JKBOSE 10th Class English Solutions chapter – 7 The Merchant of Venice

(1) Antonio                – कहानी का नायक, वेनिस का एक व्यापारी ।

(2) Bassanio              – अन्टानिओ का मित्र ।

(3) Portia                   – कहानी की नायिका, बसानिओ की प्रेमिका ।

(4) Shylock                – कहानी का खलनायक, एक निर्दय सूदखोर यहूदी ।

(5) Nerissa                – पोर्शिया की सेविका।

(6) Balthasar             – पोर्शिया का नकली नाम (वकील के वेश में ) ।

(7) Duke of Venice   – वेनिस का ड्यूक ।

(8) Bellario               – पोर्शिया का चचेरा भाई, एक वकील ।

This story is based on Shakespeare’s famous play, ‘The Merchant of Venice’. It is a story of two friends named Antonio and Bassanio. Bassanio has borrowed some money from Antonio. Bassanio needs this money to win the hand of his beloved named Portia. But Antonio has given this money to Bassanio by borrowing from Shylock. Shylock is a rich and crafty Jew. Antonio has promised to pay back the money in three months. He signs a pledge that in case he failed to pay back the money, Shylock would be entitled to a pound of flesh from any part near Antonio’s heart. Antonio is unable to pay back Shylock’s money by the fixed day. The Jew brings a case against him in the Duke’s court. In the court, Portia appears as a legal expert in disguise. She is able to save Antonio’s life in a very intelligent manner.

यह कहानी शेक्सपियर के प्रसिद्ध नाटक, ‘द मरचेन्ट ऑफ वेनिस’, पर आधारित है। यह अन्टानिओ और बसानिओ नामक दो मित्रों की कहानी है। बसानिओ ने अन्टानिओ से कुछ पैसे उधार लिए होते हैं। बसानिओ को इन पैसों की अपनी प्रेमिका पोर्शिया से विवाह करने के लिए आवश्यकता है। परन्तु अन्टानिओ ने यह पैसे बसानिओ को शायलाक नामक धनी और धूर्त यहदी से उधार लेकर दिए होते हैं। अन्टानिओ ने तीन महीने में पैसे लौटाने का वायदा किया होता है । वह एक शपथ-पत्र पर हस्ताक्षर कर देता है कि यदि वह पैसे लौटाने में असफल रहेगा तो शायलाक को अन्टानिओ के दिल के नज़दीक के किसी भी भाग से एक पौंड मांस लेने का अधिकार होगा । अन्टानिओ निश्चित दिन तक पैसे लौटाने में असफल रहता है। यहूदी उसके विरुद्ध ड्यूक की अदालत में मुकद्दमा ले आता है। अदालत में पोर्शिया वेश बदल कर एक कानूनी विशेषज्ञ के रूप में उपस्थित होती है। वह अत्यन्त चतुराईपूर्ण ढंग से अन्टानिओ का जीवन बचाने में सफल रहती है।

Shylock, the Jew, lived in Venice. A usurer by profession, he had amassed  an immense fortune  by lending money at great interest to Christian merchants. Being a hard-hearted man, he exacted the payment of the money he lent with | such severity that he was much disliked | by all good men, and particularly by | Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and Shylock as much hated Antonio, because he used to lend money to people | in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent. Therefore, there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio. Whenever these two met on the Rialto (Exchange), Antonio used to reproach Shylock for his hard-hearted usury. The Jew would bear this with seeming patience while he secretly meditated revenge.

Antonio’s young friend Bassanio was in love with a rich and beautiful lady called Portia, who lived in the city of Belmont. He wanted to travel to Belmont to propose to her but did not have the money he needed to make himself look as rich and important as her other suitors. So, he went to Antonio and asked him to lend him a sum of three thousand ducats.

शायलाक, एक यहूदी, वेनिस में रहता था । व्यवसाय से |एक सूदखोर, उस आदमी ने ईसाई व्यापारियों को बहुत ऊंचे ब्याज पर धन उधार दे दे कर बहुत दौलत इकट्ठी कर ली थी । एक बहुत कठोर हृदय का व्यक्ति होने के कारण जो धन उसने उधार दिया होता था, उसकी वसूली वह इतनी निर्दयता से करता था कि सभी अच्छे लोग उससे घृणा किया करते थे और विशेषकर अन्टानिओ, जोकि वेनिस का एक युवा व्यापारी था, उससे सर्वाधिक घृणा करता था, और शायलाक भी अन्टानिओ से उतनी ही घृणा करता था, क्योंकि वह (अन्टानिओ) दुःखग्रस्त लोगों को पैसा उधार दिया करता था और वह उस पैसे के लिए कभी कोई ब्याज वसूल नहीं करता था जो वह उधार देता था। इसलिए लालची यहूदी और दयालु – हृदय व्यापारी अन्टानिओ के बीच बड़ी शत्रुता रहती थी । जब कभी ये दोनों रियाल्टो (बाज़ार) में मिलते तो अन्टानिओ शायलाक की उसके क्रूरतापूर्ण सूदखोरी के कारोबार के लिए कड़ी आलोचना किया करता था । वह यहूदी इन सब बातों को प्रत्यक्षतः शान्तिपूर्वक सह लिया करता था जबकि वह दिल ही दिल में बदला लेने की योजनाएं बनाता रहता था ।

अन्टानिओ का नौजवान मित्र बसानिओ पोर्शिया नामक एक धनी तथा सुन्दर स्त्री से प्रेम करता था जोकि बेलमोंट नगर में रहती थी । वह उसके आगे अपने प्रेम का प्रस्ताव |रखने के लिए बेलमोंट जाना चाहता था परन्तु उसके पास (यूरोप का एक प्राचीन सोने का सिक्का) की राशि उधार दे। उतना धन नहीं था जिसकी उसे आवश्यकता थी, स्वयं को उसके (पोर्शिया के) अन्य चाहने वालों के जितना ही धनी तथा महत्त्वपूर्ण दिखाने के लिए । इसलिए वह अन्टानिओ के पास गया और उससे कहा कि वह उसे तीन हज़ार डयूकट दे l

Antonio had at this time, no ready money to give Bassanio because he had invested all his money in trade. His ships, carrying, rich cargoen, had gone abroad. and they would take some time to get back to the port of Venice. But being vory ongor to provide his friend with the money ho needed, he decided to borrow the sum from an old Jew called Shylock.

Antonio and Bassanio went together to Shylock, and Antonio asked the Jew to lend him three thousand ducats upon any interest he should roquire, to be paid out of the merchandise contained in his ships at sea.

On this, Shylock thought within himself, “If I can once catch him on the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him; he hates our Jewish nation; he lends out money gratis; and among the merchants he rails at me and my well. earned bargains, which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe if I forgive him !”

Antonio finding he was musing within himself and did not answer, and being impatient for the money, said “Shylock, do you hear ? Will you lend the money?”

To this question the Jew replied, “Signior Antonio, on the Rialto many a time and often you have railed at me about my monies and my usuries, and I have borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe; and then you have called me unbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spit upon my Jewish garments, and spurned at me with your foot, as if I was a cur Well then, it now appears you need my help; and you come to me, and say, Shylock, lend me monies’ Has a dog money ? Is it possible a cur should lend three thousand ducats ? Shall I bend low and say, ‘Fair sir, you | spit upon me on Wednesday last, another time you called me dog, and for these courtesies I am to lend you monies.”

Antonio replied. “I am as like to call you so again, to spit on you again, and spurn you too. If you will lend me this money, lend it not to me as to a friend, but rather lend it to me as to an enemy, that, if I break, you may with better face exact the penalty.”

