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Merchant of Venice, I1r

Editorial note

The decisions made for this transcription are designed to make the reading more accessible to contemporary readers. During transcription, eliminating the long s and Early English word spellings was a priority, as eliminating these factors creates a smoother reading experience for modern readers. The decision to color code and notate the corrections that were made during transcription will allow users to understand the correction that was made.

Color Coding Legend:

Red- Represents the contemporary spellings in place of Early Modern spellings.

Blue- Like red, but instead of replacing entire words, the blue coded words represent the replacement of Early Modern spelling conventions such as the long s, as well as swapping the u's and v's. The usage of u (used to represent vowel sounds) and v (used to represent consonant sounds) during the Early Modern period represents how these letters were not necessarily distinct from one another during this time 1

Orange/Bolded- This color represents the ring, a central element of The Merchant of Venice. In this scene, Portia, Bassanio's wife, has disguised herself as a lawyer, and demands the ring she gave him as payment for defending Antonio against Shylock. However, the ring, symbolic of the relationship dynamics that exist in domestic relationships, becomes symbolic of the power dynamics in relationships. In this way, we can read Portia's demanding and Bassanio's rejection as representative of his commitment to the relationship; however, his initial rejection represents how Portia's demands have exerted power in the relationship and over him. Through this lens, we can see how she uses that power as a control mechanism that leads to Portia's eventual acquirement of the ring. Although only giving the ring up after Antonio demands he does so, Bassanio's decision to give up the ring could not have happened were it not for Portia's initial demand, and therefore, Antonio is also conditioned by the power dynamics that structure Bassanio and Portia's relationship.

 

 

and for your love 1 I’ll 2 take this ring 3 from you,

do 4 not draw back your hand, I’ll 5 take no more,

and you in love 6 shall 7 not deny 8 me this?

Bassanio: This ring good sir, 9 alas it is a trifle,

I will not shame 10 myself 11 to give 12 you this?

Portia: I will have 13 nothing else 14 but only 15 this,

and now methinks I have 16 a mind 17 to it?

Bassanio: There’s more depends on this then on the value, 18

the dearest 19 ring in Venice will I give 20 you,

and find 21 it out by proclamation,

only 22 for this I pray you pardon me?

Portia: I see 23 sir 24 you are liberal 25 in offers,

you taught me first 26 to beg, and now methinks

you teach me how a beggar should 27 be answered. 28

Bassanio: Good sir, 29 this ring was given 30 me by my wife,

And when she 31 put it on, she 32 made me a vow 33

that I should 34 neither sell, 35 nor give, nor lose 36 it.

Portia: That ‘scuse serves 37 many men to save 38 their gifts,

and if your wife be not a mad woman,

and know how well I have 39 desired 40 this ring,

she 41 would not hold out enemy forever 42

for giving it to me: well 43, peace be with you. Exeunt.

Antonio: My Lord Bassanio, let him have 44 the ring,

let the deservings 45 and my love 46 withal

be valued against 47 your wives 48 commandment. 49

Bassanio: Go 50 Gratiano, run 51 and overtake 52 him,

give him the ring, and bring him if you can 53

unto 54 Antonio’s house, 55 away, make haste 56. Exit Gratiano.

Come, you and I will tither 57 presently,

and in the morning early will we both

fly 58 toward Belmont, come Antonio.

                                                                        Exeunt.

                                             Enter Nerrissa.

Portia: Enquire the Jews 59 house 60 out, give 61 him this deed,

and let him feign 62 it, wheel 63 away tonight 64 ,

and be a day before our husbands home:

this deed 65 will be well welcome to Lorenzo?

                                                                                                                                       Enter

 

 

 

Image credit: Rare Books & Manuscripts Department, Boston Public Library, copy G.176.16. The most excellent historie of the merchant of Venice. First Quarto. London: 1600.

Citing this page: Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice, I1r. London: 1600. Cacodemon Digital Shakespeare. Edited by [your names]. Source edition: Rare Books & Manuscripts Department, Boston Public Library (copy G.176.16). http://cacodemonshakespeare.com/comedies/merchant/i1r.

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Notes

  1. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "loue."
  2. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "ile."
  3. the ring is a significant feature of the play, symbolizing obligation and power dynamics.
  4. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "doe."
  5. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "ile."
  6. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "loue."
  7. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  8. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "denie."
  9. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  10. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  11. Contemporary spelling correction for the Early Modern "my ſelfe."
  12. Contemporary spelling convention for the Early Modern spelling "giue."
  13. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "haue."
  14. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  15. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "onely."
  16. Contemporary spelling convention for the Early Modern spelling "haue."
  17. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "minde."
  18. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "valew."
  19. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  20. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "giue."
  21. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "finde."
  22. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "onely."
  23. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  24. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  25. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "liberall."
  26. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  27. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  28. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "aunſwerd."
  29. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  30. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "giuen."
  31. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  32. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  33. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "vowe."
  34. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  35. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  36. Contemporary spelling correction for Early Modern "looſe."
  37. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  38. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  39. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "haue."
  40. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "deſeru'd."
  41. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  42. Contemporary spelling correcting of the Early Modern "for euer."
  43. Contemporary spelling convention, replacing "VV" to form "w" from the Early Modern spelling "vvell."
  44. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "haue."
  45. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "deſeruings."
  46. Contemporary spelling convention from the Early Modern spelling "loue."
  47. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "gainſt."
  48. Contemporary spelling from the Early Modern spelling "wiues."
  49. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "commaundement."
  50. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "goe."
  51. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "runne."
  52. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "ouer-take."
  53. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "thou canſt."
  54. Contemporary spelling from the Early Modern spelling "vnto."
  55. Contemporary spelling correction replacing the Early Modern long s.
  56. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "haſt."
  57. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "thither."
  58. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "flie."
  59. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "Jewes."
  60. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "houſe."
  61. Contemporary spelling convention of the Early Modern "giue."
  62. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "figne."
  63. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "weele."
  64. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "to night."
  65. Contemporary spelling correction of Early Modern "deede."
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