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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

(in 10 Minutes)

Abridged by
Joem Antonio

SETTING: Venice and Belmont

CHARACTERS: (5-10 actors)

ANTONIO -Venetian Merchant, Bassanios Friend
BASSANIO -Venetian Gentleman, Portias Suitor

PORTIA -Heiress of Belmont

SHYLOCK -Jewish Moneylender

PRINCE OF MOROCCO -Portias Suitor

PRINCE OF ARRAGON -Portias Suitor

SERVANT -Portias Servant

SALARINO -Venetian Citizen
MESSENGER
DUKE

SET: A gold casket, a silver casket, and a lead casket.

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THE PLAY:
Enter ANTONIO and BASSANIO

ANTONIO I hold the world as a stage where every man must play a part. What lady is that
you promised to tell me of? Good Bassanio, let me know it.

BASSANIO In Belmont is a lady rich; fair, of wondrous virtues: Her name is Portia. Suitors
hang on her like golden fleece. O Antonio, had I means to rival with them, I
should be fortunate!

ANTONIO My fortunes are at sea; neither have I money to raise a present sum: try what my
credit can do to furnish thee to fair Portia. Go where money is to have of my trust.

Exeunt

Enter PORTIA

PORTIA My body is aweary. I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I
dislike; so is a living daughter curbed by a dead father. I pray, over-name them.
God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. He hath neither Latin,
French, nor Italian, and I have poor English. A little worse than a man and little
better than a beast. Set wine on the contrary casket ere I'll be married to a sponge.

Exeunt

Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK, ANTONIO

SHYLOCK Signior Antonio, you call me misbeliever, dog and all for use of that which is
mine own. Now you need my help. What should I say? 'Hath a dog three thousand
ducats?' Or shall I bend low and say 'Fair sir, you spit on me; call'd me dog; for
these I'll lend you money'?
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ANTONIO If thou wilt lend, lend to thine enemy, who, if he break, thou mayst with better
face exact the penalty.

SHYLOCK How you storm! Forget the shames you stain'd me with, supply your present
wants and take no usance for my moneys. Go with me to a notary, seal there your
bond. If you repay me not as express'd in the condition, let the forfeit be a pound
of your flesh, taken in what part of your body pleaseth me.

ANTONIO I'll say there is kindness in the Jew. Before this bond expires, I expect return of
thrice three times the value of this bond. Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

SHYLOCK Meet me forthwith at the notary's; I will go purse the ducats straight.

Exit SHYLOCK

BASSANIO I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

Exeunt

Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO and PORTIA

PORTIA Discover the caskets to this noble prince. One of them contains my picture:
Choose that, then I am yours.

MOROCCO What says this leaden casket? 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he
hath.' This casket threatens. What says the silver? 'Who chooseth me shall get as
much as he deserves.' If by estimation, enough may not extend to the lady. Let's
see this saying in gold 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
That's the lady; all the world desires her. [Unlocks golden casket] A carrion
Death, a written scroll! [Reads] All that glitters is not gold; your suit is cold.
Portia, I have too grieved a heart to take a tedious leave.

Exit.
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PORTIA Gentle riddance.

Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON

ARRAGON I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one
which casket I chose; next, if I fail of the right casket, never in life to woo a maid
in way of marriage: Lastly, If I do fail in my choice, immediately to leave.
Fortune to my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead. What says the golden
chest? 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.' I will not jump with
common spirits and rank me with barbarous multitudes. 'Who chooseth me shall
get as much as he deserves:' I will assume desert. [Opens silver casket.] What's
here? The portrait of a blinking idiot!

Exeunt ARRAGON

PORTIA Thus hath the candle singed the moth!

Enter SERVANT

SERVANT Madam, a Venetian comes.

PORTIA Come, I long to see Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.

Exeunt

Enter SALARINO and SHYLOCK

SALARINO Do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea?

SHYLOCK Let him look to his bond. He disgraced me, scorned my nation, cooled my friends,
heated mine enemies; his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew dimensions,
affections, passions, as a Christian? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you
wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble
you in that. The villany you teach, I will better the instruction.
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Exeunt

Enter BASSANIO, PORTIA

PORTIA I could teach you how to choose right, but I am then forsworn; so will I never be;
but you'll make me wish a sin, that I had been forsworn.

BASSANIO Let me choose as I live upon the rack.

PORTIA Away, then! If you do love me, you will find me out.

BASSANIO So may outward shows be least themselves. Gaudy gold, food for Midas, I will
none of thee; nor of thee, pale drudge 'tween man and man: but thou, meagre lead,
which threatenest, thy paleness moves me more than eloquence; [Opening the
leaden casket] Fair Portia's counterfeit!

PORTIA Lord Bassanio, myself and what is mine to you and yours is now converted with
this ring which when you part from, let it presage the ruin of your love.

BASSANIO Madam, when this ring parts from this finger, say Bassanio's dead!

Enter MESSENGER, gives BASSANIO a letter

PORTIA Shrewd contents steals the colour from Bassanio's cheek. I am half yourself, and
must freely have half of anything this paper brings you.

BASSANIO [Reads] Bassanio, my ships all miscarried, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; since in
paying, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared between you and I, if I
might but see you at my death.

PORTIA O love, dispatch all business, and be gone!

