora, con tutto il cuore, vi obbedirò in ogni giusto comando.
PORTIA	La mia gente conosce già la mia volontà, e riconoscerà voi e Jessica in luogo del signor Bassanio e di me stessa. Così state bene finché non c’incontreremo di nuovo.
LORENZO	Bei pensieri e ore felici v’accompagnino!
JESSICA	Auguro a vostra signoria ogni contentezza del cuore.
PORTIA	Vi ringrazio del vostro augurio, e son ben lieta di rivolgerlo a voi. State bene, Jessica.
(didascalia)	Escono Lorenzo e Jessica
PORTIA	Ora, Baldassarre, come t’ho sempre trovato onesto e fedele, così possa trovarti ancora. Prendi questa lettera, e usa tutto lo sforzo d’un uomo per correre in fretta a Padova. Bada di rimettere questa nelle mani di mio cugino, il dottor Bellario, e guarda quali carte e quali vesti egli ti darà, portali, ti prego, con immaginabile prestezza al traghetto, al passo comune che fa la traversata per Venezia. Non sciupare tempo in parole, ma vattene. Io sarò là prima di te.
BALDASSARRE	Signora, vado con tutta la conveniente sollecitudine. Esce
PORTIA	Andiamo, Nerissa. Ho per le mani un lavoro di cui ancora non sai nulla. Vedremo i nostri mariti prima ch’essi pensino a noi.
NERISSA	Ci vedranno essi?
PORTIA	Ci vedranno, Nerissa, ma in tale abito che penseranno che siamo fornite di quel che ci manca. Ti scommetto qualunque cosa, quando saremo entrambe agghindate da giovanotti io sarò il più grazioso dei due, e porterò il pugnale con grazia più ardita, e parlerò col tono di chi muta da ragazzo a uomo con voce di zufolo, e volgerò due passettini leziosi in un’andatura virile, e parlerò di risse come un bel giovane fanfarone, e racconterò bizzarre bugie di come onorevoli dame cercassero il mio amore, e come, avendole io respinte, s’ammalarono e morirono. Non potevo farci nulla. Poi me ne pentirò, e vorrò, malgrado tutto, di non averle uccise; e venti di queste meschine bugie racconterò, tanto che gli uomini giureranno ch’io ho lasciato la scuola da più d’un anno. Ho nella mente mille rozzi trucchi di questi Giannetti spacconi che metterò in pratica.
NERISSA	Ma come, ci muteremo in uomini?
PORTIA	Via, che domanda è questa, se tu fossi vicina a un lascivo interprete! Ma vieni, ti dirò tutto il mio disegno quando sarò nella mia carrozza, che ci attende al cancello del parco; e dunque affrettiamoci, ché dobbiamo percorrere venti miglia oggi. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot the clown, and Jessica
LANCELOT	Yes, truly; for look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore I promise you I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation of the matter, therefore be o’ good cheer, for truly I think you are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard hope, neither.
JESSICA	And what hope is that, I pray thee?
LANCELOT	Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew’s daughter.
JESSICA	That were a kind of bastard hope indeed. So the sins of my mother should be visited upon me.
LANCELOT	Truly then, I fear you are damned both by father and mother. Thus, when I shun Scylla your father, I fall into Charybdis your mother. Well, you are gone both ways.
JESSICA	I shall be saved by my husband. He hath made me a Christian.
LANCELOT	Truly, the more to blame he! We were Christians enough before, e’en 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo
JESSICA	I’ll tell my husband, Lancelot, what you say. Here he comes.
LORENZO	I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Lancelot, if you thus get my wife into corners.
JESSICA	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.
LORENZO	(to Lancelot) I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the Negro’s belly. The Moor is with child by you, Lancelot. LANCELOT It is much that the Moor should be more than reason, but if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed more than I took her for.
LORENZO	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, sirrah, bid them prepare for dinner.
LANCELOT	That is done, sir. They have all stomachs.
LORENZO	Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you Then bid them prepare dinner.
LANCELOT	That is done too, sir; only ’cover’ is the word.
LORENZO	Will you cover then, sir?
LANCELOT	Not so, sir, neither. I know my duty.
LORENZO	Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee understand a plain man in his plain meaning. Go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.
LANCELOT	For the table, sir, it shall be served in. For the meat, sir, it shall be covered. For your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits shall govern. Exit
LORENZO	O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good 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’st thou, Jessica? And now, good sweet, say thy opinion: How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife?
JESSICA	Past all expressing. It is very meet The Lord Bassanio live an upright life, For, having such a blessing in his lady, He finds the joys of heaven here on earth, And if on earth he do not merit it, In reason he should never come to heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match And on the wager lay two earthly women, And Portia one, there must be something else Pawned with the other; for the poor rude world Hath not her fellow.
LORENZO	Even such a husband Hast thou of me as she is for a wife.
JESSICA	Nay, but ask my opinion too of that!
LORENZO	I will anon. First let us go to dinner.
JESSICA	Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach.
LORENZO	No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk. Then, howsome‘er thou speak’st, ’mong other things I shall digest it.
JESSICA	Well, I’ll set you forth. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Lancelot il buffone e Jessica
LANCELOT	Sì, davvero; ché, vedete, i peccati del padre devono ricadere sui figli, perciò vi assicuro che temo per voi. Sono sempre stato schietto con voi, e così ora vi dico la mia agitazione della faccenda, perciò state di buon animo, ché in verità credo che siate dannata. C’è una sola speranza in ciò che possa giovarvi, e anche quella non è che una specie di speranza bastarda.
JESSICA	E qual è questa speranza, ti prego?
LANCELOT	Perbacco, potete in parte sperare che non sia vostro padre a generarvi, che non siate figlia dell’ebreo.
JESSICA	Sarebbe davvero una specie di speranza bastarda. Così i peccati di mia madre ricadrebbero su di me.
LANCELOT	In verità, allora, temo che siate dannata e per parte di padre e per parte di madre. Così, quando schivo Scilla vostro padre, cado in Cariddi vostra madre. Bene, siete perduta per tutt’e due le vie.
JESSICA	Sarò salvata da mio marito. Egli m’ha fatta cristiana.
LANCELOT	In verità, tanto più biasimevole lui! Eravamo già abbastanza cristiani, giusto quanti potevano ben vivere l’uno accanto all’altro. Questo fabbricar cristiani farà alzare il prezzo dei maiali. Se diventiamo tutti mangiatori di porco, fra poco non avremo più una fetta sulla brace per denaro che si dia.
(didascalia)	Entra Lorenzo
JESSICA	Dirò a mio marito, Lancelot, quel che tu dici. Eccolo che viene.
LORENZO	Diventerò presto geloso di te, Lancelot, se ti apparti così negli angoli con mia moglie.
JESSICA	Ma no, non avete bisogno di temere di noi, Lorenzo. Lancelot ed io siamo in lite. Mi dice chiaro e tondo che non c’è misericordia per me in cielo perché sono figlia d’un ebreo, e dice che voi non siete un buon membro della repubblica, ché convertendo gli ebrei in cristiani fate alzare il prezzo del porco.
LORENZO	(a Lancelot) Risponderò di ciò alla repubblica meglio di quanto tu possa rispondere del ventre gonfio della negra. La Mora è con figlio per opera tua, Lancelot. LANCELOT È molto che la Mora sia più del ragionevole; ma se è meno d’una donna onesta, essa è davvero più di quanto la credessi.
LORENZO	Come ogni sciocco sa giocare con la parola! Credo che la miglior grazia dell’arguzia si volgerà fra poco in silenzio, e il discorso diverrà lodevole in nessun altro che nei pappagalli. Va’ dentro, briccone, di’ loro che preparino il pranzo.
LANCELOT	Fatto, signore. Hanno tutti lo stomaco.
LORENZO	Buon Dio, che schioccatore d’ingegno siete Allora di’ loro di preparare il pranzo.
LANCELOT	Fatto anche quello, signore; solo che ’apparecchiare’ è la parola.
LORENZO	Volete apparecchiare allora, signore?
LANCELOT	Nemmeno questo, signore. Conosco il mio dovere.
LORENZO	Ancora altri cavilli sull’occasione! Vuoi mostrare tutta la ricchezza del tuo ingegno in un istante? Ti prego, intendi un uomo semplice nel suo semplice significato. Va’ dai tuoi compagni; di’ loro d’apparecchiare la tavola, di servire in tavola le vivande, e noi verremo dentro a pranzo.
LANCELOT	Quanto alla tavola, signore, sarà servita. Quanto alle vivande, signore, saranno coperte. Quanto al vostro venir dentro a pranzo, signore, ebbene, sia come umori e capricci vorranno. Esce
LORENZO	Oh cara discrezione, come sono ben appaiate le sue parole! Lo sciocco ha piantato nella sua memoria un esercito di belle parole, e io conosco parecchi sciocchi che stanno in miglior luogo, guarniti come lui, che per una parola capziosa sfidano la sostanza. Come stai, Jessica? E ora, mia dolce, di’ la tua opinione: che te ne pare della moglie del signor Bassanio?
JESSICA	Oltre ogni dire. È ben conveniente che il signor Bassanio viva una vita retta, ché, avendo tale benedizione nella sua dama, egli trova le gioie del cielo quaggiù in terra, e se in terra non le merita, a ragione non dovrebbe mai giungere al cielo. Ebbene, se due dèi giocassero qualche celeste partita e mettessero in posta due donne terrene, e Porzia fosse l’una, ci dovrebbe essere qualcos’altro impegnato con l’altra; ché il povero rozzo mondo non ha la sua pari.
