SHAKESPEARE'S 
 
 The 
 
 Merchant of Venice 
 
 With Introduction and Notes 
 
 BY 
 
 MARGARET A. EATON, B. A. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 BOSTON 
 New York Chicago San Francisco 
 
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 Copyright, 1909 
 
 BY 
 
 EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
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 MAY 12 1«09 
 
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 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction 5 
 
 Dramatis Personae . . . . . 12 
 
 The Merchant of Venice . . . 13 
 
 Notes 103 
 
ACT IV. SCENE I. 
 
 Ad. Schmite, 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 CHIEF FACTS OF SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE. 
 
 The date of Shakespeare's birth is not known, but, 
 according to tradition, he was born April 23, 1564, in 
 the town of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. 
 Very little is known with certainty concerning his life, 
 and he tells us less about himself in his work than almost 
 any other writer. 
 
 His father was a well-to-do tradesman and his mother 
 was Mary Arden, who had a small estate in land. Their 
 son William was sent to the grammar school of Stratford, 
 where he received a fair education, although hardly of 
 such a kind as his plays would lead us to suppose. He 
 may have learned a little law from his uncle, who was a 
 lawyer in the town, but we know next to nothing about 
 his youthful days. 
 
 Shortly after his marriage to Anne Hathaway he is 
 said to have been reprimanded for poaching on the 
 estate of Sir Thomas Lucy, an episode which he after- 
 ward immortalized, and this fact, with his father's loss 
 of fortune, induced him to set out for London to make 
 his own way in life. 
 
 Possibly he may have seen some of the plays and 
 pageants given at Kenilworth Castle during his boyhood, 
 and cherished a secret liking for the stage. At all events, 
 he soon found friends among the London actors and 
 before long became an actor himself and the proprietor 
 of a theatre in Biackfriars. 
 
 His fame as a playwright soon eclipsed his reputation 
 
 5 
 
6 INTRODUCTION 
 
 as an actor, and he seemed equally great in tragedy, 
 comedy, or historical drama. During his life in London 
 he produced about thirty-six plays, of which the following 
 are the chief: 
 
 Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Lear, Othello, Romeo 
 and Juliet. 
 
 Comedies: Tempest, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer 
 Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Much 
 Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, Cymbeline. 
 
 Historical: Henry VI., Richard II., Richard III., 
 Henry IV., Henry V., Henry VIII. , Coriolanus, Julius 
 Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
 He also wrote two long poems and some of the most 
 beautiful sonnets in the language. 
 
 In 1610 he returned to his native town, where he lived 
 until his death six years later. His grave is in Trinity 
 Church, Stratford-on-Avon. 
 
 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 The Merchant of Venice was first printed in 1600,. 
 when it appeared by itself in two quarto editions, one, 
 called the First Quarto, published by James Roberts, 
 the other, the Second Quarto, by Thomas Heyes. 
 
 It is quite certain that the play was not written later 
 than the end of the year 1597, for in July, 1598, it was 
 entered in the Stationers' Register, under the name of 
 "a booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce or otherwise 
 called the Jewe of Venice." 
 
 Shakespeare seldom invented his plots. He usually 
 took some story which he had heard or read, or which he 
 had seen represented on the stage, and made that the foun- 
 dation of his wonderful work as we know it. Students of 
 Shakespeare have found that the two stories, that of the 
 pound of flesh, and the story of the caskets, were widely 
 popular, and that they occur again and again in slightly 
 
INTRODUCTION 7 
 
 different forms in European and in Oriental literature. 
 The sources from which Shakespeare is believed to have 
 obtained the stories of The Merchant of Venice are as 
 follows: 
 
 An old play called The lew and Ptolome, in which 
 two stories showing "the greediness of worldly chusers 
 and bloody mindes of usurers" are combined. 
 
 The Adventures of Giannetto, from a collection of tales 
 called // Pecorone, by Giovanni Fiorentino, published 
 at Milan in 1558. This gave Shakespeare the story of 
 the bond, the name of Portia's house, the plan which 
 Portia invented for freeing the merchant, and the incident 
 of the ring in the fifth act. 
 
 A translation of the Gesta Romanorum, which gave 
 the story of the caskets. 
 
 The Ballad of Gernutus, an old poem from which 
 Shakespeare perhaps got the incident of Shylock's whet- 
 ting the knife. 
 
