| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| My Lord Bassanio, since you haue found Anthonio | My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, | MV I.i.69 |
| We two will leaue you, but at dinner time | We two will leave you; but at dinner-time | MV I.i.70 |
| I pray you haue in minde where we must meete. | I pray you have in mind where we must meet. | MV I.i.71 |
| | | |
| Well, we will leaue you then till dinner time. | Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time. | MV I.i.105 |
| I must be one of these same dumbe wise men, | I must be one of these same dumb wise men, | MV I.i.106 |
| For Gratiano neuer let's me speake. | For Gratiano never lets me speak. | MV I.i.107 |
| | | |
| Nay, we will slinke away in supper time, | Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, | MV II.iv.1 |
| Disguise vs at my lodging, and returne | Disguise us at my lodging, and return, | MV II.iv.2 |
| all in an houre. | All in an hour. | MV II.iv.3 |
| | | |
| 'Tis now but foure of clock, we haue two houres | 'Tis now but four of clock. We have two hours | MV II.iv.8 |
| To furnish vs; | To furnish us. | MV II.iv.9.1 |
| | | |
| friend Lancelet what's the newes. | Friend Launcelot, what's the news? | MV II.iv.9.2 |
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| I know the hand, in faith 'tis a faire hand | I know the hand. In faith, 'tis a fair hand, | MV II.iv.12 |
| And whiter then the paper it writ on, | And whiter than the paper it writ on | MV II.iv.13 |
| I the faire hand that writ. | Is the fair hand that writ. | MV II.iv.14.1 |
| | | |
| Whither goest thou? | Whither goest thou? | MV II.iv.16 |
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| Hold here, take this, tell gentle Iessica | Hold here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica | MV II.iv.19 |
| I will not faile her, speake it priuately: | I will not fail her. Speak it privately. | MV II.iv.20 |
| | | |
| Go Gentlemen, | Go, gentlemen; | MV II.iv.21 |
| will you prepare you for this Maske to night, | Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? | MV II.iv.22 |
| I am prouided of a Torch-bearer. | I am provided of a torchbearer. | MV II.iv.23 |
| | | |
| Meete me and Gratiano | Meet me and Gratiano | MV II.iv.25.2 |
| at Gratianos lodging / Some houre hence. | At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. | MV II.iv.26 |
| | | |
| I must needes tell thee all, she hath directed | I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed | MV II.iv.29 |
| How I shall take her from her Fathers house, | How I shall take her from her father's house, | MV II.iv.30 |
| What gold and iewels she is furnisht with, | What gold and jewels she is furnished with, | MV II.iv.31 |
| What Pages suite she hath in readinesse: | What page's suit she hath in readiness. | MV II.iv.32 |
| If ere the Iew her Father come to heauen, | If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, | MV II.iv.33 |
| It will be for his gentle daughters sake; | It will be for his gentle daughter's sake; | MV II.iv.34 |
| And neuer dare misfortune crosse her foote, | And never dare misfortune cross her foot, | MV II.iv.35 |
| Vnlesse she doe it vnder this excuse, | Unless she do it under this excuse, | MV II.iv.36 |
| That she is issue to a faithlesse Iew: | That she is issue to a faithless Jew. | MV II.iv.37 |
| Come goe with me, pervse this as thou goest, | Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest. | MV II.iv.38 |
| Faire Iessica shall be my Torch-bearer. | Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. | MV II.iv.39 |
| | | |
| Sweete friends, your patience for my long abode, | Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode. | MV II.vi.21 |
| Not I, but my affaires haue made you wait: | Not I but my affairs have made you wait. | MV II.vi.22 |
| When you shall please to play the theeues for wiues | When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, | MV II.vi.23 |
| Ile watch as long for you then: approach | I'll watch as long for you then. Approach. | MV II.vi.24 |
| Here dwels my father Iew. Hoa, who's within? | Here dwells my father Jew! Ho! Who's within? | MV II.vi.25 |
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| Lorenzo, and thy Loue. | Lorenzo, and thy love. | MV II.vi.28 |
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| Heauen and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. | Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. | MV II.vi.32 |
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| Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. | Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. | MV II.vi.40 |
| | | |
| So you are sweet, | So are you, sweet, | MV II.vi.44.2 |
| Euen in the louely garnish of a boy: | Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. | MV II.vi.45 |