LORENZO	Proprio un tal marito hai in me quale ella è come moglie.
JESSICA	Ma no, chiedete anche a me la mia opinione su questo!
LORENZO	Lo farò fra poco. Prima andiamo a pranzo.
JESSICA	No, lasciate che vi lodi finché ho appetito.
LORENZO	No, ti prego, serva da discorso di tavola. Allora, comunque tu parli, fra le altre cose lo digerirò.
JESSICA	Bene, vi metterò in mostra. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter the Duke, the magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, Graziano, and Salerio
DUKE	What, is Antonio here?
ANTONIO	Ready, so please your grace.
DUKE	I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy.
ANTONIO	I have heard Your grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify His rigorous course, but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me Out of his envy’s reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury, and am armed To suffer with a quietness of spirit The very tyranny and rage of his.
DUKE	Go one, and call the Jew into the court.
SALERIO	He is ready at the door. He comes, my lord.
(didascalia)	Enter Shylock
DUKE	Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks—and I think so too— That thou but lead‘st this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act, and then ’tis thought Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty, And where thou now exacts the penalty— Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh— Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touched with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back Enough to press a royal merchant down And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
SHYLOCK	I have possessed your grace of what I purpose, And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond. If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom. You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh than to receive Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that, But say it is my humour. Is it answered? What if my house be troubled with a rat, And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats To have it baned? What, are you answered yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig, Some that are mad if they behold a cat, And others when the bagpipe sings i’th’ nose Cannot contain their urine; for affection, Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood Of what it likes or loathes. Now for your answer: As there is no firm reason to be rendered Why he cannot abide a gaping pig, Why he a harmless necessary cat, Why he a woollen bagpipe, but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame As to offend himself being offended, So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answered?
BASSANIO	This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty.
SHYLOCK	I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
BASSANIO	Do all men kill the things they do not love?
SHYLOCK	Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
BASSANIO	Every offence is not a hate at first.
SHYLOCK	What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
ANTONIO	I pray you think you question with the Jew. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven, You may as well do anything most hard As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgement and the Jew his will.
BASSANIO	(to Shylock) For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
SHYLOCK	If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them. I would have my bond.
DUKE	How shalt thou hope for mercy, rend’ring none?
SHYLOCK	What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchased slave Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts Because you bought them. Shall I say to you ‘Let them be free, marry them to your heirs. Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates Be seasoned with such viands.’ You will answer ‘The slaves are ours.’ So do I answer you. The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is dearly bought. ’Tis mine, and I will have it. If you deny me, fie upon your law: There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgement. Answer: shall I have it?
DUKE	Upon my power I may dismiss this court Unless Bellario, a learned doctor Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here today.
SALERIO	My lord, here stays without A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.
(didascalia)	Bring us the letters. Call the messenger. Exit Salerio
BASSANIO	Good cheer, Antonio. What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
ANTONIO	I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me. You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, Than to live still and write mine epitaph.
(didascalia)	Enter Salerio, with Nerissa apparelled as a judge’s clerk
DUKE	Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
NERISSA	From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. She gives a letter to the Duke. Shylock whets his knife on his shoe
BASSANIO	(to Shylock) Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
SHYLOCK	To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there.
GRAZIANO	Not on thy sole but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou mak’st thy knife keen. But no metal can, No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
SHYLOCK	No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
GRAZIANO	O, be thou damned, inexorable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused! Thou almost mak‘st me waver in my faith To hold opinion with Pythagoras That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallowed dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved, and ravenous.
SHYLOCK	Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
DUKE	This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?
NERISSA	He attendeth here hard by To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.
DUKE	With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place.
(didascalia)	Exeunt three or four
DUKE	Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. (Reads) ‘Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, the merchant. We turned o’er many books together. He is furnished with my opinion which, bettered with his own learning—the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend—comes with him at my importunity to fill up your grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.’
(didascalia)	Enter three or four with Portia as Balthasar
DUKE	You hear the learn’d Bellario, what he writes; And here, I take it, is the doctor come. (To Portia) Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?
PORTIA	I did, my lord.
DUKE	You are welcome. Take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court?
PORTIA	I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
DUKE	Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Antonio and Shylock stand forth
PORTIA	Is your name Shylock?
SHYLOCK	Shylock is my name.
PORTIA	Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, Yet in such rule that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. (To Antonio) You stand within his danger, do you not?
ANTONIO	Ay, so he says.
PORTIA	Do you confess the bond?
ANTONIO	I do.
PORTIA	Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK	On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
PORTIA	The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway. It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself, And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.
SHYLOCK	My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
PORTIA	Is he not able to discharge the money?
BASSANIO	Yes, here I tender it for him in the court, Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And, I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority. To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will.
PORTIA	It must not be. There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established. ’Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state. It cannot be.
SHYLOCK	A Daniel come to judgement, yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!
PORTIA	I pray you let me look upon the bond.
SHYLOCK	Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.
PORTIA	Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee.
SHYLOCK	An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.
PORTIA	Why, this bond is forfeit, And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant’s heart. (To Shylock) Be merciful. Take thrice thy money. Bid me tear the bond.
SHYLOCK	When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge. You know the law. Your exposition Hath been most sound. I charge you, by the law Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgement. By my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me. I stay here on my bond.
ANTONIO	Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgement.
PORTIA	Why, then thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife—
SHYLOCK	O noble judge, O excellent young man!
PORTIA	For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
SHYLOCK	’Tis very true. O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
PORTIA	(to Antonio) Therefore lay bare your bosom.
SHYLOCK	Ay, his breast. So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge? ‘Nearest his heart’—those are the very words.
PORTIA	It is so. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh?
SHYLOCK	I have them ready.
PORTIA	Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.
SHYLOCK	Is it so nominated in the bond?
PORTIA	It is not so expressed, but what of that? ’Twere good you do so much for charity.
SHYLOCK	I cannot find it. ’Tis not in the bond.
PORTIA	(to Antonio) You, merchant, have you anything to say?
ANTONIO	But little. I am armed and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well. Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you, For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom; it is still her use To let the wretched man outlive his wealth To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow An age of poverty, from which ling’ring penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife. Tell her the process of Antonio’s end. Say how I loved you. Speak me fair in death, And when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I’ll pay it instantly, with all my heart.
BASSANIO	Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself, But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you.
(didascalia)	PORTIA aside
BASSANIO	Your wife would give you little thanks for that If she were by to hear you make the offer.
GRAZIANO	I have a wife who, I protest, I love. I would she were in heaven so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
(didascalia)	NERISSA aside
GRAZIANO	’Tis well you offer it behind her back; The wish would make else an unquiet house.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK aside
GRAZIANO	These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter. Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband rather than a Christian. (Aloud) We trifle time. I pray thee pursue sentence.
PORTIA	A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine. The court awards it, and the law doth give it.
SHYLOCK	Most rightful judge!
PORTIA	And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it.
SHYLOCK	Most learned judge! A sentence: (to Antonio) come, prepare.
PORTIA	Tarry a little. There is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’. Take then thy bond. Take thou thy pound of flesh. But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice.
GRAZIANO	O upright judge! Mark, Jew! O learned judge!
SHYLOCK	Is that the law?
PORTIA	Thyself shalt see the act; For as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st.
GRAZIANO	O learnèd judge! Mark, Jew—a learnèd judge!
SHYLOCK	I take this offer, then. Pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go.
BASSANIO	Here is the money.
PORTIA	Soft, the Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste. He shall have nothing but the penalty.
GRAZIANO	O Jew, an upright judge, a learned judge!
PORTIA	(to Shylock) Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st more Or less than a just pound, be it but so much As makes it light or heavy in the substance Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
GRAZIANO	A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.
PORTIA	Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
SHYLOCK	Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO	I have it ready for thee. Here it is.
PORTIA	He hath refused it in the open court. He shall have merely justice and his bond.
GRAZIANO	A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
SHYLOCK	Shall I not have barely my principal?
PORTIA	Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.
SHYLOCK	Why then, the devil give him good of it. I’ll stay no longer question.
PORTIA	Tarry, Jew. The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party ‘gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state, And the offender’s life lies in the mercy Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice— In which predicament I say thou stand’st, For it appears by manifest proceeding That indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.
GRAZIANO	(to Shylock) Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself— And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord. Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.
DUKE	(to Shylock) That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s. The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.
PORTIA	Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.
SHYLOCK	Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live.
PORTIA	What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
GRAZIANO	A halter, gratis. Nothing else, for God’s sake.
ANTONIO	So please my lord the Duke and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it Upon his death unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter. Two things provided more: that for this favour He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift Here in the court of all he dies possessed Unto his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.
DUKE	He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronouncèd here.
PORTIA	Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?
SHYLOCK	I am content.
PORTIA	(to Nerissa) Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
SHYLOCK	I pray you give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it.
DUKE	Get thee gone, but do it.
GRAZIANO	(to Shylock) In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers. Had I been judge thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
(didascalia)	Exit Shylock
DUKE	(to Portia) Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.
PORTIA	I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth.
DUKE	I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For in my mind you are much bound to him.
(didascalia)	Exit Duke and his train
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
ANTONIO	And stand indebted over and above In love and service to you evermore.
PORTIA	He is well paid that is well satisfied, And I, delivering you, am satisfied, And therein do account myself well paid. My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you know me when we meet again. I wish you well; and so I take my leave.
BASSANIO	Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further. Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: Not to deny me, and to pardon me.
PORTIA	You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
(didascalia)	To Antonio Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for
PORTIA	your sake. (To Bassanio) And for your love I’ll take this ring from you. Do not draw back your hand. I’ll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this.
