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No Fear Translations
No Fear Audio
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Flourish cornets Enter the Prince of MOROCCO , a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with PORTIA , NERISSA , and their train
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Flourish cornets Enter the Prince of MOROCCO , a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with PORTIA , NERISSA , and their train
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MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
5 Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear
10 The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
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MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
|
|
PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.
15 Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
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,
20 Yourself, renownèd Prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.
|
PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
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
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.
|
|
MOROCCO Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar
25 That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
30 Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win the lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.
35 So is Alcides beaten by his page,
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain
And die with grieving.
|
MOROCCO Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win the lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.
So is Alcides beaten by his page,
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain
And die with grieving.
|
|
PORTIA You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all
40 Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
|
PORTIA 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.
|
|
MOROCCO Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
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MOROCCO Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
|
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PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner
45 Your hazard shall be made.
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PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
|
|
MOROCCO Good fortune then!—
To make me blessed or cursed’st among men.
|
MOROCCO Good fortune then!—
To make me blessed or cursed’st among men.
|
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Cornets
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Cornets
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Flourish cornets Enter the Prince of MOROCCO , a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with PORTIA , NERISSA , and their train
|
Flourish cornets Enter the Prince of MOROCCO , a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with PORTIA , NERISSA , and their train
|
|
MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
5 Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear
10 The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
|
MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
|
|
PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.
15 Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
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,
20 Yourself, renownèd Prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.
|
PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
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
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.
|
|
MOROCCO Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar
25 That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
30 Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win the lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.
35 So is Alcides beaten by his page,
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain
And die with grieving.
|
MOROCCO Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win the lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lychas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.
So is Alcides beaten by his page,
And so may I, blind fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain
And die with grieving.
|
|
PORTIA You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all
40 Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
|
PORTIA 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.
|
|
MOROCCO Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
|
MOROCCO Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
|
|
PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner
45 Your hazard shall be made.
|
PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
|
|
MOROCCO Good fortune then!—
To make me blessed or cursed’st among men.
|
MOROCCO Good fortune then!—
To make me blessed or cursed’st among men.
|
|
Cornets
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Cornets
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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