“Why, look you, ” said Shylock, “how you storm! I would be friends with you and have your love. I will forget the shames you put upon me. I will supply your wants, and take no interest for my money.”

This seemingly kind offer greatly surprised Antonio; and then Shylock, still pretending kindness and that all he did was to gain Antonio ‘s love, again said he would lend him the three thousand | ducats, and take no interest for his money; only Antonio should go with him to a lawyer, and there sign in merry sport a bond, that if he did not repay the money by a certain day, he would  forfeit a pound of flesh to be cut off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased.

“Content,” said Antonio. “I will sign to this bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew.”

Bassanio grew angry when he heard this. He begged Antonio not to risk his |life by signing this strange bond. But Antonio was perfectly sure he ran no risk, and cheerfully agreed to the | penalty. As soon as the bond was signed and the money taken, Bassanio left for Belmont

इस समय अन्टानिओ के पास बसानिओ को देने के लिए कोई नकद पैसा नहीं था क्योंकि उसने अपना सारा पैसा व्यापार में लगाया हुआ था । बहुमूल्य माल से लदे उसके जहाज विदेशों में गए हुए थे और उन्हें वेजिय की बंदरगाह तक वापस आने में अभी कुछ समय लगना था परन्तु अपने मित्र के लिए आवश्यक धन जुटाने के लिए बहुत उत्सुक होने के कारण उसने शायलाक नामक एक बूढ़े महूदी से वह राशि उधार लेने का निश्चय किया।

अन्यनिओ और बसानिओ इकट्ठे मिलकर शायलाक के पास गए और अन्यनिओ ने यहूदी से कहा कि वह उसे ब्याज की किसी भी दर पर तीन हजार ड्यूकट उधार दे दे जिसकी अदायगी समुद्र में गये उसके जहाजों में भरे माल में से कर दी जाएगी।

इस पर शायलाक अपने मन ही मन में सोचने लगा, “यदि एक बार मेरा हाथ उसकी गर्दन पर पड़ जाए तो मैं उससे अपनी पुरानी भड़ास निकाल ही लूंगा। वह हमारी यहूदी कौम से घृणा करता है, वह बिना ब्याज के ही पैसे उभार देता रहता है; और व्यापारियों के मध्य वह मुझ पर और मेरी गाढ़ी कमाई, जिसे वह ब्याज कहता है, पर कीचड़ फेंकता रहता है। मेरी कौम पर लानत होगी यदि मैं उसे क्षमा कर दूँ ।”

यह देखते हुए कि वह (शायलाक) अपने विचारों में खो गया था तथा कुछ जवाब नहीं दे रहा था, और पैसे के लिए बहुत अधीर होते हुए अन्टानिओ ने कहा: “शायलाक, क्या तुम सुन रहे हो ? क्या तुम पैसा उधार दोगे ? “

इस प्रश्न पर उस यहूदी ने उत्तर दिया, “मेरे श्रीमान् अन्टानिओ, तुम ने कई बार तथा प्राय: रियाल्टो (बाज़ार) में मेरे पैसे और मेरी ब्याजखोरियों की निन्दा की है और मैं कंधे सिकोड़ कर शान्तिपूर्वक सहन करता रहा हूँ क्योंकि सहनशीलता हमारी सारी कौम की निशानी है और फिर तुमने मुझे एक नास्तिक और निर्दय कुत्ता कहा है और तुमने मेरे यहूदी वस्त्रों पर थूका है और घृणापूर्वक मेरे ऊपर अपना पांव इस तरह उठाया है जैसे मैं कोई कुत्ता हूं। और अब ऐसा प्रतीत हो रहा है जैसे कि तुम्हें मेरी सहायता की ज़रूरत आ पड़ी है; और तुम मेरे पास आए हो और कहते हो : ‘शायलाक, मुझे पैसे उधार दे दो।’ क्या कुत्ते के पास पैसे होते हैं ? क्या यह सम्भव हो सकता है कि कोई कुत्ता तीन हज़ार ड्यूकट् उधार दे सके ? क्या मैं तुम्हारे सामने झुक जाऊँ और कहूं, ‘मेरे प्यारे श्रीमानू, आप ने पिछले बुधवार के दिन मेरे ऊपर थूका था, एक दूसरी बार आप ने मुझे कुत्ता कहा था, तथा इन कृपाओं के बदले मुझे आपको धन उधार देना चाहिए ।’

अन्टानिओ ने उत्तर दिया, “मैं संभवतः तुम्हें फिर ऐसा ही कहूंगा, फिर तुम्हारे ऊपर थूकूंगा और तुम्हें अपने पांव से ठोकर भी मारूंगा । यदि तुम मुझे यह पैसे उधार देना चाहते हो तो ऐसे मत दो जैसे कि किसी मित्र को उधार दे रहे हो, बल्कि मुझे पैसे ऐसे उधार दो जैसे किसी शत्रु को दे रहे हो ताकि यदि मैं समझौते का उल्लंघन करूं तो तुम छाती तान कर जुर्माने की मांग कर सको।”

‘अब, देखो, ” शायलाक बोला, “तुम कितने क्रोध में आ रहे हो! मैं तो तुम से दोस्ती करना चाहता हूं और तुम्हारा प्यार प्राप्त करना चाहता हूं। मैं उन अपमानों को भूल जाऊंगा जिनकी बौछार तुम मेरे ऊपर करते रहे हो। मैं तुम्हारी ज़रूरत को पूरा कर दूंगा और अपने पैसे के बदले कोई ब्याज वसूल नहीं करूंगा ।”

दयापूर्ण प्रतीत होने वाली इस पेशकश पर अन्टानिओ को बहुत हैरानी हुई; और फिर शायलाक अपनी दयालुता का नाटक जारी रखते हुए और यह जताते हुए कि वह जो कुछ कर रहा था अन्टानिओ का प्यार प्राप्त करने के लिए कर रहा था, उसने फिर कहा कि वह उसे (अन्टानिओ को) तीन हज़ार ड्यूकट् उधार देगा और अपने पैसे के बदले में कोई ब्याज वसूल नहीं करेगा; सिर्फ अन्टानिओ उसके साथ एक वकील के पास जाएगा और वहां प्रसन्नतापूर्ण मज़ाक की खातिर एक प्रतिज्ञा पत्र पर हस्ताक्षर करेगा कि यदि वह एक निश्चित दिन तक पैसों का भुगतान नहीं करेगा तो उसे दण्ड के रूप में एक पौंड मांस देना होगा जो उसके शरीर के किसी भी भाग से काटा जाएगा जहां से शायलाक चाहेगा।

“ठीक है, ” अन्टानिओ ने कहा । “मैं इस प्रतिज्ञा पत्र पर हस्ताक्षर कर दूंगा, और कहूंगा कि इस यहूदी में बहुत दयालुता है।”

जब बसानिओ ने यह सुना तो वह क्रोधित हो गया। उसने अन्टानिओ से प्रार्थना की कि वह इस तरह के अजीब से प्रतिज्ञा पत्र पर हस्ताक्षर करके अपनी जान को जोखिम में न डाले। परन्तु अन्टानिओ को पक्का विश्वास था कि उसने कोई जोखिम नहीं उठाया था और वह खुशीपूर्वक उस जुर्मान – के लिए सहमत हो गया । जैसे ही इस प्रतिज्ञा पत्र पर हस्ताक्षर किए गए और पैसा लिया गया, बसानिओ बेलमोन्ट के लिए निकल पड़ा।

There he succeeded in winning the hand of Portia, who indeed fell in love | with him the moment she saw him and | was happy to be asked to marry him. A day was fixed for the wedding.