BASSANIO	This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle. I will not shame myself to give you this.
PORTIA	I will have nothing else, but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
BASSANIO	There’s more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation. Only for this, I pray you pardon me.
PORTIA	I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. You taught me first to beg, and now methinks You teach me how a beggar should be answered.
BASSANIO	Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife, And when she put it on she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
PORTIA	That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a madwoman, And know how well I have deserved this ring, She would not hold out enemy for ever For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Portia and Nerissa
ANTONIO	My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Let his deservings and my love withal Be valued ’gainst your wife’s commandëment.
BASSANIO	Go, Graziano, run and overtake him. Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
(didascalia)	Exit Graziano
BASSANIO	Come, you and I will thither presently, And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. Exeunt

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano il Duca, i magnifici, Antonio, Bassanio, Graziano e Salerio
DUCA	Come, è qui Antonio?
ANTONIO	Pronto, se piace a vostra grazia.
DUCA	Mi dispiace per te. Sei venuto a rispondere a un avversario di pietra, a un miserabile disumano incapace di pietà, vuoto e privo d’ogni dramma di misericordia.
ANTONIO	Ho udito che vostra grazia s’è molto adoperata per mitigare il suo rigoroso procedere; ma poiché egli resta ostinato, e nessun mezzo legale può portarmi fuori dalla portata della sua invidia, io oppongo la mia pazienza al suo furore, e sono armato a soffrire con quiete di spirito la tirannia stessa e la rabbia di lui.
DUCA	Vada qualcuno, e chiami l’ebreo nella corte.
SALERIO	È pronto alla porta. Viene, mio signore.
(didascalia)	Entra Shylock
DUCA	Fate largo, e lasciate ch’egli stia davanti al nostro volto. Shylock, il mondo pensa—e anch’io lo penso— che tu non sostenga questa parvenza della tua malizia se non fino all’ultima ora dell’atto, e allora si crede che mostrerai la tua misericordia e il tuo rimorso più strani di quanto sia la tua strana crudeltà apparente, e là dove ora esigi la penale— che è una libbra della carne di questo povero mercante— non solo rinuncerai alla penale, ma, toccato da umana dolcezza e amore, condonerai una parte del capitale, volgendo un occhio di pietà sulle sue perdite, che di recente gli si sono ammassate sulle spalle a sufficienza per schiacciare un regale mercante e per strappare commiserazione del suo stato a petti di bronzo e a rudi cuori di selce, a ostinati Turchi e Tartari mai educati a uffici di tenera cortesia. Tutti attendiamo una gentile risposta, ebreo.
SHYLOCK	Ho reso edotta vostra grazia di ciò che mi propongo, e per il nostro santo Sabato ho giurato d’avere il dovuto e la penale della mia obbligazione. Se lo negate, ricada il pericolo sul vostro statuto e sulla libertà della vostra città. Mi chiederete perché io preferisca avere un peso di carne carogna piuttosto che ricevere tremila ducati. A questo non risponderò, ma dirò ch’è il mio umore. È risposto? E se la mia casa fosse infestata da un topo, e mi piacesse dare diecimila ducati per farlo avvelenare? Ebbene, siete già risposti? Vi sono uomini che non amano un porco a bocca aperta, alcuni che impazziscono se vedono un gatto, e altri che, quando la cornamusa canta col naso, non sanno trattenere l’urina; ché l’affetto, padrone della passione, la piega all’umore di ciò che gli piace o gli ripugna. Ora, per la vostra risposta: come non si può addurre ferma ragione del perché costui non sopporti un porco a bocca aperta, quello un gatto innocuo e necessario, quell’altro una cornamusa di lana, ma per forza debba cedere a tale inevitabile vergogna d’offendere altrui essendo egli stesso offeso, così io non posso dare ragione, né voglio, se non un odio radicato e una certa ripugnanza ch’io porto ad Antonio, per cui perseguo così una causa in perdita contro di lui. Siete risposti?
BASSANIO	Questa non è risposta, uomo senza cuore, per scusare il corso della tua crudeltà.
SHYLOCK	Non sono tenuto a compiacerti con le mie risposte.
BASSANIO	Uccidono tutti gli uomini le cose che non amano?
SHYLOCK	Odia forse un uomo la cosa che non vorrebbe uccidere?
BASSANIO	Non ogni offesa è odio da principio.
SHYLOCK	Come, vorresti che un serpente ti pungesse due volte?
ANTONIO	Vi prego, pensate che state disputando con l’ebreo. Potreste bene andare a stare sulla spiaggia e ordinare all’alta marea d’abbassare la sua consueta altezza; potreste bene chiedere al lupo perché ha fatto belare la pecora per l’agnello; potreste bene proibire ai pini della montagna di dimenare le loro alte cime e di non far rumore quando sono agitati dalle raffiche del cielo; potreste bene fare qualunque cosa difficilissima quanto cercare d’ammorbidire quello—e che c’è di più duro?— il suo cuore giudeo. Perciò, vi supplico, non fate più offerte, non usate altri mezzi, ma con tutta breve e piana convenienza lasciate ch’io abbia la sentenza e l’ebreo il suo volere.
BASSANIO	(a Shylock) Per i tuoi tremila ducati, eccone seimila.
SHYLOCK	Se ogni ducato di seimila ducati fosse in sei parti, e ogni parte un ducato, non li prenderei. Voglio la mia obbligazione.
DUCA	Come puoi tu sperare misericordia, non rendendone alcuna?
SHYLOCK	Qual giudizio dovrei temere, non facendo torto ad alcuno? Voi avete tra voi più d’uno schiavo comprato, che, come i vostri asini, i vostri cani e i vostri muli, usate in mansioni abiette e servili perché li avete comprati. Devo forse dirvi: ‘Lasciateli liberi, sposateli ai vostri eredi. Perché sudano sotto i pesi? Che i loro letti siano fatti morbidi come i vostri, e i loro palati siano conditi con tali vivande.’ Voi risponderete: ‘Gli schiavi sono nostri.’ Così io vi rispondo. La libbra di carne ch’io esigo da lui è comprata cara. È mia, e la voglio. Se me la negate, vergogna alla vostra legge: non v’è forza nei decreti di Venezia. Io sto per la sentenza. Rispondete: l’avrò?
DUCA	In virtù del mio potere posso sciogliere questa corte se Bellario, un dotto dottore ch’io ho mandato a chiamare per decidere questo, non giunge qui oggi.
SALERIO	Mio signore, sta fuori ad attendere un messo con lettere del dottore, giunto ora da Padova.
(didascalia)	Portateci le lettere. Chiamate il messo. Esce Salerio
BASSANIO	Buon animo, Antonio. Suvvia, uomo, ancora coraggio! L’ebreo avrà la mia carne, il mio sangue, le ossa e tutto prima che tu perda per me una goccia di sangue.
ANTONIO	Io sono un montone infetto del gregge, il più adatto alla morte. La specie più debole di frutto cade per prima a terra; e così sia di me. Non potete essere meglio impiegato, Bassanio, che a vivere ancora e a scrivere il mio epitaffio.
(didascalia)	Entra Salerio, con Nerissa vestita da cancelliere di giudice
DUCA	Venite da Padova, da Bellario?
NERISSA	Da entrambi, mio signore. Bellario saluta vostra grazia. Dà una lettera al Duca. Shylock affila il coltello sulla suola della scarpa
BASSANIO	(a Shylock) Perché affili il tuo coltello con tanto ardore?
SHYLOCK	Per tagliare la penale da quel fallito là.
GRAZIANO	Non sulla tua suola ma sulla tua anima, aspro ebreo, tu affili il tuo coltello. Ma nessun metallo può, no, neppure la scure del boia, avere metà del taglio della tua acuta malignità. Nessuna preghiera può trafiggerti?
SHYLOCK	No, nessuna che tu abbia ingegno bastante a comporre.
GRAZIANO	Oh, sii dannato, cane inesorabile, e per la tua vita sia accusata la giustizia! Quasi mi fai vacillare nella mia fede fino a tenere l’opinione di Pitagora che le anime degli animali s’infondano nei corpi degli uomini. Il tuo spirito da cane governava un lupo che, impiccato per strage d’uomini, proprio dalla forca fece volar via la sua feroce anima, e, mentre tu giacevi nella tua profana madre, s’infuse in te; ché i tuoi desideri sono lupeschi, sanguinari, affamati e rapaci.
SHYLOCK	Finché tu non riesca a strappare a insulti il sigillo dalla mia obbligazione non fai che offendere i tuoi polmoni a gridare così forte. Ripara il tuo ingegno, buon giovane, o cadrà in rovina incurabile. Io sto qui per la legge.
DUCA	Questa lettera di Bellario raccomanda un giovane e dotto dottore alla nostra corte. Dov’è egli?
NERISSA	Attende qui vicino per conoscere la vostra risposta, se lo ammetterete.
DUCA	Con tutto il cuore. Tre o quattro di voi vadano a scortarlo cortesemente fin qui.
(didascalia)	Escono tre o quattro
DUCA	Frattanto la corte udrà la lettera di Bellario. (Legge) ‘Vostra grazia intenderà che al ricevimento della vostra lettera io sono molto malato, ma nell’istante in cui giunse il vostro messo, era con me in amorosa visita un giovane dottore di Roma; il suo nome è Baldassarre. Io lo misi al corrente della causa controversa fra l’ebreo e Antonio, il mercante. Sfogliammo molti libri insieme. Egli è fornito della mia opinione la quale, migliorata dalla sua propria dottrina—la cui grandezza non saprei abbastanza lodare—viene con lui per mia insistenza a soddisfare la richiesta di vostra grazia in mia vece. Vi supplico che la sua mancanza d’anni non sia impedimento a fargli mancare una reverenda stima, ché mai conobbi un corpo così giovane con una testa così vecchia. Lo lascio alla vostra graziosa accoglienza, la cui prova renderà meglio pubblica la sua lode.’
