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Now, what news on the Rialto?
So, what’s the latest on the Rialto?
Why, yet it lives there uncheck’d that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her word.
Well, the news is still out there that Antonio has lost a ship with valuable cargo in the narrow seas; I think they call the place the Goodwins; it’s a very dangerous stretch of shallow water, where the wrecks of many large ships lie buried, or so they say, if my friend Report is to be trusted.
I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband. But it is true, without any slips of prolixity or crossing the plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,--O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company!--
I wish she’d lie as easily as she gossips about other things, like how she’s cried over the death of a third husband. But it is true, without any exaggeration or beating around the bush, that good old Antonio, honest Antonio—oh, I wish I had a title worthy enough to keep his name company!
Come, the full stop.
Alright, let’s get to the point.
Ha! what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he hath lost a ship.
Ha! What do you mean? Well, the bottom line is, he’s lost a ship.
I would it might prove the end of his losses.
I just hope this is the end of his troubles.
Let me say ’amen’ betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew.
Let me say ’amen’ quickly, before the devil interferes with my prayer, because here he comes in the form of a Jew.
How now, Shylock! what news among the merchants?
So, Shylock! What’s going on with the merchants?
You know, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight.
You know as well as anyone, better than anyone, about my daughter running away.
That’s certain: I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal.
That’s true: I, for one, know the tailor who made the wings she flew away with.
And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledged; and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam.
And Shylock, for his part, knew his daughter was ready to leave; and it’s just the way of things for them to leave their mother behind.
She is damned for it.
She’s doomed for it.
That’s certain, if the devil may be her judge.
That’s for sure, if the devil can be her judge.
My own flesh and blood to rebel!
My own flesh and blood turning against me!
Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at these years?
How awful, old corpse! She’s rebelling at her age?
I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood.
I’m telling you, my daughter is my flesh and blood.
There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no?
There’s more difference between your flesh and hers than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods than between red wine and Rhine wine. But tell us, do you know if Antonio has suffered any loss at sea or not?
There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug upon the mart; let him look to his bond: he was wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond: he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy; let him look to his bond.
Here’s another bad deal for me: a bankrupt, a wasteful spender, who can barely show his face at the Rialto; a beggar who used to walk around looking so proud on the market; let him worry about his bond: he was always calling me a moneylender; let him worry about his bond: he was always lending money out of Christian kindness; let him worry about his bond.
Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh: what’s that good for?
Well, I’m sure, if he defaults, you won’t take his flesh: what would you do with that?
To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
To use it as bait for fish: if it doesn’t serve any other purpose, it will serve my revenge. He has disgraced me, and cost me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my people, ruined my deals, cooled my friends, heated my enemies; and why? Because I’m a Jew. Doesn’t a Jew have eyes? doesn’t a Jew have hands, organs, senses, feelings, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, affected by the same diseases, healed by the same remedies, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, just like a Christian? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not seek revenge? If we are like you in other ways, we will be like you in that too. If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what does he do? He seeks revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what is he expected to do, according to Christian rules? Revenge. The evil you teach me, I will carry out, and it won’t be hard for me to do it even better than you taught me.
Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both.
Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and wants to speak with you both.
We have been up and down to seek him.
We’ve been all over looking for him.
Here comes another of the tribe: a third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew.
Here comes another one of your people: a third can’t be found unless the devil himself turns Jew.
How now, Tubal! what news from Genoa? hast thou found my daughter?
Well, Tubal! what’s the news from Genoa? Have you found my daughter?
I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.
I’ve been to the places where I heard of her, but I couldn’t find her.
Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now: two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so: and I know not what’s spent in the search: why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge: nor no in luck stirring but what lights on my shoulders; no sighs but of my breathing; no tears but of my shedding.
Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt! The curse never came upon our people until now; I never felt it until now: two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels. I wish my daughter were dead at my feet, and the jewels in her ear! I wish she were buried at my feet, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Well, of course: and I know not what’s been spent in the search: loss after loss! the thief took so much, and now there’s so much spent to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge: no luck for me except what lands on my shoulders; no sighs but mine; no tears but mine.
Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, as I heard in Genoa,--
Yes, other men have bad luck too: Antonio, as I heard in Genoa,--
What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck?
What, what, what? bad luck, bad luck?
Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.
His ship, an argosy, was lost coming from Tripolis.
I thank God, I thank God. Is’t true, is’t true?
I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, is it true?
I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck.
I spoke with some of the sailors who survived the wreck.
I thank thee, good Tubal: good news, good news! ha, ha! where? in Genoa?
I thank you, good Tubal: good news, good news! Ha, ha! where? in Genoa?
Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, in one night fourscore ducats.
Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, in one night eighty ducats.
Thou stickest a dagger in me: I shall never see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats!
You’re sticking a dagger in me: I’ll never see my gold again: eighty ducats in one go! eighty ducats!
There came divers of Antonio’s creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose but break.
Some of Antonio’s creditors came with me to Venice, and swear he can’t avoid bankruptcy.
I am very glad of it: I’ll plague him; I’ll torture him: I am glad of it.
I’m very glad to hear it: I’ll make his life miserable; I’ll torture him: I’m glad to hear it.
One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.
One of them showed me a ring that he had from your daughter, which he traded for a monkey.
Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.
Out on her! You’re torturing me, Tubal: it was my turquoise; I got it from Leah when I was a bachelor: I wouldn’t have given it for a whole jungle of monkeys.
But Antonio is certainly undone.
But Antonio is definitely ruined.
Nay, that’s true, that’s very true. Go, Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight before. I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for, were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will. Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal.
Yes, that’s true, that’s really true. Go, Tubal, hire me an officer; ask him to come in two weeks. I will take everything from him, if he defaults; because, if he leaves Venice, I can do whatever business I want. Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal.