Speeches (Lines) for (stage directions)
in "Merchant of Venice"
Total: 86

1

I,1,1

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO]

2

I,1,60

Salarino. Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad,
Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy
For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,
Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,
Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes
And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper,
And other of such vinegar aspect
That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

(stage directions). [Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO]

3

I,1,73

Salarino. We'll make our leisures to attend on yours.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Salarino and Salanio]

4

I,1,119

Gratiano. Thanks, i' faith, for silence is only commendable
In a neat's tongue dried and a maid not vendible.

(stage directions). [Exeunt GRATIANO and LORENZO]

5

I,1,193

Antonio. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;
Neither have I money nor commodity
To raise a present sum: therefore go forth;
Try what my credit can in Venice do:
That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
Where money is, and I no question make
To have it of my trust or for my sake.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

6

I,2,194

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PORTIA and NERISSA]

7

I,2,324

Portia. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a
heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should
be glad of his approach: if he have the condition
of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had
rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come,
Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.
Whiles we shut the gates
upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

8

I,3,325

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK]

9

I,3,360

Shylock. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation which
your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I
will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you,
walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat
with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What
news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

(stage directions). [Enter ANTONIO]

10

I,3,512

Antonio. Come on: in this there can be no dismay;
My ships come home a month before the day.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

11

II,1,513

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO
and his train; PORTIA, NERISSA, and others attending

12

II,1,564

Prince of Morocco. Good fortune then!
To make me blest or cursed'st among men.

(stage directions). [Cornets, and exeunt]

13

II,2,565

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter LAUNCELOT]

14

II,2,597

Launcelot Gobbo. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from
this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and
tempts me saying to me 'Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good
Launcelot,' or 'good Gobbo,' or good Launcelot
Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away. My
conscience says 'No; take heed,' honest Launcelot;
take heed, honest Gobbo, or, as aforesaid, 'honest
Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy
heels.' Well, the most courageous fiend bids me
pack: 'Via!' says the fiend; 'away!' says the
fiend; 'for the heavens, rouse up a brave mind,'
says the fiend, 'and run.' Well, my conscience,
hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely
to me 'My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest
man's son,' or rather an honest woman's son; for,
indeed, my father did something smack, something
grow to, he had a kind of taste; well, my conscience
says 'Launcelot, budge not.' 'Budge,' says the
fiend. 'Budge not,' says my conscience.
'Conscience,' say I, 'you counsel well;' ' Fiend,'
say I, 'you counsel well:' to be ruled by my
conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master,
who, God bless the mark, is a kind of devil; and, to
run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the
fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil
himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil
incarnal; and, in my conscience, my conscience is
but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel
me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more
friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are
at your command; I will run.

(stage directions). [Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket]

15

II,2,678

Launcelot Gobbo. Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I have set
up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I
have run some ground. My master's a very Jew: give
him a present! give him a halter: I am famished in
his service; you may tell every finger I have with
my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come: give me
your present to one Master Bassanio, who, indeed,
gives rare new liveries: if I serve not him, I
will run as far as God has any ground. O rare
fortune! here comes the man: to him, father; for I
am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.

(stage directions). [Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and other followers]

16

II,2,683

Bassanio. You may do so; but let it be so hasted that supper
be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See
these letters delivered; put the liveries to making,
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.

(stage directions). [Exit a Servant]

17

II,2,730

Launcelot Gobbo. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have
ne'er a tongue in my head. Well, if any man in
Italy have a fairer table which doth offer to swear
upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to,
here's a simple line of life: here's a small trifle
of wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven
widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one
man: and then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be
in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed;
here are simple scapes. Well, if Fortune be a
woman, she's a good wench for this gear. Father,
come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo]

18

II,2,736

Leonardo. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

(stage directions). [Enter GRATIANO]

19

II,2,739

Leonardo. Yonder, sir, he walks.

(stage directions). [Exit]

20

II,2,774

Gratiano. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest:
But we will visit you at supper-time.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

21

II,3,775

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT]

22

II,3,798

Jessica. Farewell, good Launcelot.
[Exit Launcelot]
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

(stage directions). [Exit]

23

II,4,799

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO]

24

II,4,832

Salarino. 'Tis good we do so.

(stage directions). [Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO]

25

II,4,845

Lorenzo. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed
How I shall take her from her father's house,
What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with,
What page's suit she hath in readiness.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

26

II,5,846

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT]

27

II,5,857

Launcelot Gobbo. Your worship was wont to tell me that
I could do nothing without bidding.

(stage directions). [Enter Jessica]

28

II,5,891

Launcelot Gobbo. 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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

29

II,5,904

Shylock. 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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

30

II,5,907

Jessica. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost,
I have a father, you a daughter, lost.

(stage directions). [Exit]

31

II,6,908

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued]

32

II,6,930

Salarino. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter.

(stage directions). [Enter LORENZO]

33

II,6,936

Lorenzo. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode;
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait:
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you then. Approach;
Here dwells my father Jew. Ho! who's within?

(stage directions). [Enter JESSICA, above, in boy's clothes]

34

II,6,963

Jessica. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.

(stage directions). [Exit above]

35

II,6,974

Lorenzo. Beshrew me but I love her heartily;
For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself,
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.
[Enter JESSICA, below]
What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away!
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.

(stage directions). [Exit with Jessica and Salarino]

36

II,6,975

(stage directions). [Exit with Jessica and Salarino]

(stage directions). [Enter ANTONIO]

37

II,6,985

Gratiano. I am glad on't: I desire no more delight
Than to be under sail and gone to-night.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

38

II,7,986

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). Flourish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and their trains

39

II,7,1049

Portia. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there,
Then I am yours.

(stage directions). [He unlocks the golden casket]

40

II,7,1067

Prince of Morocco. O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
[Reads]
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; 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 part.

(stage directions). [Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets]

41

II,7,1070

Portia. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go.
Let all of his complexion choose me so.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

42

II,8,1071

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SALARINO and SALANIO]

43

II,8,1127

Salarino. Do we so.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

44

II,9,1128

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter NERISSA with a Servitor]

45

II,9,1182

Prince of Arragon. And so have I address'd me. Fortune now
To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead.
'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:
'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
What many men desire! that 'many' may be meant
By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves:'
And well said too; for who shall go about
To cozen fortune and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity.
O, that estates, degrees and offices
Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover that stand bare!
How many be commanded that command!
How much low peasantry would then be glean'd
From the true seed of honour! and how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times
To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice:
'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

(stage directions). [He opens the silver casket]

46

II,9,1211

Prince of Arragon. What is here?
[Reads]
The fire seven times tried this:
Seven times tried that judgment is,
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss:
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone: you are sped.
Still more fool I shall appear
By the time I linger here
With one fool's head I came to woo,
But I go away with two.
Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wroth.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Arragon and train]

47

II,9,1218

Portia. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

(stage directions). [Enter a Servant]

48

II,9,1237

Nerissa. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be!

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

49

III,1,1238

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SALANIO and SALARINO]

50

III,1,1308

Shylock. 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.

(stage directions). [Enter a Servant]

51

III,1,1312

Salarino. We have been up and down to seek him.

(stage directions). [Enter TUBAL]

52

III,1,1315

Salanio. Here comes another of the tribe: a third cannot be
matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew.

(stage directions). [Exeunt SALANIO, SALARINO, and Servant]

53

III,1,1362

Shylock. 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.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

54

III,2,1363

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter BASSANIO, PORTIA, GRATIANO, NERISSA, and Attendants]

55

III,2,1606

Salerio. I did, my lord;
And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio
Commends him to you.

(stage directions). [Gives Bassanio a letter]

56

III,2,1706

Bassanio. Since I have your good leave to go away,
I will make haste: but, till I come again,
No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay,
No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

57

III,3,1707

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SHYLOCK, SALARINO, ANTONIO, and Gaoler]

58

III,3,1726

Shylock. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To Christian intercessors. Follow not;
I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond.

