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

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
1170
Solanio and Salarino.
Solanio. Now what newes on the Ryalto?
Salari. Why yet it liues there vncheckt, that Anthonio hath a ship
of rich lading wrackt on the narrow Seas; the Goodwins I thinke
1175they call the place, a very dangerous flat, and fatall, where the car-
casses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report
be an honest woman of her word.
Solanio. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as euer knapt
Ginger, or made her neighbours beleeue she wept for the death of
1180a third husband: but it is true, without any slips of prolixity, or
crossing the plaine high way of talke, that the good Anthonio, the
honest Anthonio; ô that I had a tytle good enough to keepe his
name company.
Salari. Come, the full stop.
1185Solanio. Ha, what sayest thou, why the end is, he hath lost a ship.
Salari. I would it might proue the end of his losses.
Solanio. Let me say amen betimes, least the deuil crosse my prai-
er, for heere he comes in the likenes of a Iewe. How now Shylocke,
what newes among the Merchants?
Enter Shylocke.
1190Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daugh-
ters flight.
Salari. Thats certaine, I for my part knew the Taylor that made
the wings she flew withall.
Solan. And Shylocke for his own part knew the bird was flidge,
1195and then it is the complexion of them all to leaue the dam.
Shy. She is damnd for it.
Salari. Thats certaine, if the deuill may be her Iudge.
Shy. My owne flesh and blood to rebell.
Sola. Out vpon it old carrion, rebels it at these yeeres.
1200Shy. I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood.
Salari. There is more difference betweene thy flesh and hers,
then betweene Iet and Iuorie, more betweene your bloods, then
there is betweene red vvine and rennish: but tell vs, doe you heare
whether Anthonio haue had any losse at sea or no?
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.
Shylocke. Why there, there, there, there, a diamond gone cost me
two thousand ducats in Franckford, the curse neuer fell vpon our
Nation till now, I neuer felt it till nowe, two thousand ducats in
1245that, & other precious precious iewels; I would my daughter were
dead at my foote, and the iewels in her eare: would she were hearst
at my foote, and the ducats in her coffin: no newes of them, why
so? and I know not whats spent in the search: why thou losse vpon
losse, the theefe gone with so much, and so much to finde the
1250theefe, and no satisfaction, no reuenge, nor no ill lucke stirring but
what lights a my shoulders, no sighs but a my breathing, no teares
but a my shedding.
Tuball. Yes, other men haue ill lucke to, Anthonio as I heard
in Genowa?
1255Shy. What, what, what, ill lucke, ill lucke.
Tuball. Hath an Argosie cast away comming from Tripolis.
Shy. I thank God, I thank God, is it true, is it true.
Tuball. I spoke with some of the Saylers that escaped the wrack.
Shy. I thank thee good Tuball, good newes, good newes: ha ha,
1260heere in Genowa.
Tuball. Your daughter spent in Genowa, as I heard, one night
fourescore ducats.
Shy. Thou stickst a dagger in me, I shall neuer see my gold a-
gaine, foure score ducats at a sitting, foure score ducats.
1265Tuball. There came diuers of Anthonios creditors in my com-
pany to Venice, that sweare, he cannot choose but breake.
Shy. I am very glad of it, ile plague him, ile torture him, I am
glad of it.
Tuball. One of them shewed mee a ring that hee had of your
1270daughter for a Monky.
Shy. Out vpon her, thou torturest mee Tuball, it was my Tur-
kies, I had it of Leah when I was a Batcheler: I would not haue
giuen it for a Wildernes of Monkies.
Tuball. But Anthonio is certainly vndone.
1275Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true, goe Tuball fee me an Offi-
cer, bespeake him a fortnight before, I will haue the hart of him if
he forfeite, for were he out of Venice I can make what merchan-
dize I will: goe Tuball, and meete me at our Sinagogue, goe good
Tuball, at our Sinagogue Tuball.
Exeunt.