 Silvayn's Orator, in which is an argument about a 
 Jew "who would for his debt have a pound of the flesh 
 of a Christian." 
 
 CRITICAL COMMENTS 
 
 The Merchant of Venice is remarkable for the ingenuity 
 with which the different stories are combined to form 
 a natural and harmonious plot. The story of the bond, 
 which is so serious and almost tragic, is lightened by 
 Portia's love story, and by the subordinate stories of 
 Gratiana and Nerissa, and Lorenzo and Jessica. All 
 the incidents bear directly and naturally on the denoue- 
 ment or "winding-up" of the play, and on the develop- 
 ment of the principal characters, with the exception of 
 the merely comic business, and of the scenes in which 
 the Princes of Morocco and Arragon make their choice 
 of the caskets. These scenes — which introduce two 
 characters as it seems unnecessarily, but which clear the 
 
8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 way for Bassanio's successful choice — are always 
 omitted when the play is performed, but they are the 
 occasion of some fine poetry. 
 
 The question has been raised whether Shakespeare 
 had any particular purpose in writing this delightful 
 play. If he had, it was probably to protest against the 
 uncharitableness with which the Jews were still treated 
 in his day. In England they were despised and looked 
 on as inferior beings, in foreign countries they were 
 bitterly persecuted. The play teaches, therefore, les- 
 sons of charity which may be summed up in the beauti- 
 ful speech of Portia in the trial scene. Another lesson 
 that has been suggested as running right through the 
 play is the sacredness of promises, which underlies the 
 mock reproaches and the pretty teasing of the last act. 
 
 Though the play takes its name from Antonio, Shylock 
 is the central character, and on him Shakespeare spent 
 his whole strength. At the opening of the play we see 
 in him a grasping money-lender, who bitterly hates the 
 Christian merchant, on many grounds: First, because 
 he has gentle and conciliating manners ("How like a 
 fawning publican he looks!" Act I., Scene III., 35); 
 second, because he is a Christian; third, because he 
 lends out money gratis, and has done his best to injure 
 the Jew's business; fourth, because he shows such 
 bitter and persistent contempt for the Jewish nation. 
 It is this last reason most of all which explains the Jew's 
 cruel device for obtaining his revenge. He has a pride 
 in his race which gives dignity to his character, and his 
 powerful and eloquent pleas on behalf of his despised 
 race produce a feeling of sympathy for him in spite of 
 his detestable cruelty. And he is not a monster entirely 
 without human feelings. He loves his daughter, though 
 perhaps not so much as his ducats; and when he hears 
 that she has given his rare turquoise ring in exchange 
 for a monkey, he shows that he valued it chiefly because 
 it was a present from bis wife before their marriage. In 
 the trial scene, when his cruel scheme has recoiled on 
 his own head, and he is a broken-hearted, ruined man, 
 
INTRODUCTION 9 
 
 we see that his punishment is no greater than he deserved, 
 but even now we feel some pity for him. 
 
 After Shylock, Portia is the most important character. 
 Full of spirit, of happy innocent playfulness, and of every 
 personal ami mental attraction, she has a bold and fear- 
 less mind that does not shrink from actions which might 
 be regarded by some people as scarcely "proper." As 
 soon as she knows that her husband's friend is in danger, 
 she promptly and unselfishly makes up her mind to save 
 him (although she might plead that he is nothing to 
 her), and to part with her husband for a time, though 
 she is only just married to him. Though she dresses 
 as a man her conduct is in no way unwomanly. On the 
 contrary 7 , when she appears as a lawyer in court, she en- 
 deavors to dissuade Shylock from his revenge by appeal- 
 ing, as a woman would, to his feelings, to his reason, to 
 his better nature. It is only when the milder course has 
 failed that she becomes seemingly hard and relentless, 
 and makes use of a legal quibble with which Bellario 
 has primed her in order to effect her purpose. Her 
 woman's nature is clearly shown by her exclamation 
 when the duke exempts Shylock from the fine of half his 
 goods to the state. "Not for Antonio," she says; that 
 is, the other half must come to Antonio. She is not there 
 confessedly as Antonio's advocate, but as an impartial 
 judge; but she is evidently keenly looking after the 
 interests of her husband's friend. 
 
