Original
Modern English
Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:-- What, Jessica!--thou shalt not gormandise, As thou hast done with me:--What, Jessica!-- And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out;-- Why, Jessica, I say!
Well, you’ll see, your eyes will judge, The difference between old Shylock and Bassanio:-- What, Jessica!--you won’t be gluttonous, Like you were with me:--What, Jessica!-- And sleep and snore, and rip up clothes;-- Why, Jessica, I say!
Why, Jessica!
Why, Jessica!
Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
Who told you to call? I didn’t tell you to call.
Your worship was wont to tell me that I could do nothing without bidding.
You used to tell me that I couldn’t do anything without being told.
Call you? what is your will?
Did you call? What do you want?
I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: There are my keys. But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, Look to my house. I am right loath to go: There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream of money-bags to-night.
I’ve been asked to go to supper, Jessica: Here are my keys. But why should I go? I’m not invited for love; they flatter me: But still I’ll go in hate, to take advantage of The wasteful Christian. Jessica, my girl, Watch the house. I really don’t want to go: Something feels wrong, like trouble is coming for my rest, Because I dreamed about money bags tonight.
I beseech you, sir, go: my young master doth expect your reproach.
Please, sir, go: my young master expects your reproach.
So do I his.
So do I his.
An they have conspired together, I will not say you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black-Monday last at six o’clock i’ the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year, in the afternoon.
If they’ve plotted together, I won’t say you’ll see a party, but if you do, then it wasn’t by accident that my nose started bleeding on Black Monday last year at six in the morning, which was on Ash Wednesday four years ago, in the afternoon.
What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica: Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-neck’d fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street To gaze on Christian fools with varnish’d faces, But stop my house’s ears, I mean my casements: Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house. By Jacob’s staff, I swear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah; Say I will come.
What, are there parties? Listen to me, Jessica: Lock up the doors; and when you hear the drum And the awful squealing of the crooked flute, Don’t climb up to the windows then, Or stick your head out into the street To stare at Christian fools with painted faces, But stop up my house’s ears, I mean the windows: Don’t let the sound of silly nonsense get into My serious house. I swear by Jacob’s staff, I don’t feel like going out to a feast tonight: But I will go. You go ahead of me, servant; Tell them I will come.
I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this, There will come a Christian boy, will be worth a Jewess’ eye.
I’ll go ahead, sir. Mistress, look out the window, because even so, a Christian boy will come, and he will be worth more than a Jewess’ eye.
What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha?
What did that fool, the son of Hagar, say, ha?
His words were ’Farewell mistress;’ nothing else.
His words were ’Farewell, mistress’; nothing more.
The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder; Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day More than the wild-cat: drones hive not with me; Therefore I part with him, and part with him To one that would have him help to waste His borrow’d purse. Well, Jessica, go in; Perhaps I will return immediately: Do as I bid you; shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.
The servant is kind enough, but a big eater; Slow as a snail in making money, and he sleeps more during the day Than a wildcat: drones don’t hang around with me; So I’m parting with him, and sending him To someone who’ll let him help waste His borrowed money. Well, Jessica, go inside; Maybe I’ll come back soon: Do what I tell you; shut the doors behind you: Tight lock, tight find; A proverb always true for a careful person.
Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost.
Goodbye; and if my luck isn’t ruined, I have a father, and you have a daughter, lost.