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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Salarino and Solanio.
    1010Sal. Why man I saw Bassanio vnder sayle,
    with him is Gratiano gone along;
    and in theyr ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
    Sola. The villaine Iew with outcries raisd the Duke,
    who went with him to search Bassanios ship.
    1015Sal. He came too late, the ship was vndersaile,
    But there the Duke was giuen to vnderstand
    that in a Gondylo were seene together
    Lorenzo and his amorous Iessica.
    Besides, Anthonio certified the Duke
    1020they were not with Bassanio in his ship.
    I
    the Merchant of Venice.
    Sol. I neuer heard a passion so confusd,
    So strange, outragious, and so variable
    as the dogge Iew did vtter in the streets,
    My daughter, ô my ducats, ô my daughter,
    1025Fled with a Christian, ô my Christian ducats.
    Iustice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter,
    A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats
    of double ducats, stolne from me by my daughter,
    and Iewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,
    1030Stolne by my daughter: iustice, find the girle,
    shee hath the stones vpon her, and the ducats.
    Sal. Why all the boyes in Venice follow him,
    crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.
    Sola. Let good Anthonio looke he keepe his day
    1035or he shall pay for this.
    Sal. Marry well remembred,
    I reasond with a Frenchman yesterday,
    who told me, in the narrow seas that part
    the French and English, there miscaried
    1040a vessell of our country richly fraught:
    I thought vpon Anthonio when he told me,
    and wisht in silence that it were not his.
    Sol. You were best to tell Anthonio what you heare,
    Yet doe not suddainely, for it may greeue him.
    1045Sal. A kinder gentleman treades not the earth,
    I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part,
    Bassanio told him he would make some speede
    of his returne: he aunswered, doe not so,
    slumber not busines for my sake Bassanio,
    1050but stay the very riping of the time,
    and for the Iewes bond which he hath of me
    let it not enter in your minde of loue:
    be merry, and imploy your cheefest thoughts
    to courtship, and such faire ostents of loue
    1055as shall conueniently become you there,
    And euen there his eye being big with teares,
    turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
    and with affection wondrous sencible
    He
    The comicall Historie of
    He wrung Bassanios hand, and so they parted.
    1060Sol. I thinke hee onely loues the world for him,
    I pray thee let vs goe and finde him out
    and quicken his embraced heauines
    with some delight or other.
    Sal. Doe we so. Exeunt.
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