 Antonio takes little active part in the play. He has 
 only some 180 lines to speak, and yet we seem to know 
 a good deal of his character. We learn much from what 
 is said about him by his friends and by Shylock. Bas- 
 sanio says he is 
 
 " The kindest man, 
 
 The best condition'd and unwearied spirit 
 
 In doing courtesies." 
 
 Salerino says — 
 " A kinder gentleman treads not the earth." 
 
io INTRODUCTION 
 
 Shylock tells us that in guilelessness of heart he lends 
 money gratis. He is a generous, unselfish man, ready 
 to do anything for his friend, into whose love story he 
 enters quite sympathetically. He is unsuspicious of 
 Shylock's designs against himself, but when the blow 
 falls, he is patient in suffering, and when he sees nothing 
 but death before him, he resigns himself courageously 
 to his fate, only desiring that his last moments may be 
 cheered by the presence of his friend. Even against 
 Shylock, to whom in his prosperity he was, to say the 
 least, ungenerous, he seems to feel no malice when in his 
 power. But Antonio has his great fault, that of un- 
 charitableness towards the Jewish race, in which, how- 
 ever, he is only like the actual men of Shakespeare s 
 time. "To everyone else he is a model of a true gentle- 
 man and a perfect Christian; but to Shylock he is 
 rude, contemptuous, morally cruel, and sometimes even 
 mean." 
 
 The other characters are of less importance, though 
 all are admirably portrayed. Bassanio is a frank, rash, 
 thoughtless, extravagant man; warm-hearted and loyal 
 to his friends; quick-witted enough to suspect Shylock's 
 good intentions, but not strong enough to refuse outright 
 his consent to the bond; what people would call a 
 thoroughly good fellow, but with no great distinction 
 of character. To use a familiar expression, Portia is 
 certainly the better half. Gratiano is a chatterer, al- 
 ways laughing and jesting, and yet contriving to say 
 some very sensible things. His taunts against Shylock 
 when things are turning against him at the trial seem like 
 hitting a man when he is down, but Gratiano was one of 
 those people who cannot help joking, and who do not 
 mean all they say. The parts of Nerissa, Lorenzo, 
 Jessica, Salarino, and Salanio, are very slight, but Shake- 
 speare's genius is admirably shown in them, and in the 
 small character of Tubal, the Jew who knows so well 
 Shylock's weak points and so amusingly plays on them. 
 The purely comic element is well provided by Launcelot 
 Gobbo and his father, the former of whom persistently 
 
INTRODUCTION n 
 
 misuses words and wilfully misunderstands the words 
 of others. 
 
 The serious action of the play closes with the trial 
 scene, but by the incident of the rings Shakespeare in- 
 geniously contrives to carry on the spectator's interest 
 to the end. " Throughout the whole conduct of the 
 play, what may be called its tragic portion has been 
 relieved by the romance which belongs to the personal 
 fate of Portia. But after the great business of the drama 
 is wound up, we fall back upon a repose which is truly 
 refreshing and harmonious. From the lips of Lorenzo 
 and Jessica, as they sit in the 'paler day' of an Italian 
 moon, are breathed the lighter strains of the most play- 
 ful poetry, mingled with the highest flights of the most 
 elevated. Music and the odors of sweet flowers are around 
 them. Happiness is in their heart. Their thoughts are 
 lifted by the beauties of the earth above the earth . . . 
 And then come the affectionate welcomes, the pretty 
 pouting contests, and the happy explanations of Portia 
 and Nerissa with Bassanio and Gratiano. We are 
 removed into a sphere where the calamities of for- 
 tune, and the injustice of man warring against man, 
 may be forgotten. The poor merchant is once more 
 happy." — Charles Knight. 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS 
 
 The Duke of Venice. 
 
 The Prince of Morocco, ) ^ (0 Porda 
 
 The Prince of Arragon, j 
 
 Antonio, a Merchant of Venice. 
 
 Bassanio, his kinsman, suitor likewise to Portia. 
 
 Salanio, *) 
 
 Salarino, [ ffiends Antonio and Bassanio. 
 
 Gratiano, I 
 
 Salerio, J 
 
 Lorenzo, in love with Jessica. 
 
 Shylock, a rich Jew. 
 
 Tubal, a Jew, his friend. 
 
 Launcelot Gobbo, the Clown, servant to Shylock. 
 
 Old Gobbo, father to Launcelot. 
 
 Leonardo, servant to Bassanio. 
 
 Balthasar, ) servants por(ia] 
 
 Stephano, j 
 
 Portia, a rich heiress. 
 
