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The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

SHORT BACKGROUND

Antonio is a merchant from Venice. His friend Bassanio wants to borrow some money which will allow him to marry Portia, a rich heiress. Antonio’s money is invested in his trade ships that are at sea so he suggests that Bassanio borrows the money from Shylock, a moneylender, in Antonio’s name. Shylock does not like Antonio. He offers to lend Bassanio the money under condition that if he cannot pay it back, Shylock gets a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Bassanio doesn’t like it, but Antonio agrees. Bassanio goes to Belmont and gets married to Portia. Later, he learns that Antonio has lost his ships, and that Shylock wants payment. He goes to Venice to help Antonio. At the trial, a legal expert arrives to decide what should be done. Portia is disguised as a young lawyer …

FRAGMENT FROM THE PLAY

PORTIA (dressed like a lawyer)

A pound of the merchant’s flesh is yours.

The court awards it and the law authorises it.

SHYLOCK

What a righteous judge!

PORTIA

And you must cut this flesh from his chest.

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK

What a wise judge! A sentence, get ready.

PORTIA

Wait a moment, there is something else.

This contract does not give you any blood.

The exact words are ‘a pound of flesh’.

So take your penalty of a pound of flesh.

But while you are cutting it, if you spill

One drop of blood, you will die and everything you own

According to the laws of Venice will be confiscated

By the state of Venice.

BASSANIO

What an upright judge! Pay attention! What a smart judge.

SHYLOCK

Is that the law?

PORTIA

You can see for yourself.

For as you asked for justice, rest assured,

You’ll have more justice than you want.

BASSANIO

What a wise judge! Pay attention to a wise judge!

SHYLOCK

I’ll take their offer of two times the loan, then.

And let the merchant go.

BASSANIO

Here is the money.

PORTIA

Wait!

The man will have justice. Wait! Don’t rush!

He’ll have nothing except the penalty.

BASSANIO

O! An upright judge, a wise judge!

PORTIA

So, get ready to cut off the flesh.

Don’t spill any blood or cut any more or less

Than a pound of flesh. If you cut any more

Or less than exactly a pound, even as much

To make the weight lighter or heavier

By a fraction of a twentieth

of an ounce, no, even if the scale turns

By as much as a hair,

You will die and all your property will be confiscated.

THE END

Portia tells Shylock he is now guilty of threatening the life of a man, which means he must give his property away: half to the state and half to Antonio. The judge tells Shylock that ne only wants him to pay a penalty and not give the state his property. Antonio also tells Shylock that he doesn’t want his property now, but that he must give it to his daughter and her husband when he dies. Shylock agrees to everything. Antonio and his friends leave the court satisfied. They return to Belmont and learn that the smart lawyer that saved Antonio’s life was Bassanio’s wife, Portia. In the end they all celebrate a happy ending.

 

Напишите дату в тетрадь и выполните упражнения ниже:

 

I. Match the words in bold in the texts to their meanings.

1. heiress	a) seized, taken away
2. gets married	b) makes it legal
3. authorises	c) judgement
4. righteous	d) person who has inherited a lot of money
5. sentence	e) be certain
6. confiscated	f) morally good and fair
7. rest assured	g) (a couple) promise to be with each other

 

II. Match the words with their meanings.

1. make a fortune	a) a special design that a family, organization, or place uses as its own sign
2. Borrow	b) to become rich
3. Adaptation	c) a person who writes plays
4. coat of arms	d) a process of changing something so that it can be used for a different purpose
5. Playwright	e) to receive and use something that belongs to someone else, and promise to give it back to them later

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