The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Jessica and Lancelet Gobbo. JESSICA I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell and thou, a merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee, And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see 5 Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest. Give him this letter, do it secretly, And so farewell. I would not have my father See me in talk with thee. LANCELET Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful 10 pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu. JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelet. 15 Lancelet exits. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to be my father’s child? But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, 20 Become a Christian and thy loving wife. She exits.	At Shylock's house, Jessica, who is his rebellious daughter, laments Lancelet's impending departure. Living in Shylock's house is apparently miserable, and Lancelet was always a good distraction from the surrounding misery. Giving Lancelet a gold coin, she instructs him to take a letter to Lorenzo, who should be at Bassanio's house for dinner. Lancelet, all tears, calls Jessica a "sweet Jew" (a compliment, apparently) and says goodbye. Despite being a rebellious daughter, Jessica at least feels guilty about the fact that she is ashamed of her father. Still, she says that even though she shares her father's blood, she's nothing like him. Jessica hopes to put an end to all her troubles by becoming Lorenzo's wife and converting to Christianity.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Jessica and Lancelet Gobbo.

JESSICA
I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.
Our house is hell and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee,
And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see 5
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.
Give him this letter, do it secretly,
And so farewell. I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.

LANCELET Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful 10
pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian do not
play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived.
But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown
my manly spirit. Adieu.

JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelet. 15

Lancelet exits.

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father’s child?
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, 20
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

She exits.

At Shylock's house, Jessica, who is his rebellious daughter, laments Lancelet's impending departure. Living in Shylock's house is apparently miserable, and Lancelet was always a good distraction from the surrounding misery.

Giving Lancelet a gold coin, she instructs him to take a letter to Lorenzo, who should be at Bassanio's house for dinner.

Lancelet, all tears, calls Jessica a "sweet Jew" (a compliment, apparently) and says goodbye.

Despite being a rebellious daughter, Jessica at least feels guilty about the fact that she is ashamed of her father.

Still, she says that even though she shares her father's blood, she's nothing like him. Jessica hopes to put an end to all her troubles by becoming Lorenzo's wife and converting to Christianity.

The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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