the merchant of venice(威尼斯商人)-第8节
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the force and road of casualty。 I will not choose what many men desire；
Because I will not jump with common spirits And rank me with the
barbarous multitudes。 Why； then to thee； thou silver treasure…house！ Tell
me once more what title thou dost bear。 'Who chooseth me shall get as
much as he deserves。' And well said too； for who shall go about To cozen
fortune； and be honourable Without the stamp of merit？ Let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity。 O that estates； degrees； and offices； Were
not deriv'd corruptly； and that clear honour Were purchas'd by the merit of
the wearer！ How many then should cover that stand bare！ How many be
commanded that command！ How much low peasantry would then be
gleaned From the true seed of honour！ and how much honour Pick'd from
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
the chaff and ruin of the times； To be new varnish'd！ Well； but to my
choice。 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves。' I will assume
desert。 Give me a key for this； And instantly unlock my fortunes here。 ＇He
opens the silver casket＇ PORTIA。 ＇Aside＇ Too long a pause for that which
you find there。 ARRAGON。 What's here？ The portrait of a blinking idiot
Presenting me a schedule！ I will read it。 How much unlike art thou to
Portia！ How much unlike my hopes and my deservings！ 'Who chooseth me
shall have as much as he deserves。' Did I deserve no more than a fool's
head？ Is that my prize？ Are my deserts no better？ PORTIA。 To offend and
judge are distinct offices And of opposed natures。 ARRAGON。 What is
here？ ＇Reads＇
'The fire seven times tried this； Seven times tried that judgment is
That did never choose amiss。 Some there be that shadows kiss； Such have
but a shadow's bliss。 There be fools alive iwis Silver'd o'er； and so was this。
Take what wife you will to bed； I will ever be your head。 So be gone； you
are sped。'
Still more fool I shall appear By the time I linger here。 With one
fool's head I came to woo； But I go away with two。 Sweet； adieu！ I'll keep
my oath； Patiently to bear my wroth。 Exit with his train
PORTIA。 Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth。 O； these deliberate
fools！ When they do choose； They have the wisdom by their wit to lose。
NERISSA。 The ancient saying is no heresy： Hanging and wiving goes by
destiny。 PORTIA。 Come； draw the curtain； Nerissa。
Enter a SERVANT
SERVANT。 Where is my lady？ PORTIA。 Here； what would my lord？
SERVANT。 Madam； there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian； one
that comes before To signify th' approaching of his lord； From whom he
bringeth sensible regreets； To wit； besides commends and courteous breath；
Gifts of rich value。 Yet I have not seen So likely an ambassador of love。 A
day in April never came so sweet To show how costly summer was at hand
As this fore…spurrer comes before his lord。 PORTIA。 No more； I pray thee；
I am half afeard Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee； Thou spend'st
such high…day wit in praising him。 Come； come； Nerissa； for I long to see
Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly。 NERISSA。 Bassanio； Lord
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Love； if thy will it be！ Exeunt
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
ACT III。
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
SCENE I。 Venice。 A street
Enter SOLANIO and SALERIO
SOLANIO。 Now； what news on the Rialto？ SALERIO。 Why； yet it
lives there uncheck'd that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the
narrow seas； the Goodwins I think they call the place； a very dangerous
flat and fatal； where the carcases 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 ever knapp'd ginger or made her
neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband。 But it is true；
without any slips of prolixity or crossing the plain highway of talk； that the
good Antonio； the honest Antonio… O that I had a title good enough to keep
his name company！… SALERIO。 Come； the full stop。 SOLANIO。 Ha！
What sayest thou？ Why； the end is； he hath lost a ship。 SALERIO。 I would
it might prove the end of his losses。 SOLANIO。 Let me say amen betimes；
lest the devil cross my prayer； for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew。
Enter SHYLOCK
How now； Shylock？ What news among the merchants？ SHYLOCK。
You knew； none so well； none so well as you； of my daughter's flight。
SALERIO。 That's certain； I； for my part； knew the tailor that made the
wings she flew withal。 SOLANIO。 And Shylock； for his own part； knew
the bird was flidge； and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the
dam。 SHYLOCK。 She is damn'd for it。 SALERIO。 That's certain； if the
devil may be her judge。 SHYLOCK。 My own flesh and blood to rebel！
SOLANIO。 Out upon it； old carrion！ Rebels it at these years？ SHYLOCK。
I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood。 SALERIO。 There is more
difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory； more
between your bloods than there is between red wine and Rhenish。 But tell
us； do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no？
SHYLOCK。 There I have another bad match： a bankrupt； a prodigal； who
dare scarce show his head on the Rialto； a beggar； that was us'd to come so
smug upon the mart。 Let him look to his bond。 He was wont to call me
usurer； let him look to his bond。 He was wont to lend money for a
Christian courtesy； let him look to his bond。 SALERIO。 Why； I am sure； if
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he forfeit； thou wilt not take his flesh。 What's that good for？ SHYLOCK。
To bait fish withal。 If it will feed nothing else； it will feed my revenge。 He
hath disgrac'd me and hind'red me half a million； laugh'd at my losses；
mock'd at my gains； scorned my nation； thwarted my bargains； cooled my
friends； heated mine enemies。 And what's his reason？ I am a Jew。 Hath not
a Jew eyes？ Hath not a Jew hands； organs； dimensions； senses； affections；
passions； fed with the same food； hurt with the same weapons； subject to
the same diseases； healed by the same means； warmed and cooled by the
same winter and summer； as a Christian is？ If you prick us； do we not
bleed？ If you tickle us； do we not laugh？ If you poison us； do we not die？
And if you wrong us； shall we not revenge？ If we are like you in the rest；
we will resemble you in that。 If a Jew wrong a Christian； what is his
humility？ Revenge。 If a Christian wrong a Jew； what should his sufferance
be by Christian example？ Why； revenge。 The villainy you teach me I will
execute； and itshall go hard but I will better the instruction。
Enter a MAN from ANTONIO
MAN。 Gentlemen； my master Antonio is at his house； and desires to
speak with you both。 SALERIO。 We have been up and down to seek him。
Enter TUBAL
SOLANIO。 Here comes another of the tribe； a third cannot be
match'd； unless the devil himself turn Jew。 Exeunt SOLANIO； SALERIO；
and MAN SHYLOCK。 How now； Tubal； what news from Genoa？ Hast
thou found my daughter？ TUBAL。 I often came where I did hear of her；
but cannot find her。 SHYLOCK。 Why there； there； there； there！ A diam