| but come at once, | But come at once, | MV II.vi.46 |
| For the close night doth play the run-away, | For the close night doth play the runaway, | MV II.vi.47 |
| And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. | And we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast. | MV II.vi.48 |
| | | |
| Beshrew me but I loue her heartily. | Beshrew me but I love her heartily! | MV II.vi.52 |
| For she is wise, if I can iudge of her, | For she is wise, if I can judge of her, | MV II.vi.53 |
| And faire she is, if that mine eyes be true, | And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, | MV II.vi.54 |
| And true she is, as she hath prou'd her selfe: | And true she is, as she hath proved herself; | MV II.vi.55 |
| And therefore like her selfe, wise, faire, and true, | And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, | MV II.vi.56 |
| Shall she be placed in my constant soule. | Shall she be placed in my constant soul. | MV II.vi.57 |
| | | |
| What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, | What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away! | MV II.vi.58 |
| Our masking mates by this time for vs stay. | Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. | MV II.vi.59 |
| | | |
| I thanke your honor; for my part my Lord, | I thank your honour. For my part, my lord, | MV III.ii.226 |
| My purpose was not to haue seene you heere, | My purpose was not to have seen you here, | MV III.ii.227 |
| But meeting with Salerio by the way, | But meeting with Salerio by the way, | MV III.ii.228 |
| He did intreate mee past all saying nay | He did entreat me past all saying nay | MV III.ii.229 |
| To come with him along. | To come with him along. | MV III.ii.230.1 |
| | | |
| Madam, although I speake it in your presence, | Madam, although I speak it in your presence, | MV III.iv.1 |
| You haue a noble and a true conceit | You have a noble and a true conceit | MV III.iv.2 |
| Of god-like amity, which appeares most strongly | Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly | MV III.iv.3 |
| In bearing thus the absence of your Lord. | In bearing thus the absence of your lord. | MV III.iv.4 |
| But if you knew to whom you shew this honour, | But if you knew to whom you show this honour, | MV III.iv.5 |
| How true a Gentleman you send releefe, | How true a gentleman you send relief, | MV III.iv.6 |
| How deere a louer of my Lord your husband, | How dear a lover of my lord your husband, | MV III.iv.7 |
| I know you would be prouder of the worke | I know you would be prouder of the work | MV III.iv.8 |
| Then customary bounty can enforce you. | Than customary bounty can enforce you. | MV III.iv.9 |
| | | |
| Madame, with all my heart, | Madam, with all my heart, | MV III.iv.35.2 |
| I shall obey you in all faire commands. | I shall obey you in all fair commands. | MV III.iv.36 |
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| Faire thoughts & happy houres attend on you. | Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! | MV III.iv.41 |
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| I shall grow iealous of you shortly Lancelet, | I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, | MV III.v.26 |
| if you thus get my wife into corners? | if you thus get my wife into corners. | MV III.v.27 |
| | | |
| I shall answere that better to the | I shall answer that better to the | MV III.v.33 |
| Commonwealth, than you can the getting vp of the | commonwealth than you can the getting up of the | MV III.v.34 |
| Negroes bellie: the Moore is with childe by you | Negro's belly. The Moor is with child by you, | MV III.v.35 |
| Launcelet? | Launcelot. | MV III.v.36 |
| | | |
| How euerie foole can play vpon the word, I thinke | How every fool can play upon the word! I think | MV III.v.40 |
| the best grace of witte will shortly turne into silence, and | the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence, and | MV III.v.41 |
| discourse grow commendable in none onely but Parrats: | discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots. | MV III.v.42 |
| goe in sirra, bid them prepare for dinner? | Go in, sirrah, bid them prepare for dinner. | MV III.v.43 |
| | | |
| Goodly Lord, what a witte-snapper are you, | Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! | MV III.v.45 |
| then bid them prepare dinner. | Then bid them prepare dinner. | MV III.v.46 |
| | | |
| Will you couer than sir? | Will you cover then, sir? | MV III.v.49 |
| | | |
| Yet more quarrellng with occasion, wilt thou | Yet more quarrelling with occasion. Wilt thou | MV III.v.51 |
| shew the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant; I pray | show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray | MV III.v.52 |
| thee vnderstand a plaine man in his plaine meaning: goe | thee understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go | MV III.v.53 |
