| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| IN sooth I know not why I am so sad, | In sooth I know not why I am so sad. | MV I.i.1 |
| It wearies me: you say it wearies you; | It wearies me, you say it wearies you; | MV I.i.2 |
| But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, | But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, | MV I.i.3 |
| What stuffe 'tis made of, whereof it is borne, | What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born, | MV I.i.4 |
| I am to learne: | I am to learn; | MV I.i.5 |
| and such a Want-wit sadnesse makes of mee, | And such a want-wit sadness makes of me | MV I.i.6 |
| That I haue much ado to know my selfe. | That I have much ado to know myself. | MV I.i.7 |
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| Beleeue me no, I thanke my fortune for it, | Believe me, no. I thank my fortune for it | MV I.i.41 |
| My ventures are not in one bottome trusted, | My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, | MV I.i.42 |
| Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate | Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate | MV I.i.43 |
| Vpon the fortune of this present yeere: | Upon the fortune of this present year. | MV I.i.44 |
| Therefore my merchandize makes me not sad. | Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. | MV I.i.45 |
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| Fie, fie. | Fie, fie! | MV I.i.46.2 |
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| Your worth is very deere in my regard. | Your worth is very dear in my regard. | MV I.i.62 |
| I take it your owne busines calls on you, | I take it your own business calls on you, | MV I.i.63 |
| And you embrace th' occasion to depart. | And you embrace th' occasion to depart. | MV I.i.64 |
| | | |
| I hold the world but as the world Gratiano, | I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano, | MV I.i.77 |
| A stage, where euery man must play a part, | A stage where every man must play a part, | MV I.i.78 |
| And mine a sad one. | And mine a sad one. | MV I.i.79.1 |
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| Far you well, Ile grow a talker for this geare. | Fare you well; I'll grow a talker for this gear. | MV I.i.110 |
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| It is that any thing now. | Is that anything now? | MV I.i.113 |
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| Well: tel me now, what Lady is the same | Well, tell me now what lady is the same | MV I.i.119 |
| To whom you swore a secret Pilgrimage | To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, | MV I.i.120 |
| That you to day promis'd to tel me of? | That you today promised to tell me of? | MV I.i.121 |
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| I pray you good Bassanio let me know it, | I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it, | MV I.i.135 |
| And if it stand as you your selfe still do, | And if it stand as you yourself still do, | MV I.i.136 |
| Within the eye of honour, be assur'd | Within the eye of honour, be assured | MV I.i.137 |
| My purse, my person, my extreamest meanes | My purse, my person, my extremest means | MV I.i.138 |
| Lye all vnlock'd to your occasions. | Lie all unlocked to your occasions. | MV I.i.139 |
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| You know me well, and herein spend but time | You know me well, and herein spend but time | MV I.i.153 |
| To winde about my loue with circumstance, | To wind about my love with circumstance; | MV I.i.154 |
| And out of doubt you doe more wrong | And out of doubt you do me now more wrong | MV I.i.155 |
| In making question of my vttermost | In making question of my uttermost | MV I.i.156 |
| Then if you had made waste of all I haue: | Than if you had made waste of all I have. | MV I.i.157 |
| Then doe but say to me what I should doe | Then do but say to me what I should do | MV I.i.158 |
| That in your knowledge may by me be done, | That in your knowledge may by me be done, | MV I.i.159 |
| And I am prest vnto it: therefore speake. | And I am prest unto it. Therefore speak. | MV I.i.160 |
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| Thou knowst that all my fortunes are at sea, | Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea, | MV I.i.177 |
| Neither haue I money, nor commodity | Neither have I money, nor commodity | MV I.i.178 |
| To raise a present summe, therefore goe forth | To raise a present sum. Therefore go forth; | MV I.i.179 |
| Try what my credit can in Venice doe, | Try what my credit can in Venice do, | MV I.i.180 |
| That shall be rackt euen to the vttermost, | That shall be racked even to the uttermost | MV I.i.181 |
| To furnish thee to Belmont to faire Portia. | To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. | MV I.i.182 |
| Goe presently enquire, and so will I | Go presently inquire, and so will I, | MV I.i.183 |
| Where money is, and I no question make | Where money is; and I no question make | MV I.i.184 |
| To haue it of my trust, or for my sake. | To have it of my trust or for my sake. | MV I.i.185 |
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| Shylocke, albeit I neither lend nor borrow | Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow | MV I.iii.58 |
| By taking, nor by giuing of excesse, | By taking nor by giving of excess, | MV I.iii.59 |
| Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, | Yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend, | MV I.iii.60 |
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| Ile breake a custome: is he yet possest | I'll break a custom. (To Bassanio) Is he yet possessed | MV I.iii.61 |
| How much he would? | How much ye would? | MV I.iii.62.1 |
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| And for three months. | And for three months. | MV I.iii.63 |
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| I doe neuer vse it. | I do never use it. | MV I.iii.67.2 |
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| And what of him, did he take interrest? | And what of him? Did he take interest? | MV I.iii.72 |
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| This was a venture sir that Iacob seru'd for, | This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for, | MV I.iii.88 |
| A thing not in his power to bring to passe, | A thing not in his power to bring to pass, | MV I.iii.89 |
| But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heauen. | But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven. | MV I.iii.90 |
| Was this inserted to make interrest good? | Was this inserted to make interest good? | MV I.iii.91 |
| Or is your gold and siluer Ewes and Rams? | Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? | MV I.iii.92 |
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| Marke you this Bassanio, | Mark you this, Bassanio, | MV I.iii.94.2 |
| The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpose, | The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. | MV I.iii.95 |
| An euill soule producing holy witnesse, | An evil soul producing holy witness | MV I.iii.96 |
| Is like a villaine with a smiling cheeke, | Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, | MV I.iii.97 |
| A goodly apple rotten at the heart. | A goodly apple rotten at the heart. | MV I.iii.98 |
| O what a goodly outside falsehood hath. | O what a goodly outside falsehood hath! | MV I.iii.99 |
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| Well Shylocke, shall we be beholding to you? | Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you? | MV I.iii.102 |
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| I am as like to call thee so againe, | I am as like to call thee so again, | MV I.iii.127 |
| To spet on thee againe, to spurne thee too. | To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. | MV I.iii.128 |
| If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not | If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not | MV I.iii.129 |
| As to thy friends, for when did friendship take | As to thy friends, for when did friendship take | MV I.iii.130 |
| A breede of barraine mettall of his friend? | A breed for barren metal of his friend? | MV I.iii.131 |
| But lend it rather to thine enemie, | But lend it rather to thine enemy, | MV I.iii.132 |
| Who if he breake, thou maist with better face | Who if he break, thou mayst with better face | MV I.iii.133 |
| Exact the penalties. | Exact the penalty. | MV I.iii.134.1 |
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| Content infaith, Ile seale to such a bond, | Content, in faith. I'll seal to such a bond | MV I.iii.149 |
| And say there is much kindnesse in the Iew. | And say there is much kindness in the Jew. | MV I.iii.150 |
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| Why feare not man, I will not forfaite it, | Why fear not, man; I will not forfeit it. | MV I.iii.153 |
| Within these two months, that's a month before | Within these two months – that's a month before | MV I.iii.154 |
| This bond expires, I doe expect returne | This bond expires – I do expect return | MV I.iii.155 |
| Of thrice three times the valew of this bond. | Of thrice three times the value of this bond. | MV I.iii.156 |
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| Yes Shylocke, I will seale vnto this bond. | Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. | MV I.iii.168 |
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| Hie thee gentle Iew. | Hie thee, gentle Jew. | MV I.iii.174.2 |
| This Hebrew will turne Christian, he growes kinde. | The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. | MV I.iii.175 |
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| Come on, in this there can be no dismaie, | Come on. In this there can be no dismay; | MV I.iii.177 |
| My Shippes come home a month before the daie. | My ships come home a month before the day. | MV I.iii.178 |
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| Who's there? | Who's there? | MV II.vi.60 |
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| Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? | Fie, fie, Gratiano! Where are all the rest? | MV II.vi.62 |
| 'Tis nine a clocke, our friends all stay for you, | 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you. | MV II.vi.63 |
| No maske to night, the winde is come about, | No masque tonight. The wind is come about; | MV II.vi.64 |
| Bassanio presently will goe aboord, | Bassanio presently will go aboard. | MV II.vi.65 |
| I haue sent twenty out to seeke for you. | I have sent twenty out to seek for you. | MV II.vi.66 |
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| Heare me yet good Shylok. | Hear me yet, good Shylock. | MV III.iii.3.2 |