But before the wedding, there came a letter from Antonio bringing dreadful news. Antonio’s ships had not been seen at sea. And since the three months mentioned in the bond had passed, the Jew had filed a suit against Antonio claiming the penalty of a pound of flesh. Antonio wrote to say that before he died he wanted to see his dear Bassanio and bid him farewell. When Bassanio was returning to Venice to who was elp Antonio, Portia gave him a ring and asked him to wear it always. Bassanio said he would certainly do so. As soon as he left, Portia sent word to Bellario, a cousin of hers | a lawyer, telling him of Antonio’s situation and asking for his advice. Bellario quickly sent his advice |and also the lawyer’s clothes which Portia | had asked for. With these clothes for | herself and the clothes of a lawyer’s clerk for her maid, Portia set out for Venice.

The trial of the case began at the court of the Duke of Venice, in the presence of Bassanio and several other friends of Antonio. The Duke decided to wait for some time for Bellario. Portia dressed herself and her maid, Nerissa, in men’s apparel, and, putting on the robes8 of a counsellor, she took Nerissa along with her as her clerk. Setting out immediately, they arrived at Venice on the very day of the trial. The case was just going to be heard before the Duke and Senators of Venice in the Senate House when Portia entered this high court of justice and presented a letter from Bellario, in which the learned  counsellor wrote to the Duke that he  would have come himself to plead for  Antonio but that he was prevented by sickness, and he requested that the  learned young Doctor Balthasar (so he called Portia) might be permitted to plead in his stead. This the Duke  granted, much wondering at the youthful appearance of the stranger, who was prettily disguised by her counsellor’s robes and her large wig.

Portia looked around the court and saw on one side Antonio, and Bassanio and their friends. On the other side stood | Shylock, quite alone, sharpening a knife ! Portia began by arguing in favour of Shylock, and said that he indeed had a right to his pound of flesh. At the same time, in a moving speech she appealed | to Shylock to show mercy to Antonio and | not to claim the penalty. But this appeal had no effect on the Jew. He insisted upon the pound of flesh which was due to him according to the bond.

“Why then, Antonio,” said Portia, “you must prepare your bosom for the knife . ” And while Shylock was sharpening a long knife with great eagerness to cut off the pound of flesh, Portia said to | Antonio, “Have you anything to say ?”

वहां वह पोर्शिया का हाथ पाने में सफल हो गया जिसे वास्तव में उसी क्षण उससे प्रेम हो गया जब उसने उसे (बसानिओ को) देखा और उसके साथ शादी करने के लिए पूछे जाने पर वह बहुत प्रसन्न हुई। शादी के लिए दिन निश्चित कर दिया गया।

परन्तु विवाह से पहले ही अन्टानिओ की ओर से एक पत्र आया जिसमें भयानक समाचार लि था। अन्टानिओ जहाज़ समुद्र में दिखाई नहीं दिए थे। और क्योंकि प्रतिज्ञापत्र में वर्णित तीन महीने अब बीत चुके थे, उस यहूदी ने एक ने पौंड मांस के जुर्माने का दावा करते हुए अन्टानिओ के विरुद्ध एक मुकद्दमा दायर कर दिया था। अन्टानिओ ने यह कहने के लिए पत्र लिखा था कि यह मरने से पहले अपने प्रिय बसानिओ से मिलना चाहता था और उसे अलविदा कहना चाहता था। जब बसानिओ अन्टानिओ की सहायता करने के लिए वापस वेनिस जा रहा था तो पोर्शिया ने उसे एक अंगूठी दी और इसे हमेशा रखने के लिए कहा। बसानिओ ने कहा कि वह निश्चित ही ऐसा करेगा। जैसे ही वह वहां से गया, पोर्शिया ने तुरन्त अपने एक चचेरे भाई बलारिओ, जोकि एक वकील था, को एक संदेश भेजा, उसे अन्टानिओ की स्थिति के बारे में बताने के लिए और उस बारे में उसका परामर्श पाने के लिए । बलारिओ ने तुरन्त अपना परामर्श भेजा और वकील के कपड़े भी, जो पोर्शिया ने मंगवाए थे। स्वयं के लिए इन कपड़ों तथा अपनी नौकरानी के लिए वकील के क्लर्क के कपड़ों को साथ लेकर, पोर्शिया वेनिस के लिए निकल पड़ी ।

बसानिओ तथा अन्टानिओ के कई अन्य मित्रों की उपस्थिति में ड्यूक ऑफ वेनिस के न्यायालय में मुकद्दमे की कारवाई शुरू हुई। ड्यूक ने कुछ समय बलारिओ का इन्तज़ार करने का निश्चय किया। पोर्शिया ने स्वयं को तथा अपनी नौकरानी नेरिसा को पुरुषों जैसे वस्त्रों में तैयार कर लिया और एक वकील वाले वस्त्र पहन कर वह नेरिसा को अपने साथ अपने क्लर्क के रूप में ले गई । तत्काल रवाना होते हुए, वे वेनिस उसी दिन पहुंचीं जिस दिन मुकद्दमा शुरू होना था। सैनेट हाउस ( संसद भवन) में मुकद्दमे की सुनवाई सैनेटरों (सांसदों) और ड्यूक ऑफ वेनिस के सामने अभी शुरू होने ही वाली थी जब पोर्शिया ने इस उच्च न्यायालय में प्रवेश किया और उसने बलारिओ की तरफ से एक पत्र पेश किया जिस में उस प्रसिद्ध वकील ने ड्यूक को यह लिखा था कि वह स्वयं अन्टानिओ के पक्ष में वकालत करने आया होता किन्तु उसकी बीमारी ने उसे रोक दिया था, और उसने ड्यूक से यह प्रार्थना की थी कि उसके स्थान पर विद्वान युवक डॉक्टर बाल्थाज़ार को (पोर्शिया को उसने यही नाम दिया था) वकालत करने की इजाज़त दे दी जाए। ड्यूक ने यह प्रार्थना स्वीकार कर ली, उस अजनबी युवक की जवानी – भरी सुन्दरता को देख कर हैरान होते हुए, जिसने अपने वकीलों वाले वस्त्रों तथा अपनी बड़ी-सी विग ( बनावटी बालों का टोप) में स्वयं को इतने सुन्दर ढंग से छिपाया हुआ था |

पोर्शिया ने न्यायालय के चारों तरफ नज़र घुमाई और इसकी एक ओर अन्टानिओ, बसानिओ और उनके कुछ मित्रों को खड़े देखा। दूसरी ओर शायलाक खड़ा था, बिल्कुल अकेला, एक चाकू की धार तेज़ करता हुआ! पोर्शिया ने शायलाक के पक्ष में दलील देते हुए बोलना शुरू किया और कहा कि उसके (अन्टानिओ के) एक पौंड मांस पर वास्तव में उसका (शायलाक का) अधिकार था। उसी समय एक भावुक भाषण में उसने शायलाक से अपील की कि वह अन्टानिओ के प्रति दया दिखाए और जुर्माने का दावा न करे । परन्तु इस अपील का उस यहूदी पर कोई असर न हुआ । वह मांस का एक पौंड प्राप्त करने की ज़िद करता रहा जो प्रतिज्ञा पत्र के अनुसार उसके प्रति बकाया था ।

“तो फिर, अन्टानिओ, ” पोर्शिया ने कहा, “तुम्हें अपना सीना चाकू के लिए तैयार कर लेना चाहिए।” और जिस दौरान शायलाक मांस का पौंड काटने के लिए बहुत उत्सुकता सहित अपने लम्बे चाकू को तेज़ कर रहा था, पोर्शिया ने अन्टानिओ से कहा, “क्या तुम्हें कुछ कहना है ? “

Antonio with a calm resignation ¹0 replied that he had little to say, and that he had prepared his mind for death. Then he said to Bassanio :

“Give me your hand, Bassanio! Fare you well ! Grieve not that I am fallen into this misfortune for you. Commend me to your honourable wife and tell her how I have loved you !”

