No Fear Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare

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Act 2, Scene 8

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter SALARINO and SOLANIO
SALARINO and SOLANIO enter



SALARINO
Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail.
With him is Gratiano gone along.
And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
SALARINO
I saw Bassanio sail away, and Gratiano went with him. I’m sure Lorenzo isn’t on their ship.


5
SOLANIO
The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke,
Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
SOLANIO
That wicked Jew got the duke to listen to his complaints. The duke went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.





10
SALARINO
He came too late. The ship was under sail.
But there the Duke was given to understand
That in a gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica.
Besides, Antonio certified the Duke
They were not with Bassanio in his ship.
SALARINO
He got there too late. The ship was already sailing. But once he got there, the duke learned that Lorenzo and his lover Jessica were together in a gondola. In any case, Antonio assured the duke they weren’t with Bassanio on his ship.




15




20

SOLANIO
I never heard a passion so confused,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets.
“My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,
Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!
Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!
A sealèd bag, two sealèd bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels—two stones, two rich and precious stones—
Stol'n by my daughter! Justice, find the girl!
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.”
SOLANIO
I’ve never heard such confused emotions as what that Jew dog was shouting in the streets. “My daughter, oh my ducats, oh my daughter! Ran off with a Christian! Oh my Christian ducats! Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter, a sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter, and jewels—two stones, two rich and precious stones—stolen by my daughter! Justice, find the girl! She has the stones on her, and the ducats.”


SALARINO
Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying, “His stones, his daughter, and his ducats!”
SALARINO
I know, all the boys in Venice are following him, yelling, “His stones, his daughter, and his ducats!”

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