(didascalia)	Entrano tre o quattro con Porzia nelle vesti di Baldassarre
DUCA	Udite il dotto Bellario, ciò ch’egli scrive; ed ecco, credo, giunto il dottore. (A Porzia) Datemi la vostra mano. Venite dal vecchio Bellario?
PORTIA	Sì, mio signore.
DUCA	Siete il benvenuto. Prendete posto. Siete a conoscenza della controversia che tiene sospesa la presente questione nella corte?
PORTIA	Sono informato a fondo della causa. Chi è qui il mercante, e chi l’ebreo?
DUCA	Antonio e il vecchio Shylock, fatevi avanti entrambi. Antonio e Shylock si fanno avanti
PORTIA	Il vostro nome è Shylock?
SHYLOCK	Shylock è il mio nome.
PORTIA	Di strana natura è la causa che perseguite, eppure in tal regola che la legge veneziana non può impugnarvi nel modo in cui procedete. (A Antonio) Voi siete esposto al suo rischio, non è vero?
ANTONIO	Sì, così egli dice.
PORTIA	Riconoscete l’obbligazione?
ANTONIO	La riconosco.
PORTIA	Allora l’ebreo dev’essere misericordioso.
SHYLOCK	Per quale costrizione devo esserlo? Ditemi questo.
PORTIA	La qualità della misericordia non è forzata. Scende come la dolce pioggia dal cielo sul luogo sottostante. È due volte benedetta: benedice chi la dà e chi la riceve. È possentissima nei potentissimi. S’addice al monarca in trono meglio della sua corona. Il suo scettro mostra la forza del potere temporale, l’attributo del timore e della maestà, in cui siede lo sgomento e la paura dei re; ma la misericordia è al di sopra di questo dominio di scettri. È intronizzata nei cuori dei re; è un attributo di Dio stesso, e il potere terreno appare allora più simile a quello di Dio quando la misericordia tempera la giustizia. Perciò, ebreo, benché la giustizia sia la tua istanza, considera questo: che nel corso della giustizia nessuno di noi vedrebbe la salvezza. Noi preghiamo per la misericordia, e quella stessa preghiera c’insegna tutti a rendere le opere di misericordia. Ho parlato tanto a lungo per mitigare la giustizia della tua istanza, che se tu la persegui, questa severa corte di Venezia dovrà per forza dar sentenza contro quel mercante.
SHYLOCK	Le mie opere sul mio capo! Invoco la legge, la penale e la sanzione della mia obbligazione.
PORTIA	Non è egli in grado di saldare il denaro?
BASSANIO	Sì, qui lo offro per lui nella corte, anzi, il doppio della somma. Se ciò non basterà mi obbligherò a pagarla dieci volte tanto a pena delle mie mani, del mio capo, del mio cuore. Se questo non basta, dovrà apparire che la malizia sopraffà la verità. E, vi supplico, piegate una volta la legge alla vostra autorità. Per fare un gran diritto, fate un piccolo torto, e frenate questo crudele diavolo nel suo volere.
PORTIA	Non dev’essere. Non v’è potere in Venezia che possa alterare un decreto stabilito. Sarebbe registrato come precedente, e molti errori, sullo stesso esempio, si precipiterebbero nello stato. Non può essere.
SHYLOCK	Un Daniele venuto a giudicare, sì, un Daniele! O saggio giovane giudice, come t’onoro!
PORTIA	Vi prego, lasciatemi guardare l’obbligazione.
SHYLOCK	Eccola, reverendissimo dottore, eccola qui.
PORTIA	Shylock, ti si offre tre volte il tuo denaro.
SHYLOCK	Un giuramento, un giuramento! Ho un giuramento in cielo. Devo porre lo spergiuro sulla mia anima? No, nemmeno per Venezia.
PORTIA	Ebbene, quest’obbligazione è scaduta, e legalmente per essa l’ebreo può reclamare una libbra di carne, da tagliarsi da lui più vicino al cuore del mercante. (A Shylock) Sii misericordioso. Prendi tre volte il tuo denaro. Dimmi di stracciare l’obbligazione.
SHYLOCK	Quando sarà pagata secondo il tenore. Appare che siete un degno giudice. Conoscete la legge. La vostra esposizione è stata solidissima. Vi impongo, per la legge di cui siete un pilastro ben meritevole, di procedere alla sentenza. Per la mia anima giuro che non v’è potere nella lingua d’uomo che possa mutarmi. Io mi tengo alla mia obbligazione.
ANTONIO	Con tutto il cuore supplico la corte di pronunciare la sentenza.
PORTIA	Ebbene, allora è così: dovete preparare il vostro petto al suo coltello—
SHYLOCK	O nobile giudice, o eccellente giovane!
PORTIA	Ché l’intento e lo scopo della legge hanno piena relazione con la penale che qui appare dovuta in virtù dell’obbligazione.
SHYLOCK	È verissimo. O saggio e retto giudice! Quanto più vecchio sei del tuo aspetto!
PORTIA	(a Antonio) Perciò scoprite il vostro petto.
SHYLOCK	Sì, il suo petto. Così dice l’obbligazione, non è vero, nobile giudice? ‘Più vicino al suo cuore’—queste sono le parole precise.
PORTIA	È così. Ci sono qui bilance per pesare la carne?
SHYLOCK	Le ho pronte.
PORTIA	Tenete pronto qualche chirurgo, Shylock, a vostre spese per fermargli le ferite, ché non sanguini fino alla morte.
SHYLOCK	È così nominato nell’obbligazione?
PORTIA	Non è così espresso, ma che importa? Sarebbe bene che faceste tanto per carità.
SHYLOCK	Non lo trovo. Non è nell’obbligazione.
PORTIA	(a Antonio) Voi, mercante, avete qualcosa da dire?
ANTONIO	Poco. Sono armato e ben preparato. Datemi la vostra mano, Bassanio; state bene. Non v’addolorate ch’io sia caduto in questo per voi, ché in ciò la Fortuna si mostra più benigna del suo costume; è ancora sua usanza lasciare che l’uomo misero sopravviva alla sua ricchezza per contemplare con occhio incavato e fronte rugosa un’età di povertà, dalla cui lenta penitenza di tale miseria essa mi recide. Raccomandatemi alla vostra onorevole moglie. Narratele il processo della fine di Antonio. Ditele quanto v’ho amato. Parlate bene di me nella morte, e quando il racconto sarà finito, ditele di giudicare se Bassanio non ebbe una volta un amore. Pentitevi solo di dover perdere il vostro amico, ed egli non si pente di pagare il vostro debito; ché se l’ebreo taglierà soltanto abbastanza a fondo, lo pagherò all’istante, con tutto il cuore.
BASSANIO	Antonio, io sono sposato a una moglie che m’è cara quanto la vita stessa, ma la vita stessa, mia moglie e tutto il mondo non sono da me stimati sopra la tua vita. Perderei tutto, sì, sacrificherei tutti costoro qui a questo diavolo, per liberarti.
(didascalia)	PORTIA a parte
BASSANIO	Vostra moglie vi ringrazierebbe poco di questo se fosse qui a udirvi fare l’offerta.
GRAZIANO	Ho una moglie che, lo dichiaro, amo. Vorrei ch’ella fosse in cielo, così potrebbe supplicare qualche potenza di mutare questo cagnesco ebreo.
(didascalia)	NERISSA a parte
GRAZIANO	È bene che l’offriate dietro le sue spalle; altrimenti quel desiderio farebbe una casa inquieta.
(didascalia)	SHYLOCK a parte
GRAZIANO	Questi sono i mariti cristiani. Io ho una figlia. Vorrei che chiunque della stirpe di Barabba fosse stato suo marito piuttosto che un cristiano. (Ad alta voce) Perdiamo tempo. Ti prego, prosegui con la sentenza.
PORTIA	Una libbra della carne di quello stesso mercante è tua. La corte te l’aggiudica, e la legge te la dà.
SHYLOCK	Giustissimo giudice!
PORTIA	E devi tagliare questa carne dal suo petto. La legge lo consente, e la corte te l’aggiudica.
SHYLOCK	Dottissimo giudice! Una sentenza: (a Antonio) suvvia, preparati.
PORTIA	Aspetta un poco. C’è qualcos’altro. Quest’obbligazione non ti concede qui un ette di sangue. Le parole sono espressamente ‘una libbra di carne’. Prenditi dunque la tua obbligazione. Prenditi la tua libbra di carne. Ma nel tagliarla, se tu versi una sola goccia di sangue cristiano, le tue terre e i tuoi beni sono per le leggi di Venezia confiscati allo stato di Venezia.
GRAZIANO	O retto giudice! Nota bene, ebreo! O dotto giudice!
SHYLOCK	È questa la legge?
PORTIA	Tu stesso vedrai l’atto; ché come tu solleciti giustizia, sta’ certo che avrai più giustizia di quanta ne desideri.
GRAZIANO	O dotto giudice! Nota bene, ebreo—un dotto giudice!
SHYLOCK	Accetto quest’offerta, allora. Pagate tre volte l’obbligazione, e lasciate andare il cristiano.
BASSANIO	Ecco il denaro.