Bassanio in the deepest affliction replied, “Antonio, I am married to a wife, who is as dear to me as life itself; but life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not esteemed with me above your life; I would lose all, I would sacrifice all to this devil here, to deliver you.”

Shylock now cried out, impatiently: “Well trifle time; I pray pronounce the sentence.”

Portia asked if the scales were ready to weigh the flesh, and she said to the Jew, “Shylock, you must have some surgeon by, lest he should bleed to death.”

Shylock, whose whole intent was that Antonio should bleed to death, said, “It is not so named in the bond.”

Portia replied: “It is not so named in the bond, but what of that ? It were good you did so much for charity.” To this all the answer Shylock would make was, “I cannot find it. It is not in the bond.”

“Then,” said Portia, “a pound of Antonio’s flesh is thine. The law allows it and the court awards it. And you may cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it.”

Again Shylock exclaimed : “O wise and upright judge ! A Daniel is come to Judgement !” And then he sharpened his long knife again, and looking eagerly on Antonio, he said “Come, prepare !”

“Tarry a little, Jew, ” said Portia. “There is something else. This bond here gives you no drop of blood; the words are, ‘a pound of flesh.”

Now it was utterly impossible for Shylock to cut off the pound of flesh without shedding some of Antonio’s blood. This wise discovery of Portia’s, that it was flesh and not blood that was named in the bond, saved the life of Antonio and all admiring the wonderful sagacity of the young counsellor.

This unexpected judgement upset all Shylock’s plans. Who could cut off a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of blood ?

Realizing that he was completely defeated, Shylock turned to Bassanio and asked for three times his principal But as Bassanio came forward with a bag of gold, Portia stopped him and said, “Shylock has already refused the money. He can only have the penalty.” Shylock now said that he was ready to accept his bare principal but even this Portia refused him. He could take his pound of flesh or nothing. All was now lost for Shylock. He turned away angrily to leave the court, but there was something more that Portia had to say to him.

अन्टानिओ ने बहुत शान्त समर्पण के साथ उत्तर दिया कि उसके पास कहने के लिए कुछ नहीं था और उसने अपने मन को मृत्यु के लिए तैयार कर लिया था । फिर वह बसानिओ से बोला :

‘मुझे अपना हाथ दो, बसानिओ ! अब अलविदा ! इस बात का दुःख मत करो कि मैं तुम्हारे कारण इस दुर्भाग्य में आ फंसा हूं। अपनी सम्मानयोग्य पत्नी के सामने मेरी प्रशंसा करना और उसे बतलाना कि मैंने तुमसे कितना प्यार किया है !”

बसानिओ ने अत्यन्त दुख से उत्तर दिया, “अन्टानिओ, मेरा विवाह ऐसी पत्नी से हुआ है जो मुझे अपने जीवन जितनी ही प्यारी है; किन्तु स्वयं मेरा जीवन, मेरी पत्नी और सम्पूर्ण संसार मेरे लिए तुम्हारे जीवन से बढ़ कर नहीं है; मैं अपना सब कुछ गंवा दूंगा, तुम्हें बचाने के लिए यहां इस शैतान के सामने अपना सब कुछ न्यौछावर कर दूंगा । “

शायलाक अब बेचैनी से चिल्ला उठा, “हम अपना समय बरबाद कर रहे हैं। मैं आप से प्रार्थना करता हूं कि फैसला सुना दीजिए।”

पोर्शिया ने पूछा कि क्या मांस को तौलने के लिए तराज़ू तैयार था और उस ने यहूदी से कहा, “शायलाक, तुम्हारे साथ कोई डॉक्टर होना चाहिए क्योंकि कहीं ऐसा न हो कि रक्त बहने से अन्टानिओ की मृत्यु हो जाए।”

शायलाक, जिसका तो पूरा उद्देश्य ही यही था कि अन्टानिओ का इतना खून बहे कि वह मर जाए, ने कहा, ” ऐसा प्रतिज्ञा पत्र में नहीं लिखा हुआ है । “

पोर्शिया ने कहा, “प्रतिज्ञा पत्र में ऐसा नहीं लिखा हुआ है, तो फिर क्या हुआ ? अच्छा होता यदि यह काम तुम दयावश ही कर देते ।” इस बात पर शायलाक ने केवल इतना ही उत्तर दिया, “मैं ऐसा नहीं देख पा रहा । प्रतिज्ञा-पत्र में यह नहीं लिखा हुआ है । “

“तो फिर, ” पोर्शिया ने कहा, “अन्टानिओ के मांस का एक पौंड तुम्हारा है। कानून इसकी आज्ञा देता है और न्यायालय यही निर्णय करता है। और यह मांस तुम उसके वक्षस्थल में से काट सकते हो । कानून इसकी आज्ञा देता है और न्यायालय यही निर्णय करता है । “

शायलाक दोबारा खुशी से चिल्ला उठा, “ओ बुद्धिमान एवम् ईमानदार न्यायाधीश महोदय! न्याय का कोई फरिश्ता जैसे यहां न्याय करने के लिए विराजमान हुआ है!” तब उसने अपने लम्बे चाकू को दोबारा तेज़ किया तथा अन्यनिओ की तरफ उत्सुकतापूर्वक देखते हुए कहा, “आओ, तैयार हो जाओ!”

“अरे यहूदी, थोड़ा इन्तजार कर. ” पोर्शिया ने कहा। “एक अन्य बात और भी है। इस प्रतिज्ञा पत्र के अनुसार तुम्हें रक्त की एक बूंद भी लेने का अधिकार नहीं है; शब्द ये हैं ‘मांस का एक पौंड’ ।”

अब शायलाक के लिए यह बिल्कुल असम्भव था कि वह अन्टानिओ का कुछ खून बहाए बिना मांस का पौंड कार सकता । पोर्शिया की इस बुद्धिमत्तापूर्ण खोज ने, कि यह मांस था, न कि रक्त जिस का वर्णन प्रतिज्ञा पत्र में किया गया था, अन्टानिओ का जीवन बचा दिया और सभी युवा वकील की अद्भुत दूरदर्शिता की प्रशंसा कर रहे थे ।

इस अप्रत्याशित निर्णय ने शायलाक की सभी योजनाओं पर पानी फेर दिया । एक भी बूंद खून बहाए बगैर कौन एक पौंड मांस काट सकता था ?

