Merchant of Venice: Act 2

Question 1

Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,

Answer 1

Morroco to Portia

Question 2

And let us make incision for your love

Answer 2

Morroco to Portia

Question 3

I would not change this hue

Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

Answer 3

Morroco to Portia

Question 4

Besides, the lottery of my destiny

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.

Answer 4

Portia to Morroco

Question 5

But if my father had not scanted me
And hedged me by his wit to yield myself
His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renownèd Prince, then stood as fair

Answer 5

Portia to Morroco

Question 6

Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets

To try my fortune.

Answer 6

Morroco to Portia

Question 7

You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.

Answer 7

Portia to Morroco

Question 8

First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Your hazard shall be made

Answer 8

Portia to Morroco

Question 9

Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew, my master.

Answer 9

Launcelot to himself

Question 10

The fiend gives the more friendly counsel. I will run, fiend. My heels are at your command. I will run.

Answer 10

Launcelot to himself

Question 11

Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to

Master Jew’s?

Answer 11

Old Gobbo to Launcelot Gobbo

Question 12

Nay, indeed if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me. It is a wise father that knows his own child.

Answer 12

Launcelot to old Gobbo

Question 13

My master’s a very Jew. Give him a present. Give him a halter. I am famished in his service. You may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come. Give me your present to one Master Bassanio, who indeed gives rare new liveries.

Answer 13

Launcelot to his father

Question 14

I know thee well. Thou hast obtained thy suit.
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew’s service, to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Answer 14

Bassanio to Lancelot

Question 15

You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont

Answer 15

Gratiano to Bassanio

Question 16

Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice—

Answer 16

Bassanio to Gratiano

Question 17

Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior
I be misconst’red in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.

Answer 17

Bassanio to Gratiano

Question 18

Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me

By what we do tonight.

Answer 18

Gratiano to Bassanio

Question 19

I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil

Answer 19

Jessica to Lancelot

Question 20

And Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.
Give him this letter.
(gives LAUNCELOT a letter)
    Do it secretly.

Answer 20

Jessica to Lancelot

Question 21

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,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

Answer 21

Jessica to herself

Question 22

I know the hand. In faith, ’tis a fair hand,
And whiter than the paper it writ on
Is the fair hand that writ.

Answer 22

Lorenzo to Gratiano

Question 23

She hath directed
How I shall take her from her father’s house,
What gold and jewels she is furnished with,
What page’s suit she hath in readiness.
If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake.
And never dare Misfortune cross her foot
Unless she do it under this excuse:
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me.

Answer 23

Lorenzo to Gratiano

Question 24

Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.

Answer 24

Shylock to Lancelot

Question 25

Look to my house. I am right loath to go.
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest,
For I did dream of money bags tonight.

Answer 25

Shylock to Jessica

Question 26

Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum
And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street
To gaze on Christian fools with varnished face

Answer 26

Shylock to Jessica

Question 27

Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,

I have a father, you a daughter, lost.

Answer 27

Jessica to Shylock

Question 28

I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange.
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see

Answer 28

Jessica to Lorenzo

Question 29

For she is wise, if I can judge of her.
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true.
And true she is, as she hath proved herself.
And therefore, like herself—wise, fair and true—
Shall she be placèd in my constant soul.

Answer 29

Lorenzo to Jessica

Question 30

Must give—for what? For lead? Hazard for lead?
This casket threatens. Men that hazard all
Do it in hope of fair advantages

Answer 30

Morroco to Portia

Question 31

If thou beest rated by thy estimation,
Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough
May not extend so far as to the lady,
And yet to be afeard of my deserving
Were but a weak disabling of myself.

Answer 31

Morroco to Portia

Question 32

Why, that’s the lady. All the world desires her.
From the four corners of the earth they come
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint

Answer 32

Morroco to Portia

Question 33

Never so rich a gem

Was set in worse than gold.

Answer 33

Morroco to Portia

Question 34

A gentle riddance.—Draw the curtains, go.—

Let all of his complexion choose me so.

Answer 34

Portia to Nerissa?

Question 35

Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail.
With him is Gratiano gone along.
And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.

Answer 35

Salerio to Salanio

Question 36

“My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,

Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!

Answer 36

Shylock himself but salerio to solanio

Question 37

The French and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country richly fraught.
I thought upon Antonio when he told me,
And wished in silence that it were not his.

Answer 37

Salerio to Solanio

Question 38

Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous sensible
He wrung Bassanio’s hand. And so they parted

Answer 38

Salerio to Solanio

Question 39

Quick, quick, I pray thee. Draw the curtain straight.
The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath
And comes to his election presently.

Answer 39

Nerissa to Portia

Question 40

I am enjoined by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to any one
Which casket ’twas I chose; next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life
To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly,
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.

Answer 40

Arragon to Portia

Question 41

You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.

Answer 41

Arragon to Portia

Question 42

By the fool multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,

Answer 42

Arragon to Portia

Question 43

I will not choose what many men desire

Because I will not jump with common spirits

Answer 43

Arragon to Portia

Question 44

Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head?

Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?

Answer 44

Arragon to Portia