A pound of flesh
Bassanio and Shylock come
Bassanio:Hello,Mr. Shylock. Long time no see. How about you business
these days, I mean lending money with interests.But now I want
to tell you something. Would you like to give me a hand? Can
you lend me three thousand dollars?
Shylock: Three thousand dollars; well
Bassanio: Ay, Sir, for three months.
Shylock: For three months; well.
Bassanio: For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
Sholock: Antonio shall be bound; well.
Bassanio: Shall I know your answer?
Shylock: Three thousand dollars for three months and Antonio bound.
Antonio enters
Bassanio: This is Antonio.
Shylock: Antonio, many a time and often in the rialto(交易所)，you have
rated(估价) me about my money, and I have born it with a
patient shrug(我总是忍气吞声，耸耸肩膀，没有跟您争辩)，
for sufferance(忍耐) is the badge(特色) of all our tribe. You
call me misbeliever(异教徒), cut-throat dog(杀人的狗)，and
spit up(吐痰) on my Jewish garments. Well then it appears you
need my help: you come to me, and you say ‘Shylock, we
would have money’, you say so, you did void your rheum(吐唾
沫) upon my beard, and foot me as you spurn(弃绝) a strange
cur(杂种狗).What should I say to you? Should I say dog has
money? Is it possible a cur can lend three thousand dollars? Or
shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key(像一个奴隶一样)，
with a bated breath(低声下气) and whispering humblenee(恭恭
敬敬的), say this: Fair Sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last,
you spurned such a day, another time, you call me a dog, and
for these courtesies(礼貌), I lend you thus much money.
Antonio: I am as like to call you so again. To spit on you again, to spurn
you too.
Shylock: Why, look you, how you angry. I would be friends with you and
have you love.
Bassanio: This were kindness.
Shylock: This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary(公证人)，seal
me there(在哪儿签约)，your single bound; and in a merry
sport(不妨开个玩笑). If you repay me not on such a day, in
such a place, such sum or sums as are expressed in the
condition. Let forfeit(罚款，没收物) be nominated for an equal
pound of your fair flesh, to cut off and taken in what part of
your body please me.
(Three months later. The day of payment being past, the cruel
Jew would not accept of the money which Bassanio offered him,
but insisted upon having a pound of Antonio’s flesh. A day was
appointed to try this shocking case before the Duke of Venice,
and Bassanio in dreadful suspense(焦虑) the event of the
trial(审判)。
people: Including Duke,Bassanio,Shylock,Antonio,Portia
Duke: What, is Antonio here?
Antonio: Ready, so please your grace(有，殿下)
Duke: I am sorry for you: you have to answer a stony adversary(对手)，an
inhuman wretch, uncapable of pity, void, empity from any dram
of mercy.(我很为你不快，你是跟一个心如铁石的对手但当庭
对质，一个不懂怜悯, 没有一丝慈悲心的不近人情的恶汉。)
Antonio: I do oppose my patience to his fury, to suffer.
Duke: Go one, and call the Jew into the court.
Bassanio: He is ready at the door, he comes, my Lord.
Duke: Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world
think, and I think so too, you leads this fashion of the malice(恶
意)，to the last hour of act,you would show your mercy.And
now execuate the penalty, which is a pound of this poor
merchant’s flesh. But, touched with human gentlenee and love,
forgive it, glancing an eye of pity on his losses,we all expect a
gentle answer, Jew.
Shylock: And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, to have the due(应得
物),and forfeit of my bond. You ask me, why I rather choose to
have a weight of carrion flesh (腐肉) than to receive three
thousand dollars, I’ll not answer that. But, say, it is my humour,
is it the answer? What if my house be troubled with rat(老鼠)，
and I be pleased to give ten thousand dollars to have it baned?
What, is it a answer? Some men they are love not a gaping
pig(张开嘴的猪)，some are mad if they behold a cat,as there is
no firm reason to be render(回答). So can I give no reason.
Bassanio: This is no answer, you unfeeling man, to excuse the current of
the cruelty.(你这冷酷无情的家伙，这样的回答可不能作为你
的残忍的辩解。)
Shylock: I want to please you with my answer.
Bassanio: Do all men kill the things they do not love?
Shylock: Who will hate anything he would not kill?
Bassanio: Every offence is not a hate at first.
Shylock: What, would you have a serpant(大毒蛇) sting you twice?
Bassanio: For the three thousand dollars, here is six.
Shylock: What judgement shall I dread(担心), I would not want six
thousand, I would have my bond.
Duke: How shall you hope for mercy?
Shylock: what judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? I answer you:
the pound of flesh, which I demand of him, is already bought,
this is mine. And I will have it. If you deny me, fie(呸) upon
your law!(你们的法律见鬼去吧！) I stand for judgement:
answer, shall I have it?
Duke: I just received a letter from Bellario, a learned doctor.
Bassanio: ( to Shylock)Why does you whet(磨快) the knief so earnestly?
Shylock: To cut the flesh from that bankrupt there.
Duke: This letter from Bellario does command a young and learned
doctor to our court. Where is he.
Portia: Just stands near here.
Duke: With all my heart, welcome. Do you understand the two
viewpoint in the court?
Portia: Of course I know. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke: Antonio and old shylock, both stand forth.
Portia: Is your name Shylock?
Shylock: Shylock is my name.
Portia: The case is strange, but according to the Venetian law, cannot limit
you as you do proceed. (point to Antonio) You stand within his
danger, do you not? (你的生死掌握在他的手里，是不是？)
Antonio: Ay, so he says.
Portia: Do you confess the bond?
Antonio: I do.