यह अहसास होने पर कि वह पूरी तरह हार चुका था, शायलाक बसानिओ की ओर मुड़ा और उससे अपनी मूल राशि से तीन गुणा राशि की मांग की। परन्तु जैसे ही बसानिओ सोने से भरी थैली लिए आगे बढ़ा, पोर्शिया ने उसे रोक दिया और बोली, “शायलाक पैसा लेने से पहले ही इन्कार कर चुका है, वह सिर्फ जुर्माना ही ले सकता है।” शायलाक ने अब कहा कि वह अपनी सिर्फ मूलराशि ही स्वीकार करने के लिए तैयार था परन्तु पोर्शिया ने उसको इससे भी इन्कार कर दिया । वह एक पौंड मांस ले सकता था, या फिर कुछ भी नहीं । अब शायलाक के लिए सब कुछ खत्म हो चुका था । वह क्रोध में न्यायालय से जाने के लिए मुड़ा, परन्तु अभी भी कुछ था जो पोर्शिया ने उसे कहना था ।

“You cannot leave so soon, Shylock,” she said. “The law has now a hold on you, Shylock. You have plotted against the life of a Christian and a citizen of Venice. According to the law of Venice, the punishment for this crime is death. Besides, half your goods and money will go to the State of Venice and the other half to Antonio against whose life you plotted.”

This was a terrible blow to Shylock. It was now his turn to beg for mercy. The Duke, who was happy at the way things had gone, was ready to spare his life and |even allow him to keep a part of his property, but he would have to give half of it to Antonio. The generous Antonio, however, instead of taking the money himself, suggested that it should be given to Shylock’s daughter who had married a Christian against her father’s wishes.

After Portia, in the disguise of a lawyer, had won the case for Antonio, Bassanio went to thank her. He of course, did not know who she was. He asked her to accept a gift. Portia at first refused to receive any, but when Bassanio insisted she sug sted that he could give her the ring on his finger. Now Bassanio was in a difficult situation, because he had promised never to part with the ring. He told Portia that the ring was valueless and he wanted to give her something of real value.

But Portia wanted that very ring. Bassanio told her that the ring had been given by his wife and she would not like him to part with it. Indeed she had even made him promise that he would never do so. He appealed to Portia to ask for some other thing. But Portia turned away pretending to be angry.

Antonio thought that she was feeling insulted. “Dear Bassanio,” said Antonio, “let him have the ring. Let my love and the great service he has done for me valued against your wife’s displeasure.” be Poor Bassanio had to agree. How could he say ‘no’ to Antonio who had risked his life for him ? So he very unwillingly gave away the ring.

Just as Antonio and Bassanio were leaving the court, news came that Antonio’s ships, which were thought to have been lost, had safely arrived at port ! Filled with joy, the two friends now hurried to Belmont to tell Portia the story of their great good fortune.

When Bassanio reached Belmont, he wanted to hide the fact that he no longer had the ring. But Portia soon found that he had not the ring on his finger. When he did not produce it, she told him with a serious face that he had broken his promise ! Then Antonio asked Portia to forgive Bassanio. Portia pretended to agree. She said to Bassanio, “Here is another ring, see that you don’t lose this one too.” Bassanio looked at the ring. It was exactly like the first ! As he stood there staring at it, Portia gave a merry laugh and told them the whole story.

“तुम इतनी जल्दी नहीं जा सकते, शायलाक, ” वह बोली । “अब तुम कानून की पकड़ में हो, शायलाक। तुमने एक ईसाई तथा वेनिस के एक नागरिक के विरुद्ध षड्यन्त्र रचा है । वेनिस के कानून के अनुसार इस जुर्म का दण्ड मृत्यु है । इसके अतिरिक्त तुम्हारी जायदाद और दौलत का आधा हिस्सा वेनिस के राज्य को प्राप्त हो जाएगा और आधा हिस्सा अन्टानिओ को प्राप्त होगा जिसकी जान के विरुद्ध तुमने षड्यन्त्र रचा था । “

यह शायलाक के लिए एक बहुत बड़ा झटका था। अब दया की भीख मांगने की उसकी बारी थी। जिस तरह से यह सब कुछ घटित हुआ उससे ड्यूक बहुत खुश था, वह उसकी जिंदगी बख्श देने के लिए तैयार था, और यहां तक कि उसे उसकी संपत्ति का एक हिस्सा अपने पास रखने की इजाज़त देने के लिए भी तैयार था, परंतु उसे अन्टानिओ को इसका आधा हिस्सा देना होगा। लेकिन दयालु अन्टानिओ ने बेटी को दे दिया जाए जिसने कि अपने पिता की इच्छा के धन खुद लेने की बजाए सलाह दी कि यह शायलाक की विरुद्ध एक ईसाई से विवाह कर लिया था।

पोर्शिया, जो कि एक वकील के भेष में थी, के अन्टानिओ के लिए मुकद्दमा जीत लेने के बाद बसानिओ उसे धन्यवाद देने के लिए गया । उसे, निश्चय ही पता नहीं था कि वह कौन थी। उसने उसे एक उपहार स्वीकार करने के लिए कहा। पोर्शिया ने पहले तो कोई भी उपहार लेने से मना कर दिया, परंतु जब बसानिओ ने ज़िद की तो उसने सलाह दी कि वह उसे अपनी अंगुली में पहनी हुई अंगूठी दे सकता था। अब तो बसानिओ बड़ी मुश्किल स्थिति में फंस गया था क्योंकि उसने (पोर्शिया से) वादा किया था कि वह कभी भी अंगूठी को अपने से अलग नहीं करेगा। उसने पोर्शिया से कहा कि अंगूठी महत्त्वहीन थी और वह उसे कुछ वास्तविक महत्त्व वाली चीज़ देना चाहता था।

परंतु पोर्शिया तो वही अंगूठी चाहती थी। बसानिओ ने उसे बताया कि वह अंगूठी उसे उसकी पत्नी ने दी थी और उसे बिल्कुल भी अच्छा नहीं लगेगा कि वह इसे किसी को दे दे । वास्तव में उसने उसे कसम भी खिलाई थी कि वह ऐसा कभी न करे उसने पोर्शिया से विनती की कि वह कुछ और मांग ले । परंतु पोर्शिया ने इन्कार कर दिया, नाराज़ होने का दिखावा करके मुड़ते हुए ।

अन्टानिओ ने सोचा कि वह अपमानित महसूस कर रही थी । “प्रिय बसानिओ, ” अन्टानिओ ने कहा, “उसे अंगूठी ले लेने दो । कृपया मेरे प्यार की खातिर और उस महान् सेवा की खातिर जो इसने मेरे लिए की है, तुम अपनी पत्नी की अप्रसन्नता का जोखिम उठा लो।” बेचारे बसानिओ को सहमत होना पड़ा । वह अन्टानिओ को ‘न’ कैसे कह सकता था जिसने उसकी खातिर अपनी जान जोखिम में डाल दी थी? इसलिए उसने बहुत अनिच्छापूर्वक वह अंगूठी दे दी।

जैसे ही अन्टानिओ और बसानिओ न्यायालय से बाहर जाने लगे, समाचार आया कि अन्टानिओ के जहाज, जिनके बारे में समझा जा रहा था कि वे गुम हो गए थे, बंदरगाह पर सुरक्षित पहुंच गए थे। खुशी से भरे हुए दोनों मित्र अय पोर्शिया को अपनी महान् खुशकिस्मती की कहानी सुनाने के लिए बेलमोन्ट की तरफ शीघ्रता से चल पड़े।

जब बसानिओ बेलमोन्ट पहुंचा तो वह इस सच्चाई को छुपाना चाहता था कि अब वह अंगूठी उसके पास नहीं थी। परन्तु पोर्शिया को शीघ्र ही पता चल गया कि उसकी अंगुली में वह अंगूठी नहीं थी। जब उसने इसे प्रस्तुत नहीं किया तो उसने उसे बहुत ही गम्भीर सा चेहरा बना कर कहा कि उसने अपना वचन तोड़ दिया था ! तब अन्टानिओ ने पोर्शिया से कहा कि वह बसानिओ को क्षमा कर दे । पोर्शिया ने सहमत होने का दिखावा किया । वह बसानिओ से बोली, “यह रही एक और अंगूठी, देखना कहीं अब इसे भी तुम गुम न कर देना।” बसानिओ ने अंगूठी को देखा। यह बिल्कुल पहली अंगूठी के जैसी अंगूठी थी ! जब वह खड़ा |इसे घूर रहा था तो पोर्शिया ज़ोर से हंसी और उन्हें सारी कहानी बता दी ।

Ans. Shylock and Antonio both are moneylenders. Shylock is a mean and greedy fellow. He is mad for money and loves it more than anything else. He is a usurer and doesn’t spare those who fall into his clutches. He lends money at very high rate of interest. He exacts the payment of the money he lends with such cruelty that everybody dislikes him. On the other hand, Antonio is full of the milk of human kindness. He helps the people in distress. He is so generous that he lends money without charging any interest. So, Shylock hates Antonio. He thinks that by doing so, Antonio is harming his moneylending business. Shylock hates Antonio also because he has received insults from him many a time.

