书城外语那些美轮美奂的舞台剧
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第1章 The Merchant of Venice

威尼斯商人

The Merchant of Venice

Act IV

Scene I —Venice. A Court of Justice.

(Enter the Duke;the Magnificoes;Antonio,Bassanio,Gratiano,Salarino,Salanio and Others)

Duke:What,is Antonio here?

Antonio:Ready,so please Your Grace.

Duke:I am sorry for thee:thou art come to answer a stony adversary,an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity,void and empty from any dram of mercy.

Antonio:I have heard Your Grace hath ta’en great pains to qualify his rigorous course;but since he stands obdurate and that no lawful means can carry me out of his envy’s reach,I do oppose my patience to his fury,and am arm’d to suffer,with a quietness of spirit,the very tyranny and rage of his.

Duke:Go one,and call the Jew into the court.

Salarino:He’s ready at the door:he comes,my lord.

(Enter Shylock)

Duke:Make room,and let him stand before our face. Shylock,the world thinks,and I think so too,that thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice to the last hour of act;and then ’tis thought thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange than is thy strange-apparent cruelty;and where thou now exact’st the penalty,which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh,thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,but,touch’d with human gentleness and love,forgive a moiety of the principal;glancing an eye of pity on his losses,that have of late so huddled on his back,enow to press a royal merchant down,and pluck commiseration of his state from brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,from stubborn Turks and Tartars,never train’d to offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer,Jew.

Shylock:I have possess’d Your Grace of what I purpose;and by our holy Sabbath have I sworn to have the due and forfeit of my bond:if you deny it,let the danger light upon your charter and your city’s freedom. You’ll ask me,why I rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats:I’ll not answer that:but,say,it is my humour:is it answer’d? What if my house be troubled with a rat,and I be pleas’d to give ten thousand ducats to have it ban’d? What,are you answer’d yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig;some,that are mad if they behold a cat;and others,when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose,cannot contain their urine:for affection,mistress of passion,sways it to the mood of what it likes,or loathes. Now,for your answer;as there is no firm reason to be render’d,why he cannot abide a gaping pig;why he,a harmless necessary cat;why he,a woollen bagpipe;but of force must yield to such inevitable shame as to offend,himself being offended;so can I give no reason,nor I will not,more than a lodg’d hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio,that I follow thus a losing suit against him. Are you answer’d?

Bassanio:This is no answer,thou unfeeling man,to excuse the current of thy cruelty.

Shylock:I am not bound to please thee with my answer.

Bassanio:Do all men kill the things they do not love?

Shylock:Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

Bassanio:Every offence is not a hate at first.

Shylock:What! wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

Antonio:I pray you,think you question with the Jew:you may as well go stand upon the beach,and bid the main flood bate his usual height;you may as well use question with the wolf why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;you may as well forbid the mountain pines to wag their high tops and to make no noise when they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;you may as well do anything most hard,as seek to soften that—than which what’s harder? — his Jewish heart:therefore,I do beseech you,make no more offers,use no farther means,but with all brief and plain conveniency,let me have judgment,and the Jew his will.

Bassanio:For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

Shylock:If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and every part a ducat,I would not draw them;I would have my bond.

Duke:How shalt thou hope for mercy,rendering none?

Shylock:What judgment shall I dread,doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas’d slave,which,like your asses and your dogs and mules,you use in abject and in slavish parts,because you bought them:shall I say to you,let them be free,marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds be made as soft as yours and let their palates be season’d with such viands? You will answer the slaves are ours:so do I answer you:the pound of flesh,which I demand of him,is dearly bought;’tis mine and I will have it. If you deny me,fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. I stand for judgment:answer;shall I have it?

Duke:Upon my power I may dismiss this court,unless Bellario,a learned doctor,whom I have sent for to determine this,come here today.

Salarino:My lord,here stays without a messenger with letters from the doctor,new come from Padua.

Duke:Bring us the letter:call the messenger.

Bassanio:Good cheer,Antonio! What,man,courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh,blood,bones and all,ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

Antonio:I am a tainted wether of the flock,meetest for death:the weakest kind of fruit drops earliest to the ground;Bassanio,than to live still,and write mine epitaph.

[Enter Nerissa,dressed like a lawyer’s clerk )

Duke:Came you from Padua,from Bellario?

