THE MERCHANT

OF
Act I: Scene 1 VENICE
Venice. Astreet
TEXT

Salarino and Salanio PARAPHRASE

Antonio,
Ener Enter Antonio, Salarino and
Salanio
A n t o n i o

Antonio
h know not why I am so sad. In fact. I do
In
me you say it wearies you;
not know why I am so sad.I
It
wearies
am sick of this sadnes. You
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it say that it
makes you tired. But I do not
Whatsa tis made of, whereof" it is born,
know how
I caught it, found it or
got it. I have still
iamto learn; to find out what
thing it is made of or
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, from what it is born. This sadness makes
That I have much ado' to know' myself. ne so foolish that I have great difficulty
in recognising myself.

Salarino Salarino
Your mind is tossing
10
on the ocean; Your mind is rocking on the ocean, where
fine show
There, where your Argosies" with portly sail" your merchant ships present a
10 Like sigmiors" and rich burghers" on the flood with grand sails moving on the sea,
in
On. as it were, the pageants of the sea. towering above small ships engaged
who show respect to them by
Do overpeer" the pety petty traftic,
traffickers, them when they
That curt'y to them, do them revercnce bowing and saluting
them just as the nobles and
pass by
23
Asthey fy by them with their woven wings.
walk proudly past the
wealthy merchants
common folk.

16. sea
truth, facr 9. recognise
17. fine shows
tures, bores, depresses 10. wandering, agitared 18. over-look

my sadness 19. small ships

gort it
11. s ps 20. bow
12. grand. stately wind
material to catch
of canvas 21. respect
from where 13. a sheet

14. respectable,
gentlemen, gentry 22. sail past
quickly

tool, a 23. sais

stupid person elite of a t o w n
afficeulry 15. citizens
 Salanio Salanio
15 Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth," Believe me, Sir, if Thad such a business
The better part of my affections," would risk at sea. the greater parts of my
Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still and
feelings
thoughts would be with my hopes
Plucking the grass, to know where" sis the relating to my ships on the sea. In such a
wind; case, I should always be plucking blades of
Pering in maps for ports, and pie", and road"; grass and throwing them in the wind to
20 And every object that might make me fear know which way the wind blew. I should
Misfortune" to my venture," out ofdoub" always be looking into maps to find out
Would make me sad. safe ports, landing platforms or jetties and
anchorages for my ships. And everything
that could harm my ships at sea would
surely make me sad.
Salarino Salarino
My wind" cooling my broth," My own breath cooling my soup would
Would blow me to an ague', when I thought make me tremble with fever caused by the
25 What harm a wind too greaf at sea
might do thought that a storm at sea might do great
I should the sandy hour-glass" run,
not see
harm to my ships. If I would see the sand
But I should think of shallous," and
of flas;" running out of the hour glass, I would
And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand, think of the shallow (less deep) waters and
Vailing" her high-top lower than her ribs* sand banks and would bring before my
30 To kis her burial" Should I
go to church, eyes the sight of my richly laden ship,
And see the holy edifice of stone,
Andrew stuck in sand, over-turning, with
And not bethink me
straight" dangerous
of its sails and masts
plunging low and
rocks,
seeking their burial in the sand while the
Which touching but my
gentle vessel3" side, sides of the ship stood above them. IfI
g
Would scatter all her spices on the
stream," to church, the stones
of the holy building
35 Enrob" the roaring water with silks:
would at once suggest to me the
24. business risk 35. brearh
25. feelings 46. touch
36. soup
26. always 37, fever with
shivering 47. place ofburial
48. building
27. in which direction 38. strong
28. blows 49. immediately
39. device for measuring bours
29. looking 50. ship
cthrough the running of sand 51. spread
30. landing stage near the shore, jetty 40. less deep water
52. condiments garam masala
or wharf, quay 41. sand banks
53. waves
31. anchorages 42. name of ship 54. cover
32. danger 43. struck sunk, stranded 55. angy waves
33. business enterprises 44. lowering
4. surely 45. sides, hul
 but even now worth this,"
ina
worw,
dangerous rocks in the ea which, when
worth nothing ? Shall I have the
And

n dn o w w o r t h
they otrike the side of my wooden ship
would watter on the waves the rich
cargp
think o n
this, and shall1 lack the thought of spices and throw u t the rich silks to
To

Thatsuch
a thing bechanced" would make me cover the roaring waves, And, a moment
before woth this much: is
sad? monent after
I know Antonio worth
not me:
rell nothing. Is it poible to think of
But
his merchandise. all this without entertaining the thought
lk ad to think upon
of that unlucky occurrence which would
make me sad? But you should not deny
it. I am sure that Antonio is sad becaus
of his goods.

