Page 163 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

Exit Shylock 202

—Duke [to Portia]
Sir, I entreat you with me home for dinner.

—Portia
I humbly do request° your grace of° pardon. {desire} / graceful
I must away this night toward Padua,
And it is best° I presently set forth.° {meet} / fitting I set forth at once

—Duke
I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.
Antonio, fully thank° this gentleman° {gratify} // thank wholeheartedly this man
For, in my mind, you are much in his debt.° 203 {much bound to him}

Exeunt Duke and his attendants

—Bassanio [to Portia]
Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend
Have, by your wisdom, been this day delivered° {acquitted} / relieved
From grievous penalties, in lieu whereof,
Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, 204
205
We freely give° for all your courteous° pains. / We give to you // gracious

—Antonio
Yet, over and above, in love and service, 206
207 208
We stand forevermore within your debt.° / indebted to you evermore

—Portia [refusing]
He is well-paid who° is well-satisfied, {that}
And I, in helping you,° am satisfied, {delivering you}
And therein do account myself well-paid.

202. Shylock’s exit determines the amount of sympathy the audience has for him. He could glumly walk out of the
court, leaving behind his bag. He could be jeered at as he walks out. Or, more brutally, Gratziano could literally
grab Shylock ‘by the hip,’ wrestle him to the ground, and then (along with several helpers) drag him out of court by
his feet. (When tackled to the ground, Shylock drops his bag. It could be empted and mockingly placed over his
head. Then the faceless Shylock is dragged out of court.).
203. / Antonio, give your fullest gratitude | To this man; thinks me you’re much in his debt.
204. / Have, by the wisdom you’ve shown us this day, | Been spared of grievous penalties; in lieu / Whereof, three
thousand ducats owed the Jew,
205. {We freely cope your courteous pains withal}
/ We freely offer you for all your pains. / We freely give to you for all your pains.
cope: match, give in exchange for
206. / O’er and above,° in both love and in service / Far and beyond
207. / We stand forever indebted to you / We stand here now forever in your debt
208. {And stand indebted, over and above | In love and service to you evermore.}