Nerissa:From both,my lord. Bellario greets Your Grace.

( Presents a letter )

Bassanio:Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

Shylock:To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

Gratiano:Not on thy sole,but on thy soul,harsh Jew,thou mak’st thy knife keen;but no metal can,no,not the hangman’s axe,bear half the keenness of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Shylock:No,none that thou hast wit enough to make.

Gratiano:O,be thou damn’d,inexecrable dog! And for thy life let justice be accus’d. Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith to hold opinion with Pythagoras,that souls of animals infuse themselves into the trunks of Men:thy currish spirit govern’d a wolf,who,hang’d for human slaughter,even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,and,whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallow’d dam,infus’d itself in thee;for thy desires are wolfish,bloody,starv’d and ravenous.

Shylock:Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud:repair thy wit,good youth,or it will fall to cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

Duke:This letter from Bellario doth commend a young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?

Nerissa:He attendeth here hard by,to know your answer,whether you’ll admit him.

Duke:With all my heart. Some three or four of you go give him courteous conduct to this place. Meantime,the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.

Clerk:( Reads ) Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick;but in the instant that your messenger came,in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome;his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant:we turned o’er many books together:he is furnished with my opinion;which,bettered with his own learning—the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend—comes with him,at my importunity,to fill up Your Grace’s request in my stead. I beseech you,let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation,for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance,whose trial shall better publish his commendation.

Duke:You hear the learn’d Bellario,what he writes:and here,I take it,is the doctor come.

(Enter Portia,dressed like a doctor of laws )

Duke:Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

Portia:I did,my lord.

Duke:You are welcome:take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference that holds this present question in the court?

Portia:I am informed throughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here,and which the Jew?

Duke:Antonio and old Shylock,both stand forth.

Portia:Is your name Shylock?

Shylock:Shylock is my name.

Portia:Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;yet in such rule that the Venetian law cannot impugn you as you do proceed. You stand within his danger,do you not?

Antonio:Ay,so he says.

Portia:Do you confess the bond?

Antonio:I do.

Portia:Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shylock:On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Portia:The quality of mercy is not strain’d,it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath:it is twice bless’d;it blesseth him that gives and him that takes:’Tis mightiest in the mightiest;it becomes. the throned monarch better than his crown;his sceptre shows the force of temporal power,the attribute to awe and majesty,wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;but mercy is above this sceptred sway,it is enthroned in the hearts of kings,it is an attribute to God himself,and earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice. Therefore,Jew,though justice be thy plea,consider this,that in the course of justice none of us should see salvation:we do pray for mercy,and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much to mitigate the justice of thy plea,which if thou follow,this strict court of Venice must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.

Shylock:My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,the penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Portia:Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bassanio:Yes,here I tender it for him in the court;yea,twice the sum:if that will not suffice,I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er,on forfeit of my hands,my head,my heart. If this will not suffice,it must appear that malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,wrest once the law to your authority:to do a great right,do a little wrong,and curb this cruel devil of his will.

Portia:It must not be. There is no power in Venice can alter a decree established:’T will be recorded for a precedent,and many an error by the same example will rush into the state. It cannot be.

Shylock:A Daniel come to judgment! Yea,a Daniel!O wise young judge,how I do honour thee!

Portia:I pray you,let me look upon the bond.

Shylock:Here ’t is,most reverend doctor;here it is.

Portia:Shylock,there’s thrice thy money offer’d thee.

Shylock:An oath,an oath,I have an oath in heaven:shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No,not for Venice.

Portia:Why,this bond is forfeit;and lawfully by this the Jew may claim a pound of flesh,to be by him cut off nearest the merchant’s heart. Be merciful:take thrice thy money;bid me tear the bond.

Shylock:When it is paid according to the tenour. It doth appear you are a worthy judge;you know the law,your exposition hath been most sound:I charge you by the law,whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,proceed to judgment:by my soul I swear there is no power in the tongue of man to alter me. I stay here on my bond.

Antonio:Most heartily I do beseech the court to give the judgment.

Portia:Why then,thus it is:you must prepare your bosom for his knife.

Shylock:O noble judge! O excellent young man!

Portia:For the intent and purpose of the law hath full relation to the penalty,which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shylock:’Tis very true! O wise and upright judge!How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

Portia:Therefore lay bare your bosom.

