The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

PORTIA

  Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

  Is it your dear friend who is in this trouble?

  BASSANIO

  The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,

  The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit

  In doing courtesies, and one in whom

  The ancient Roman honour more appears

  Than any that draws breath in Italy.

  He is my dearest friend and the kindest man.

  He had the best disposition and a great spirit

  And has the best manners. He is the sort of man

  The ancient Roman idea of honor appears in

  More than any other man in Italy.

  PORTIA

  What sum owes he the Jew?

  How much does he owe the Jew?

  BASSANIO

  For me three thousand ducats.

  He owes him 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 through Bassanio's fault.

  First go with me to church and call me wife,

  And then away to Venice to your friend;

  For never shall you lie by Portia's side

  With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold

  To pay the petty debt twenty times over:

  When it is paid, bring your true friend along.

  My maid Nerissa and myself meantime

  Will live as maids and widows. Come, away!

  For you shall hence upon your wedding-day:

  Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer:

  Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.

  But let me hear the letter of your friend.

  What, that’s all?

  Pay him six thousand and be done with the debt.

  Double the six thousand, and then triple it

  Before this great friend as you’ve described him

  Loses a hair through your fault.

  But first, let’s go to church and get married.

  And then you should go to Venice to be with your friend.

  You would never sleep by my side otherwise

  Without a restless soul. You will have enough gold

  To pay this petty debt twenty times over.

  When it is paid, bring your friend back here.

  Nerissa and I, in the meantime

  Will live like virgins and widows. Let’s go!

  You will leave once you are married.

  Welcome your friends and put on a happy face.

  Since it is costing so much to have you, I will love you all the more.

  But first, read me the letter from your friend.

  BASSANIO

  [Reads] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all

  miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is

  very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since

  in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all

  debts are cleared between you and I, if I might but

  see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your

  pleasure: if your love do not persuade you to come,

  let not my letter.

  [Reads] Sweer Bassanio, my ships have all

  been wrecked, my creditors are growing cruel, my wealth is

  very low, my loan to the Jew is forfeited, and since

  I’m not paying it, it is impossible to live, all

  debts between you and I are cleared if I could just

  see you when I die. I understand that if you

  don’t want to come because of your affection for me

  this letter will not convince you to do so.

  PORTIA

  O love, dispatch all business, and be gone!

  Oh, my love—take care of things and go on!

  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,

  No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

  Since I have your blessing in going away,

  I will hurry back. But, until I return,

  Know that I will not sleep in any bed.

  I will not rest until I am with you again.

  Exeunt

  Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler

  SHYLOCK

  Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy;

  This is the fool that lent out money gratis:

  Gaoler, look to him.

  Jailer, keep an eye on this one. Don’t try to convice me of mercy.

  This is the fool that lent out money without interest.

  Jailer, keep an eye on him.

  ANTONIO

  Hear me yet, good Shylock.

  Listen to me, Shylock.

  SHYLOCK

  I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond:

  I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.

  Thou call'dst 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 gaoler, that thou art so fond

  To come abroad with him at his request.

  I’ll have my payment. Don’t try to talk me out of getting it.

  I have sworn an oath the I will get my payment.

  You called me a dog when you had no reason to do so.

  So, since I am a dog, beware of my fangs.

  The duke will give me justice. I do wonder,

  however, why this jailer is so bad, to allow

  Antonio to come out of his cell by simply asking.

  ANTONIO

  I pray thee, hear me speak.

  Please, listen to what I have to say.

  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.

  I will have my payment. I will not listen to you.

  I will have my payment. So just stop talking.

  I’ll not be made to look like a weak and easily deceived fool

  To just shake my head, give up to you with a sigh and yield

  To Christian prayers. Don’t follow me.

  I won’t listen to you. I will have my payment.

  Exit

  SALARINO

  It is the most impenetrable cur

  That ever kept with men.

  He is the most impossible dog

  Who ever lived among 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 deliver'd from his forfeitures

  Many that have at times made moan to me;

  Therefore he hates me.

  Leave him alone.

  I won’t follow him anymore with my useless prayers.

  He wants me dead. I know his reason:

  I’ve given money to the people who couldn’t pay him back

  Many times, once they’ve asked me to do so.

  He hates me for that reason.

  SALARINO

  I am sure the duke

  Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.

  I am sure the duke

  Will never allow this payment for forfeit to be enforced.

  ANTONIO

  The duke cannot deny the course of law:

  For the commodity that strangers have

  With us in Venice, if it be denied,

  Will much impeach the justice of his state;

  Since that the trade and profit of the city

  Consisteth of all nations. Therefore
, go:

  These griefs and losses have so bated me,

  That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

  To-morrow to my bloody creditor.

  Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come

  To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

  The duke cannot deny the law.

