Shakespeare Complete Works. 9. The Merchant of Venice (Chinese-English Parallel)

Author: (English) William Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: China Radio & Television Press introduced the copyright of the bilingual edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare translated by Liang Shiqiu from Far Eastern Book Company in Taiwan. This is the first time the Liang translation of The Complete Works of Shakespeare has been published and distributed in mainland China in a bilingual format. The main features of the Liang translation are: a colloquial prose style; literal translation,; complete translation, without omitting any original text. Additionally, the Liang translation has unique aspects: first, it includes annotations. The original texts of Shakespeare's works often present difficulties in versioning, being obscure and hard to understand, with many puns, idioms, slang, allusions, and even obscene language. Liang Shiqiu not only translated literally but also added numerous annotations to help readers understand the original text. Second, each play is preceded by an introduction. The introductions discuss the version, composition date, source of the story, stage history, significance of the play, and critical opinions. The protagonist, Antonio, is a generous merchant, in stark contrast to the usurious policies of the Jewish moneylender Shylock. His close friend Bassanio needs to ask for a loan of three thousand gold ducats to propose to Portia, a beautiful young woman who has inherited a vast fortune, but Antonio has no money left. To help his friend achieve his wish, he pledges his merchant ship, which has not yet returned, to Shylock for the loan of three thousand gold ducats. Unbeknownst to Antonio, Shylock harbors resentment for past conflicts with him, so he seizes this opportunity to set a trap, demanding that Antonio give him a pound of his flesh in place of the ship. After some persuasion, Antonio agrees and signs the contract. Dressed in fine clothes, Bassanio joyfully goes to ask for Portia's hand in marriage and successfully wins her affection. Just as the two are immersed in bliss, terrible news suddenly arrives. Antonio writes that his ship has gone missing and that he is about to face misfortune. He hopes to see Bassanio one last time upon hearing this news. Bassanio quickly returns to Venice, while the clever Portia and her maid Neri also secretly disguise themselves as a lawyer and clerk to rescue Antonio. In court, the disguised young lawyer Portia cleverly agrees to allow Shylock to take a pound of Antonio's flesh, but if even a drop of blood is shed (the contract only mentions a pound of flesh, without agreeing to give Shylock a drop of blood), his life and property will be forfeited. In the end, the kind-hearted Antonio is saved, and the vile Shylock receives the punishment he deserves.