Shylock:Ay, his breast:so says the bond:doth it not,noble judge? ‘Nearest his heart’those are the very words.

Portia:It is so. Are there balance here to weigh the flesh?

Shylock:I have them ready.

Portia:Have by some surgeon,Shylock,on your charge,to stop his wounds,lest he do bleed to death.

Shylock:Is it so nominated in the bond?

Portia:It is not so express’d;but what of that? ’T were good you do so much for charity.

Shylock:I cannot find it:’tis not in the bond.

Portia:You,merchant,have you any thing to say?

Antonio:But little. I am arm’d and well prepar’d.Give me your hand,Bassanio:fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;for herein Fortune shows herself more kind than is her custom;it is still her use to let the wretched man outlive his wealth,to view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow an age of poverty;from which lingering penance of such a misery doth she cut me off.Commend me to your honourable wife:tell her the process of Antonio’s end;say how I lov’d you,speak me fair in death;and,when the tale is told,bid her be judge whether Bassanio had not once a love.Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,and he repents not that he pays your debt;for if the Jew do cut but deep enough,I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Bassanio:Antonio,I am married to a wife which is as dear to me as life itself;but life itself,my wife,and all the world,are not with me esteem’d above thy life:I would lose all,ay,sacrifice them all,here to this devil,to deliver you.

Portia:Your wife would give you little thanks for that,if she were by to hear you make the offer.

Gratiano:I have a wife,whom,I protest,I love:I would she were in heaven,so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

Nerissa:’Tis well you offer it behind her back;the wish would make else an unquiet house.

Shylock:These be the Christian husbands! I have a daughter;would any of the stock of Barabbas had been her husband rather than a Christian!We trifle time;I pray thee,pursue sentence.

Portia:A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine:the court awards it,and the law doth give it.

Shylock:Most rightful judge!

Portia:And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:the law allows it,and the court awards it.

Shylock:Most learned judge! A sentence! Come,prepare!

Portia:Tarry a little:there is something else.This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;the words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’ then take thy bond,take thou thy pound of flesh;but,in the cutting it,if thou dost shedone drop of Christian blood,thy lands and goods are,by the laws of Venice,confiscate unto the state of Venice.

Gratiano:O upright judge! Mark,Jew,O learned judge!

Shylock:Is that the law?

Portia:Thyself shalt see the act;for,as thou urgest justice,be assur’d thou shalt have justice,more than thou desir’st.

Gratiano:O learned judge! Mark,Jew:a learned judge!

Shylock:I take this offer then:pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go.

Bassanio:Here is the money.

Portia:Soft!The Jew shall have all justice;soft! no haste:he shall have nothing but the penalty.

Gratiano:O Jew! An upright judge,a learned judge!

Portia:Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.Shed thou no blood;nor cut thou less nor more,but just a pound of flesh:if thou tak’st more,or less,than a just pound,be it but so much as makes it light or heavy in the substance,or the division of the twentieth part of one poor scruple,nay,if the scale do turn but in the estimation of a hair,thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

Gratiano:A second Daniel,a Daniel,Jew!Now,infidel,I have thee on the hip.

Portia:Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

Shylock:Give me my principal,and let me go.

Bassanio:I have it ready for thee;here it is.

Portia:He hath refus’d it in the open court;he shall have merely justice and his bond.

Gratiano:A Daniel,still say I;a second Daniel! I thank thee,Jew,for teaching me that word.

Shylock:Shall I not have barely my principal?

Portia:Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,to be so taken at thy peril,Jew.

Shylock:Why,then the devil give him good of it! I’ll stay no longer question.

Portia:Tarry,Jew:the law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice,if it be prov’d against an alien that by direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen,the party ’gainst the which he doth contrive shall seize one half his goods;the other half comes to the privy coffer of the state;and the offender’s life lies in the mercy of the duke only,’gainst all other voice. In which predicament,I say,thou stand’st;for it appears,by manifest proceeding,that indirectly,and directly too. thou hast contriv’d against the very life of the defendant;and thou hast incurr’d the danger formerly by me rehears’d. Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

Gratiano:Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:and yet,thy wealth being forfeit to the state,thou hast not left the value of a cord;therefore thou must be hang’d at the state’s charge.

Duke:That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth,it is Antonio’s;the other half comes to the general state;which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Portia:Ay,for the state,not for Antonio.