Antonio Antonio
Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, Believe me, this is not so. I am thankful

My vencures are in one bottom trusted," to my good luck that all my merchandise
Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate is not carried on board one singleship
5Upon the fortune of this present year: nor are all my ships gone to one
Therefore, my merchandise makes me not sad. destination: nor does all my wealth
depend upon the trade of the current
year. Therefore, it is not due to my
business that I am sad.

Salarino Salarino
Why, then you are in love. Then perhaps, you are in love.

Antonio Antonio
Fie, fe Shame on you! Your suggestion is sheer
nonsense.
%. brietly
S1. this much 60. goods 64. fortune, wealth
%. mind 61. Cargo goods 65. shame on you
$9. happening 62. ship
63. entrusted
 Salarino Salarino
Not in love neither ? Then iet us
say you are Not in love, either? then let us
sad, say that you are sad
because you are nor
50 Because you arc not merry: and twere as casy happy. So it should be easy for youto
For you to laugh and leap and say you are laugh and jump about and say that you
merry, are happy because you are not sad.
I
Because you are wear
not sad. Now, by two-headed by the two headed Roman god Janus
Janus," that
Nature has given strange temperaments
to
Nature hath framed strange fellow in her time': people she has made. There are some
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,73
55 And laugh like
people who laugh through their eyes
parrots at a bag-pipers half-shut, and they laugh like parrots
And other of such
vinegar aspect. laugh to hear a bag-piper. There are
That they'l not show their teeth in a
way of others who have such sad appearances
Smile, that they will not open their lips to laugh
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. at things even when a serious-minded
person like Nestor were to swear that the
joke was worth laughing at.
Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano
Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano
Salarino
Salarino
Here comes Bassanio,
your most noble Here comes
kinsman", Bassanio, your most noble
60
Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: relation, Gratiano and Lorenzo. We bid
We leave you you farewell, and leave you now ina
now with better
company. better company.
Salarino
I would have Salarino
stay'd till I had made you merry, I would have waited
If worthier friends had tillI had made
not
prevented
me. you
happy and cheerful if these worthier and
more
respectable friends of yours had not
come.

66. either
67. happy 72. always
73. see with half-closed 78. joke
68. jumpP eyes 79. relation
69. the Roman god of doors 74. serious, sour
75. face, appearance 80. better
70. made 76. Greek King 81. stopped, anticipated
71. from time to time 77. take oarh
Antonio Antonio
w o r t h "
regard"
is very dear in my T have
great respect for you. I understand
Your
business calls on you,
own
that you have
Lakt" it, your some business of your own
vou
embrace" the occasion to depart. and you take this
opportunity to leave
me.

Salarino
Salarino
88
morrow, my good lords. Good morning, my good lords.
Good

Bassanio
Bassanio
when shall we laugh ? (to Salarino and Salanio) Good
Good sigmiors," both,
say, when ? gentlemen, please let me know when we
it be so? shall be together to make merry. You have
Yougrow exceeding strange":
must

become strangers. Is it necessary ?

Salarino
Salarino
We shall find our leisure time to wait
attend
70 We'll make our leisures yours.
to on

Exeunt Salarino and Salanio upon you.

Lorenzo
Lorenzo
havc found
found My Lord Bassanio, since you
My Lord Bassanio, since you have wilI like
Antonio, your dear friend, we
Antonio,
to take leave of you. But I request you
We two will leave you; but at dinner-time.
meer ar
pray"' you, have in mind where we must meet
not to forget that we have to
dinner.

