Gratiano: My Lord Bassanio and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish For I am sure you can wish none from me: And when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, Even at that time I may be married too.
(1) Give the context in which Gratiano speaks these words. What good wishes does he give to Bassanio?
(2) What request does Gratiano make to bassanio?
(3) What condition does Bassanio put regarding Gratiano’s request?
(4) Explain how Gratiano’s fortune too ‘stood upon the caskets’?
Answers
Answer:
Page 7
ORIGINAL TEXT
MODERN TEXT
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
(gives BASSANIO a ring)
If you ever give away this ring or lose it, it means our love’s doomed, and I’ll have a right to be angry with you.
(she gives BASSANIO the ring)
BASSANIO
180Madam, you have bereft me of all words.
Only my blood speaks to you in my veins.
And there is such confusion in my powers
As after some oration fairly spoke
By a belovèd prince there doth appear
185Among the buzzing pleasèd multitude,
Where every something, being blent together,
Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy,
Expressed and not expressed. But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence.
190O, then be bold to say Bassanio’s dead!
BASSANIO
Madam, you’ve left me speechless, but my feelings are responding to your words. I’m as confused as a crowd of people going wild after hearing their prince give a speech. But the day I take this ring off will be the day I die. If you see me without it, you can be confident I’m dead.
NERISSA
My lord and lady, it is now our time,
That have stood by and seen our wishes prosper,
To cry, “Good joy, good joy, my lord and lady!”
NERISSA
My lord and lady, it’s now our turn, who have been watching as our dreams came true. Now we can shout, “Congratulations, congratulations, my lord and lady!”
GRATIANO
My Lord Bassanio and my gentle lady,
195I wish you all the joy that you can wish,
For I am sure you can wish none from me.
And when your honors mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you
Even at that time I may be married too.