Ans. One day, Bassanio comes to Antonio and tells him that he has fallen in love with Portia and wants to marry her. But he needs money for that purpose. He asks Antonio to lend him three thousand ducats. But at that time, Antonio has no ready money to help his friend. He has invested all his money in his trade. Antonio loves Bassanio so much that he cannot see his friend in grief. So he decides to borrow money from Shylock though he dislikes Shylock and has insulted him many times. He asks Shylock to lend him money at any rate of interest. Shylock gets the chance to have his revenge. He protends to offer the loan merely out of goodwill. He says that he wants to be friendly with the Christians. He says that Antonio can have money without any interest. But in merry sport, Antonio should sign a bond. According to the bond, if Antonio failed to repay the loan by a certain day, he would give a pound of flesh from his body as penalty. Antonio cheerfully agrees to it and signs the bond. Thus he borrows money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio.

Ans. When Antonio comes to Shylock to borrow some money for his friend Bassanio, Shylock feels himself burning with rage. In fact, he had been many times insulted by Antonio in public. He called him a cut-throat dog. He spat on his Jewish garments. He spurned at him with his foot as if he were a cur. Shylock wanted an opportunity for revenge and now he has got it. So he keeps his feelings of hatred for Antonio under control. He pretends to offer the loan merely out of goodwill. He says that he wants to be friendly with the Christians. He further says that Antonio can have the loan free of interest. But in merry sport, he should sign a bond. According to the bond, if Antonio didn’t repay the amount by a certain day, he would give a pound of flesh from his body as penalty. Shylock, who loves money more than anything else, is ready to lend the money to his enemy and that also without any interest. All that is because Shylock wants to have his revenge by hook or by crook. He doesn’t want to spare Antonio who has fallen into his clutches. So he is interested in lending money to Antonio.

Ans. Antonio comes to Shylock to borrow an amount of three thousand ducats to help his friend Bassanio. However, Antonio had insulted and abused Shylock in public many a time. He had harmed Shylock’s moneylending business also by lending money to people without charging any interest. Shylock has deep hatred for Antonio but he becomes ready to lend money to Antonio and that also without any interest. In fact, he doesn’t want to spare Antonio who has fallen into his clutches. He says that he wants to be friendly with the Christians. He pretends to offer the loan out of goodwill. He says that in merry sport, Antonio should sign a bond only. He puts forth a condition in the bond. According to the condition, if Antonio didn’t repay the amount in time, he would forfeit a pound of flesh to be cut off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased. In fact, Shylock wanted to get rid of Antonio for ever and his whole intent was that Antonio should bleed to death.

Ans. Portia is a rich lady of Belmont. She is very beautiful. Bassanio falls in love with her and wants to marry her. But for this, he needs money. So he goes to his friend Antonio and asks him to lend him three thousand ducats. But Antonio has no ready money at that time. He has no merchandise on which he can raise money. All his ships also have gone abroad and will take some time to return. So Antonio decides to borrow money from the cruel moneylender Shylock. He has to sign a dangerous bond for this. According to the bond, if Antonio did not repay the amount by a certain day, he would give a pound of flesh from his body. Bassanio grows angry at the condition mentioned in the bond. He begs Antonio not to risk his life by signing that strange bond. But Antonio is quite sure that he is running no risk. He cheerfully signs the bond, takes money from Shylock and gives it to Bassanio. Bassanio, then, leaves for Belmont to marry his beloved Portia.

Ans. Antonio had borrowed some money for his friend Bassanio. He had got it from the cruel moneylender Shylock. Shylock lent him the amount and that also without charging any interest. But Antonio was to sign a bond for this. According to the bond, if Antonio didn’t repay the amount in time, he would forfeit a pound of flesh to be cut off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased. Antonio had cheerfully signed the bond because he was sure that he was running no risk. He was sure that his ships would return before the fixed day and thus he would repay the debt. But as ill luck would have it, he could not repay the debt in time because all his ships were lost at the sea. Now Shylock wanted Antonio to pay the penalty according to the bond. So he filed a case against Antonio in the court of the Duke of Venice. He wanted to take a pound of flesh from near Antonio’s heart and thus make him bleed to death.

Ans. Bassanio’s beloved wife Portia is disguised as the learned counsellor, Doctor Balthasar. In fact Shylock, a cruel moneylender of Venice, has filed a suit against Antonio, her husband’s dear friend. Antonio had borrowed for her husband some money from Shylock when Bassanio wanted to come to Belmont to marry her (Portia). Poor Antonio had to sign a bond for that. According to the bond, if Antonio did not repay the money by a fixed day, he would give a pound of flesh from his body as penalty. Unfortunately, Antonio could not repay the money in time. So Shylock brought the case before the Duke of Venice. He wanted Antonio to pay the penalty according to the bond. Antonio wanted to see his dear friend before his death. So he wrote a letter to Bassanio. When Bassanio read the letter, he immediately set out for Venice to help his friend. Then Portia sent word to her cousin Bellario. She told him about Antonio’s situation and asked for his advice. Bellario quickly sent her a lawyer’s clothes and a letter for the Duke of Venice. In the letter, he requested the Duke to let Balthasar (so he called Portia) to plead in his stead because he himself had fallen ill. Thus Portia disguised herself as a male lawyer named Balthasar and came to Venice to plead for Antonio.

Ans. The counsellor was, in fact, Portia herself. She started her argument favouring Shylock at first. She said that by the laws of Venice, Shylock had every right to the penalty. But at the same time, she made a passionate plea for mercy. She appealed to Shylock for mercy. She said that he should not insist on having a pound of Antonio’s flesh. She requested him to accept the money he had lent to Antonio. But cruel Shylock remained unmoved. In her last attempt to save Antonio’s life she said, “Shylock, you must have some surgeon by lest he should bleed to death.” But Shylock’s whole intent was that Antonio should bleed to death. So he said, “It is not so named in the bond.” Then he stepped forward to cut off Antonio’s flesh. But Portia stopped him saying, “The bond gives you only a pound of flesh, it gives you no drop of blood. If in cutting off the pound of flesh, you shed one drop of his blood, the law will have hold on you.” Now it was impossible for Shylock to cut off Antonio’s flesh without shedding any blood. Thus Portia turned tables on Shylock and got judgement in Antonio’s favour. Shylock had conspired against the life of a Christian. So by the laws of Venice, all his property went to the state and his life was at the mercy of the Duke.