PORTIA	Piano, l’ebreo avrà tutta la giustizia. Piano, nessuna fretta. Non avrà nulla se non la penale.
GRAZIANO	O ebreo, un retto giudice, un dotto giudice!
PORTIA	(a Shylock) Perciò preparati a tagliare la carne. Non versare sangue, né tagliare meno né più che giusto una libbra di carne. Se ne prendi di più o di meno d’una giusta libbra, sia pure di tanto quanto la renda leggera o pesante nella sostanza o della frazione della ventesima parte d’un misero scrupolo—anzi, se la bilancia pende anche solo per la stima d’un capello, tu muori, e tutti i tuoi beni sono confiscati.
GRAZIANO	Un secondo Daniele, un Daniele, ebreo! Ora, infedele, ti tengo per i fianchi.
PORTIA	Perché indugia l’ebreo? Prenditi la tua penale.
SHYLOCK	Datemi il mio capitale, e lasciatemi andare.
BASSANIO	L’ho pronto per te. Eccolo.
PORTIA	L’ha rifiutato in aperta corte. Avrà solamente giustizia e la sua obbligazione.
GRAZIANO	Un Daniele, lo ripeto, un secondo Daniele! Ti ringrazio, ebreo, d’avermi insegnato quella parola.
SHYLOCK	Non avrò nemmeno il mio semplice capitale?
PORTIA	Non avrai nulla se non la penale, da prendersi così a tuo rischio, ebreo.
SHYLOCK	Ebbene, allora il diavolo gliene faccia buon pro. Non resterò oltre a discutere.
PORTIA	Aspetta, ebreo. La legge ha ancora un’altra presa su di te. È statuito nelle leggi di Venezia che, se è provato contro uno straniero ch’egli, con tentativi diretti o indiretti, attenti alla vita d’un qualunque cittadino, la parte contro la quale egli macchina s’impadronirà d’una metà dei suoi beni; l’altra metà va allo scrigno privato dello stato, e la vita dell’offensore giace nella misericordia del Duca soltanto, contro ogni altra voce— nel qual frangente io dico che tu ti trovi, ché appare per manifesto procedimento che indirettamente, e anche direttamente, tu hai macchinato contro la vita stessa del convenuto, e sei incorso nel pericolo da me poc’anzi esposto. Giù, dunque, e implora misericordia dal Duca.
GRAZIANO	(a Shylock) Implora di poter avere licenza d’impiccarti— e tuttavia, essendo la tua ricchezza confiscata allo stato, non ti resta il valore d’una corda. Perciò dovrai essere impiccato a spese dello stato.
DUCA	(a Shylock) Perché tu veda la differenza del nostro spirito, ti perdono la vita prima che tu la chieda. Quanto a metà della tua ricchezza, è di Antonio. L’altra metà va allo stato in generale, che l’umiltà può ridurre a un’ammenda.
PORTIA	Sì, per lo stato, non per Antonio.
SHYLOCK	No, prendete la mia vita e tutto, non perdonate quella. Voi prendete la mia casa quando prendete il sostegno che regge la mia casa; prendete la mia vita quando prendete i mezzi con cui vivo.
PORTIA	Quale misericordia potete rendergli, Antonio?
GRAZIANO	Un capestro, gratis. Nient’altro, per amor di Dio.
ANTONIO	Se piace al mio signore il Duca e a tutta la corte di rimettere l’ammenda per una metà dei suoi beni, io son contento, purché egli mi lasci avere l’altra metà in usufrutto, per renderla alla sua morte al gentiluomo che di recente gli rubò la figlia. Due cose ancora a patto: che per questo favore egli si faccia subito cristiano; l’altra, che registri una donazione qui nella corte di tutto ciò che possederà alla morte a suo figlio, Lorenzo, e a sua figlia.
DUCA	Egli farà questo, altrimenti io ritratto il perdono che poco fa ho qui pronunciato.
PORTIA	Sei contento, ebreo? Che dici?
SHYLOCK	Son contento.
PORTIA	(a Nerissa) Cancelliere, stendi un atto di donazione.
SHYLOCK	Vi prego, datemi licenza d’andarmene di qui. Non sto bene. Mandatemi dietro l’atto, e lo firmerò.
DUCA	Vattene, ma fallo.
GRAZIANO	(a Shylock) Nel battesimo avrai due padrini. Fossi stato io giudice, ne avresti avuti altri dieci, per portarti alla forca, non al fonte.
(didascalia)	Esce Shylock
DUCA	(a Porzia) Signore, vi prego di venire a casa mia a pranzo.
PORTIA	Umilmente chiedo perdono a vostra grazia. Devo partire questa notte verso Padova, ed è opportuno ch’io mi metta subito in cammino.
DUCA	Mi dispiace che il vostro agio non ve lo consenta. Antonio, ricompensate questo gentiluomo, ché a mio parere gli siete molto obbligato.
(didascalia)	Escono il Duca e il suo séguito
BASSANIO	(a Porzia) Degnissimo gentiluomo, io e il mio amico siamo stati oggi assolti dalla vostra saggezza da gravose penali, in cambio delle quali i tremila ducati dovuti all’ebreo ripaghiamo liberamente le vostre cortesi fatiche.
ANTONIO	E restiamo indebitati oltre e sopra in amore e servizio verso di voi per sempre.
PORTIA	È ben pagato chi è ben soddisfatto, e io, liberandovi, sono soddisfatto, e in ciò mi ritengo ben pagato. La mia mente non fu mai più mercenaria. Vi prego di riconoscermi quando c’incontreremo di nuovo. Vi auguro ogni bene; e così prendo congedo.
BASSANIO	Caro signore, per forza devo insistere ancora con voi. Prendete da noi qualche ricordo come tributo, non come onorario. Concedetemi due cose, vi prego: di non negarmele, e di perdonarmi.
PORTIA	Insistete assai, e perciò cederò.
(didascalia)	A Antonio Datemi i vostri guanti. Li porterò per
PORTIA	amor vostro. (A Bassanio) E per il vostro amore prenderò quest’anello da voi. Non ritraete la mano. Non prenderò altro, e voi, per amore, non me lo negherete.
BASSANIO	Quest’anello, buon signore? Ahimè, è un’inezia. Non voglio farmi vergogna dandovi questo.
PORTIA	Non voglio nient’altro, ma solo questo; e ora, mi pare, ne ho voglia.
BASSANIO	Da questo dipende più che dal suo valore. Vi darò l’anello più prezioso di Venezia, e lo troverò con un pubblico bando. Solo per questo, vi prego, perdonatemi.
PORTIA	Vedo, signore, che siete liberale nelle offerte. Mi avete prima insegnato a mendicare, e ora mi pare che m’insegniate come si debba rispondere a un mendicante.
BASSANIO	Buon signore, quest’anello mi fu dato da mia moglie, e quando me lo mise al dito mi fece giurare ch’io non l’avrei né venduto, né dato, né perduto.
PORTIA	Quella scusa serve a molti uomini per salvare i loro doni. E se vostra moglie non è una pazza, e sa quanto bene io abbia meritato quest’anello, non vi resterà nemica in eterno perché me l’avete dato. Bene, la pace sia con voi.
(didascalia)	Escono Porzia e Nerissa
ANTONIO	Mio signor Bassanio, lasciate ch’egli abbia l’anello. I suoi meriti e il mio amore insieme siano valutati contro il comandamento di vostra moglie.
BASSANIO	Va’, Graziano, corri e raggiungilo. Dagli l’anello, e conducilo, se puoi, alla casa di Antonio. Va’, affrettati.
(didascalia)	Esce Graziano
BASSANIO	Venite, voi ed io andremo là subito, e domattina presto voleremo entrambi verso Belmonte. Venite, Antonio. Escono

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Portia and Nerissa, still disguised
PORTIA	Enquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
(didascalia)	Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO	Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en. My lord Bassanio upon more advice Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat Your company at dinner.
PORTIA	That cannot be. His ring I do accept most thankfully, And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.
GRAZIANO	That will I do.
NERISSA	Sir, I would speak with you. (Aside to Portia) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
PORTIA	(aside to Nerissa) Thou mayst; I warrant we shall have old swearing That they did give the rings away to men. But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too. Away, make haste. Thou know’st where I will tarry.
(didascalia)	Exit at one door
NERISSA	(to Graziano) Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
(didascalia)	Exeunt at another door

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Porzia e Nerissa, ancora travestite
PORTIA	Cerca la casa dell’ebreo, dagli quest’atto, e faglielo firmare. Partiremo stanotte, e saremo a casa un giorno prima dei nostri mariti. Quest’atto sarà ben gradito a Lorenzo.
(didascalia)	Entra Graziano
GRAZIANO	Bel signore, siete stato raggiunto proprio a tempo. Il mio signor Bassanio, dopo altra riflessione, vi manda qui quest’anello, e vi prega della vostra compagnia a pranzo.
PORTIA	Non può essere. Il suo anello lo accetto con ogni gratitudine, e così vi prego di dirgli. Inoltre, vi prego di mostrare al mio giovane la casa del vecchio Shylock.
GRAZIANO	Lo farò.
NERISSA	Signore, vorrei parlarvi. (A parte a Porzia) Vedrò se riesco ad avere l’anello di mio marito, che gli feci giurare di custodire per sempre.
PORTIA	(a parte a Nerissa) Puoi farlo; ti garantisco che sentiremo bei giuramenti che diedero gli anelli a degli uomini. Ma noi li smentiremo in faccia, e li supereremo anche nel giurare. Va’, affrettati. Sai dove t’aspetterò.