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BASSANIO Since I have your good leave to go away, I will make haste: but, till I come again,
no bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, no rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

Exeunt

Enter SHYLOCK, ANTONIO

SHYLOCK Tell not me of mercy; speak not against my bond: Thou call'dst me dog before
thou hadst cause; Since I am a dog, beware my fangs: The duke shall grant me
justice. I will not hear thee speak: I will have my bond.

Enter the DUKE, BASSANIO

DUKE Antonio? I am sorry thou art to answer adversary uncapable of pity. Shylock, I
think thou lead'st this fashion of malice to the last hour; then thou'lt show mercy.

SHYLOCK Why I rather choose carrion flesh than three thousand ducats I'll not answer. What
if my house be troubled with a rat and I give ten thousand ducats to have it baned?

BASSANIO This is no answer to excuse thy cruelty. For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

SHYLOCK I would have my bond.

DUKE How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong? The pound of flesh I demand is
mine. If you deny me, fie upon your law! I stand for judgment: shall I have it?

DUKE A learned doctor, sent to determine this, come here to-day.

BASSANIO Why whet thy knife so earnestly?

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SHYLOCK To cut forfeiture from that bankrupt.

Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws.

PORTIA I am informed of the cause.

DUKE Antonio and Shylock, both stand forth.

PORTIA Do you confess the bond?

ANTONIO I do.

PORTIA Then must the Jew be merciful. The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as
the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: twice blest; It blesseth him
that gives and him that takes: mercy seasons justice. Jew, though justice be thy
plea, consider, in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation.

SHYLOCK I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond.

BASSANIO I beseech you, wrest once the law to your authority.

PORTIA It must not be. 'Twill be recorded for a precedent, and many an error by the same
example will rush into the state.

SHYLOCK A Daniel come to judgment!

PORTIA Let me look upon the bond. Lawfully by this the Jew may claim a pound of flesh
nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: take thrice thy money.

SHYLOCK By the law, proceed to judgment: I stay on my bond.

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ANTONIO I beseech the court to give judgment.

PORTIA Thus it is: prepare your bosom. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh? Have
by some surgeon, Shylock, to stop his wounds.

SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond? 'tis not in the bond.

ANTONIO Bassanio: farewell! Your friend repents not that he pays your debt; for if the Jew
do cut deep, I'll pay it presently with all my heart.

BASSANIO Antonio, I am married to a wife which is as dear to me as life itself; but I would
sacrifice all to this devil, to deliver you.

PORTIA Your wife would give you little thanks for that to hear you make the offer.

SHYLOCK We trifle time: pursue sentence.

PORTIA A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine.

SHYLOCK Most rightful judge!

PORTIA Tarry. This bond give thee no jot of blood; the words expressly are 'a pound of
flesh:' Take thy pound; If thou shed blood, thy goods are, by law, confiscate.

SHYLOCK Pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go.

BASSANIO Here.

PORTIA Soft! Nothing but the penalty. Cut off the flesh. Shed no blood, nor cut less nor
more. Take thy forfeiture.
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SHYLOCK Give me my principal, and let me go.

PORTIA He refused it in open court: He shall have merely justice.

SHYLOCK Shall I not have barely my principal?

PORTIA Thou shalt have but the forfeiture, to be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

SHYLOCK The devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer.

PORTIA Tarry, Jew. In the laws of Venice, if an alien seek the life of any citizen, the party
'gainst which he doth contrive shall seize half his goods; the other half the state;
the offender's life lies in the mercy of the duke only. In which predicament thou
stand'st; Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

DUKE I pardon thy life: half thy wealth is Antonio's; the other half to the state.

SHYLOCK Take my life; you take my house when you take the prop that sustain my house.

ANTONIO So please the duke to quit the fine for one half of his goods, so he will let me have
the other half in use. Provided that, for this favour, he become a Christian.

DUKE Do this, else I recant the pardon.

SHYLOCK I pray, I am not well: send the deed after me, and I will sign it.

DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.

Exit SHYLOCK, DUKE

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BASSANIO Worthy gentleman, I and my friend have by your wisdom been acquitted of
grievous penalties; Three thousand ducats we cope your pains withal. Take some
remembrance of us, as a tribute.

PORTIA I'll take this ring.

BASSANIO Good sir, my wife made me vow that I should neither sell nor lose it.

PORTIA If your wife know how well I deserved the ring, she would not hold out enemy for
giving it to me.

Exeunt PORTIA

ANTONIO Bassanio, let his deservings be valued against your wife's commandment.

Exeunt

Enter PORTIA

Enter BASSANIO, ANTONIO

BASSANIO If I could add a lie unto a fault, I would deny it; but the ring is gone. Sweet Portia,
if you did know how unwillingly I left the ring, you would abate your displeasure.
No woman had it, but a civil doctor that did uphold the life of my friend. Forgive
this wrong; I never more will break an oath with thee.

ANTONIO My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord will never more break faith.

PORTIA Then be his surety. Give him this and bid him keep it better than the other.

BASSANIO It is the same I gave the doctor!

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PORTIA Pardon me, Bassanio for, by this ring, the doctor lay with me. You are amazed:
You shall find that Portia was the doctor. Antonio, I have better news for you;
three of your argosies are richly come to harbour suddenly.

BASSANIO Were you the doctor and I knew you not? You shall be my bed-fellow.

ANTONIO Lady, you have given me life and living for my ships are safely come to road.

PORTIA It is almost morning, yet I am sure you are not satisfied of these events at full. Let
us go in and we will answer all things faithfully.

Exeunt

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