The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3
Venice. Shylock's house.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Jessica and Lancelet Gobbo.
Jessica
I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.
Our house is hell and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee,
And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest.
Give him this letter, do it secretly,
And so farewell. I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.
Jessica
I'm sorry you're leaving my father like this.
Our house is hell, and you, a cheerful little devil,
took some of the dreariness out of it.
But goodbye. Here's a ducat for you.
And Lancelet — at supper tonight you'll see
Lorenzo, who is your new master's guest.
Give him this letter. Do it secretly.
And so goodbye. I don't want my father
to see me talking with you.
Lancelet
Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived.
But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu.
Lancelet
Farewell. Tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew — if some Christian didn't play the villain and father you, I'm much mistaken. (Two things at once. 'Exhibit' is his mistake for 'inhibit' — the tears are stopping him talking. And the compliment is that she is too lovely to be Shylock's: he is saying her mother must have slept with a Christian, and offering it as praise.)
But goodbye. These silly drops are rather drowning my manly spirit. Goodbye.
Jessica
Farewell, good Lancelet.
Jessica
Goodbye, good Lancelet.
Lancelet exits.
Jessica
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father's child?
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.
Jessica
What a terrible sin it is in me
to be ashamed of being my father's child.
But though I'm a daughter to his blood,
I'm no daughter to his ways. Oh, Lorenzo —
if you keep your promise, I'll end this struggle:
become a Christian, and your loving wife. (Two things in one line, in that order. Marrying Lorenzo requires her to change religion, and the couplet puts the conversion first and the marriage second.)
She exits.