This page contains links to each scene from Shakespeare’s original The Merchant of Venice text.
The language used in Shakespeare’s day is slightly different to today’s modern English, which is reflected in the text. Our article on Shakespeare & early modern English, or our Shakespeare dictionary, will help you to understand the language as you read through The Merchant of Venice original text.
Another thing to bear in mind as you read The Merchant of Venice text are Shakespeare’s stage directions, which are italicised. Stage directions are instructions and direction to the actors, and not spoken lines. Some stage directions can be a little confusing, so have a read of our understanding Shakespeare’s stage directions article.
The text of The Merchant of Venice is very long, so we’ve separated the play into one page per Scene. Click on the appropriate links below to read Shakespeare’s original Merchant of Venice script, or our translation into simple, modern English:
| The Merchant of Venice in modern English |
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The Merchant of Venice original text |
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| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 1, Scene 1 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 1, Scene 1 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 1, Scene 2 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 1, Scene 2 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 1, Scene 3 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 1, Scene 3 |
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| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 1 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 1 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 2 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 3 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 3 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 4 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 5 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 5 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 6 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 6 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 7 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 7 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 8 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 8 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 9 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 2, Scene 9 |
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| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 1 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 3, Scene 1 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 2 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 3, Scene 2 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 3 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 3, Scene 3 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 4 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 3, Scene 4 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 5 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 3, Scene 5 |
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| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 4, Scene 1 |
| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 2 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 4, Scene 2 |
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| Modern The Merchant of Venice Act 5, Scene 1 |
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The Merchant of Venice text Act 5, Scene 1 |
Read all of Shakespeare’s plays translated to modern English >>
Thank you so much nosweatshakespeare, as a student it helped me a lot. ????????????????????
Great to hear Soham!
Thank you so much. I am forever grateful to you for this. I was at wit’s end trying to literally decypher the original text. However this is just truly a game changer. Sorry as I am a student I am unable to donate currently but please do keep up the great work. You are a lifesaver._______-