Shylock:Nay,take my life and all;pardon not that:you take my house when you do take the prop that doth sustain my house;you take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.

Portia:What mercy can you render him,Antonio?

Gratiano:A halter gratis;nothing else,for God’s sake!

Antonio:So please my lord the duke,and all the court to quit the fine for one half of his goods,I am content;so he will let me have the other half in use,to render it,upon his death,unto the gentleman that lately stole his daughter:two things provided more,that,for this favour,he presently become a Christian;the other,that he do record a gift,here in the court,of all he dies possess’d,unto his son Lorenzo,and his daughter.

Duke:He shall do this,or else I do recant the pardon that I late pronounced here.

Portia:Art thou contented,Jew? what dost thou say?

Shylock:I am content.

Portia:Clerk,draw a deed of gift.

Shylock:I pray you,give me leave to go from hence:I am not well. Send the deed after me,and I will sign it.

Duke:Get thee gone,but do it.

Gratiano:In christening thou shalt have two god fathers;had I been judge,thou shouldst have had ten more,to bring thee to the gallows,not the font.

( Exit Shylock)

第四幕

第一场——威尼斯 法庭

公爵、众绅士、安东尼奥、巴萨尼奥、葛莱西安诺、萨拉里诺、萨莱尼奥和其他人等同上。

公爵:安东尼奥到了没?

安东尼奥:到了,殿下。

公爵:我为你感到很遗憾,因为你即将面临的法庭对手有一副铁石心肠,是个毫无人性、不懂得怜悯与同情,一贯缺乏慈爱之心的恶人。

安东尼奥:我听说您已经竭尽全力,试图阻止他的任意妄为。但是,既然他固执己见,不肯让步,而且没有任何合法的手段可以救我脱离这个犹太人的毒手,我必定要用忍耐来对抗他的愤怒,我准备好了以平常的心态承受他残暴的处置。

公爵:来人,传那犹太人到庭。

萨拉里诺:他就在门口等着。他来了,殿下。

(夏洛克上)

公爵:大家让开点,让他站在我的面前。夏洛克,人家都以为而且我也是这样想的,尽管你到了最后时刻仍然表现得残酷无情,实际上却会大发慈悲,你体恤人的方式一定比你的残酷行为更加出人意料。虽然你现在坚持按约处罚,要从这个可怜的商人身上割下一块肉来,但你最终可能不仅会放弃处罚,而且会因为心中的友爱之情,免除他的一部分欠款,你看看他最近遭受的巨大损失,即使是像国王那样富有的人也免不了倾家荡产,全国人——包括心肠坚硬得像顽石一样的人、从未受过教育的野蛮人、彬彬有礼的宫廷官员,都会同情他的境遇。犹太人,我们都在期待你作出温和的答复。

夏洛克:我的意思已经向殿下禀告过了;我也曾指着圣安息日起誓,一定要照约处罚安东尼奥。如果您不答应我的请求,那就是违反了宪章,威尼斯城邦的特权就有被取消的危险。如果您问我为什么我宁愿选择一块腐肉而不是三千块钱,我无言以对,我只能说我愿意这样——您满意我的回答吗?假如我的房间里有老鼠,我高兴出一万块钱把它们斩尽杀绝,那又怎么样?怎么,您明白我的意思了吗?有的人不喜欢烤小猪,有的人看见猫就生气,还有人一听见吹风笛的声音就忍不住要小便,因为人人都是情感的奴隶,喜恶都不由理性做主。我就这样和您说吧,为什么有人忍受不了一只烤乳猪,或者一只无辜且有益处的猫,为什么有的人听到风笛声就情不自禁地露出丑相,所有这些癖好都没有合适的理由,所以我也给不出理由,也不愿意寻找任何借口,我仅仅是处于对安东尼奥的宿怨和反感,才提出对他的诉讼,这样回答可以吗?

巴萨尼奥:这个回答不行。你这个冷酷无情的人,这也不能让人谅解你的残忍作为!

夏洛克:我的回答本来也不是为了讨好你。

巴萨尼奥:难道人们对于他们所不喜欢的东西,都一定要置之死地吗?

夏洛克:恨一个人难道就不能灭掉他吗?

巴萨尼奥:初次的冒犯,不应该就引为仇恨吧。

夏洛克:什么!你愿意让毒蛇咬两次吗?