Bassanio
Bassanio will definitely meet you.
I will
not fail you.
Gratiano
Gratiano look well, Sir Antonio.
I
75 You You do not
look not well, Signior Antonio
like
90. stand
offish, stranger
value
3. estimation 86. takec 1 . request vou
2. remember
4. understand 87. opportunity
. 88. morning
needs yvour respectable gendeman
attention 89.
 world: believe that you think much abour
too
You have too much respect" upon the
do buy it with
much care:" worldy matters. Those who feel too
They lose it that much anxiety about the world
Believe me, you are marvellously" changed. ultimatel
lose all. Believe me, you are
greatly
changed.
Antonio Antonio

I bold the world bur" as the world, Gratiano; The world, I think is a
stage wher
every
80 A stage where every man must play a part, human being comes to play his or her
and I have
art
And mine a sad one. a sad role to play.
Gratiano Gratiano
Let me play" the fool°: I will like to play the role of clown.
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles Let make merry and keep
me
laughing
come, and thus grow old and wrinkled. I would
And let my liver rather heat" with wine rather drink and inflame (heat
85 Than my heart cool with motifing" groans.106
up) my
liver than let my heart be cooled by sad
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, cries and
sighs that shorten life. Ifa man
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster has warm blood in his body,
why should
Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the he sit motionless like the marble statue of
jaundic
his grandfather? Why should he appear
By being peevishItell thee what, Antonio - to be asleep when he is
90 I love thee, and it is actually awake?
my love that speaks,-
There are a sort of men, whose
Why should such a man get jaundice
visages"" being irritable? I will tell you the truth,
Do cream and mantle" like a
standing pond; Antonio, I love you, and it is my love that
And do wilful" stillness" entertain,
a
is
With purpose to be speaking. There is a kind of men whose
dress' d in an opinion faces are calm and
passive like the
93. anxiety about
94. obtain 102. happiness
103. lines 111. faces
95. anxiety
96. wonderfully
104. warm up 112. get covered with dirt
105. painful, 113. of stagnant water
106. cries causing death
97. regard
98. merely 114. obstinate
107. grandfather 115. silence
99. my part 108. marble
100. play the role of
116. keep up
109. have 117. arm
101. down signs of
110. iritable jaundice
Ad1

gravity. profound conceit" urface of

Ofwisdom,
a
95
stagnant (unmoving) pool of
who
should say, "I am Sir Oracle" Water. They purposely wear this
As

And when
I ope my lips, let no
dog bark " unchanging expression s0 that people may

Omy
Antonio, I do know ofthese have the opinion that they are
are reputed" wise serious and profound thinkers. Such
That therefore only

10 For saying nothing;

when, I am very sure, persons wish to say, "I am Sir Oracle

would almost damn those when I open my lips, let no dog bark".
If they should speak,
O my Antonio, I do know about these
ears

them, would call their brothers

people that they are called wise only
Which, hearing
because they say nothing. In fact, I am
fools.
very sure that if they
did speak, they
Ill tell thee more of this another time:
would damn (injure) the hearers because
But fish not, with this melancholy bait,"
call
105 For this fool gudgeon", this opinion the hearers would be compelled to

them fools. I shall tell you more about

Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile:
this subject at some other time. But do
Tl end my exhortation" after dinner.
for
not try to win this kind of reputation
as a
wisdom by using a serious expression
Come,
bait is used to catch cheap fish.
Let (To Antonio). I
good Lorenzo. us go.

while. I will finish

bid you farewell for a
after dinner.
my lecture

Lorenzo
Lorenzo will leave you now, and meet
Well, we

Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. dinner. I must be like the silent
at
you
I must be one of these same dumb wise men,
Gratiano never lets me

wise men, for

110 For Gratiano never lets me speak.
speak.
125. sermon

118. seriousness 121. open

119. deep thought 122. known as
the power of
120. prophet who has 123. temptation
foretelling 124. fish
 Gratiano
enice
Gratiano
Well, keep me company but two years moc." Well, stay with
Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own
me
only for the next n.
years, and you will not be able to two
128

