The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3
Venice. A street.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Shylock the Jew, and Solanio, and Antonio, and the Jailer.
Shylock
Jailer, look to him. Tell not me of mercy.
This is the fool that lent out money gratis.
Jailer, look to him.
Shylock
Jailer, keep hold of him. Don't talk to me about mercy.
This is the fool who lent money free of charge.
Jailer — keep hold of him.
Antonio
Hear me yet, good Shylock—
Antonio
Just hear me, good Shylock —
Shylock
I'll have my bond. Speak not against my bond.
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause,
But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.
The Duke shall grant me justice.—I do wonder,
Thou naughty jailer, that thou art so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.
Shylock
I'll have my bond. Don't argue against my bond.
I've sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
You called me a dog before you had any reason to;
well — since I'm a dog, watch out for my teeth. (In Act 1 he listed the insults and Antonio confirmed every one of them, promising to repeat them. Shylock has simply accepted the description and is now using it.)
The Duke will grant me justice. — I'm astonished,
you wicked jailer, that you're stupid enough
to walk him about outside just because he asks.
Antonio
I pray thee, hear me speak—
Antonio
Please — hear me out —
Shylock
I'll have my bond. I will not hear thee speak.
I'll have my bond, and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To Christian intercessors. Follow not!
I'll have no speaking. I will have my bond.
Shylock
I'll have my bond. I won't listen to you.
I'll have my bond, so say nothing more.
I won't be turned into a soft, dull-eyed fool,
shaking my head and softening and sighing and giving way
to Christian pleaders. Don't follow me.
I'll have no talking. I will have my bond.
He exits.
Solanio
It is the most impenetrable cur
That ever kept with men.
Solanio
He's the most unreachable dog
that ever lived among men.
Antonio
Let him alone.
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.
He seeks my life. His reason well I know:
I oft delivered from his forfeitures
Many that have at times made moan to me.
Therefore he hates me.
Antonio
Leave him.
I won't chase after him with useless pleading any longer.
He wants my life. I know exactly why.
I've often rescued, from his defaulted loans,
people who came to me in trouble.
That's why he hates me.
Solanio
I am sure the Duke
Will never grant this forfeiture to hold.
Solanio
I'm sure the Duke
will never let this forfeit stand.
Antonio
The Duke cannot deny the course of law,
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,
Will much impeach the justice of the state,
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go.
These griefs and losses have so bated me
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.—
Well, jailer, on.—Pray God Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not.
Antonio
The Duke can't set aside the law.
Because the trading rights that foreigners have
here in Venice — if those are denied,
it will badly discredit the justice of the state,
since the whole trade and profit of the city
depends on every nation. So go. (This is the legal trap the entire trial will turn on, and Antonio states it himself before it happens. Venice cannot refuse Shylock his contract without telling every foreign merchant that its courts are unreliable — which would cost the city more than one merchant's life.)
These sorrows and losses have worn me down so far
that I'll hardly have a pound of flesh to spare
tomorrow for my bloodthirsty creditor. —
Right, jailer, on we go. — Please God Bassanio comes
to watch me pay his debt, and then I don't care.
They exit.