Ans. At the time of her marriage, Portia had given her husband Bassanio a ring as a token of her love. She had asked Bassanio never to part with it. Now it so happened that Portia appeared disguised as a male lawyer in the trial at the court. Portia by her intelligence turned the tables on Shylock and saved the life of her husband’s friend, Antonio. Bassanio felt very grateful to the young lawyer. He wanted to give her some gift. Portia refused to accept any gift. But when pressed hard, she said that she would take the ring that he had on his finger.

But Bassanio couldn’t give that ring because that was a gift from his wife. And he had promised never to part with it. At this Antonio said to him, “Dear Bassanio, he has saved my life. Let him have the ring.” So Bassanio had to give that ring to the young lawyer. After taking the ring, Portia hurried to Belmont. When Antonio and Bassanio reached Belmont, Portia pretended to be angry on not finding the ring on Bassanio’s finger. She rebuked Bassanio for breaking his promise. Antonio asked her to forgive Bassanio. Just then, Portia took out a ring and said to Bassanio, “Here is another ring, see that you don’t lose this one too !” Bassanio was quite surprised to look at the ring. It was the same ring. Now Portia gave a hearty laugh and told them the whole story.

Ans. We find several themes in the story. One of the leading themes that i reflected in the story is that we should not insist on the letter of the law, Any such insistence is dangerous and even leads to injustice. The writer also supports justice mixed with mercy. This story is also an attack on usury, that is charging a heavy amount of money as interest. The story also bring forth an idea of true friendship. The friendship between Bassanio and Antonio is ideal. Antonio is ready to sacrifice his all for the sake of his friend. As a proof, he signs a dangerous bond for his friend. He gets ready to get a pound of flesh cut from near his heart by Shylock’s knife. He only wishes Bassanio to be by his side when he dies. Bassanio is also willing to sacrifice his all for his friend. In the trial, he offers a bigger amount of money than that borrowed from Shylock to rescue his friend. We can say that Bassanio and Antonio teach us the value of true friendship.

Ans. Portia is the central character in the play. She is full of self-confidence. She can take independent and quick decisions. She plans her own course of action to help her husband’s friend. Her intellect acts with a lightning speed. She disguises herself as a lawyer and reaches the court. With her superior intelligence, she very easily turns the tables on Shylock. She makes a passionate plea for mercy. One feels as if it were Portia’s last resort to save Antonio. But only Portia knows what she has up her sleeve. The foolish Jew sticks to his demand for flesh. Thus Portia has the Jew in her trap. Shylock has now no way of escape. Portia completely outwits him with her superior intellectual jugglery.

Gertrude, queen of Denmark, becoming a widow by the sudden death of King Hamlet, in less than two months after his death married his brother Claudius, which was noted by all people at the time for a strange act of indiscretion, or unfeelingness, or worse for this Claudius did in no ways resemble her late husband in the qualities of his person or his mind, but was as contemptible in outward appearance, as he was base and unworthy in disposition; and suspicions did not fail to arise in the minds of some, that he had privately made way with his brother, the late king, with the view of marrying his widow, and ascending the throne of Denmark, to the exclusion of young Hamlet, the son of the buried king, and lawful successor to the throne. In vain was all that his mother Gertrude or the king could do to contrive to divert him; he still appeared in court in a suit of deep black, as mourning for the king his father’s death, which mode of dress he had never laid aside, not even in compliment to his mother upon the day she was married, nor could he be brought to join in any of the festivities or rejoicings of that (as appeared to him) disgraceful day. What mostly troubled him was an uncertainty about the manner of his father’s death. It was given out by Claudius that a serpent had stung him; but young Hamlet had shrewd suspicions that Claudius himself was the serpent; in plain English, that he had murdered him for his crown, and that the serpent who stung his father did now sit on the throne. At the sight of his father’s spirit, Hamlet was struck with a sudden surprise and fear. He at first called upon the angels and heavenly ministers to defend them. For he knew not whether it were a good spirit or bad; whether it came for good or evil: but he gradually assumed more courage; and his father (as it seemed to him) looked upon him so piteously, and as it were desiring to have conversation with him, and did in all respects appear so like himself as he was when he lived, that Hamlet could not help addressing him he called him by his name, Hamlet, King, Father! And when they were alone together, the spirit broke silence, and told him that he was the ghost of Hamlet, his father, who had been cruelly murdered, and he told the manner of it; that it was done by his own brother Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, as Hamlet had already but too much suspected, for the hope of succeeding to his bed and crown. That as he was sleeping in his garden, his custom always in the afternoon, his treasonous brother stole upon him in his sleep, and poured the juice of poisonous henbane into his ears, which has such an antipathy to the life of man, that swift as quicksilver it courses through all the veins of the body, baking up the blood, and spreading a crust like leprosy all over the skin: thus sleeping, by a brother’s hand he was cut off at once from his crown, his queen, and his life: and he adjured Hamlet, if he did ever his dear father love that he would revenge his foul murder. And the ghost lamented to his son, that his mother should so fall off from virtue, as to prove false to the wedded love of her first husband, and to marry his murderer, but he cautioned Hamlet, howsoever he proceeded in his revenge against his wicked uncle, by no means to act any violence against the person of his mother, but to leave her to heaven, and to the stings and thorns of conscience. And Hamlet promised to observe the ghost’s direction in all things, and the ghost vanished.

Gertrude is the queen of ……….. Cladius is Hamlet’s ………….. . He tells the young Hamlet that his father died of a serpent’s ………… The spirit that appeared before Hamlet was ………… The The spirit revealed to Hamlet that ………… killed his father by pouring ………… into the ………….. of his father. Hamlet resolves to take ….………… of his father’s murder. The ghost advises Hamlet to leave Gertrude to ……….. After advising Hamlet, the ghost

Ans. Gertrude is the queen of Denmark. Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle. He tells the young Hamlet that his father died of a serpent’s sting. The spirit that appeared before Hamlet was the ghost of his father. The spirit revealed to Hamlet that Claudius killed his father by pouring the juice of poisonous henbane into the ears of his father. Hamlet resolves to take revenge of his father’s murder. The ghost advises Hamlet to leave Gertrude to heaven, and to the stings and thorns of conscience. After advising Hamlet, the ghost vanished.

      contemptible, disposition, rejoice, contrive, quicksilver.

1. contemptible: not deserving any respect at all; despicable.

2. disposition: the natural qualities of a person’s character; temperament.

3. rejoice to express great happiness about something.

4. contrive to manage to do something in spite of difficulties.

5. quicksilver: mercury; changing and moving very quickly.

The forest was so thick that it was almost impenetrable.

The storm was so intense that even the beasts were driven to their hiding places.

‘So ……… that’ is used to express the idea of degree.

Now complete the following sentences using the appropriate clauses given in the box:

(a) The rains were so heavy that ………..

(b) My luggage was so heavy that ………..

(c) We were so excited that ………..

(d) He is so careful with money that ……….

(e) Arundhati Roy’s first book was so good that ………..

i. …………… even the porter found it difficult to lift. ii. ………….. he hardly spends at all. iii. ………….  it won her a Booker Prize. iv. …………. the whole city was flooded. v. ………….. we couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

(a) The rains were so heavy that the whole city was flooded.

(b) My luggage was so heavy that even the porter found it difficult to lift.

(c) We were so excited that we couldn’t sleep a wink last night.

(d) He is so careful with money that he hardly spends at all.

(e) Arundhati Roy’s first book was so good that it won her a Booker Prize.

