Shakespeare's chief source in constructing The Merchant of Venice was a tale in an Italian collection entitled Il Pecorone, Italian for ‘The Simpleton’. This is a collection of 50 short stories written by Giovanni Fiorentino in 1378 and printed for the first time in 1558.
Since no English version was printed until 1632, no known English translation existed for Shakespeare to use. It is possible, although very unlikely, that someone Shakespeare knew had translated his own private copy and gave it to Shakespeare to read. It is more likely however that Shakespeare read the text in its original Italian.
One of Fiorentino’s tales in particular contains many striking similarities the ‘pound of flesh’ story of The Merchant of Venice: an Italian merchant, a Jewish moneylender and a lady of Belmonte.
In Il Pecorone (day 4, story 1), Ansaldo the merchant of Venice borrows money to give to his godson Giannetto, who says he wants to try his luck at sea. The Jew demands a pound of flesh if the bond is not repaid on time. Without telling his godfather, Gianetto woos ‘the Lady of Belmonte’ using Ansaldo’s money. She is a ruthless widow who cheats her lovers by drugging them, but agrees to marry Giannetto on his third attempt.
Completely forgetting about the bond, Gianetto comes back to Venice to find the Jew calling for his pound of flesh. But Gianetto’s wife has secretly disguised herself as a lawyer, and she foils the Jew’s plans by insisting that he sheds no drop of blood beyond the pound he asked for. The wife, in the guise of a lawyer, asks Giannetto for his ring in payment and then accuses him of giving it to his mistress. Finally, the confusion is resolved and the couple is reconciled happily.
Il Pecorone seems to have also served as a key source for The Merry Wives of Windsor.
