No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 6
Original Text | Modern Text | |
Enter the masquers GRATIANO and
SALARINO
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RATIANO and SALARINO enter, dressed
for the masquerade ball. | |
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GRATIANO
This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo
Desired us to make stand.
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GRATIANO
This is the roof under which Lorenzo said to meet him.
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SALARINO
His hour is almost past.
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SALARINO
He’s late.
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GRATIANO
And it is marvel he outdwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.
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GRATIANO
Yes, and that’s surprising, because lovers are usually early.
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5 |
SALARINO
Oh, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new made than they are wont
To keep obligèd faith unforfeited.
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SALARINO
Yes, for new lovers time passes ten times faster than for couples who’ve been
married forever.
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10 15 |
GRATIANO
That ever holds. Who riseth from a feast
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chasèd than enjoyed.
How like a younger or a prodigal
The scarfèd bark puts from her native bay,
Hugged and embraèd by the strumpet wind!
How like the prodigal doth she return,
With overweathered ribs and ragged sails
Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!
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GRATIANO
That’s always true. Who gets up from a meal with the same appetite he had when
he sat down? Can any horse retrace his footsteps with the same energy he had when he walked
them the first time? We chase everything in life more excitedly than we actually enjoy it
when we get it. It’s like when a ship sails out of the harbor with all its flags
waving, gently pushed by the wind. When that ship returns, her timber is all weather-beaten
and her sails are ragged. That same wind makes the ship thin and poor.
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20 |
SALARINO
Here comes Lorenzo. More of this hereafter.
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SALARINO
Here comes Lorenzo. We’ll talk about this later.
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Enter LORENZO
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LORENZO enters. |