(stage directions). [Exit]

59

III,3,1748

Antonio. The duke cannot deny the course of law:
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,
Will much impeach the justice of his state;
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations. Therefore, go:
These griefs and losses have so bated me,
That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh
To-morrow to my bloody creditor.
Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come
To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

60

III,4,1749

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHASAR]

61

III,4,1808

Balthasar. Madam, I go with all convenient speed.

(stage directions). [Exit]

62

III,4,1839

Portia. Fie, what a question's that,
If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!
But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device
When I am in my coach, which stays for us
At the park gate; and therefore haste away,
For we must measure twenty miles to-day.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

63

III,5,1840

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter LAUNCELOT and JESSICA]

64

III,5,1865

Launcelot Gobbo. Truly, the more to blame he: we were Christians
enow before; e'en as many as could well live, one by
another. This making Christians will raise the
price of hogs: if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we
shall not shortly have a rasher on the coals for money.

(stage directions). [Enter LORENZO]

65

III,5,1900

Launcelot Gobbo. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the
meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in
to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and
conceits shall govern.

(stage directions). [Exit]

66

III,5,1929

Jessica. Well, I'll set you forth.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

67

IV,1,1930

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others]

68

IV,1,1947

Salerio. He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

(stage directions). [Enter SHYLOCK]

69

IV,1,2052

Antonio. I am a tainted wether of the flock,
Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit
Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me
You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,
Than to live still and write mine epitaph.

(stage directions). [Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk]

70

IV,1,2055

Nerissa. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.

(stage directions). [Presenting a letter]

71

IV,1,2352

Gratiano. In christening shalt thou have two god-fathers:
Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

(stage directions). [Exit SHYLOCK]

72

IV,1,2360

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.
Antonio, gratify this gentleman,
For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Duke and his train]

73

IV,1,2404

Portia. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
An if your wife be not a mad-woman,
And know how well I have deserved the ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

(stage directions). [Exeunt Portia and Nerissa]

74

IV,1,2415

Bassanio. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;
Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste.
[Exit Gratiano]
Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

75

IV,2,2416

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PORTIA and NERISSA]

76

IV,2,2421

Portia. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed
And let him sign it: we'll away to-night
And be a day before our husbands home:
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

(stage directions). [Enter GRATIANO]

77

IV,2,2442

Nerissa. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

78

V,1,2443

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter LORENZO and JESSICA]

79

V,1,2474

Jessica. I would out-night you, did no body come;
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.

(stage directions). [Enter STEPHANO]

80

V,1,2490

Lorenzo. He is not, nor we have not heard from him.
But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,
And ceremoniously let us prepare
Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

(stage directions). [Enter LAUNCELOT]

81

V,1,2501

Launcelot Gobbo. Tell him there's a post come from my master, with
his horn full of good news: my master will be here
ere morning.

(stage directions). [Exit]

82

V,1,2524

Lorenzo. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming.
And yet no matter: why should we go in?
My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you,
Within the house, your mistress is at hand;
And bring your music forth into the air.
[Exit Stephano]
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:
There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
[Enter Musicians]
Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn!
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
And draw her home with music.

(stage directions). [Music]

83

V,1,2545

Lorenzo. The reason is, your spirits are attentive:
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

(stage directions). [Enter PORTIA and NERISSA]

84

V,1,2568

Portia. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark,
When neither is attended, and I think
The nightingale, if she should sing by day,
When every goose is cackling, would be thought
No better a musician than the wren.
How many things by season season'd are
To their right praise and true perfection!
Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion
And would not be awaked.

(stage directions). [Music ceases]

85

V,1,2584

Portia. Go in, Nerissa;
Give order to my servants that they take
No note at all of our being absent hence;
Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.

(stage directions). [A tucket sounds]

86

V,1,2781

Gratiano. Let it be so: the first inter'gatory
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is,
Whether till the next night she had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day:
But were the day come, I should wish it dark,
That I were couching with the doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live I'll fear no other thing
So sore as keeping safe Nerissa's ring.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]