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| I pray thee heare me speake. | I pray thee, hear me speak. | MV III.iii.11 |
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| Let him alone, | Let him alone. | MV III.iii.19.2 |
| Ile follow him no more with bootlesse prayers: | I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. | MV III.iii.20 |
| He seekes my life, his reason well I know; | He seeks my life. His reason well I know: | MV III.iii.21 |
| I oft deliuer'd from his forfeitures | I oft delivered from his forfeitures | MV III.iii.22 |
| Many that haue at times made mone to me, | Many that have at times made moan to me. | MV III.iii.23 |
| Therefore he hates me. | Therefore he hates me. | MV III.iii.24.1 |
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| The Duke cannot deny the course of law: | The Duke cannot deny the course of law, | MV III.iii.26 |
| For the commoditie that strangers haue | For the commodity that strangers have | MV III.iii.27 |
| With vs in Venice, if it be denied, | With us in Venice, if it be denied, | MV III.iii.28 |
| Will much impeach the iustice of the State, | Will much impeach the justice of the state, | MV III.iii.29 |
| Since that the trade and profit of the citty | Since that the trade and profit of the city | MV III.iii.30 |
| Consisteth of all Nations. Therefore goe, | Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go. | MV III.iii.31 |
| These greefes and losses haue so bated mee, | These griefs and losses have so bated me | MV III.iii.32 |
| That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh | That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh | MV III.iii.33 |
| To morrow, to my bloudy Creditor. | Tomorrow to my bloody creditor. | MV III.iii.34 |
| Well Iaylor, on, pray God Bassanio come | Well, Gaoler, on. Pray Bassanio come | MV III.iii.35 |
| To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. | To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. | MV III.iii.36 |
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| Ready, so please your grace? | Ready, so please your grace. | MV IV.i.2 |
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| I haue heard | I have heard | MV IV.i.6.2 |
| Your Grace hath tane great paines to qualifie | Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify | MV IV.i.7 |
| His rigorous course: but since he stands obdurate, | His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, | MV IV.i.8 |
| And that no lawful meanes can carrie me | And that no lawful means can carry me | MV IV.i.9 |
| Out of his enuies reach, I do oppose | Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose | MV IV.i.10 |
| My patience to his fury, and am arm'd | My patience to his fury, and am armed | MV IV.i.11 |
| To suffer with a quietnesse of spirit, | To suffer with a quietness of spirit | MV IV.i.12 |
| The very tiranny and rage of his. | The very tyranny and rage of his. | MV IV.i.13 |
| | | |
| I pray you thinke you question with the Iew: | I pray you think you question with the Jew. | MV IV.i.70 |
| You may as well go stand vpon the beach, | You may as well go stand upon the beach | MV IV.i.71 |
| And bid the maine flood baite his vsuall height, | And bid the main flood bate his usual height, | MV IV.i.72 |
| Or euen as well vse question with the Wolfe, | You may as well use question with the wolf | MV IV.i.73 |
| The Ewe bleate for the Lambe: | Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb, | MV IV.i.74 |
| You may as well forbid the Mountaine Pines | You may as well forbid the mountain pines | MV IV.i.75 |
| To wagge their high tops, and to make no noise | To wag their high-tops and to make no noise | MV IV.i.76 |
| When they are fretted with the gusts of heauen: | When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; | MV IV.i.77 |
| You may as well do any thing most hard, | You may as well do anything most hard | MV IV.i.78 |
| As seeke to soften that, then which what harder? | As seek to soften that – than which what's harder? – | MV IV.i.79 |
| His Iewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you | His Jewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you | MV IV.i.80 |
| Make no more offers, vse no farther meanes, | Make no more offers, use no farther means, | MV IV.i.81 |
| But with all briefe and plaine conueniencie | But with all brief and plain conveniency | MV IV.i.82 |
| Let me haue iudgement, and the Iew his will. | Let me have judgement, and the Jew his will. | MV IV.i.83 |
| | | |
| I am a tainted Weather of the flocke, | I am a tainted wether of the flock, | MV IV.i.114 |
| Meetest for death, the weakest kinde of fruite | Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit | MV IV.i.115 |
| Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me; | Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. | MV IV.i.116 |
| You cannot better be employ'd Bassanio, | You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, | MV IV.i.117 |
| Then to liue still, and write mine Epitaph. | Than to live still, and write mine epitaph. | MV IV.i.118 |
| | | |
| I, so he sayes. | Ay, so he says. | MV IV.i.178.1 |
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| I do. | I do. | MV IV.i.179.1 |
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| Most heartily I do beseech the Court | Most heartily I do beseech the court | MV IV.i.240 |