 Nerissa, her waiting-maid. 
 
 Jessica, daughter to Shylock. 
 
 Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of 
 Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other 
 Attendants. 
 
 Scene: Partly at Venice and partly at Belmont, the 
 seat of Portia, on the Continent. 
 
The Merchant of Venice 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Scene I. Venice. A 
 Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio. 
 
 Ant. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad: 
 It wearies me; you say it wearies you; 
 But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, 
 What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born, 
 I am to learn; 5 
 
 And such a want-wit sadness makes of me 
 That I have much ado to know myself. 
 
 Salar. Your mind is tossing on the ocean: 
 There, where your argosies with portly sail, 
 Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood, ftj 
 Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea, 
 Do overpeer the petty traffickers, 
 That curtsy to them, do them reverence, 
 As they fly by them with their woven wings. 
 
 Salan. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth^ 
 The better part of my affections would 16 
 
 Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still 
 Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind, 
 Peering in maps for ports and piers and roads; 
 And every object that might make me fear 20 
 
 Misfortune to my ventures out of doubt 
 13 
 
i 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Would make me sad. 
 
 Solar. My wind cooling my broth 
 
 Would blow me to an ague, when I thought 
 What harm a wind too great at sea might do. 
 I should not see the sandy hour-glass run, 25 
 
 But I should think of shallows and of flats, 
 And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand, 
 Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs 
 To kiss her burial. Should I go to church 
 And see the holy edifice of stone, 30 
 
 And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, 
 Which touching but my gentle vessel's side, 
 Would scatter all her spices on the stream, 
 Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks, 
 And, in a word, but even now worth this, 35 
 
 And now worth nothing ? Shall I have the thought 
 To think on this, and shall I lack the thought 
 That such a thing bechanced would make me sad? 
 But tell not me; I know, Antonio 
 Is sad to think upon his merchandise. 40 
 
 Ant. Believe me, no : I thank my fortune for it, 
 My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, 
 Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate 
 Upon the fortune of this present year: 
 Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad. 45 
 
 Salar. Why, then you are in love. 
 
 Ant. Fie, fie! 
 
 Salar. Not in love neither ? Then let us say you 
 are sad, 
 Because you are not merry: and 'twere as easy 
 For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry, 
 Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed 
 Janus, 50 
 
 Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: 
 Some that will evermore peep through their eyes 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 15 
 
 And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper, 
 
 And other of such vinegar aspect 
 
 That they '11 not show their teeth in way of smile, 5 5 
 
 Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable. 
 
 Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano. 
 
 Salan. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble 
 kinsman, 
 Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well: 
 We leave you now with better company. 
 
 Salar. I would have stay'd till I had made you 
 merry, 60 
 
 If worthier friends had not prevented me. 
 
 Ant. Your worth is very dear in my regard. 
 I take it, your own business calls on you 
 And you embrace the occasion to depart. 
 
 Salar. Good morrow, my good lords. 65 
 
 Bass. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? 
 say, when? 
 You grow exceeding strange: must it be so? 
 
 Salar. We '11 make our leisures to attend on yours. 
 [Exeunt Salarino and Salanio. 
 
 Lor. My Lord Bassanio, since you have found 
 Antonio, 
 We two will leave you: but at dinner-time, 70 
 
 I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. 
 
 Bass. I will not fail you. 
 
 Gra. You look not well, Signior Antonio; 
 You have too much respect upon the world: 
 They lose it that do buy it with much care: 75 
 
 Believe me, you are marvellously changed. 
 
 Ant. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano ; 
 A stage where every man must play his part, 
 And mine a sad one. 
 
1 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Gra. Let me play the fool: 
 
 With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come, So 
 And let my liver rather heat with wine 
 Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. 
 Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, 
 Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? 
 Sleep when he wakes and creep into the jaundice 85 
 By being peevish ? I tell thee what, Antonio — 
 I love thee, and it is my love that speaks — 
 There are a sort of men whose visages 
 Do cream and mantle like a standing pond. 
 And do a wilful stillness entertain, 90 
 
 With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion 
 Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit, 
 As who should say "I am Sir Oracle, 
 And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!" 
 
 my Antonio, I do know of these 95 
 That therefore only are reputed wise 
 
 For saying nothing, when, I am very sure, 
 
 If they should speak, would almost damn those ears 
 
 Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools. 
 
