The Merchant of Venice Page #6

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.

Is it your dear friend

that is thus in trouble?

The dearest friend to me.

What sum owes he the Jew?

For me, three thousand ducats.

No more?

Pay him six thousand and deface the bond.

Double six thousand and then treble that

before a friend of this description should

lose a hair through Bassanio's fault.

Let me hear the letter of your friend.

"Sweet Bassanio, my ships have

all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel,

"my estate is very low.

"My bond to the Jew is forfeit and since

in paying it, it is impossible I should live,

"all debts are cleared between you and I,

"if I might but see you at my death.

"Notwithstanding, use your pleasure -

"if love do not persuade you to come,

let not my letter. "

O love,

dispatch all business and be gone!

First...

go with me to church and call me wife.

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.

Meantime, myself and Nerissa

will live as maids and widows.

Come, away,

for you shall hence

upon your wedding day.

Gaoler, look to him, tell me not of mercy.

This is the fool that lent out money gratis.

Gaoler, look to him.

Hear me yet, good Shylock.

I'll have my bond.

Speak not against my bond.

I have sworn an oath

that I will have my bond.

You called me dog before you had a cause.

But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.

The duke will grant me justice.

I do wonder, you wicked gaolers,

you are so fond

to come abroad with him at his request.

- I pray you, hear me speak!

- I'll have my bond,

I will not hear you speak.

I'll have my bond, therefore speak no more.

I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,

to shake their head, relent and sigh

and yield to Christian intercessors.

I'll have no speaking, follow not.

I will have my bond.

It is the most impenetrable cur

that ever kept with men.

Let him alone.

I'll follow him no more

with bootless prayers.

He seeks my life.

His reason well I know.

I'm sure the duke will never grant

this forfeiture to hold!

The duke cannot deny the course of law.

For the commodity that strangers have

with us in Venice, if it be denied,

will much impeach the justice of the state.

Therefore, go.

Oh!

These griefs and losses have so bated me

that I shall hardly find a pound of flesh

tomorrow for my bloody creditor.

Pray God Bassanio come

to see me pay his debt.

Then I care not.

Madam, 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 kindness would allow you.

I never did repent for doing good,

I shall not now.

For in companions that do

converse and waste the time together

there needs must be 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 of this 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 my own part, I have towards heaven

breathed a secret vow

to live in prayer and contemplation,

only attended by Nerissa here,

- until my husband and her lord's return.

- Madam, with all my heart,

I shall obey you in all fair commands.

Fair thoughts and happy hours

attend on you.

Go, speed to Padua, render this

into my cousin's hands, old Bellario.

Go!

Is it not so, cousin Bellario?

(# Lute music)

# How sweet the rose... #

See, Jessica.

Look how the floor of heaven is

thick inlaid with patterns of bright gold.

Is not the smallest orb that you behold

but in his motion like an angel sings?

Such harmony is in immortal souls.

But whilst this muddy vesture of decay

doth grossly close it in,

- we cannot hear it.

- Hm.

I am never merry when I hear sweet music.

The reason is your spirits are attentive.

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

as dull as night

and his affections are as dark as Erebus.

Let no such man be trusted.

Mark the music.

# Sweet rose... #

(Portia) We shall see our husbands

before they think of us.

Shall they see us?

They shall, Nerissa,

but in such a habit that they shall think

we are accomplished with what we lack.

I'll hold you any wager, when we are both

accoutred like young men,

I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two.

(Duke) Go one and call the Jew

to the court.

Make room and let him stand

before our face.

He is come, my lord.

Shylock, the world thinks,

and I think so, too,

that you but lead'st this fashion

of your malice to the last hour of the act

and then 'tis thought

you'll show your mercy and remorse,

more strange than is

your strange apparent cruelty.

What say you, Jew?

We all expect a gentle answer.

I have informed 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 human 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 by a rat

and I am pleased to give

ten thousand ducats to have it killed?

- What, are you answered yet?

- (Crowd) No.

Some men there are love not a gaping pig,

some that are mad if they behold a cat

and others when the bagpipe sings

in the nose cannot contain their urine.

- (Laughter)

- For affection, master 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 will I not,

more than a lodged hate

and a certain loathing I bear Antonio,

that I follow thus

this losing suit against him.

- Are you answered?

- (All) No!

This is no answer, you unfeeling man,

to excuse the current of your cruelty.

I am not bound to please you

with my answers.

Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Every offence is not a hate at first.

You would have a serpent sting you twice?

(Crowd shout in derision)

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