| To giue the iudgement. | To give the judgement. | MV IV.i.241.1 |
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| But little: I am arm'd and well prepar'd. | But little. I am armed and well prepared. | MV IV.i.261 |
| Giue me your hand Bassanio, fare you well. | Give me your hand, Bassanio, fare you well. | MV IV.i.262 |
| Greeue not that I am falne to this for you: | Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you, | MV IV.i.263 |
| For heerein fortune shewes her selfe more kinde | For herein Fortune shows herself more kind | MV IV.i.264 |
| Then is her custome. It is still her vse | Than is her custom; it is still her use | MV IV.i.265 |
| To let the wretched man out-liue his wealth, | To let the wretched man outlive his wealth | MV IV.i.266 |
| To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow | To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow | MV IV.i.267 |
| An age of pouerty. From which lingring penance | An age of poverty, from which lingering penance | MV IV.i.268 |
| Of such miserie, doth she cut me off: | Of such misery doth she cut me off. | MV IV.i.269 |
| Commend me to your honourable Wife, | Commend me to your honourable wife, | MV IV.i.270 |
| Tell her the processe of Anthonio's end: | Tell her the process of Antonio's end, | MV IV.i.271 |
| Say how I lou'd you; speake me faire in death: | Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death, | MV IV.i.272 |
| And when the tale is told, bid her be iudge, | And when the tale is told, bid her be judge | MV IV.i.273 |
| Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue: | Whether Bassanio had not once a love. | MV IV.i.274 |
| Repent not you that you shall loose your friend, | Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, | MV IV.i.275 |
| And he repents not that he payes your debt. | And he repents not that he pays your debt, | MV IV.i.276 |
| For if the Iew do cut but deepe enough, | For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, | MV IV.i.277 |
| Ile pay it instantly, with all my heart. | I'll pay it presently with all my heart. | MV IV.i.278 |
| | | |
| So please my Lord the Duke, and all the Court | So please my lord the Duke and all the court | MV IV.i.377 |
| To quit the fine for one halfe of his goods, | To quit the fine for one half of his goods, | MV IV.i.378 |
| I am content: so he will let me haue | I am content, so he will let me have | MV IV.i.379 |
| The other halfe in vse, to render it | The other half in use, to render it | MV IV.i.380 |
| Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman | Upon his death unto the gentleman | MV IV.i.381 |
| That lately stole his daughter. | That lately stole his daughter. | MV IV.i.382 |
| Two things prouided more, that for this fauour | Two things provided more: that for this favour | MV IV.i.383 |
| He presently become a Christian: | He presently become a Christian; | MV IV.i.384 |
| The other, that he doe record a gift | The other, that he do record a gift | MV IV.i.385 |
| Heere in the Court of all he dies possest | Here in the court of all he dies possessed | MV IV.i.386 |
| Vnto his sonne Lorenzo, and his daughter. | Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. | MV IV.i.387 |
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| And stand indebted ouer and aboue | And stand indebted, over and above, | MV IV.i.410 |
| In loue and seruice to you euermore. | In love and service to you evermore. | MV IV.i.411 |
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| My L. Bassanio, let him haue the ring, | My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. | MV IV.i.446 |
| Let his deseruings and my loue withall | Let his deservings, and my love withal, | MV IV.i.447 |
| Be valued against your wiues commandement. | Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. | MV IV.i.448 |
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| No more then I am wel acquitted of. | No more than I am well acquitted of. | MV V.i.138 |
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| I am th' vnhappy subiect of these quarrels. | I am th' unhappy subject of these quarrels. | MV V.i.238 |
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| I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth, | I once did lend my body for his wealth, | MV V.i.249 |
| Which but for him that had your husbands ring | Which but for him that had your husband's ring | MV V.i.250 |
| Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound againe, | Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, | MV V.i.251 |
| My soule vpon the forfeit, that your Lord | My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord | MV V.i.252 |
| Will neuer more breake faith aduisedlie. | Will never more break faith advisedly. | MV V.i.253 |
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| Heere Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring. | Here, Lord Bassanio. Swear to keep this ring. | MV V.i.256 |
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| I am dumbe. | I am dumb! | MV V.i.279.2 |
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| (Sweet Ladie) you haue giuen me life & liuing; | Sweet lady, you have given me life and living, | MV V.i.286 |
| For heere I reade for certaine that my ships | For here I read for certain that my ships | MV V.i.287 |
| Are safelie come to Rode. | Are safely come to road. | MV V.i.288.1 |