tongue. recognise the sound of your own

voice
oice.
Antonio Antonio
Farewell: Il grow a talker for this gear. I bid you farewell. I will
after hearing this.
becomea talker
Gratiano
Gratiano
Thanks. i'faith: for silence is only I thank you truly in all faith for
commendable'
advice. Silence is desirable
taking my
115 In a
meats tongue dried. and a maid only in the
not
dried tongue of an ox or in a
vendible girl who has
no chance of getting married.
Exeunt Gratiano and Lorenzo. (Gratiano
and Lorenzo depart)
Antonio
Is that Antonio
any thing now
Is there any sense in the
remark?
Bassanio
Gratiano speaks an Bassanio
infinite deal of nothing. Gratiano talks a lot of
more than any man in all nonsense, more
Venice. His reasons are than any other in
as two
grains of wheat hid in man Venice. The sense
two bushels of in Gratiano's talk is hardly
chaff equal to rwo
120 you shall seek all grains of good sense hidden in two
day er you find
them, and when you have bushels of chaff which is
them, nonsense. You
they are not have to go on
worth the search. searching all day before you
can find those
grains, and when you
two
find them, you will realise
that they are
not worth the search.

126. more
127. recognise 130. praiseworthv
128. voice 131. of an ox 134. having any sense
13. ready for 135. limitdess
129. reas0on eating
133. fior sak 136. husk. bhoosa
137. before
 Antonio
Wll, teli me now, who the lady is to
ame now,
what lady isthe same
wa ell whom had vowed to make a secrer

u sxrer pilorime.
awa
you

visit ? You had promised to tell me about

Twom
to rell me ef
nday promised
Thar pou her today.

Bassanio
Bassoaio I have
You know well, Antonio, that
unknown co you, Antonio,
Ts not maintaining
I have disabled mine eae, greaty wasted my wealth by
How much somewhar higher standard of living
than
a more suellingport" a

Br echng showing would allow. Nor do I

my limited
means
moans would gro
Than mynt this grand
fecd sorry for having to give up
atinuance now is to

beabridged style of living. My main worry

Nor do now makemoar" to

be honourably free from

the grear debs in
From such a moblk
raae; "but my chiefcar due to my
debrs which I have become involved
s off from the great
come ainy to you l owe
o
aragant living. Antonio,
Wherein my zime, someching too prodigal love, for you have
the most in moncy and
Hah left me seged To you, Aatonio, this love
You love me, and
and in dove; given me both.
135 Iowe the mos, in money to
gives me the right permission
or

And trom love I have a weranty

your and purposes
disclose to you all my plans
To axbaurdenall my plos" and purposes for gerting cear of these debs that
I owe.
debrs I owe.
How to get dear of all the
Antonio
Amconio to tell me your
know it; request you, Bassanio,
let me
pray you. good Bassanio, plans. Ifyour plans are
honourable, as
140 And if it stand, as you yourself srilldo, then my wealth, myself
you yourself
are,
Within the cye of honour," be assured resources will be madde
means," and my entrire
My purse, my person, my exremest available to you.
Lie all wnlock'd to your occasions.

156. permission
138. took a vow 147. complhin 157. unburden
139. cuDy 148. be forced to a t short
to 158. schemes, plans
140. about 149. grand sarye of living 159. honourable
141. wakned 150. main worry 160. maximum
142 peopery 151. to pay properly 161. resources
143. somewhar 152. lite 162. available
144. grand sryle of living
153. euramgant 163. needs
145. p o o r resources
154. invohved
146. grumble, regr 155. friendship
 Bassanio Bassanio
In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft," In my school days, when I
had lo
145 I shot hisfellow'" of theselfsameflight arrow, I firedaanother arrow
one
of thes same
The self-same way with more advised" watch, power of flight in the same
To find the other forth" and by adventuring""
direction,
keeping a more careful watch to find
both, first arrow. Thus, by taking risk the
I oft found both: I urge" this childhood proof"
with brd
the arrows, I often found both. I
Because what follows is pure innocence. have pux
a
forward this proof based on the
150 I owe you much, and, like a wilful" youth experience of my childhood because wha
That which I owe is lost; but if you
please I amgoing to tell you is pure innocence.
To shoot another arrow that
self" way You know, Antonio, hat
Which you did shoot the first, I do not already I am
doubt, deeply in debr to you. Like a self-willd
As I will watch the aim, or" to find
both, young man I have spent all the mony!
155 Or bring you latuer" hazard"" back again, borrowed. But if you are preparedto
And thankfully rest" debtor for the first. shoot a second arrow in the same
direction, I am sure as I watch the zim
thatI will find either both the
arows or
at least bring back the second arrow
which you risk, and
thankfully remain
under obligation to you for your first
loan.
Antonio
You know Antonio
me well, and herein" spend but You know me well, and by talking in a
time
To wind round about manner,
about" my love with you are only
And out of doubt
cirumstance; wasting time by appealing to my love tor
you do me now more
wrong you in a round about manner.. You are