 I'll tell thee more of this another time: 100 
 
 But fish not, with this melancholy bait, 
 
 For this fool gudgeon, this opinion. 
 
 Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile: 
 
 1 '11 end my exhortation after dinner. 
 
 Lor. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time : 
 I must be one of these same dumb wise men, 106 
 For Gratiano never lets me speak. 
 
 Gra. Well, keep me company but two years moe, 
 Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue. 
 
 Ant. Farewell: I'll grow a talker for this gear. 
 
 Gra. Thanks, i' faith, for silence is only com- 
 mendable 1 1 1 
 In a neat's tongue dried. 
 
 [Exeunt Gratiano and Lorenzo. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 17 
 
 Ant. Is that any thing now ? 
 
 Bass. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, 
 more than any man in all Venice. His reasons are 
 as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff: 
 you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when 
 you have them, they are not worth the search. 
 
 Ant. Well, tell me now what lady is the same 
 To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, 120 
 
 That you to-day promised to tell me of? 
 
 Bass. 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, 
 How much I have disabled mine estate, 
 By something showing a more swelling port 
 Then my faint means would grant continuance : 125 
 Nor do I now make moan to be abridged 
 From such a noble rate; but my chief care 
 Is to come fairly off from the great debts 
 Wherein my time something too prodigal 
 Hath left me gaged. To you, Antonio, 130 
 
 I owe the most, in money and in love, 
 And from your love I have a warranty 
 To unburden all my plots and purposes 
 How to get clear of all the debts I owe. 
 
 Ant. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; 
 And if it stand, as you yourself still do, 136 
 
 Within the eye of honor, be assured, 
 My purse, my person, my extremest means. 
 Lie all unlock'd to your occasions. 
 
 Bass. In my school-days, when I had lost one 
 shaft 140 
 
 I shot his fellow of the self-same flight 
 The self-same way, with more advised watch, 
 To find the other forth, and by adventuring both 
 I oft found both: I urge this childhood proof, 
 Because what follows is pure innocence. 145 
 
 I owe you much, and, like a wilful youth, 
 
18 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 That which I owe is lost; but if you please 
 
 To shoot another arrow that self way 
 
 Which you did shoot the first, J do not doubt, 
 
 As I will watch the aim, or to find both 150 
 
 Or bring your latter hazard back again 
 
 And thankfully rest debtor for the first. 
 
 Ant. You know me well, and herein spend but 
 time 
 To wind about my love with circumstance; 
 And out of doubt you do me now more wrong 155 
 In making question of my uttermost 
 Than if you had made waste of all I have: 
 Then do but say to me what I should do 
 That in your knowledge may by me be done, 
 And I am prest unto it: therefore speak. 160 
 
 Bass. In Belmont is a lady richly left; 
 And she is fair and, fairer than that word, 
 Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes 
 I did receive fair speechless messages: 
 Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued 165 
 
 To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia: 
 Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, 
 For the four winds blow in from every coast 
 Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks 
 Hang on her temples like a golden fleece; 170 
 
 Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strand, 
 And many Jasons come in quest of her. 
 
 my Antonio, had I but the means 
 To hold a rival place with one of them, 
 
 1 have a mind presages me such thrift, 175 
 That I should questionless be fortunate! 
 
 Ant. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea ; 
 Neither have I money nor commodity 
 To raise a present sum: therefore go forth; 
 Try what my credit can in Venice do: 180 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 19 
 
 That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost, 
 To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. 
 Go, presently inquire, and so will I, 
 Where money is, and I no question make 
 To have it of my trust or for my sake. 185 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 Enter Portia and Nerissa. 
 
 Por. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is 
 aweary of this great world. 
 
 Ner. You would be, sweet madam, if your mis- 
 eries were in the same abundance as your good for- 
 tunes are: and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick 
 that surfeit with too much as they that starve with 
 nothing. It is no mean happiness therefore, to be 
 seated in the mean: superfluity comes sooner by 
 white hairs, but competency lives longer. 
 
 Por. Good sentences and well pronounced. 10 
 
 Ner. They would be better, if well followed. 
 