| to thy fellowes, bid them couer the table, serue in the | to thy fellows, bid them cover the table, serve in the | MV III.v.54 |
| meat, and we will come in to dinner. | meat, and we will come in to dinner. | MV III.v.55 |
| | | |
| O deare discretion, how his words are suted, | O dear discretion, how his words are suited! | MV III.v.60 |
| The foole hath planted in his memory | The fool hath planted in his memory | MV III.v.61 |
| An Armie of good words, and I doe know | An army of good words; and I do know | MV III.v.62 |
| A many fooles that stand in better place, | A many fools that stand in better place, | MV III.v.63 |
| Garnisht like him, that for a tricksie word | Garnished like him, that for a tricksy word | MV III.v.64 |
| Defie the matter: how cheer'st thou Iessica, | Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica? | MV III.v.65 |
| And now good sweet say thy opinion, | And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, | MV III.v.66 |
| How dost thou like the Lord Bassiano's wife? | How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife? | MV III.v.67 |
| | | |
| Euen such a husband | Even such a husband | MV III.v.78.2 |
| Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife. | Hast thou of me as she is for a wife. | MV III.v.79 |
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| I will anone, first let vs goe to dinner? | I will anon. First let us go to dinner. | MV III.v.81 |
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| No pray thee, let it serue for table talke, | No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk, | MV III.v.83 |
| Then how som ere thou speakst 'mong other things, | Then, howsome'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things | MV III.v.84 |
| I shall digest it? | I shall digest it. | MV III.v.85.1 |
| | | |
| The moone shines bright. In such a night as this, | The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, | MV V.i.1 |
| When the sweet winde did gently kisse the trees, | When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees | MV V.i.2 |
| And they did make no nnyse, in such a night | And they did make no noise, in such a night | MV V.i.3 |
| Troylus me thinkes mounted the Troian walls, | Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls, | MV V.i.4 |
| And sigh'd his soule toward the Grecian tents | And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents | MV V.i.5 |
| Where Cressed lay that night. | Where Cressid lay that night. | MV V.i.6.1 |
| | | |
| In such a night | In such a night | MV V.i.9.2 |
| Stood Dido with a Willow in her hand | Stood Dido with a willow in her hand | MV V.i.10 |
| Vpon the wilde sea bankes, and waft her Loue | Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love | MV V.i.11 |
| To come againe to Carthage. | To come again to Carthage. | MV V.i.12.1 |
| | | |
| In such a night | In such a night | MV V.i.14.2 |
| Did Iessica steale from the wealthy Iewe, | Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, | MV V.i.15 |
| And with an Vnthrift Loue did runne from Venice, | And with an unthrift love did run from Venice | MV V.i.16 |
| As farre as Belmont. | As far as Belmont. | MV V.i.17.1 |
| | | |
| In such a night | In such a night | MV V.i.20.2 |
| Did pretty Iessica (like a little shrow) | Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, | MV V.i.21 |
| Slander her Loue, and he forgaue it her. | Slander her love, and he forgave it her. | MV V.i.22 |
| | | |
| Who comes so fast in silence of the night? | Who comes so fast in silence of the night? | MV V.i.25 |
| | | |
| A friend, what friend? your name I pray you friend? | A friend? What friend? Your name I pray you, friend. | MV V.i.27 |
| | | |
| Who comes with her? | Who comes with her? | MV V.i.32.2 |
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| He is not, nor we haue not heard from him, | He is not, nor we have not heard from him. | MV V.i.35 |
| But goe we in I pray thee Iessica, | But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, | MV V.i.36 |
| And ceremoniously let vs vs prepare | And ceremoniously let us prepare | MV V.i.37 |
| Some welcome for the Mistresse of the house, | Some welcome for the mistress of the house. | MV V.i.38 |
| | | |
| Who calls? | Who calls? | MV V.i.40 |
| | | |
| Leaue hollowing man, heere. | Leave holloaing, man! Here. | MV V.i.43 |
| | | |
| Heere? | Here! | MV V.i.45 |
| | | |
| sweet soule / Let's in, and there expect their comming. | Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. | MV V.i.49 |
| And yet no matter: why should we goe in? | And yet no matter, why should we go in? | MV V.i.50 |
| My friend Stephen, signifie pray you | My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, | MV V.i.51 |
| Within the house, your Mistresse is at hand, | Within the house, your mistress is at hand, | MV V.i.52 |