164. arrow
165. other arrow 170. press
166. 171. 176. risk
167.
same
power of flight
carefull
example of childhood 177. to be
172. reckless youth
168. out 173. same 178. in this
169. risking 174. either 179. to argue in a roundabour way
175. second 180. with full details
 of my uttermost, 2
question
ln
making
made waste of all I have:
being unfair to me by doubting my
0 had readiness to do my
Than ifyou to me what I should do, utmost for you than
but say
Thendobe
you would be in wasting all
knowledge may by me be done, my wealth.
T h a ti n y o u r You have simply to tell me what I must
prestunto it: therefore, speak. do, bearing in mind, what it is possible
And I
am

for me to do. As soon as you say it. I am

prepared to do it, so, let me know what

you expect.

Bassanio
Bassanio
is a lady richly lef," In Belmont, there is a lady who has
165 In Belmont
and, fairer than that word" inherited a lot of wealth. She is beautiful,
And she is fair,
virtues: sometimes from her eyes and even more beautiful than that word,
ofwondrous
fair speechless messages":
I did receive are her wonderful virtues. Sometimes,
undervalued
Her name is Portia; nothing from her eyes, I got speechless messages of
Brutus' Portia;"
170ToCato's daughter, love. Her name is Portia, and she is not in
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth;"
the least inferior to Cato's daughter and
in from every coast
For the four winds blow world is
Brutus's wife, Portia. The vast
her sunny" locks"
Renowned suitors;" and of her beauty and virtue,
like a golden fleece;" not unaware

Hang on her temples well-known suitors

of Belmont Colchos' because high-born and
175 Which makes her seat
from four corners of the world. Her
come
strand7
her temples
golden locks of hair
of her. rest on
And manyJasons" come in quest
200
the story). Because
O my Antonio, had I but the means like golden fleece (of
202
of them," in Belmont is like
To hold a rival place with one
204
of this, her house
have amind presages me suchthrift, coast, to
which many Jasons
Colchos'
180 That I should questionless" be fortunate!

197. coast

all inferiror 198. an adventurer

181. doubingg 188. not at Caesar

189. wife of Brutus in Julius 199. search

maximumsupport, fullest 200. money
190. value
183. support
with
ready 201. to complete
c a n d i d a t e s for
191. famous
184. rich lovers, prospective 202. suitors
because
her wealth
her father has left 192. 203. foretells
marriage success

185. more 204. profit, gain,

beautiful than the word 193. golden 205. wealth

186. beautiful
194. hair, tresses

wondertul 195. wool

87. ilent 196. residence
messages of lodv
 come to win her. O my dear
had the money to hold
Antonio, if
a
place equal to
the other men ready to
marry Portia.
mind foretells such my
success that I wo
surely be a lucky winner.

Antonio Antonio

Thou know'st that all my forunesare at sea; You know that all my money is
invested
07 in on board ships which have gone to
Neither have I money, nor commodity sea.
To raise a presenr" sum": therefore. goforth; I have neither ready money nor goods on
the strength of which I could raise
Try what my credit can in Venice do: money
195 That shall be rack d, "even to the uttermost, to meet your requirements.
Therefore.m
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Porcia. and try if my credit can
get you any
Go, present" inquire, and so will I money in the city of Venice. I shall extend
214
Where money is; and I no question make, my credit ro the utmost to find money
To have" it of my rust or for my sake". and to enable you to make a
journey to
Exeunt Belmont, to fair Portia. Go at once and
find out where money can be got and I
am sure that I shall be able to get it either
my business credit or on personal
surety.

They leave

206. 210. out 214. have any doubr

207. goods, merchandise 211. stretched, extended 215. ger
208. immediate 212. equip, supply 216. on my credit
209. amount of money 213. soon 217. for the sake of my friendship