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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 estate was nothing,
I should have told you I was worse than nothing,
for, indeed, I have engaged myself to a dear friend,
who engaged my dear friend to his mere enemy
to feed my means.
Here is a letter, lady. The paper is the body of my friend
and every word in it a gaping wound issuing life-blood.
But is it true, Salerio? What, all his ventures failed? What, not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico, from England?
Not one, my lord.
Besides it appears that if he had the present money to discharge the Jew,
he would not take it.
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 of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.
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.
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! - L"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 *** 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?
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...
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.
Go one and call the Jew to the court.
Make room and let him stand before our face.