| And bring your musique foorth into the ayre. | And bring your music forth into the air. | MV V.i.53 |
| | | |
| How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke, | How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! | MV V.i.54 |
| Heere will we sit, and let the sounds of musicke | Here will we sit and let the sounds of music | MV V.i.55 |
| Creepe in our eares soft stilnes, and the night | Creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night | MV V.i.56 |
| Become the tutches of sweet harmonie: | Become the touches of sweet harmony. | MV V.i.57 |
| Sit Iessica, looke how the floore of heauen | Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven | MV V.i.58 |
| Is thicke inlayed with pattens of bright gold, | Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold. | MV V.i.59 |
| There's not the smallest orbe which thou beholdst | There's not the smallest orb which thou beholdest | MV V.i.60 |
| But in his motion like an Angell sings, | But in his motion like an angel sings, | MV V.i.61 |
| Still quiring to the young eyed Cherubins; | Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; | MV V.i.62 |
| Such harmonie is in immortall soules, | Such harmony is in immortal souls, | MV V.i.63 |
| But whilst this muddy vesture of decay | But whilst this muddy vesture of decay | MV V.i.64 |
| Doth grosly close in it, we cannot heare it: | Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. | MV V.i.65 |
| | | |
| Come hoe, and wake Diana with a hymne, | Come ho, and wake Diana with a hymn, | MV V.i.66 |
| With sweetest tutches pearce your Mistresse eare, | With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, | MV V.i.67 |
| And draw her home with musicke. | And draw her home with music. | MV V.i.68 |
| | | |
| The reason is, your spirits are attentiue: | The reason is your spirits are attentive. | MV V.i.70 |
| For doe but note a wilde and wanton heard | For do but note a wild and wanton herd | MV V.i.71 |
| Or race of youthful and vnhandled colts, | Or race of youthful and unhandled colts | MV V.i.72 |
| Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, | Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, | MV V.i.73 |
| Which is the hot condition of their bloud, | Which is the hot condition of their blood, | MV V.i.74 |
| If they but heare perchance a trumpet sound, | If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, | MV V.i.75 |
| Or any ayre of musicke touch their eares, | Or any air of music touch their ears, | MV V.i.76 |
| You shall perceiue them make a mutuall stand, | You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, | MV V.i.77 |
| Their sauage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze, | Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze | MV V.i.78 |
| By the sweet power of musicke: therefore the Poet | By the sweet power of music. Therefore the poet | MV V.i.79 |
| Did faine that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. | Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods, | MV V.i.80 |
| Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, | Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage | MV V.i.81 |
| But musicke for time doth change his nature, | But music for the time doth change his nature. | MV V.i.82 |
| The man that hath no musicke in himselfe, | The man that hath no music in himself, | MV V.i.83 |
| Nor is not moued with concord of sweet sounds, | Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, | MV V.i.84 |
| Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoyles, | Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils, | MV V.i.85 |
| The motions of his spirit are dull as night, | The motions of his spirit are dull as night, | MV V.i.86 |
| And his affections darke as Erobus, | And his affections dark as Erebus. | MV V.i.87 |
| Let no such man be trusted: marke the musicke. | Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music. | MV V.i.88 |
| | | |
| That is the voice, | That is the voice, | MV V.i.110.2 |
| Or I am much deceiu'd of Portia. | Or I am much deceived, of Portia. | MV V.i.111 |
| | | |
| Deere Lady welcome home? | Dear lady, welcome home. | MV V.i.113.2 |
| | | |
| Madam, they are not yet: | Madam, they are not yet, | MV V.i.116.2 |
| But there is come a Messenger before | But there is come a messenger before | MV V.i.117 |
| To signifie their comming. | To signify their coming. | MV V.i.118.1 |
| | | |
| Your husband is at hand, I heare his Trumpet, | Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet. | MV V.i.122 |
| We are no tell-tales Madam, feare you not. | We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not. | MV V.i.123 |
| | | |
| Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the way | Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way | MV V.i.294 |
| Of starued people. | Of starved people. | MV V.i.295.1 |