Portia: Then must the Jew be merciful(仁慈)
Shylock: Why must I be merciful? Tell me the reason.
Portia: The quality of mercy likes gentle rain from heaven, and mercy
was double blessing, we all prey for mercy.
Shylock: My deeds are desided by my head! I ask the law, the penalty and
forfeit of my contract.
Portia: Is he not able to pay the money.
Bassanio: Yes, here I want to pay it for him in the court, twice the sum, if
that not enough, I want to pay it ten times. The things I pay can
be my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not enough,I
would thought you were bad enough. And I ask you correct
once the law, to do a great right, do a little wrong, and control
this cruel devil of his will.
Portia: It must not be; ther is no power in Venice can alter a law
established.
Shylock: A wise young judge, how I do honour you.
Portia: I pray you, let me kook upon the bond.
Shylock: Here this, most reverend(尊敬的) doctor, here it is.
Portia: Shylock,there’s thrice(三倍的) the money offered you.
Shylock: An oath(誓言)，an oath, I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay
perjury(伪证) up on my soul, No, not for Venice(整个威尼斯
给我都不行).
Portia: Why, this bond is forfeit(照约处罚)，Jew may cut off a pound of
flesh nearest the merchant’s heart. Be merciful, take thrice the
money, bid(吩咐) me tear bond.
Shylock: When it is paid according to the bond. It does appear you are a
worthly judge. You know the law, your exposition(说明) has
been most sound, I charge you by the law, you are a
well-deserving pillar. There is no power in the tongue of man I
stay here om my bond.(谁也不能用他的口舌改变我的决心，
我现在等着执行).
Antonio: Most heartly I do beseech( 恳 求 ) the court to give the
judgement.
Portia: You must prepare your bosom for the knife.
Shylock: Oh, noble judge! Oh, excellent young man!
Portia: therefore lay bare your bosom. Are ther balance here to weigh the
flesh.
Shylock: I have them ready.(take out a knife)
Portia: Ask a surgeon to come, Shylock, on your charge(费用归你), to
stop his wounds, otherwise he will bleed to death.
Shylock: Is it so nominated in the bond? I cann’t find it ,it isn’t in the
bond.
Portia: You, merchant, have you anything to say?
Antonio: But little , I am well perpared , give me your hand, Bassanio,
Goodbye forever. Commend me to your honourable wife, tell
her the process of Antonio’s end; say how I loved you, speak
me fair in death(从容就义); he won’t regret it he pays you debt.
For the Jew do cut but deep enough, I’ll pay it presently with all
my heart.
Bassanio: Antonio, I am married to a life which is as dear to me as life
itself; but your life is the most important than all of this. I
would lose all, sacrifice them all. Here to this devil, to delieve
you.(我愿意丧失一切，把它们献给这恶魔做牺牲，来救出你
的生命).
Portia: You wife would give you little thanks for that. If she were here.
Shylock: these be the christian husbands. I have a daughter, would any
son of burgler had been her husband rather than a christian!
Portia; A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is yours: the court awards it,
and law does give it.
Shylock: most rightful judge!
Portia: you must cut this flesh from his breast. The law allows it, and the
awards it.
Shylock: most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!
Portia: Wait a moment, there;s something else. This bond include no
jot(少量) of blood; the words expressly are a pound of flesh.
But, in the cutting, if you does shed one drop of christian’s
blood, your lands and goods confiscate(充公) by the Venice
law.
Bassanio: Oh, learned judge! Listen, Jew, a learned judge.
Shylock: Is that the law?
Portia: You will see the act(你自己可以去看看明白). For as you urgest
justice, be assured you shall have justice(既然你要求公道，我
就给你公道)，more than you desired.
Shylock: I take this offer, then pay the bond thrice. And let the christian
go.
Bassanio: Here is the money.
Portia: Soft(别忙), The Jew shall have all justice; soft! No haste. He shall
have nothing but the penalty.
Bassanio: Oh, Jew! An upright judge, a learned judge!
Portia: Therefore prepare you to cut off the flesh, neither blood, nor cut
less nor more, but just a pound of flesh; if you cut more or less
than a just pound, if the scale do turn, you die and all the goods
are confiscate.
Bassanio: Now, I have you on the hip(你可掉我手里)，
Partia: why does the Jew pause? Take the forfeiture.
Shylock: Give me my principal(本金)，and let me go.
Bassanio: I have it ready for you; here it is.
Portia: He has refused it in the open court. He shall have merely justice
and his bond.
Shylock: Shall I not have barely my principal?
Portia: You would have nothing but the forfeiture, except cutting a pound
of flesh at the danger. Jew.
Shylock: Then the devil give him good of it! I’ll stay no longer
question(让魔鬼保佑他去享用吧！我不打这场官司了).
Portia: Jew, the law have another relation to you. To seek the life of any
citizen by direct or indirect attempts,half of his property
belongs to the citizen, the other half to the state. The danger
formely by me rehearsed(你已经遭逢我刚才所说起的危险了).
Down therefore and beg merce of the duke.
Duke: You will see the difference of our spirts, I pardon you the life
before you ask it. For half the wealth, it is Antonio; the other
half to the state.
Portia:Ay, for the state, not for the Antonio.
Shylock: No, take my life and all; pardon not that. You take my house
when you do take the prop(支柱) that does sustain my house;
you take my life when you do take the means(养家活命的根本)
whereby I live.
Portia: What mercy can you give him, Antonio? A rope for kill or else?
Antonio: I will happy if Lord quit this fine for one half. The other half I
will give the lover of his daughter.
Portia: Are you contended, Jew? What do you say.
Shylock: I am content, thank you very much.