The Merchant of Venice - Act III
A Transcription of Shakespeare's Play by Ferrick Gray
Prefatory Remarks
Concerning Elision and Contraction
(continuing from Act II)
Considering whether elision or contractions are appropriate in poetry leads to some debate. I will admit that in some instances they are appropriate, and this depends upon the poem. In others they are distracting, and often used to keep the meter. In the following, I have chosen to remove most elided forms and contractions. Those that remain make more sense to the narrative. Rather than repeat passages, the scansion and pronunciation of names follows that given in Acts I and II.
Act III
Scene i
40
Salerio, Solanio doth meet,
⠀ They've heard some gossip about their master's ship,
And now Antonio they seek to greet
⠀ And pray this gossip comes from looser lip.
However, all's not well and not so neat,
⠀ The ship is lost, a bitter cup to sip.
But lo, behold, here's Shylock on his way:
I fear this news for him, a better day.
41
Now Shylock wasn't sure if it were true
⠀ For he bemoaned his jewels and ducats gold,
And cursed his daughter's journey when she flew
⠀ With young Lorenzo; this he had been told,
And in Genoa, four score ducats blew—
⠀ And heaven knows how much the ring was sold!
He curses and he swears but now to find,
Antonio is now within a bind.
42
Now Tubal, Shylock's friend has heard the news,
⠀ Antonio, he fears has lost the lot,
But Shylock's tone led Tubal to confuse
⠀ What's meant as bad, but happiness it got.
For Shylock is not one to pick and choose
⠀ And this bad news has happily hit the spot.
Antonio, the bond is now afresh,
And Shylock will demand his pound of flesh!
Scene ii
43
Bassanio, a hurry for to make,
⠀ His choice to make from of the caskets three,
But Portia bids him wait, some time to take
⠀ Before he chooses what could possibly be
A hurried thought and thus a grave mistake,
⠀ And then he too from Portia's presence flee.
No matter how she worries or complains,
Bassanio will choose to seek his gains.
44
He contemplates the silver and the gold,
⠀ A Midas touch he never would desire,
And silver cannot capture him or hold
⠀ His love for it, to set his heart afire.
Now as we may deduce, without being told,
⠀ Correctly chooses lead, so gray and cold.
But in the casket chosen, such the deed,
Lay Portia's portrait and a scroll to read.
45
He chose not by the view, his heart was true,
⠀ And this his fortune has not gone amiss,
And now content he seeks no other new
⠀ Fair lady for his fortune and his bliss.
So now their wedding day he must ensue
⠀ And seal his claim on her, a loving kiss.
Bassanio and Portia now are one,
But wedded bliss has not as yet begun.
46
But there is happiness among them all
⠀ As Gratiano tells them that he too
Had waited for Bassanio to call
⠀ And make his choice, and fair Nerissa knew
That with his failure theirs would also fall,
⠀ But choice together brings another two—
Thus Gratiano takes Nerissa's hand:
In choice is love and love has firm command.
47
Now with these nuptials honored they profess
⠀ Their love for each and other always be
A token taken ring for he to press
⠀ Upon his finger, everyone to see.
But from this happiness, we must digress,
⠀ Antonio's message will kill the glee.
Salerio, he brings the letter now
With news abroad. What's happened anyhow?
48
The letter's content brings the dreaded news,
⠀ Antonio's investment gone awry,
Though some contorted views may then confuse
⠀ What really happened. Oh, to wonder why.
Now is all lost? Though no one can accuse
⠀ Another for the wrath of sea and sky.
A bond now to collect with feeling rife,
It seems Antonio forfeits his life.
49
Both Jessica, Lorenzo join with all
⠀ And with Salerio they all confirm,
That Shylock has just paid the Duke a call
⠀ To make him validate his bond as firm.
Within the law of Venice to recall,
⠀ The law upon his side, this to affirm.
He has no other thought, no view afresh:
The bond is Antonio's pound of flesh.
50
How can the Jew insist on such reward?
⠀ And Portia offers up a pot of gold—
Have twice and triple, twenty for her lord,
⠀ But of this wants he nothing, they are told,
And lo, this merchant's life can ill afford
⠀ To face the Jew's revenge of history old.
Bassanio, he leaves to make his way,
As Portia bids him to no longer stay.
Scene iii
51
This Jew is just a gross and spiteful man,
⠀ Insisting that his bond be paid in full.
In secret this had always been his plan,
⠀ To feed the sheep and then to clip his wool.
Solanio will stay him if he can,
⠀ But law will leave them both without a pull,
To serve a kinder justice unto he
Who pays his debt, with death to be his fee.
Scene iv
52
A plan is hatched and thence there's no delay,
⠀ And Portia leaves Lorenzo so that she
And her Nerissa contemplate and pray
⠀ Until their lawful spouses back will be.
With Balthazar, a letter on its way,
⠀ A swift, urgent express delivery.
From her cousin, Doctor Bellario—
Some notes and garments, Balthazar must go!
53
Portia does not intend to stay inside
⠀ A monastery as she said before,
But in a man's costume intends to hide,
⠀ Nerissa too, and why? To practice law.
With little tricks and words this Jew she'll chide
⠀ And he will curse this day for ever more.
Now off they go, Nerissa, Portia too,
A carriage ride and many things to do.
Scene v
54
Can Jessica, the Jew's daughter be saved?
⠀ According to young Launcelot, not so.
He speaks his words of wisdom, more like raved—
⠀ Her soul be damned, this also she should know.
But what's the use to point a path that's paved
⠀ If trouble will pursue you where you go?
A Jew to Christian claim, that some may balk,
When Christian want to raise the price of pork.
55
Though Launcelot may jest, Jessica tells
⠀ Lorenzo what has recently transpired.
Lorenzo hopes that everything is well,
⠀ And though the two had secretly conspired,
No harm has come, no need to shout or yell,
⠀ With each retort, acknowledged and admired.
Now Launcelot's to leave while he's able,
Beckoned to prepare the dinner table.
56
Lorenzo thinks that Launcelot's a fool,
⠀ But isn't really bothered either way,
But rest assured, his thoughts are not that cruel
⠀ To harm him over petty things they say.
Lorenzo questions Jessica over who'll
⠀ Be Bassanio's wife, for this he may
And with her praise there wasn't any greater,
And she would meet Lorenzo some time later.