 Por. If to do were as easy as to know what were 
 good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's 
 cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that 
 follows his own instructions: I can easier teach 
 twenty what were good to be done, than be one of 
 the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain 
 may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps 
 o'er a cold decree: such a hare is madness the youth, 
 to skip o'er the meshes of good counsel the cripple. 
 But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me 
 a husband. O me, the word "choose"! I may 
 neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I 
 
:>o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by 
 the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, 
 that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? 26 
 
 Ner. Your father was ever virtuous; and holy 
 men at their death have good inspirations: therefore 
 the lottery, that he hath devised in these three chests 
 of gold, silver and lead, whereof who chooses his 
 meaning chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen 
 by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love. 
 But what warmth is there in your affection towards 
 any of these princely suitors that are already come ? 
 
 Por. I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou 
 namest them, I will describe them; and, according 
 to my description, level at my affection. 37 
 
 Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince. 
 
 Por. Ay, that's a colt indeed, for he doth nothing 
 but talk of his horse; and he makes it a great ap- 
 propriation to his own good parts, that he can shoe 
 him himself. 
 
 Ner. Then there is the County Palatine. as 
 
 Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who should 
 say "If you will not have me, choose:" he hears 
 merry tales and smiles not: I fear he will prove the 
 weeping philosopher when he grows old, being 
 full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had 
 rather be married to a death's head with a bone in 
 his mouth than to either of these. God defend me 
 from these two! 51 
 
 Ner. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur 
 Le Bon ? 
 
 Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass 
 for a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a 
 mocker: but, he! why, he hath a horse better than 
 the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of frowning than 
 the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man; if 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 21 
 
 a throstle sing, he falls straight a capering: he will 
 fence with his own shadow: if I should marry him, I 
 should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise 
 me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to madness, 
 I shall never requite him. 
 
 Ner. What say you then to Falconbridge, the 
 young baron of England? 65 
 
 Par. You know I say nothing to Mm, for he 
 understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither 
 Latin, French, nor Italian; and you will come into 
 the court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth 
 in the English. He is a proper man's picture, but, 
 alas, who can converse with a dumbshow? How 
 oddly he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in 
 Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Ger- 
 many and his behavior everywhere. 
 
 Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his 
 neighbor? 76 
 
 Par 1 That he hath a neighborly charity in him, 
 for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman 
 and swore he would pay him again when he was 
 able : I think the Frenchman became his surety and 
 sealed under for another. • 81 
 
 Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke 
 of Saxony's nephew ? 
 
 Par. Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober, 
 and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk : 
 when he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and 
 when he is worst, he is little better than a beast: an 
 the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift 
 to go without him. 89 
 
 Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the 
 right casket, you should refuse to perform your 
 father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. 
 
 Par. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, 
 
22 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary 
 casket, for if the devil be within and that temptation 
 without, I know he will choose it. I will do any 
 thing, Nerissa, ere I'll be married to a sponge. 97 
 
 Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of 
 these lords: they have acquainted me with their 
 determinations; which is indeed to return to their 
 home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless 
 you may be won by some other sort than your 
 father's imposition, depending on the caskets. 103 
 
 Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as 
 chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner 
 of my father's will. I am glad this parcel of wooers 
 are so reasonable, for there is not one among them 
 but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant 
 them a fair departure. 109 
 
 Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's 
 time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came 
 hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat ? 
 
 Por. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he 
 was so called. 114 
 
 Ner. True, madam: he, of all the men that ever 
 my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving 
 a fair lady. 
 
 Por. I remember him well, and I remember him 
 worthy of thy praise. 
 
 Enter a Serving- man. 
 
 How now! what news? 120 
 
 Serv. The four strangers seek for you, madam, 
 to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come 
 from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings 
 word the prince his master will be here to-night. 1 2 4 
 Por. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 23 
 
 good a heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I 
 should be glad of his approach: if he have the con- 
 dition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I 
 had rather he should shrive me than wive me. 
 Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before. 130 
 
 Whiles we shut the gates upon one wooer, another 
 knocks at the door. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. Venice. A public place. 
 Enter Bassanio and Shylock. 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats; well. 
 
 Bass. Ay, sir, for three months. 
 
 Shy. For three months; well. 
 
 Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall 
 be bound. 5 
 
 Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well. 
 
 Bass. May you stead me ? will you pleasure me ? 
 shall I know your answer? 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, 
 and Antonio bound. 10 
 
 Bass. Your answer to that? 
 
 Shy. Antonio is a good man. 
 
 Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the 
 contrary ? 
 