(didascalia)	Esce da una porta
NERISSA	(a Graziano) Venite, buon signore, volete condurmi a questa casa?
(didascalia)	Escono da un’altra porta

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lorenzo and Jessica
LORENZO	The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees And they did make no noise—in such a night Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night.
JESSICA	In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself, And ran dismayed away.
LORENZO	In such a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage.
JESSICA	In such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Aeson.
LORENZO	In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont.
JESSICA	In such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne’er a true one.
LORENZO	In such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
JESSICA	I would outnight you, did nobody come. But hark, I hear the footing of a man.
(didascalia)	Enter Stefano, a messenger
LORENZO	Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
STEFANO	A friend.
LORENZO	A friend—what friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?
STEFANO	Stefano is my name, and I bring word My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours.
LORENZO	Who comes with her?
STEFANO	None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet returned?
LORENZO	He is not, nor we have not heard from him. But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
(didascalia)	Enter Lancelot, the clown
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola, sola! Wo, ha, ho! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Who calls?
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola!—Did you see Master Lorenzo? (Calling) Master Lorenzo! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Leave hollering, man: here.
LANCELOT	(calling) Sola!—Where, where?
LORENZO	Here.
LANCELOT	Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news. My master will be here ere morning. Exit
LORENZO	(to Jessica) Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter. Why should we go in? My friend Stefano, signify, I pray you,
(didascalia)	Within the house your mistress is at hand,
LORENZO	And bring your music forth into the air. Exit Stefano How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica.
(didascalia)	They sit
LORENZO	Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold. There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins. Such harmony is in immortal souls, But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
(didascalia)	Enter Musicians
LORENZO	(To the Musicians) Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn. With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear, And draw her home with music. The Musicians play
JESSICA	I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
LORENZO	The reason is your spirits are attentive, For do but note a wild and wanton herd Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods, Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage But music for the time doth change his nature. The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.
(didascalia)	Enter Portia and Nerissa, as themselves
PORTIA	That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams— So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
NERISSA	When the moon shone we did not see the candle.
PORTIA	So doth the greater glory dim the less. A substitute shines brightly as a king Until a king be by, and then his state Empties itself as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music, hark.
NERISSA	It is your music, madam, of the house.
PORTIA	Nothing is good, I see, without respect. Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.
NERISSA	Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.
PORTIA	The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark When neither is attended, and I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day, When every goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren. How many things by season seasoned are To their right praise and true perfection!
(didascalia)	She sees Lorenzo and Jessica
PORTIA	Peace, ho!
(didascalia)	Music ceases
PORTIA	The moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awaked.
(didascalia)	LORENZO rising That is the voice,
PORTIA	Or I am much deceived, of Portia.
PORTIA	He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo— By the bad voice.
LORENZO	Dear lady, welcome home.
PORTIA	We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, Which speed we hope the better for our words. Are they returned?
LORENZO	Madam, they are not yet, But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming.
PORTIA	Go in, Nerissa. Give order to my servants that they take No note at all of our being absent hence; Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.
(didascalia)	A tucket sounds
LORENZO	Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet. We are no tell-tales, madam. Fear you not.
PORTIA	This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick. It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
(didascalia)	Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Graziano, and their followers. Graziano and Nerissa speak silently to one another
BASSANIO	We should hold day with the Antipodes If you would walk in absence of the sun.
PORTIA	Let me give light, but let me not be light; For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me. But God sort all. You are welcome home, my lord.
BASSANIO	I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound.
PORTIA	You should in all sense be much bound to him, For as I hear he was much bound for you.
ANTONIO	No more than I am well acquitted of.
PORTIA	Sir, you are very welcome to our house. It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong. In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk. Would he were gelt that had it for my part, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
PORTIA	A quarrel, ho, already! What’s the matter?
GRAZIANO	About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring That she did give me, whose posy was For all the world like cutlers’ poetry Upon a knife—‘Love me and leave me not’.
NERISSA	What talk you of the posy or the value? You swore to me when I did give it you That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave. Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths You should have been respective and have kept it. Gave it a judge’s clerk?—no, God’s my judge, The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.
GRAZIANO	He will an if he live to be a man.
NERISSA	Ay, if a woman live to be a man.
GRAZIANO	Now by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk, A prating boy that begged it as a fee. I could not for my heart deny it him.
PORTIA	You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift, A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger, And so riveted with faith unto your flesh. I gave my love a ring, and made him swear Never to part with it; and here he stands. I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it, Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth That the world masters. Now, in faith, Graziano, You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief. An ’twere to me, I should be mad at it.
BASSANIO	(aside) Why, I were best to cut my left hand off And swear I lost the ring defending it.
(didascalia)	GRAZIANO to Portia
BASSANIO	My lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed Deserved it, too, and then the boy his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begged mine, And neither man nor master would take aught But the two rings.
PORTIA	(to Bassanio) What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you received of me.
BASSANIO	If I could add a lie unto a fault I would deny it; but you see my finger Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone.
PORTIA	Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed Until I see the ring.
NERISSA	(to Graziano) Nor I in yours Till I again see mine.
BASSANIO	Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And would conceive for what I gave the ring, And how unwillingly I left the ring When naught would be accepted but the ring, You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
PORTIA	If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honour to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring. What man is there so much unreasonable, If you had pleased to have defended it With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty To urge the thing held as a ceremony? Nerissa teaches me what to believe. I’ll die for’t but some woman had the ring.
BASSANIO	No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begged the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffered him to go displeased away, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforced to send it after him. I was beset with shame and courtesy. My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady, For by these blessèd candles of the night, Had you been there I think you would have begged The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
PORTIA	Let not that doctor e’er come near my house. Since he hath got the jewel that I loved, And that which you did swear to keep for me, I will become as liberal as you. I’ll not deny him anything I have, No, not my body nor my husband’s bed. Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus. If you do not, if I be left alone, Now by mine honour, which is yet mine own, I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
NERISSA	(to Graziano) And I his clerk, therefore be well advised How you do leave me to mine own protection.
GRAZIANO	Well, do you so. Let not me take him then, For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
ANTONIO	I am th’unhappy subject of these quarrels.
PORTIA	Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.
BASSANIO	Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong, And in the hearing of these many friends I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Wherein I see myself—
PORTIA	Mark you but that? In both my eyes he doubly sees himself, In each eye one. Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit.
BASSANIO	Nay, but hear me. Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with thee.
ANTONIO	(to Portia) I once did lend my body for his wealth Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring, Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly.
PORTIA	Then you shall be his surety. Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other.
ANTONIO	Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.
BASSANIO	By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!
PORTIA	I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.
NERISSA	And pardon me, my gentle Graziano, For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this last night did lie with me.
GRAZIANO	Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer where the ways are fair enough I What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?
PORTIA	Speak not so grossly. You are all amazed. Here is a letter. Read it at your leisure. It comes from Padua, from Bellario. There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, And even but now returned. I have not yet Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome, And I have better news in store for you Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon. There you shall find three of your argosies Are richly come to harbour suddenly. You shall not know by what strange accident I chanced on this letter.
ANTONIO	I am dumb!
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Were you the doctor and I knew you not?
GRAZIANO	(to Nerissa) Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?
NERISSA	Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it Unless he live until he be a man.
BASSANIO	(to Portia) Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow. When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
ANTONIO	(to Portia) Sweet lady, you have given me life and living, For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road.
PORTIA	How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts, too, for you.
NERISSA	Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee. There do I give to you and Jessica From the rich Jew a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possessed of.
LORENZO	Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people.
PORTIA	It is almost morning, And yet I am sure you are not satisfied Of these events at full. Let us go in, And charge us there upon inter’gatories, And we will answer all things faithfully.
GRAZIANO	Let it be so. The first inter’gatory That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is Whether till the next night she had rather stay, Or go to bed now, being two hours to day. But were the day come, I should wish it dark Till I were couching with the doctor’s clerk. Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring. Exeunt 1 HENRY IV
THE	play described in the 1623 Folio as The First Part of Henry the Fourth had been entered on the Stationers’ Register on 25 February 1598 as The History of Henry the Fourth, and that is the title of the first surviving edition, of the same year. An earlier edition, doubtless also printed in 1598, is known only from a single, eight-page fragment. Five more editions appeared before the Folio. The printing of at least two editions within a few months, and the fact that one of them was read almost out of existence, reflect a matter of exceptional topical interest. The earliest title-page advertises the play’s portrayal of ‘the humorous conceits of Sir John Falstaff’; but when it was first acted, probably in 1596 or 1597, this character bore the name of his historical counterpart, the Protestant martyr Sir John Oldcastle. Shakespeare changed his surname as the result of protests from Oldcastle’s descendants, the influential Cobham family, one of whom—William Brooke, 7th Lord Cobham—was Elizabeth I’s Lord Chamberlain from August 1596 till he died on 5 March 1597. Our edition restores Sir John’s original surname for the first time in printed texts (though there is reason to believe that even after the earliest performances the name ’Oldcastle’ was sometimes used on the stage), and also restores Russell and Harvey, names Shakespeare was probably obliged to alter to Bardolph and Peto. Shakespeare had already shown Henry IV’s rise to power, and his troubled state of mind on achieving it, in Richard II; that play also shows Henry’s dissatisfaction with his wayward son, Prince Harry, later Henry V. 1 Henry IV continues the story, but in a very different dramatic style. A play called The Famous Victories of Henry V, entered in the Stationers’ Register in 1594, was published anonymously, in a debased and shortened text, in 1598. This text—which also features Oldcastle as a reprobate—gives a sketchy version of the events portrayed in 1 and 2 Henry IV and Henry V. Shakespeare must have known the original play, but in the absence of a full text we cannot tell how much he depended on it. The surviving version contains nothing about the rebellions against Henry IV, for which Shakespeare seems to have gone to IIolinshed’s, and perhaps other, Chronicles; he draws also on Samuel Daniel’s poem The First Four Books of the Civil Wars (1595). 1 Henry IV is the first of Shakespeare’s history plays to make extensive use of the techniques of comedy. On a national level, the play shows the continuing problems of Henry Bolingbroke, insecure in his hold on the throne, and the victim of rebellions led by Worcester, Hotspur (Harry Percy), and Glyndwr. These scenes are counterpointed by others, written mainly in prose, which, in the manner of a comic sub-plot, provide humorous diversion while also reflecting and extending the concerns of the main plot. Henry suffers not only public insurrection but the personal rebellion of Prince Harry, in his unprincely exploits with the reprobate old knight, Oldcastle. Sir John has become Shakespeare’s most famous comic character, but Shakespeare shows that the Prince’s treatment of him as a surrogate father who must eventually be abandoned has an intensely serious side.