安东尼奥:请你记住,你是在和这个犹太人讲话,你和他讲道理,不如站在海滩上,请求海潮不要涨到平常的高度;不如质问豺狼,为什么惹得母羊因失去羔羊而啼哭;不如叫那山上的松柏,在有风吹过的时候,不要摇摆枝干、沙沙作响。你做任何事,都比求那犹太人的心变软要简单,所以我请你不要再白费力气,枉费唇舌了,就让我痛痛快快地接受裁决,任那犹太人如愿以偿吧!

巴萨尼奥:欠三千块钱,现在还你六千元。

夏洛克:即使这六千块钱中间的每一块钱都分成六份,每一份都变成一块钱,我也不要;我只要照约行事。

公爵:你没有一点慈悲之心,将来怎能期望得到别人的同情?

夏洛克:我没做什么错事,难道会害怕任何裁决吗?你们买了许多奴隶,就因为他们是用钱买来的,你们让人家当牛做马,干各种低贱肮脏的活儿,那么我可不可以对你说,还他们自由吧,让他们和你们的子嗣结婚?为什么他们要忍受重负、流血流汗?可不可以让他们的床铺和你们的一样柔软,让他们的食物和你们的一样鲜美?你们可能会说,奴隶是你的,怎样处置都不关我的事。同样,这一磅肉是属于我的,是我用昂贵的代价换来的,是我的东西,我就要得到它。如果您拒绝我的请求,就说明威尼斯的法令就是一纸空文!就让你们的法律见鬼去吧!我现在等候着裁决。请告诉我,我可以拿到我的一磅肉吗?

公爵:我已经差人去请培拉里奥——一位有学问的博士,来替我们审判这件案子;他今天就会到的,我此刻有权宣布休庭。

萨拉里诺:殿下,外面有一个信差在候着呢,带着这位博士的信,刚从帕度亚来。

公爵:呈上信来,传信差。

巴萨尼奥:高兴起来吧,安东尼奥!喂,老兄,不要灰心!这犹太人可以把我的肉、我的血、我的骨头,我的一切都拿去,可是我决不让你为了我而流一滴血。

安东尼奥:我是羊群里一头不中用的病羊,死亡是我的最终命运;我是果实中最脆弱的一颗,应该尽早结束我的一生,巴萨尼奥,你要活下来为我写墓志铭。

(尼莉莎扮律师书记上)

公爵:你是从帕度亚的培拉里奥那里来的吗?

尼莉莎:是,殿下。我代培拉里奥向您转达诚挚的问候。

(递上一封信)

巴萨尼奥:你这样使劲儿磨着刀干吗?

夏洛克:从那破产的家伙身上割下那磅肉来。

葛莱西安诺:狠心的犹太人,你不是在鞋口上而是在心口上磨刀,你的刀那么锐利,没有任何武器——即使是刽子手的钢刀,都赶不上你这恶毒心肠一半的锋利。难道什么肯求都不能打动你吗?

夏洛克:不能,你想尽一切办法都不能改变我的初衷。

葛莱西安诺:万恶不赦的狗,看你死后不下地狱!让你这种东西活在世上,真是天理难容。你差点使我动摇了自己的信仰,相信起毕达哥拉斯的主张,认为野兽的灵魂能转入人体。你的灵魂由一只狼控制着,它吃了人,被送上绞刑架,而它肆虐的灵魂逃到你不义的娘胎里,你就是恶狼再世,所以性情像狼一般狠毒、凶残、血腥味十足。

夏洛克:除非你能把契约上的印章骂掉,不然你这样大嚷大叫只会白白地气坏了你的肺,何苦来呢?年轻人,否则你会愚钝到无法收拾的地步。我是来等候裁决的。

公爵:培拉里奥在信中推荐一位年轻且有学问的博士出席我们的法庭。他在哪儿?

