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Shakespeare on Stage
Original Shakespeare Company, As You Like It. To Jun. 23, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Midsummer Midsommer). To Jun. 21, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, All's Well That Ends Well. To Nov. 29, 2013.
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
SIP Editors, Measure for Measure. To Aug. 4, 2013.
More Performances…
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The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The comicall Historie of
to offices of tender curtesie:
1865We all expect a gentle aunswere Iewe?
Iewe. I haue possest your grace of what I purpose,
and by our holy Sabaoth haue I sworne
to haue the due and forfet of my bond,
if you deny it, let the danger light
1870vpon your charter and your Citties freedome?
Youle aske me why I rather choose to haue
a weight of carrion flesh, then to receaue
three thousand ducats: Ile not aunswer that?
But say it is my humour, is it aunswerd?
1875What if my house be troubled with a Rat,
and I be pleasd to giue ten thousand ducats
to haue it baind? vvhat, are you aunswerd yet?
Some men there are loue not a gaping pigge?
Some that are mad if they behold a Cat?
1880And others when the bagpipe sings ith nose,
cannot containe their vrine for affection.
Maisters of passion swayes it to the moode
of what it likes or loathes, now for your aunswer:
As there is no firme reason to be rendred
1885vvhy he cannot abide a gaping pigge?
vvhy he a harmelesse necessarie Cat?
vvhy he a woollen bagpipe: but of force
must yeeld to such in euitable shame,
as to offend himselfe being offended:
1890So can I giue no reason, nor I will not,
more then a lodgd hate, and a certaine loathing
I beare Anthonio, that I follow thus
a loosing sute against him? are you aunswered?
Bass. This is no aunswer thou vnfeeling man,
1895to excuse the currant of thy cruelty?
Iewe. I am not bound to please thee with my answers?
Bass. Doe all men kill the things they doe not loue?
Iewe. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Bass. Euery offence is not a hate at first?
1900Iewe. What wouldst thou haue a serpent sting thee twice?
Antho.