The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (467 page)

It will go hard with poor Antonio.

When I was with my father I heard him swear

To Tubal and to Chus, fellow Jews,

That he would rather have Antonio’s flesh

Than twenty times the value of the loaned amount

That Antonio owed him. And I know, my lord.

That is the law, authory and power can not stop it,

It will be hard for poor Antonio.

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