Ans. Antonio’s kindness and generosity is not limited to his friend only. He is full of the milk of human kindness. He lends money to anyone who is in distress. He charges no interest on it. Thus he saves many from the cruel clutches of the moneylender Shylock. Antonio’s selfless generosity and kindness of heart endears him to all those who come in contact with him. He is held in high esteem by all. So Antonio suffers not because of his generosity, but because of his deep love for his friend Bassanio. He can’t see his friend sad. When Bassanio falls in love with Portia, he wants to marry her. But he needs money for this purpose. So he comes to Antonio to borrow the money. But at that time, Antonio himself is short of money because all his ships carrying rich cargoes have gone abroad and will take some time to return. But Antonio cannot see his friend in grief. So he decides to borrow the money from Shylock and thus signs that dangerous bond. No doubt, Antonio could have waited for the return of his ships and then helped his friend. But he loves his friend Bassanio so much that he can willingly make any sacrifice for him.

Ans. Shylock is a Jew. He is a moneylender. He lends money at a very high rate of interest. He is a mean, greedy and cruel fellow. Shylock hates Antonio who is another moneylender. Antonio lends money free of interest and thus spoils Shylock’s business. So Shylock wants to get rid of Antonio at any cost. He feels that he can make a lot of money if Antonio is out of business. He hates Antonio also because he has received insults from him many a time. Antonio has often abused him in public. He has called him a cut-throat dog and spat upon his Jewish garments. When Antonio comes to Shylock to borrow some money for his friend Bassanio, Shylock gets a chance to have his revenge. He is a schemer and a wicked designer. He cunningly gets a bond signed from Antonio. According to this bond, if Antonio failed to repay the money in time, he would give a pound of flesh from his body as penalty. No doubt, Shylock is mad for money. But his passion for revenge is even stronger than his passion for money. He refuses to accept even three times the money he has lent to Antonio. He insists on having a pound of his flesh only. He is not at all worried about his money or interest on it. His sole purpose is to have his cruel revenge on Antonio. He spurns all appeals for mercy. Such beastly hard-heartedness makes him a thoroughly hateful character.

Ans.                                                                   Friendship

Friendship is a divine bond between two persons. It is based on selflessness and true love for each other. A true friend is always ready to make any sacrifice for his friend. It is truly said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. It is at the time of adversity that we know our friends. Fair-weather friends leave us alone in lurch whereas true friends always stand by us through all hard times. A real friend serves us in a selfless way. If he does us some favour, he doesn’t remind us of having done it. He shares our sorrows and adds to our joys. He points out our defects and gives us credit for our good qualities. He never backbites us. So we should make a wise choice of friends. We should never forget that a wise enemy is better than a foolish friend.

Ans. (Left for the Students.)

(Page 55) Shylock, the Jew, lived in Venice. A usurer by profession, he ha amassed an immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian merchants. Being a hard-hearted man, he exacted the payment of the money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all good men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and Shylock as much hated Antonio because he used to lend money to people in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent. Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.

    (i) friendship (ii) pleasure (iii) mean (iv) liked.

1. The name of the chapter is The Merchent of venice’ and the name of writer is Arundhati Roy. 2. He was a usurer. He lent money at great interest to the Christian merchants. 3. Shylock hated Antonio because Antonio used to lend money to the needy people without any interest and this would harm the business of cunning and greedy Shylock. 4. (i) enmity (ii) distress (iii) generous (iv) disliked. 5. usurer.

(Page 56) “Signior Antonio, on the Rialto many time and often you have railed at me about my monies and my usuries, and I have borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe; and then you have called me unbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spit upon my Jewish garments, and spurned at me with your foot, as if I was a cur. Well then, it now appears you need my help; and you come to me, and say. ‘Shylock, lend me monies.’ Has a dog money? Is it possible a cur should lend three thousand ducats ? Shall I bend low and say, ‘Fair sir, you spit upon me on Wednesday last, another time you called me dog, and for these courtesies I am to lend you monies.’ “

1. The name of the chapter is The Merchant of Venice’ and the name of the writer is Arundhati Roy. 2. Shylock is the speaker in the above lines 3. Antonio had come to Shylock to borrow money for his friend Bassanio. 4. unbeliever 5. cur.

(Page 56) This seemingly kind offer greatly surprised Antonio; and then Shylock, still pretending kindness and that all he did was to gain Antonio’s love, again said he would lend him the three thousand ducats, and take no interest for his money; only Antonio should go with him to a lawyer, and there sign in merry sport a bond, that if he did not repay the money by a certain day, he would forfeit a pound of flesh, to be cut off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased. “Content,” said Antonio. “I will sign to this bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew.” Bassanio grew angry when he heard this. He begged Antonio not to risk his life by signing this strange bond.

     (i) cruelty (ii) displeased (iii) reward (iv) sorrowfully.

(i) Antonio was greatly surprised at …………

(ii) The scheming Jew kept up his pretence of ………… and said that he wanted to gain Antonio’s love.

(iii) According to the bond, Antonio would have to …………. as penalty if he

 failed to repay the money by the fixed day.

(iv) Bassanio grew angry when …………

(a) (i) kindness → cruelty (ii) pleased → displeased (iii) penalty → reward (iv) cheerfully → sorrowfully.

(b) (i) the kind offer by Shylock (ii) kindness (iii) give a pound of flesh (iv) Antonio agreed to sign the bond.

(Page 57) The trial of the case began at the court of the Duke of Venice, in the presence of Bassanio and several other friends of Antonio. The Duke decided to wait for some time for Bellario. Portia dressed herself and her maid, Nerissa, in men’s apparel, and putting on the robes of a counsellor, she took Nerissa along with her as her clerk. Setting out immediately, they arrived at Venice on the very day of the trial. The case was; just going to be heard before the Duke and Senators of Venice in the Senate House when Portia entered this high court of justice and presented a letter from Bellario, in which the learned counsellor wrote to the duke that he would have come himself to plead for Antonio but that he was prevented by sickness, and he requested that the learned young Doctor Balthasar (so he called Portia) might be permitted to plead in his stead.

(i) apparel

(ii) prevented

(iii) permitted

(iv) plead

stopped

argue

dress

allowed

(i) Shylock had filed a suit against ……….. in the Duke’s court.

(ii) Bellario, who was a learned counsellor, was Portia’s …………

(iii) Bellario requested the Duke to …………. to plead in his stead for Antonio.

(iv) Portia disguised herself as a ………..

Answers :- (i) Antonio (ii) cousin (iii) permit Balthasar (Portia) (iv) counsellor.

(Page 59) “You cannot leave so soon, Shylock,” she said. “The law has now a hold on you, Shylock. You have plotted against the life of a Christian and a citizen of Venice. According to the law of Venice, the punishment for this crime is death. Besides, half your goods and money will go to the State of Venice and the other half to Antonio against whose life you plotted.”

This was a terrible blow to Shylock. It was now his turn to beg for mercy. The Duke, who was happy at the way things had gone, was ready to spare his life and even allow him to keep a part of his property, but he would have to give half of it to Antonio. The generous Antonio, however, instead of taking the money himself, suggested that it should be given to Shylock’s daughter who had married a Christian against her father’s wishes.

      (i) an unlawful act (ii) conspired (iii) very serious (iv) things that are owned by somebody.

(i) The word ‘she’ in the given passage refers to …………

(ii) …………… had plotted against ………….

(iii) The Duke ………… Shylock’s life.

(iv) As a punishment, half of Shylock’s property was given to Antonio and the other half went to …………..

(a) (i) crime (ii) plotted (iii) terrible (iv) property.

(b) (i) Portia (ii) Shylock; Antonio (iii) spared (iv) the State of Venice.