 Shy. O, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying 
 he is' a good man is to have you understand me that 
 he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition; 
 he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the 
 Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he 
 hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and 
 other ventures he hath, squandered abroad. But 
 ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land- 
 
24 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 rats and water-rats, land-thieves and water-thieves, 
 I mean pirates, and then there is the peril of waters, 
 winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, 
 sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I may 
 take his bond. 
 
 Bass. Be assured you may. 
 
 Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may be 
 assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with 
 Antonio ? 3 1 
 
 Bass. If it please you to dine with us. 
 
 Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation 
 which your prophet the Xazarite conjured the devil 
 into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with 
 you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not 
 eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. 
 What news on the Rialto ? Who is he comes here ? 
 
 Enter Antonio. 
 
 Bass. This is Signior Antonio. 
 
 Shy. [Aside.] How like a fawning publican he 
 looks! 4 c 
 
 I hate him for he is a Christian, 
 But more for that in low simplicity 
 He lends out money gratis and brings dowa 
 The rate of usance here with us in Venice. 
 If I can catch him once upon the hip, 45 
 
 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him 
 He hates our sacred nation, and he rails 
 Even there where merchants most do congregate. 
 On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift, 
 Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe, 50 
 If I forgive him! 
 
 Bass. Shylock, do you hear? 
 
 Shy. I am debating of my present store, 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 25 
 
 And, by the near guess of my memory, 
 
 I cannot instantly raise up the gross 
 
 Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? 55 
 
 Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, 
 
 Will furnish me. But soft! how many months 
 
 Do you desire? [To Ant.] Rest you fair, good 
 
 signior; 
 Your worship was the last man in our mouths. 
 
 Ant. Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow 
 By taking nor by giving of excess, 61 
 
 Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, 
 I '11 break a custom. Is he yet possess 'd 
 How much ye would? 
 
 Sky. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. 
 
 Ant. And for three months. 65 
 
 Shy. I had forgot ; three months; you told me so. 
 Well then, your bond ; and let me see ; but hear you ; 
 Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow 
 Upon advantage. 
 
 Ant. I do never use it. 
 
 Shy. When Jacob grazed his uncle La ban's 
 sheep — 70 
 
 This Jacob from our holy Abram was, 
 As his wise mother wrought in his behalf, 
 The third possessor; ay, he was the third — 
 
 Ant. And what of him ? did he take interest ? 
 
 Shy. No, not take interest, not, as you would say, 
 Directly interest: mark what Jacob did 76 
 
 When Laban and himself were compromised 
 That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied 
 Should fall as Jacob's hire. 
 
 This was a way to thrive, and he was blest: 80 
 
 And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not. 
 
 Ant. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served 
 for; 
 
2 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 A thing not in his power to bring to pass, 
 But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven. 
 Was this inserted to make interest good? 85 
 
 Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams? 
 
 Shy. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast: 
 But note me, signior. 
 
 Ant. Mark you this, Bassanio, 
 
 The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. 
 An evil soul producing holy witness 90 
 
 Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, 
 A goodly apple rotten at the heart: 
 O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! 
 
 Shy. Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round 
 sum. Three months from twelve; then, let me see; 
 the rate — 96 
 
 Ant. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to 
 you? 
 
 Shy. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft 
 In the Rialto you have rated me 
 About my moneys and my usances: 100 
 
 Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, 
 For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. 
 You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, 
 And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, 
 And all for use of that which is mine own. 105 
 
 Well then, it now appears you need my help: 
 Go to, then; you come to me, and you say 
 "Shylock, we would have moneys:" you say so; 
 You, that did void your rheum upon my beard 
 And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur no 
 
 Over your threshold: moneys is your suit. 
 What should I say to you ? Should I not say 
 "Hath a dog money? is it possible 
 A cur can lend three thousand ducats?" Or 
 Shall I bend low and in a bondsman's key, 115 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 27 
 
 With bated breath and whispering humbleness, 
 
 Say this: 
 
 "Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; 
 
 You spurn'd me such a day; another time 
 
 You calPd me dog; and for these courtesies 120 
 
 I '11 lend you thus much moneys ? " 
 
 Ant. I am as like to call thee so again, 
 To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. 
 If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not 
 As to thy friends; for when did friendship take 125 
 A breed for barren metal of his friend ? 
 But lend it rather to thine enemy, 
 Who if he break, thou mayst with better face 
 Exact the penalty. 
 
