No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 11
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280 285 290 |
SALERIO
Not one, my lord.
Besides, it should appear that if he had
The present money to discharge the Jew,
He would not take it. Never did I know
A creature that did bear the shape of man
So keen and greedy to confound a man.
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.
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SALERIO
Not one, my lord. Anyway, even if he had the money now, the Jew probably
wouldn’t take it. I’ve never seen a creature with a human shape who was so
eager to destroy a man. He’s at the duke’s morning and night, accusing the
state of harming free trade if they deny him justice. Twenty merchants, the duke himself,
and the highest-ranking Venetian nobles have all tried to persuade him to forget his
contract, but nobody can do it. He’s determined to get the penalty specified in his
contract with Antonio.
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295 |
JESSICA
When I was with him I have heard him swear
To Tubal and to Chus, 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.
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JESSICA
When I was still living with him I heard him swear to Tubal and Cush, his countrymen,
that he’d rather have Antonio’s flesh than twenty times the sum Antonio
owed. And I know that unless the law intervenes, it’ll be bad news for poor
Antonio.
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PORTIA
Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?
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PORTIA
Is this your good friend who’s in so much trouble?
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300 |
BASSANIO
The dearest friend to me, the kindest man,
The best conditioned and unwearied spirit
In doing courtesies, and one in whom
The ancient Roman honor more appears
Than any that draws breath in Italy.
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BASSANIO
Yes, he’s my best friend, the kindest man and most courteous to others.
He’s more honorable than anyone else in Italy.
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PORTIA
What sum owes he the Jew?
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PORTIA
How much does he owe the Jew?
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305 |
BASSANIO
For me, three thousand ducats.
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BASSANIO
Three thousand ducats.
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