尼莉莎:他在附近等候您的回复呢。不知您现在是否允许他进来。

公爵:非常欢迎。你们去三四个人,恭恭敬敬地领他到法庭上来。同时,法庭将宣读培拉里奥的来信。

书记:(读)“尊翰到时,鄙人抱疾方剧;适有一青年博士鲍尔萨泽君自罗马来此,致其慰问,因与详讨犹太人与安东尼奥一案,遍稽群籍,折中是非,遂恳其为鄙人代庖,以应殿下之召。凡鄙人对此案所具意见,此君已深悉无遗;其学问才识,虽穷极赞辞,亦不足道其万一,务希勿以其年少而忽之。盖如此少年老成之士,实鄙人生平所仅见也。倘蒙延纳,必能不辱使命。敬祈钧裁。”

公爵:你们都听到培拉里奥博士的信了吗?我想,现在来的这位就是博学的鲍尔萨泽先生吧!

(鲍西娅扮鲍尔萨泽上)

公爵:把您的手给我。请问,您是从培拉里奥老先生那里来的吗?

鲍西娅:正是,殿下。

公爵:欢迎您!您请坐!想必您对这个案件中双方的争端都十分明确了吧?

鲍西娅:我都非常清楚了。只是,哪位是那个商人,哪位是犹太人?

公爵:安东尼奥和老夏洛克,你们都站上来。

鲍西娅:你就是夏洛克吗?

夏洛克:夏洛克是我的名字。

鲍西娅:你打的这场官司很奇怪;但是,根据威尼斯的法律,你的控诉倒也无可厚非。你的生死命运掌握在他的手里了,对吗?

安东尼奥:嗯,他是这么说的。

鲍西娅:你承认这借约吗?

安东尼奥:我承认。

鲍西娅:那么夏洛克应该仁慈一些。

夏洛克:凭什么我必须得慈悲让步呢?您告诉我!

鲍西娅:慈悲缘自一种本性,就像甘露从天而降,滋润大地。它不但给幸福于受施的人,也同样给幸福于施予的人;它有至高无上的权威,比皇冠更能显示帝王的尊贵。君主的权杖代表着世俗的威力,凸显皇帝陛下的高位,且使百姓对王权畏惧万分;而慈悲则雄踞权杖之上,它受冕于帝王的心中,是天国神权的象征,倘与公平正义为伍,便能使世俗的权力如同神权一样熠熠生辉。因此,犹太人,虽然你的诉求合乎法律,我们却无法从中看到拯救人的希望,为此我们祈祷慈悲降临,愿上帝赐予所有人慈悲的胸怀。我说了这么多,是希望你能不要坚持原来的诉求,做一点好事。当然,如果你坚持己见,威尼斯的法律是公正无私的,法庭一定会秉公惩处那个商人的。

夏洛克:我的事情我做主。我要求法庭按照契约处罚安东尼奥。

鲍西娅:他的确无力偿还欠款吗?

巴萨尼奥:不是,我们能还钱,我现在就可以当庭还清借款,哪怕是三倍的数目也可以!如果他嫌少,我可以给他十倍的钱,并用我的手、头和心做抵押。如果还不行,就显然是用仇恨压倒公理,存心害人了。那么我请求您,将法律稍稍变通一下,在犯一点儿小错的同时,做成一件大事,千万不要让这恶人的欲望得逞。

鲍西娅:那可不行,在威尼斯没有任何特权能变更既成的法律,要是开了这一恶例,许多违法行为会随之而来,涌入城邦,这万万不行!

夏洛克:一位但尼尔来断案了!啊,但尼尔再世!明智的年轻的法官啊,我该怎样赞美你才好呢?

鲍西娅:愿上帝保佑你!让我看一看你的契约。

夏洛克:在这儿,我最最尊敬的先生,契约在这儿。

鲍西娅:夏洛克,他们愿意出三倍的钱来还你。

夏洛克:不行,不行,我已经对天发过誓啦!难道让我背信弃义吗?绝对不行,把整个威尼斯都给我也不可以!

鲍西娅:为什么?这个契约就是罚金根据法律规定,这犹太人有权依据契约在贴近安东尼奥心脏的地方割下一磅肉。你就可怜可怜他,拿了三倍的还款,让我撕了契约吧?

夏洛克:照约处罚他以后才可以撕掉契约。看起来您的确是个名副其实的好法官,您懂法律,您的分析也最合理,您不愧是法律界的中流砥柱,请您宣判吧!我以我的灵魂起誓,任凭谁说什么也不能改变我的决定,我坚持要照约行事。

安东尼奥:我诚恳地请求法庭作出判决。

鲍西娅:那么——好吧,准备好你的胸膛让他的刀刺进去。

夏洛克:啊,高贵的法官啊!优秀的年轻人啊!

