Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Act 1, Scene 1
Antonio (a Venetian merchant) is hanging out with his friends Salarino and Solanio on a street in Venice. Antonio is a sad bunny, though he claims he doesn't know why.Instead of tryi...
Act 1, Scene 2
We now meet Portia, who is complaining to her woman-in-waiting (read: her sidekick), Nerissa, that she's tired of the world.Nerissa points out that being rich doesn't exempt one from problems....
Act 1, Scene 3
Back on the mean streets of Venice, Bassanio wheels and deals with Shylock, a Jewish merchant. Bassanio wants 3,000 ducats, or gold coins, on Antonio's credit, with the stipulation that he'll pay t...
Act 2, Scene 1
Portia is chatting with the Prince of Morocco. He says that though his skin is darker, his blood is as red and his love as true as any pale northern guy. Still, the Prince he would change his skin...
Act 2, Scene 2
Lancelet Gobbo, Shylock's servant, stands before Shylock's house, having a very serious and hilariously muddled conversation with himself about his desire to quit his job. He says his conscien...
Act 2, Scene 3
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 fr...
Act 2, Scene 4
Lorenzo, Gratiano, Solanio, and Salarino all meet at a street in Venice to discuss a plot they've concocted that is not quite ready to be carried out. Lorenzo suggests that they slip away duri...
Act 2, Scene 5
Shylock tells Lancelet he'll soon see regret becoming Bassanio's servant. Bassanio won't let him eat and lay around all day the way Shylock has. He calls Jessica and tells her she'll have to l...
Act 2, Scene 6
Gratiano and Salarino wait outside Shylock's house for Lorenzo to show up. Gratiano notes that he should be early, since he is moved by love, which makes time run fast. Gratiano, ever a cynic,...
Act 2, Scene 7
At Portia's place in Belmont, Morocco is ready to play "Chest of Fortune." Each of the three chests has a riddle-like inscription. Morocco asks how he'll know if he's chosen the right on...
Act 2, Scene 8
Salarino and Solanio are gossiping about the latest news: Bassanio's ship has sailed with Gratiano but not Lorenzo. Shylock found his daughter had disappeared and raised the Duke of Venice fro...
Act 2, Scene 9
At Portia's house in Belmont, yet another suitor, the Prince of Arragon (not Aragorn, sadly), has come to try his hand at the casket game. Portia welcomes the man half-heartedly, and all are r...
Act 3, Scene 1
Solanio and Salarino meet again in the Venetian streets to gossip. Salarino sadly reports there's still a rumor out there that one of Antonio's ships has been wrecked, and he hasn't been able to fi...
Act 3, Scene 2
In Belmont, Portia reveals her preference for Bassanio. She asks him to hang out with her for a month or two before he takes the casket test, as she'd rather have him around for a while before he's...
Act 3, Scene 3
On a street in Venice, Shylock presses the jailer to go after Antonio. Antonio keeps trying to plead his case, but Shylock doesn't want to hear it.He says that Antonio called him a dog, and now he'...
Act 3, Scene 4
At Belmont, Lorenzo compliments Portia for bearing the absence of her new husband so graciously and nobly. If Portia knew what a great guy Antonio is, and how good he's been to Bass...
Act 3, Scene 5
At Portia's garden in Belmont, Lancelet (Shylock's deserting clown) talks with Jessica (Shylock's deserting daughter). Always a riot, Lancelet says Jessica is damned to hell because she's the...
Act 4, Scene 1
At the court of law in Venice, the Duke begins the trial by showing how impartial he is: he says he feels sorry for Antonio and that Shylock is a merciless scalawag. So much for a fair trial. ...
Act 4, Scene 2
Portia and Nerissa, still disguised as Balthazar and his attendant, continue to take care of the legal stuff. They need to get Shylock to sign the deed, then they'll beat their husbands home. ...
Act 5, Scene 1
Lorenzo and Jessica are gazing at the beautiful Belmont night sky. They list off a bunch of things (from Greek mythology) that happened on nights like this, including Troilus weeping over Cressida,...