  The business that strangers bring

  To merchants in Venice can not be denied

  Or it would cause harm to the justice of the state

  Since the profit of the city depends on the trade

  Of foreigners. So, go on—

  These worries have caused me to lose so much weight

  I will hardly be able to spare a pound of flesh

  Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.

  So, jailer, go away. I just hope to God Bassanio comes

  To see me pay his debt, and I don’t care about anything else!

  Exeunt

  Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHASAR

  LORENZO

  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.

  Madam, I’d like to say in your presence

  That you have a noble and true understanding

  Of real friendship, which you have shown

  By letting your lord go off like this.

  The man you are sending him to

  Loves your lord greatly and is faithful to him.

  I know you might be prouder of doing what comes

  Natural to you if you knew this.

  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 bestow'd

  In purchasing the semblance of my soul

  From out the state of hellish misery!

  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 will we abide. I do desire you

  Not to deny this imposition;

  The which my love and some necessity

  Now lays upon you.

  I’ve never been sorry for doing good,

  And I won’t be now. Friends

  That talk and spend time together

  Have souls that bear an equal amount of love.

  They must be very much alike, and have the same sort

  of chracteristics, manners and energy.

  This makes me think that this Antonio,

  Being such a close friend of my lord,

  Must be very much like my lord. So, if that’s the case,

  The money I’ve sent with him is a small amount

  To free the one who is like my lover

  Out of a hellish state!

  But, I’m coming too close to praising myself,

  So let’s talk of this no more. Let’s talk about other things.

  Lorenzo, I’d like for you

  To take over the care and management of my house

  Until my lord comes back. As for me—

  I have made a secret vow to heaven

  To live in prayer and meditation

  To be only accompanied my Nerissa

  Until her husband and my lord come back.

  There is a monastery about two miles away.

  We will stay there. I hope you

  Will not deny this request

  Which my love and some need

  Puts upon you.

  LORENZO

  Madam, with all my heart;

  I shall obey you in all fair commands.

  Madam, with all of my heart—

  I will do whatever you wish.

  PORTIA

  My people do already know my mind,

  And will acknowledge you and Jessica

  In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.

  And so farewell, till we shall meet again.

  My servants already know about this

  And will answer to you and Jessica

  In place of Lord Bassanio and me.

  So, goodbye, until we see each other again.

  LORENZO

  Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you!

  I hope you find peace of mind and happiness!

  JESSICA

  I wish your ladyship all heart's content.

  I wish you all you hope for at this time.

  PORTIA

  I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased

  To wish it back on you: fare you well Jessica.

  Thanks you for the wish, and I’m happy

  To wish the same back to you. Goodbye, Jessica. Take care.

  Exeunt JESSICA and LORENZO

  Now, Balthasar,

  As I have ever found thee honest-true,

  So let me find thee still. Take this same letter,

  And use thou all the endeavour of a man

  In speed to Padua: see thou render this

  Into my cousin's hand, Doctor Bellario;

  And, look, what notes and garments he doth give thee,

  Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed

  Unto the tranect, to the common ferry

  Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words,

  But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee.

  Now, Balthasar,

  I have found you to be ever honest and true,

  And I hope to find you that way, still. Take this letter,

  And with as much speed as possible for a man

  Get to Padua. Put this letter

  Into my cousin’s—Dr. Bellario—hands.

  Take whatever papers and clothes he gives to you

  And bring them, please, as quickly as you can

  To the ferry—the public ferry—

  That goes to and from Venice. Don’t waste time talking,

  Just get going. I will be there before you.

  BALTHASAR

  Madam, I go with all convenient speed.

  Madam, I will go as fast as possible.

  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.

  Come on, Nerissa, I have things in the works

  You don’t know about yet. We’ll see our husbands

  Before they even think of us.

  NERISSA

  Shall they see us?

  Will they see us?

  PORTIA

  They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit,

  That they shall think we are accomplished

  With that we lack. I'll hold thee any wager,

  When we are both accoutred 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 voic
e, 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.

  They will see us, Nerissa, but we will be dressed

  In a way that they will think we are

  what we are not. I will bet you

  That when we are both dressed like young men

  I will be the handsomer of the two

  And I will wear my sword with much more grace

  And speak like just like an adolescent boy

  With a squeaking voice, and my ladylike steps

  Will become a manly stride. I’ll talk about frightening things

  Like a fine bragging young man, and tell clever lies

  About how honorable ladies wanted my love,

  But when I wouldn’t give it to them, they fell sick and died

  I could do nothing about it! Then, I’ll feel sorry

  And wish that what I had done had not killed them.

  I’ll tell twenty of these little lies.

  And men will swear I just graduated from school

  A year ago. I have in my head

  A thousand of these sort of tricks for young men

  That I will use.

  NERISSA

  Why, shall we turn to men?

  Why will we turn into 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,