ACT 1 SCENE 3 Paraphrase of The Merchant Of Venice for Class 9, 10

ACT 1 SCENE 3(Venice, A PUBLIC PLACE ENTER BASSANIO AND SHYLOCK)

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Three thousand ducats-well

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Yes sir for three months.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

For three months-well.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Antonio will act as a guarantor for these three thousand ducats.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Antonio will act as a guarantor

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Will you help me? Will you oblige me? Shall I know your answer?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio will act as a guarantor.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:what’s your answer to my problem.

 merchant of venice

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Antonio is a good man

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Have you heard any allegation That Antonio is not a good man?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

oh no, no, no, no; I mean to say that he is a good man and you have made me understand that he is financially strong for acting as a guarantor for 3000 ducats. But his business is subjected to danger H had an argosy(merchant ship) bound to Tripolis and another to Indies . I understand moreover upon the Rialto he had a third ship bound to Mexico and fourth one to England and other business investment are squandered by him to abroad trading countries. But ships are nothing but planks of woods and sailors are only men, there is a risk of land rats and water rats, I mean to say pirates and then there is also a danger of peril of waters, winds and rocks. Inspite of this the man is financially strong. I think I may take his bond.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Be assured.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

I would like to be assured that I may be assured. I will think about it again.May I speak to Antonio?

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

If you are pleased to dine with us.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Yes to smell pork to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite healed a madman by ordering the devil which possessed the man to leave him and enter into a herd of pigs.I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you and so forth:

but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you . What news on the Rialto?–Who is coming? ENTER ANTONIO—

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

This is Signior Antonio.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

How like a Russian tax collector he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian But I hate him more for he lends out money simply, free of charge and brings down the interest rate here in Venice.If somehow I get hold of him(Antonio) at a disadvantage then I will be satisfied by taking revenge for the ancient grudge That I bear with him. He hates our sacred nation; he abuses us on the Rialto where merchants gather regarding trading purposes, he maltreats me, my business deals and my well known success which he calls interest.I would be cursed by my tribe if I forgive him!

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

Shylock do you hear me?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

I am calculating my money balance;And by guessing, I figured out that I cannot instantly raise the total sum of three thousand ducats.That does not matter because Tubal a wealthy Hebrew will furnish me the sum.But for how many months do you desire for the money? [TO ANTONIO] Rest you fair(a greeting) good signior; Your worship we were talking about you.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Shylock, although, I neither lend nor borrow By taking nor by giving excess.yet to satisfy my present requirements of my friend I will a custom. Is he aware of the sum you want? How much you would yield?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

A yes three thousand ducats.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

And for three months.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

I had forgotten; three months; you told me. well, then your bond; let me see and yeah listen.It seems to me that I think you neither lend nor borrow with interest.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

I never charge interest.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

When Jacob led out his pastures to uncle Laban’s sheep–This Jacob from our holy Abraham was, the third possessor* yes he was the third– [* the third possessor:

Jacob was the third heir of the family estate.T he first one being Abraham, second being Isaac and third was Jacob. Actually Jacob should not be the heir because he was younger than Esau. But Jacob’s mother played a trick to have Jacob made Isaac’s heir. ]

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

And what of him? Did he think?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Jacob went to serve his Uncle Laban .An agreement was made between Jacob and Laban that the former would get the lambs which were born with spots or stripes. Jacob placed wooden rods in such a position that the shadows of the rods could fall on the sheep. By this means Jacob is said to have influenced the sheep so much that almost all the lambs were born spotted or striped and hence they became the property.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

This was a venture(enterprise) for which Jacob worked as a servant.It was a thing which his power could not cause to happen but it was controlled and shaped by the hands of God.Was this story a reference for charging interest? Or your gold and ships are ews and rams that multiply?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

I cannot tell you about that but I try to multiply the lending amount as fast as possible. But note it, signior.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Mark this, Bassanio, The devil can quote Scriptures for justifying his own needs.An evil soul stating holy verses (or arguments) which is like a villain with smiling cheek.An attractive apple which is rotten inside but having an attractive appearance at outside. This is a reference to falsehood in this world.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Three thousand ducats its a good substantial sum for three months from twelve:

then, let me see the rate–

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Well Shylock , are you going to lend us the money?

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Signior Antonio, many a time you have often rated me on the Rialto, on my money, and upon my money lending deals, still I have tolerated it with patience as long-suffering is the badge of our tribe.You call me a non-believer, cut-throat dog and spit on my Jewish garbedine and all this because I put to use that which is my own. Well, it now appears you need my help:

you come to me then saying, Shylock we need money from you. You who used to spit on me and you kicked me as you rejected a stray cat out of your house; money is your request. What should I say to you? Should I not say, Had a dog money? Is it possible for a cur to lend three thousand ducats? or Shall I bend low and in a voice like a slave say this- Noble sir you spit on me on last Wednesday; you rejected me on such a day and for these courtesies, I’ll lend you this much money?

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

I will abuse you like this again, To spit on you again, to spurn you again. If you are lending this money lend it not in a way as you are giving it to your friend as it is like that any friend is taking profit from a friend on unproductive money. You lend us this sum as your enemy because if the enemy is unable to pay money you can take your penalty

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

See how you become angry! I wanted to be friend with you and have your love. Supply you your present need and taking no doit of interest on the given money. You’ll never hear me for the kindness I offer you.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

That would indeed be a kindness on your part.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Perhaps here it means, “I shall return similar treatments.” you have to go with me to a notary to sign with me a single bond; and, in a merry joke, you are unable to repay me on such a day in such a place the sum or the sum as expressed in the bond, let the penalty be noted for an equal pound of flesh to be cut off and taken from any part of your body.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

I am indeed faith.I’ll seal to such a bond and say there is much kindness in the Jew.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

You shall not sign such a bond for me instead I would remain in my present condition of necessity.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO :

Why are you fearing man? I will not surrender it. Within these two months, that’s a month before when this bond will expire I will get thrice the value of this bond from my trade.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

O father Abram what these Christians are, who’s own tough dealings teaches them to be suspicious of the thoughts of the others! I pray you to tell me that if he breaks his promise to pay on a certain day what shall I get from his(Antonio) loss but a pound of man’s flesh which is not as valuable as the meat of muttons,beef or goats.I only extended this friendship to buy his favour:

If he will not aceept this help its all right I will bid him a simple goodbye. But do not be unjust to me for offering this act of love of mine.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Yes Shylock I’ll accept/sign this bond.

SPEECH OF SHYLOCK:

Ok then meet me immediately at the notary’s office;Give him the details(or,informations) about this humorous bond;And I will go and ready the ducats in purse; Ensure that my house is safe as it is left in the hand of an irresponsible hand and soon I’ll be with you.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Make haste, gentle Jew [EXIT SHYLOCK] The Hebrew(Shylock) will turn Christian; he grows kind.

SPEECH OF BASSANIO:

I did not like the apparently fair terms offered by a villain’s mind.

SPEECH OF ANTONIO:

Come on this is not a reason for fear. My ships will return a month before the day.

By: William Shakespeare