in The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) — Shakespeare, William
Metadata
Play
The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)
Author
Shakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)
1600
First performance
1596
Decade
1600s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)
Morocho. | Mor.
Words
345
Characters
1838
Typicality
0.38 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A68727
BritDrama no.
1047
Cluster
Cluster 22 — Ghosts, curses & horror voices
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. Bring me the favrest creature Northward born, Where Phaebus sire scarce thaws the ysicles, And let us make incyzion for your love, To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. I tell thee Lady this aspect of mine Hath feared the valiant, (by my love I swear) The best regarded Virgins of our Climb Have loved it to: I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts my gentle Queen. Even for that I thank you, Therefore I pray you lead me to the Caskets To try my fortune: By this Symitare That slew the Sophy, and a Persian Prince That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, I would ore-stare the sternest eyes that look: Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth: Pluck the young sucking Cubs from the she Bear, Yea, mock the Lion when a rores for pray To win the Lady. But alas, the while If Hercules and Lychas play at dice Which is the better man, the greater throw May turn by fortune from the weaker hand: So is Alcides beaten by his rage, And so may I, blind Fortune leading me Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving. Nor will not, come bring me unto my chance. Good fortune then, To make me blessed or cursedest among men. Oh hell! what have we hear, a carrion death, within whose empty eye there is a written scroule, I'll read the writing. All that glisters is not gold, Often have you herd that told, Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold, Guilded timber do worms enfold: Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, Your answer had not been inscrold, Fareyouwell, your suit is cold. Cold indeed and labour lost, Then farewell heat, and welcome frost: Portia adieu, I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers' partly.
Plot summary
Plot — The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)
Bassanio plans to woo the heiress Portia, hoping that, if successful, her wealth will get him out of debt. His friend and principal creditor, the melancholy merchant Antonio, agrees to finance the venture, but all his money is tied up in commercial activity. He seeks a loan from the Jew Shylock, who himself raises the money by borrowing from his co-religionist Tubal. ===== PAGE 342 ===== 342 |. 1047. The Merchant of Venice Shylock is resentful of Antonio’s attacks on him for taking interest on loans, but frames a ‘merry bond’ which will entitle him only to a pound of Antonio’s flesh should the money not be repaid on the due date. Lancelot Gobbo leaves Shylock’s service and is hired by Bassanio, who is planning a going-away feast. Lancelot brings a letter from Shylock’s daughter Jessica to Lorenzo, whom she wishes to marry. Shylock is invited to the supper, and, while he is away, Lorenzo helps Jessica to escape from her father’s house; afterwards, it is unclear whether Shylock is more distressed by the loss of his daughter or the money she took with her. Bassanio leaves for Belmont, accompanied by Gratiano. Portia’s marital prospects are regulated by the will of her dead father: her suitors must choose which of three caskets contains her picture, and she may only wed the suitor who gets it right, while suitors who get it wrong must remain unmarried ever after. The Prince of Morocco chooses the golden casket, signifying a much-desired object, but gets only a death’s head. The Prince of Aragon chooses silver, signifying the suitor’s desert, and gets a fool’s head. Bassanio chooses lead, signifying that the suitor must risk everything, and gets Portia. She gives him a ring, which he promises never to remove. oo Rumours circulate in Venice that Antonio is ruined by the loss of all his ships. Unable to pay his debt to the vindictive Shylock, he writes to Belmont for Bassanio’s help. Lorenzo also comes to Belmont with Jessica, and, leaving her household in their care, Portia. secretly follows her new husband to Venice. Having acquired a disguise and a testimonial from a lawyer kinsman, she takes part in the hearing of Antonio’s case before the Duke. Shylock refuses either to accept the repayment of his money or to be merciful; but Portia points out that the bond entitles him to take no blood with his pound of flesh. Having plotted to kill a Venetian citizen, his life and goods are forfeit, but he is spared, on condition that he becomes a Christian and makes over…