Merchant of Venice Act I
BEST FRIENDS ANTONIO AND BASSANIO ARE FEELING
DOWN. BASSANIO WANTS TO WOO THE HEIRESS PORTIA
BUT DOESN’T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO.
ANTONIO WOULD LEND BASSANIO THE MONEY
BUT HIS FORTUNE IS TIED UP IN MERCHANT
SHIPS. INSTEAD, HE GRANTS HIS FRIEND
PERMISSION TO BORROW MONEY AGAINST
THE EXPECTED INCOME FROM HIS VESSELS.
IN SOOTH
I KNOW
NOT WHY I
AM SO SAD.
I HAVE DISABLED MINE ESTATE... IN BELMONT
IS A LADY RICHLY LEFT, AND SHE IS FAIR.
TRY WHAT MY CREDIT CAN IN VENICE DO.
IN BELMONT, PORTIA BEMOANS HER FATHER’S
WILL, WHICH STATES THAT SHE MUST MARRY THE
MAN WHO CHOOSES CORRECTLY BETWEEN CASKETS
OF GOLD, SILVER AND LEAD.
I MAY NEITHER CHOOSE WHO I WOULD, NOR
REFUSE WHO I DISLIKE, SO IS THE WILL OF A LIVING
DAUGHTER CURBED BY THE WILL OF A DEAD FATHER.
BASSANIO APPROACHES THE JEWISH
MONEYLENDER SHYLOCK FOR A LOAN.
SHYLOCK HOLDS A GRUDGE AGAINST
ANTONIO BECAUSE OF HIS ANTISEMITISM.
SHE AND HER MAID NERISSA HOPE THAT
BASSANIO WILL JOIN THE LINE OF SUITORS.
DO YOU NOT
REMEMBER
LADY, IN YOUR
FATHER’S TIME,
A VENETIAN, A
SCHOLAR AND A
SOLDIER, THAT
CAME HITHER?
YES, YES, IT WAS BASSANIO! I REMEMBER HIM WELL,
AND I REMEMBER HIM WORTHY OF THY PRAISE.
SHYLOCK NAMES HIS PRICE SHOULD
THE LOAN NOT BE REPAID IN TIME.
LET THE
FORFEIT BE
NOMINATED FOR AN EQUAL POUND OF YOUR
FAIR FLESH, TO BE CUT OFF AND TAKEN IN
WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY PLEASETH ME.
MAY YOU
STEAD ME?
THREE THOUSAND DUCATS FOR THREE
MONTHS, AND ANTONIO BOUND...
I HATE HIM FOR HE IS A CHRISTIAN.
I LIKE
NOT FAIR
TERMS AND A
VILLAIN’S
MIND.
YES SHYLOCK, I WILL
SEAL UNTO THIS BOND.