The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (453 page)

How do you like 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:

and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall

make shift to go without him.

He’s pretty wretched in the morning, when he is sober, and

even more so 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 not much better than an animal:

if he where to die, I would think I could

do okay 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.

If he wants to try and choose and he chooses the right

box, you would be refusing to go by what your father

wants if you were to refuse to marry 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 any

thing, Nerissa, ere I'll be married to a sponge.

I know, so for fear of the worst, let me ask you to place

a huge glass of German white wine on the wrong box

so that even if it is the wrong one he will be tempted

by the wine and I know he would choose it. I will do

anything, Nerissa, before I marry a drunk.

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.

You don’t have to worry about having any of these

suitors: they have all told me their

decision is to, indeed, return to

their home and to not try to win you unless

you may be won in some other way than your father’s

command that they choose the correct box.

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.

If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die an

old maid unless I am won in the manner

my father has willed. I am glad this group of wooers

is so reasonable as to leave because there is not one of them

I care about except for their absence, so I wish them all

a good 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?

Do you remember when your father was alive, a

Venetian—a scholar and a soldier—who came her

in the company of the Marquis of Montferrat?

PORTIA

Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.

Yes, yes I do. That was Bassanio, at least I think that was his name.

NERISSA

True, madam: he, of all the men that ever my foolish

eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

Yes, madam: he, of all the men that I’ve ever laid

eyes on, was the best and deserving of a beautiful woman.

PORTIA

I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of

thy praise.

I remember him well, and I recall him being worthy of

your praise.

Enter a Serving-man

How now! what news?

What is it? What is the news?

Servant

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 to-night.

There are four strangers here for you, madam, they want

to say goodbye: and there is a messenger coming from a

fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings news that

the prince, his master, will be here tonight.

PORTIA

If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a

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. Sirrah, go before.

Whiles we shut the gates

upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.

If I could say hello to the fifth with as much

enthusiasm as I say goodbye to the other four, I would

be glad of his arrival: if he is like

a saint but looks like a devil, I would

rather he would forgive me rather than marry me. Come on,

Nerissa. Sir, go ahead.

While we shut the gates

upon one wooer, another one knocks at the door.

Exeunt

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; well.

Three thousand ducats, well.

BASSANIO

Ay, sir, for three months.

Yes, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK

For three months; well.

For three months, well, let’s see.

BASSANIO

For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.

The amount of which, as I told you, Antonio will guarantee to pay.

SHYLOCK

Antonio shall become bound; well.

Antonio will guarantee it, well, let’s see.

BASSANIO

May you stead me? will you pleasure me? shall I

know your answer?

Will you help me? Will you gratify me? Can I

know your answer?

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio bound.

Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio will guarantee it.

BASSANIO

Your answer to that.

What is your answer?

SHYLOCK

Antonio is a good man.

Antonio is a good man.

BASSANIO

Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

Have you heard anyone say anything to contradict that?

SHYLOCK

Oh, 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.

Oh. No, no, no, no. What I meant when I said he is a

good man is that I am saying he is

sufficient. Even though his investments are tied up: he

has a ship on its way to Tripolis and another headed toward

the Indies. I also understand, from people at Rialto, he

has a third ship at Mexico, a fourth bound for England, and

many other business ventures abroad on the seas. But ships

are just made of wood, and sailors are men. There are land rats

and water rats, water thieves and land thieves. I

mean pirates, and then there is the danger of the waters,

winds and rocks. The man, despite all of this,

has money. Three thousand ducats, I think I will

let him guarantee it.

BASSANIO

Be assured you may.

You can be certain you can.

SHYLOCK

I will be assured I may; and, that I may be assured,

I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

I will be certain I can, and so that I might be certain,

I’ll think of a way. May I speak with Antonio?

BASSANIO

If it please you to dine with us.

You are welcome to join us for dinner.

SHYLOCK

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. What

news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

What, and smell pork? To eat of the sort of animal which

your prophet Jesus charmed the devil into? I

will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you,

walk with you, and so on, but I will not eat

with you, drink with you, or pray with you. What’s

the news from the Rialto? Who is here now?

Enter ANTONIO

BASSANIO

This is Signior Antonio.

This is Signior Antonio.

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,