鲍西娅:因为这契约上写明的处罚是法律所允许的。

夏洛克:十分正确,聪明正直的法官!你看上去那么年轻,处理问题却非常老练!

鲍西娅:所以快把你的胸脯裸露出来。

夏洛克:对,“他的胸部”,契约上是这么说的,对吧,尊贵的法官?“贴近他的心脏”,就是这样写的。

鲍西娅:是的,称肉的天平有没有准备好?

夏洛克:我准备好了。

鲍西娅:夏洛克,请一位外科医生来处理他的伤口,免得他因流血过多而送命,费用由你承担。

夏洛克:契约上这样写了吗?

鲍西娅:契约上并没有这样的规定,但没写的事你就不能做吗?出于怜悯做这件事会对你有好处的。

夏洛克:我找不到,契约上没有这么写。

鲍西娅:你,商人,还有什么话说吗?

安东尼奥:只有一句话:我准备好接受审判了。巴萨尼奥,握握手,永别了!不要因为我这样为你死去而悲伤,因为命运之神已经对我非常垂青,她平常总是让倾家荡产的人苟延余年,用凹陷的双眼和布满皱纹的额头去体验贫困的生活,但她却使我脱离了这绵长的痛苦的刑罚。请替我问候尊夫人,告诉她安东尼奥生命最终的故事,对她讲我怎样爱你,怎样为你而从容死去,并且在讲诉完一切后,请她评判巴萨尼奥是否曾经有一位挚爱他的朋友。你只需为损失一位朋友而悲伤,你的朋友将无怨无悔地为你还债。只要那犹太人的刀刺得足够深,就算是我用我的心立刻付清了他的钱!

巴萨尼奥:安东尼奥,我新婚的妻子和我自己的生命一样弥足珍贵,但我的生命、我的妻子和整个世界都加在一起,也不及你的生命那样重要。我愿意失去所有这一切,献出一切给这恶魔,让他释放你。

鲍西娅:如果你的妻子在这儿听到你这样说,恐怕不会对你心存感激吧!

葛莱西安诺:我发誓,我也爱我的妻子。我宁愿她此刻在天堂,好能祈求上帝改变这恶狗一般的犹太人的心!

尼莉莎:幸亏你是在背后这样说她,换作是在你们家里,妻子一定会和你吵得不可开交!

夏洛克:这些就是相信基督教的丈夫们!我有一个女儿,我宁可把她嫁给强盗巴拉巴一样的人,也不要她嫁给一个基督徒。不要再浪费时间了,我请求快些宣判吧!

鲍西娅:那商人身上的一磅肉属于你了,本法庭把它判给你,法律允许你这样做。

夏洛克:最最公正的法官!

鲍西娅:你必须从他的胸部割下一磅肉。法律许可,法庭同意。

夏洛克:多博学的法官!多英明的判决!来啊,准备!

鲍西娅:且慢,还有一点你要注意。契约上并没有允许你取走他的一滴血,因为上面明明写的是“一磅肉”,所以你只能根据约定拿走一磅肉,而在割肉时不能带出一滴基督徒的血来,否则,按照威尼斯的法律,你的土地和财产都要没收归公。

葛莱西安诺:哦,正直的法官!记住,犹太人,这是一位博学的法官!

夏洛克:这就是法律的规定吗?

鲍西娅:你可以自己去查看法律条文。既然你坚持要得到公平,法律会确保你得到公平,比你希望得到的还要多。

葛莱西安诺:啊,博学的法官!记住,犹太人,这是位博学的法官!

夏洛克:那么我还是接受他们的提议吧,我愿意拿三倍的还款,放那基督徒走。

巴萨尼奥:钱在这儿呢!

鲍西娅:慢!犹太人将得到绝对的公平,你且慢,不要着急。他除了借约上的抵偿品外,什么也没得到。

葛莱西安诺:哦,犹太人,你看,多么正直的法官!多么博学的法官!

鲍西娅:所以啊,准备割肉吧。不准流一滴血,既不能多割,也不能少割,要刚好割一磅肉。如果你割的肉比借约上所写的一磅肉重一些或轻一些,哪怕相差只有一毫克的二十分之一,或者仅一根汗毛之微,你就必死无疑,而且你的财产要全部充公。

葛莱西安诺:犹太人,但尼尔再世了!真的是但尼尔再世了!异教徒,现在你可栽在我手里了!

