Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • Title: The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • Editor: Janelle Jenstad

  • Copyright Janelle Jenstad. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Janelle Jenstad
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

    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.

    1230Enter 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.