THE PERSONS OF THE	PLAY

Chi parla	Battuta
(didascalia)	Entrano Lorenzo e Jessica
LORENZO	La luna splende luminosa. In una notte come questa, quando il dolce vento baciava gentilmente gli alberi ed essi non facevano rumore—in una notte come questa Troilo, mi pare, salì sulle mura di Troia, e sospirò la sua anima verso le tende greche dove Cressida giaceva quella notte.
JESSICA	In una notte come questa Tisbe timorosa corse leggera sulla rugiada e vide l’ombra del leone prima del leone stesso, e fuggì sgomenta.
LORENZO	In una notte come questa stava Didone con un salice in mano sulle selvagge rive del mare, e faceva cenno al suo amore di tornare a Cartagine.
JESSICA	In una notte come questa Medea raccolse le erbe incantate che ringiovanirono il vecchio Esone.
LORENZO	In una notte come questa Jessica fuggì dal ricco ebreo, e con uno scialacquatore amore corse via da Venezia fin qui a Belmonte.
JESSICA	In una notte come questa il giovane Lorenzo giurò che l’amava assai, rubandole l’anima con molti voti di fede, e mai uno vero.
LORENZO	In una notte come questa la graziosa Jessica, come una piccola bisbetica, calunniò il suo amore, ed egli glielo perdonò.
JESSICA	Vi vincerei a notti, se non venisse nessuno. Ma zitto, odo il passo d’un uomo.
(didascalia)	Entra Stefano, un messo
LORENZO	Chi viene così in fretta nel silenzio della notte?
STEFANO	Un amico.
LORENZO	Un amico—quale amico? Il vostro nome, vi prego, amico?
STEFANO	Stefano è il mio nome, e reco notizia che la mia padrona prima dello spuntar del giorno sarà qui a Belmonte. Ella va errando presso sante croci, dove s’inginocchia e prega per felici ore nuziali.
LORENZO	Chi viene con lei?
STEFANO	Nessuno se non un santo eremita e la sua damigella. Vi prego, il mio padrone è già tornato?
LORENZO	Non è tornato, né abbiamo avuto sue notizie. Ma entriamo, ti prego, Jessica, e prepariamo cerimoniosamente qualche accoglienza per la padrona della casa.
(didascalia)	Entra Lancelot, il buffone
LANCELOT	(chiamando) Sola, sola! Uo, ha, ho! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Chi chiama?
LANCELOT	(chiamando) Sola!—Avete visto messer Lorenzo? (Chiamando) Messer Lorenzo! Sola, sola!
LORENZO	Smetti di urlare, uomo: son qui.
LANCELOT	(chiamando) Sola!—Dove, dove?
LORENZO	Qui.
LANCELOT	Ditegli che è giunto un corriere dal mio padrone col corno pieno di buone notizie. Il mio padrone sarà qui prima del mattino. Esce
LORENZO	(a Jessica) Dolce anima, entriamo, e là attendiamo il loro arrivo. Eppure non importa. Perché dovremmo entrare? Amico Stefano, annunciate, vi prego,
(didascalia)	dentro la casa che la vostra padrona è vicina,
LORENZO	e portate fuori all’aria la vostra musica. Esce Stefano Com’è dolce il dormire del chiaro di luna su questa riva! Qui ci sederemo, e lasceremo che i suoni della musica s’insinuino nei nostri orecchi. La molle quiete e la notte s’addicono ai tocchi della dolce armonia. Siedi, Jessica.
(didascalia)	Si siedono
LORENZO	Guarda come il pavimento del cielo è fittamente intarsiato di patene d’oro lucente. Non v’è la più piccola sfera che tu contempli che nel suo moto non canti come un angelo, sempre in coro coi cherubini dagli occhi giovani. Tale armonia è nelle anime immortali, ma finché questa fangosa veste di corruzione grossolanamente la rinchiude, non possiamo udirla.
(didascalia)	Entrano i Musicanti
LORENZO	(Ai Musicanti) Venite, olà, e destate Diana con un inno. Con dolcissimi tocchi trafiggete l’orecchio della vostra padrona, e traetela a casa con la musica. I Musicanti suonano
JESSICA	Non sono mai allegra quando odo dolce musica.
LORENZO	La ragione è che i vostri spiriti sono attenti, ché basta osservare una mandria selvaggia e sfrenata o una razza di puledri giovani e indomiti, che fanno folli balzi, muggendo e nitrendo forte, il che è l’ardente condizione del loro sangue: se solo odono per caso il suono d’una tromba, o qualche aria di musica tocca i loro orecchi, li vedrete fermarsi tutti insieme, i loro occhi selvaggi mutati in uno sguardo modesto dal dolce potere della musica. Perciò il poeta finse che Orfeo traesse alberi, pietre e fiumi, poiché nulla è tanto insensibile, duro e pieno di rabbia che la musica per un tempo non ne muti la natura. L’uomo che non ha musica in se stesso, né si commuove alla concordia di dolci suoni, è fatto per tradimenti, stratagemmi e rapine. I moti del suo spirito sono cupi come la notte, e i suoi affetti oscuri come l’Erebo. Nessun tale uomo sia degno di fiducia. Sta’ attenta alla musica.
(didascalia)	Entrano Porzia e Nerissa, nelle loro vesti
PORTIA	Quella luce che vediamo arde nella mia sala. Quanto lontano getta i suoi raggi quella piccola candela— così splende una buona azione in un mondo malvagio.
NERISSA	Quando splendeva la luna non vedevamo la candela.
PORTIA	Così la gloria maggiore offusca la minore. Un sostituto splende luminoso come un re finché un re non sia presente, e allora il suo stato si svuota come fa un ruscello dell’entroterra nella distesa delle acque. Musica, ascolta.
NERISSA	È la vostra musica, signora, della casa.
PORTIA	Nulla è buono, vedo, se non in rapporto ad altro. Mi pare che suoni molto più dolce che di giorno.
NERISSA	Il silenzio le conferisce quella virtù, signora.
PORTIA	Il corvo canta dolcemente quanto l’allodola quando nessuno dei due è ascoltato, e credo che l’usignolo, se cantasse di giorno, quando ogni oca schiamazza, non sarebbe stimato miglior musicante dello scricciolo. Quante cose dalla stagione son condite alla loro giusta lode e vera perfezione!
(didascalia)	Vede Lorenzo e Jessica
PORTIA	Silenzio, olà!
(didascalia)	La musica cessa
PORTIA	La luna dorme con Endimione, e non vorrebbe essere destata.
(didascalia)	LORENZO alzandosi Questa è la voce,
PORTIA	o m’inganno di molto, di Porzia.
PORTIA	Mi riconosce come il cieco riconosce il cuculo— dalla cattiva voce.
LORENZO	Cara signora, bentornata a casa.
PORTIA	Abbiamo pregato per il bene dei nostri mariti, la cui prosperità speriamo sia migliore per le nostre parole. Sono tornati?
LORENZO	Signora, non ancora, ma è giunto prima un messo ad annunciare il loro arrivo.
PORTIA	Entra, Nerissa. Da’ ordine ai miei servi che non facciano alcun cenno della nostra assenza di qui; né voi, Lorenzo; né voi, Jessica.
(didascalia)	Suona uno squillo di tromba
LORENZO	Vostro marito è vicino. Odo la sua tromba. Non siamo spioni, signora. Non temete.
PORTIA	Questa notte, mi pare, non è che la luce del giorno malata. Sembra un poco più pallida. È un giorno quale è il giorno quando il sole è nascosto.
(didascalia)	Entrano Bassanio, Antonio, Graziano e i loro seguaci. Graziano e Nerissa si parlano sottovoce
BASSANIO	Avremmo il giorno insieme agli Antipodi se voi passeggiaste in assenza del sole.
PORTIA	Lasciate ch’io dia luce, ma ch’io non sia leggera; ché una moglie leggera fa un marito pesante, e mai sia Bassanio tale per causa mia. Ma Dio disponga di tutto. Siate il benvenuto a casa, mio signore.
BASSANIO	Vi ringrazio, signora. Date il benvenuto al mio amico. Questo è l’uomo, questo è Antonio, al quale sono così infinitamente obbligato.
PORTIA	Dovreste in ogni senso essergli molto obbligato, ché a quel che odo egli si obbligò molto per voi.
ANTONIO	Non più di quanto io sia ben liberato.