鲍西娅:这犹太人为什么不动手呢?来取走你的抵押品啊!

夏洛克:还我的本钱,让我走吧!

巴萨尼奥:钱我已经预备好了,你拿去吧。

鲍西娅:他曾经当庭拒绝过,现在他只能履行契约,执行法庭的宣判。

葛莱西安诺:但尼尔再世了,我还要说,好一个但尼尔啊!犹太人,谢谢你教会我这个词!

夏洛克:我真的连本钱都拿不到吗?

鲍西娅:犹太人,你除了冒险拿走抵偿品外,什么也得不到。

夏洛克:哼,鬼使神差,怎么便宜都让他占了?我不想再打这场官司了。

鲍西娅:且慢,犹太人,威尼斯的法律还有一条牵涉到你。根据城邦法律,如果一个外乡人被证实企图以直接或间接的手段谋害威尼斯公民的生命,受害的一方有权得到他财产的一半,另一半则充公入库,犯罪者的性命悉听公爵处置,他人无权过问。我告诉你,你现在就处在这种情境中了,因为事实发展的过程表明,你已经采取了直接或间接的手段企图危害被告的人身安全,致使你陷入了我前面所说过的危险境地。快跪下,求公爵开恩饶恕你吧!

葛莱西安诺:赶快乞求公爵开恩,让他允许你自己上吊而死吧。因为你的财产要充公,你连一根绳子都买不起,所以你还得让国家花钱把你吊死。

公爵:你会发现我们的灵魂有很大不同,你没向我乞求什么,我已经决定饶恕你了。至于你的财产,一半归安东尼奥;一半归公,倘若你诚心悔改,这一半可以减轻为一笔罚款。

鲍西娅:对,减轻的是没入公库的那部分,不是安东尼奥的那一半儿。

夏洛克:不,不,拿去我的命和所有的一切吧,不要宽恕我。拆掉房屋的栋梁,就等于是拆毁了整座房屋;断了我的生计就等于是要了我的命。

鲍西娅:安东尼奥,你要不要可怜可怜他?

葛莱西安诺:看在上帝的份上,免费送他去死吧,再不要给他别的好处了。

安东尼奥:假如公爵您和法庭上所有其他人都同意免除他那半数财产的罚金,我会非常高兴。另一半财产由你支配,在他百年之后,我会把这份家产交由那位和他女儿私奔的先生掌管。还有两点:首先,他受了这样的恩惠,应该立刻皈依基督教;第二,他必须当庭立下契约,声明他去世后,全部遗产由女婿罗兰左和他的女儿来继承。

公爵:他必须做到这些,否则我将撤销刚才宣判的赦免命令。

鲍西娅:犹太人,你满意吗?你还有什么话说吗?

夏洛克:我同意。

鲍西娅:书记,起草一份赠业文书。

夏洛克:拜托你们允许我离开法庭,我感觉不舒服。你们可以把文书送到我家里,我会签字的。

公爵:你走吧,但要说话算话!

葛莱西安诺:受洗的时候你会有两位教父。如果我是法官,一定给你再增加十个教父。不是送你去受洗,而是送你上断头台。

(夏洛克下)

威廉·莎士比亚(W. William Shakespeare),于公元1564年4月23日生于英格兰沃里克郡斯特拉福镇,是欧洲文艺复兴时期人文主义文学的集大成者。他是“英国戏剧之父”,被称为“人类文学奥林匹斯山上的宙斯”。《威尼斯商人》是莎氏喜剧的巅峰,但它也是喜剧中的悲剧。它探求的是金钱这一古老而又永不过时的话题,是一部具有极大社会讽刺性的喜剧。

核心单词

void [vCid] adj. 空闲的,闲散的

obdurate [5Cbdjurit] adj. 顽固的;冷酷的

serpent [5sE:pEnt] n. 蛇;狡猾的人;阴险毒辣的人

名句诵读

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.Shed thou no blood;nor cut thou less nor more,but just a pound of flesh:if thou tak’st more,or less,than a just pound,be it but so much as makes it light or heavy in the substance,or the division of the twentieth part of one poor scruple,nay,if the scale do turn but in the estimation of a hair,thou diest and all thy goods are