The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice is an intriguing drama of love, greed, and revenge. At its heart, the play contrasts the characters of the maddened and vengeful Shylock, a Venetian moneylender, with the gracious, level-headed Portia, a wealthy young woman besieged by suitors. At the play's climax, Shylock insists on the enforcement of a binding contract that will cost the life of the merchant Antonio — inciting Portia to mount a memorable defense. In this richly plotted drama, Shylock, whom Shakespeare endowed with all of the depth and vitality of his greatest characters, is not alone in his villainy. In scene after scene, a large cast of ambitious and scheming characters demonstrates that honesty is a quality often strained where matters of love and money are concerned. The gravity and suspense of the play's central plot, together with its romance, have made The Merchant of Venice a favorite of audiences, and one of the most studied and performed of Shakespeare's plays. It is reprinted here from an authoritative text, complete with explanatory footnotes. |
From inside the book
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Page 24
William Shakespeare. 1 BASS . Why , then you must . But hear thee , Gratiano : Thou art too wild , too rude , and bold of ... Pray thee , take pain To allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping spirit ; lest , through thy wild ...
William Shakespeare. 1 BASS . Why , then you must . But hear thee , Gratiano : Thou art too wild , too rude , and bold of ... Pray thee , take pain To allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping spirit ; lest , through thy wild ...
Page 36
... pray thee , let us go and find him out , And quicken his embraced heaviness With some delight or other . SALAR . Do we so . [ Exeunt . ] SCENE IX . Belmont . A room in PORTIA's house . Enter NERISSA and a Servitor NER . Quick , quick , I ...
... pray thee , let us go and find him out , And quicken his embraced heaviness With some delight or other . SALAR . Do we so . [ Exeunt . ] SCENE IX . Belmont . A room in PORTIA's house . Enter NERISSA and a Servitor NER . Quick , quick , I ...
Page 57
... thee honest - true , So let me find thee still . Take this same letter , And use thou all the endeavour of a man In ... pray thee , with imagined speed Unto the tranect , to the common ferry 1. tranect ] a word possibly corrupted from ...
... thee honest - true , So let me find thee still . Take this same letter , And use thou all the endeavour of a man In ... pray thee , with imagined speed Unto the tranect , to the common ferry 1. tranect ] a word possibly corrupted from ...
Other editions - View all
The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare,Rick Lee,Stephanie Burgin,RSA Shakespeare in Schools Project Limited preview - 1994 |
The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare,Aidan Coleman,Abbie Thomas,Shane Barnes Limited preview - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
argosies art thou BASS Bellario Belmont better blood bond casket Charybdis choose chooseth Christian clerk court daughter dear deny deserves devil doctor dost doth DUKE Enter BASSANIO Enter PORTIA Exeunt Exit eyes fair Fair ladies father fear fool forfeit forfeiture fortune Genoa gentle give gold hath hear heart heaven honour husband Jew's Jew's house judge judgement justice lady LAUN leave look Lord Bassanio Lorenzo madam marry masque merchant Merchant of Venice mercy merry mistress Nerissa never night oath Old GOBBO Padua pardon PORTIA's house pound of flesh pray thee prince Rialto ring room in PORTIA's SALAN SALANIO SALAR SALARINO SALER Salerio SCENE Scylla Servant shalt Signior Antonio sola soul speak stand strond swear sweet tell Three thousand ducats to-night Tripolis Tubal unto Venetian Venice wife