PORTIA	Signore, siete molto benvenuto nella nostra casa. Ciò dovrà apparire in altri modi che in parole, perciò abbrevio questa cortesia di fiato.
GRAZIANO	(a Nerissa) Per quella luna là giuro che mi fate torto. In fede mia, lo diedi al cancelliere del giudice. Vorrei che fosse castrato colui che l’ebbe, per parte mia, poiché voi la prendete, amore mio, tanto a cuore.
PORTIA	Una lite, olà, già! Che c’è?
GRAZIANO	Per un cerchietto d’oro, un misero anello ch’ella mi diede, il cui motto era tal quale la poesia dei coltellinai su un coltello—‘Amami e non lasciarmi’.
NERISSA	Che parlate voi del motto o del valore? Mi giuraste, quando ve lo diedi, che l’avreste portato fino all’ora della vostra morte, e ch’esso avrebbe dovuto giacere con voi nella vostra tomba. Se non per me, almeno per i vostri veementi giuramenti avreste dovuto essere riguardoso e custodirlo. Darlo al cancelliere d’un giudice?—no, Dio mi è giudice, il cancelliere che l’ebbe non porterà mai peli sul viso.
GRAZIANO	Li porterà, se vivrà tanto da farsi uomo.
NERISSA	Sì, se una donna vivrà tanto da farsi uomo.
GRAZIANO	Ora, per questa mano, lo diedi a un giovane, una specie di ragazzo, un ragazzetto tarchiato non più alto di te, il cancelliere del giudice, un ragazzo ciarliero che lo chiese come onorario. Non ebbi cuore di negarglielo.
PORTIA	Foste da biasimare, devo essere schietta con voi, a separarvi così alla leggera dal primo dono di vostra moglie, una cosa fissata al vostro dito con giuramenti, e così ribadita con fede alla vostra carne. Io diedi al mio amore un anello, e gli feci giurare di non separarsene mai; ed eccolo qui. Oserei giurare per lui ch’egli non lo lascerebbe, né se lo strapperebbe dal dito per tutta la ricchezza che il mondo possiede. Ora, in fede mia, Graziano, date a vostra moglie una troppo scortese cagione di dolore. Se fosse a me, ne impazzirei.
BASSANIO	(a parte) Ebbene, farei meglio a tagliarmi la mano sinistra e a giurare d’aver perduto l’anello difendendolo.
(didascalia)	GRAZIANO a Porzia
BASSANIO	Il mio signor Bassanio diede via il suo anello al giudice che lo chiese, e che in verità lo meritava pure; e poi il ragazzo suo cancelliere, che s’era dato qualche pena a scrivere, chiese il mio, e né il servo né il padrone volevano accettare altro che i due anelli.
PORTIA	(a Bassanio) Quale anello avete dato, mio signore? Non quello, spero, che riceveste da me.
BASSANIO	Se potessi aggiungere una menzogna a una colpa lo negherei; ma voi vedete che il mio dito non ha più l’anello. È andato.
PORTIA	Altrettanto vuoto è di verità il vostro falso cuore. Per il cielo, non verrò mai nel vostro letto finché non veda l’anello.
NERISSA	(a Graziano) Né io nel vostro finché non riveda il mio.
BASSANIO	Dolce Porzia, se sapeste a chi diedi l’anello, se sapeste per chi diedi l’anello, e se poteste concepire per che cosa diedi l’anello, e con quanta riluttanza lasciai l’anello quando null’altro sarebbe stato accettato che l’anello, mitighereste la forza del vostro dispiacere.
PORTIA	Se aveste conosciuto la virtù dell’anello, o metà del pregio di colei che diede l’anello, o il vostro proprio onore nel conservare l’anello, non vi sareste allora separato dall’anello. Qual uomo v’è tanto irragionevole, se vi fosse piaciuto difenderlo con qualche termine di zelo, che avesse mancato del pudore di pretendere una cosa tenuta come sacra? Nerissa m’insegna che cosa credere. Ci morirei sopra: qualche donna ha avuto l’anello.
BASSANIO	No, per il mio onore, signora, per la mia anima, nessuna donna l’ebbe, ma un dottore in legge che rifiutò da me tremila ducati, e chiese l’anello, che io gli negai, e lo lasciai andar via scontento, proprio lui che aveva sostenuto la vita stessa del mio caro amico. Che dovevo dire, dolce signora? Fui costretto a mandarglielo dietro. Ero assediato dalla vergogna e dalla cortesia. Il mio onore non poté sopportare che l’ingratitudine lo imbrattasse tanto. Perdonatemi, buona signora, ché per queste benedette candele della notte, se voi foste stata là credo che avreste chiesto l’anello a me per darlo al degno dottore.
PORTIA	Che quel dottore non s’avvicini mai alla mia casa. Poiché egli ha ottenuto il gioiello che io amavo, e quello che voi giuraste di custodire per me, io diverrò liberale quanto voi. Non gli negherò nulla di ciò che ho, no, né il mio corpo né il letto di mio marito. Lo conoscerò, ne sono ben sicura. Non state fuori casa una sola notte. Sorvegliatemi come Argo. Se non lo fate, se sarò lasciata sola, ora per il mio onore, che è ancora mio, avrò quel dottore per compagno di letto.
NERISSA	(a Graziano) E io il suo cancelliere; perciò state bene attento a come mi lasciate alla mia propria protezione.
GRAZIANO	Bene, fate pure così. Ma ch’io non lo prenda allora, ché se lo prendo, guasterò la penna al giovane cancelliere.
ANTONIO	Io sono l’infelice soggetto di queste liti.
PORTIA	Signore, non v’addolorate. Siete benvenuto nondimeno.
BASSANIO	Porzia, perdonatemi questo torto forzato, e all’udito di questi molti amici io ti giuro, proprio per i tuoi begli occhi, in cui vedo me stesso—
PORTIA	Notate questo? In entrambi i miei occhi egli vede doppiamente se stesso, in ciascun occhio uno. Giurate per il vostro doppio io, ed ecco un giuramento degno di fede.
BASSANIO	Ma no, ascoltatemi. Perdonate questa colpa, e per la mia anima giuro che mai più romperò un giuramento con te.
ANTONIO	(a Porzia) Io una volta impegnai il mio corpo per la sua ricchezza che, se non fosse per colui che ebbe l’anello di vostro marito, sarebbe andata del tutto perduta. Oso obbligarmi di nuovo, la mia anima a pegno, che il vostro signore mai più romperà deliberatamente la fede.
PORTIA	Allora sarete voi il suo garante. Dategli questo, e ditegli di custodirlo meglio dell’altro.
ANTONIO	Ecco, signor Bassanio, giurate di custodire quest’anello.
BASSANIO	Per il cielo, è lo stesso ch’io diedi al dottore!
PORTIA	L’ho avuto da lui. Perdonatemi, Bassanio, ché per quest’anello, il dottore giacque con me.
NERISSA	E perdonatemi, mio gentile Graziano, ché quello stesso ragazzo tarchiato, il cancelliere del dottore, in cambio di questo, la scorsa notte giacque con me.
GRAZIANO	Ebbene, questo è come il riparare le strade maestre d’estate, quando le vie sono già abbastanza buone I Come, siamo cornuti prima d’averlo meritato?
PORTIA	Non parlate così grossolanamente. Siete tutti sbalorditi. Ecco una lettera. Leggetela con comodo. Viene da Padova, da Bellario. Là troverete che Porzia era il dottore, Nerissa là il suo cancelliere. Lorenzo qui testimonierà che partii non appena voi, e che son tornata proprio adesso. Non sono ancora entrata nella mia casa. Antonio, siete il benvenuto, e ho in serbo per voi notizie migliori di quante ne aspettiate. Dissuggellate presto questa lettera. Là troverete che tre dei vostri galeoni sono giunti in porto all’improvviso, riccamente carichi. Non saprete per quale strano caso mi sia imbattuta in questa lettera.
ANTONIO	Sono senza parole!
BASSANIO	(a Porzia) Eravate voi il dottore e io non vi riconobbi?
GRAZIANO	(a Nerissa) Eravate voi il cancelliere che deve farmi cornuto?
NERISSA	Sì, ma il cancelliere che non intende mai farlo a meno che non viva fino a diventare un uomo.
BASSANIO	(a Porzia) Dolce dottore, sarete il mio compagno di letto. Quando sarò assente, allora giacete con mia moglie.
ANTONIO	(a Porzia) Dolce signora, m’avete dato vita e sostentamento, ché qui leggo per certo che le mie navi sono giunte sane e salve in rada.
PORTIA	Ebbene, Lorenzo? Anche il mio cancelliere ha qualche buon conforto per voi.
NERISSA	Sì, e glieli darò senza onorario. Ecco, do a voi e a Jessica dal ricco ebreo uno speciale atto di donazione, dopo la sua morte, di tutto ciò che possederà alla morte.
LORENZO	Belle dame, voi versate manna sul cammino di gente affamata.
PORTIA	È quasi mattino, e tuttavia son certa che non siete soddisfatti appieno di questi avvenimenti. Entriamo, e là interrogateci per interrogatorî, e noi risponderemo fedelmente a ogni cosa.
GRAZIANO	Sia così. Il primo interrogatorio su cui la mia Nerissa sarà giurata è se preferisca aspettare fino alla prossima notte, o andare a letto adesso, mancando due ore al giorno. Ma fosse venuto il giorno, lo vorrei buio finché non fossi coricato col cancelliere del dottore. Bene, finché vivrò non temerò altra cosa tanto quanto il custodire salvo l’anello di Nerissa. Escono 1 ENRICO IV