Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The comicall Historie of
1205Shy. There I haue another bad match, a bankrout, a prodigall,
who dare scarce shewe his head on the Ryalto, a begger that was
vsd to come so smug vpon the Mart: let him looke to his bond,
he was wont to call me vsurer, let him looke to his bond, hee was
wont to lende money for a Christian cursie, let him looke to his
1210bond.
Salari. Why I am sure if he forfaite, thou wilt not take his flesh,
what's that good for?
Shyl. To baite fish with all, if it will feede nothing else, it will
1215feede my reuenge; hee hath disgrac'd me, and hindred me halfe a
million, laught at my losses, mockt at my gaines, scorned my Na-
tion, thwarted my bargaines, cooled my friends, heated mine ene-
mies, and whats his reason, I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iewe eyes,
hath not a Iewe hands, organs, dementions, sences, affections, passions,
1220fed with the same foode, hurt with the same weapons, sub-
to the same diseases, healed by the same meanes, warmed and
cooled by the same Winter and Sommer as a Christian is: if you
pricke vs doe we not bleede, if you tickle vs doe wee not laugh, if
you poyson vs doe wee not die, and if you wrong vs shall wee not
1225reuenge, if we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.
If a Iewe wrong a Christian, what is his humillity, reuenge? If a
Christian wrong a Iewe, what should his sufferance be by Christi-
an example, why reuenge? The villanie you teach me I will exe-
cute, and it shall goe hard but I will better the instruction.

1230
Enter a man from Anthonio.
Gentlemen, my maister Anthonio is at his house, and desires to
speake with you both.
Saleri. We haue beene vp and downe to seeke him.
Enter Tuball.
1235Solanio. Heere comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot bee
matcht, vnlesse the deuill himselfe turne Iewe.
Exeunt Gentlemen.
Enter Tuball.
Shy. How now Tuball, what newes from Genowa, hast thou
found my daughter?
1240Tuball. I often came where I did heare of her, but cannot finde
her.
Shy.