 Shy. Why, look you, how you storm! 
 
 I would be friends with you and have your love, 1 30 
 Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with, 
 Supply your present wants and take no doit 
 Of usance for my moneys, and you '11 not hear me: 
 This is kind I offer. 
 
 Bass. This were kindness. 
 
 Shy. This kindness will I show. 135 
 
 Go with me to a notary, seal me there 
 Your single bond; and, in a merry sport, 
 If you repay me not on such a day, 
 In such a place, such sum or sums as are 
 Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit 140 
 
 Be nominated for an equal pound 
 Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken 
 In what part of your body pleaseth me. 
 
 Ant. Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond 
 And say there is much kindness in the Jew. 145 
 
 Bass. You shall not seal to such a bond for me: 
 I'd rather dwell in my necessity. 
 
 Ant. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it: 
 
28 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Within these two months, that 's a month before 
 This bond expires, I do expect return 150 
 
 Of thrice three times the value of this bond. 
 
 Shy. O father Abram, what these Christians are, 
 Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect 
 The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this; 
 If he should break his day, what should I gain 1 5 5 
 By the exaction of the forfeiture? 
 A pound of man's flesh taken from a man 
 Is not so estimable, profitable neither, 
 As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, 
 To buy his favor, I extend this friendship: 160 
 
 If he will take it, so; if not, adieu; 
 And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not. 
 
 Ant. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. 
 
 Shy. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's; 
 Give him direction for this merry bond, 165 
 
 And I will go and purse the ducats straight, 
 See to my house, left in the fearful guard 
 Of an unthrifty knave, and presently 
 I will be with you. 
 
 Ant. Hie thee, gentle Jew. 
 
 [Exit Shw 
 The Hebrew will turn Christian : he grows kind. 1 70 
 
 Bass. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. 
 
 Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dismay; 
 My ships come home a month before the day. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 29 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Scene I. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 
 Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco 
 and his train; Portia, Nerissa, and others 
 attending. 
 
 Mor. Mislike me not for ray complexion, 
 The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, 
 To whom I am a neighbor and near bred. 
 Bring me the fairest creature northward born, 
 Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, 5 
 
 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 fear'd the valiant: by my love, I swear 
 The best-regarded virgins of our clime 10 
 
 Have loved it too : I would not change this hue, 
 Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. 
 
 Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led 
 By nice direction of a maiden's eyes; 
 Besides, the lottery of my destiny 15 
 
 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, renowned prince, then stood as fair 20 
 As any corner I have look'd on yet 
 For my affection. 
 
 Mor. 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 25 
 
3 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, 
 I would cutstare 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, 30 
 
 To win thee, lady. But, alas the while! 
 If Hercules and Lichas 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; 35 
 
 And so may I, blind fortune leading me, 
 Miss that which one unworthier may attain, 
 And die with grieving. 
 
 Por. You must take your chance, 
 
 And either not attempt to choose at all, 
 Or swear, before you choose, if you choose wrong 40 
 Never to speak to lady afterward 
 In way of marriage: therefore be advised. 
 
 Mor. Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my 
 chance. 
 
 Por. First, forward to the temple : after dinner 
 Your hazard shall be made. 
 
 Mor. Good fortune then! 45 
 
 To make me blest or cursed'st among men. 
 
 [Cornets, and exeunt. 
 
 Scene II. Venice. A street. 
 Enter Launcelot. 
 
 Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to 
 run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine 
 elbow and tempts me, saying to me " Gobbo, Launce- 
 lot Gobbo, good Launcelot," or "good Gobbo," or 
 "good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 31 
 
 start, run away." My conscience says "No; take 
 heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo," 
 or, as aforesaid, "honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not 
 run; scorn running with thy heels." Well, the most 
 courageous fiend bids me pack: "Via!" says the 
 fiend; "away!" says the fiend; "for the heavens, 
 rouse up a brave mind," says the fiend, "and run." 
 Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my 
 heart, says very wisely to me "My honest friend 
 Launcelot, being an honest man's son," or rather an 
 honest woman's son; for indeed my father did some- 
 thing smack, something grow to, he had a kind of 
 taste; well, my conscience says "Launcelot, budge 
 not." " Budge," says the fiend. " Budge not," says 
 my conscience. "Conscience," say I, "you counsel 
 well;" "Fiend," say I, "you counsel well:" to be 
 ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew 
 my master, who, God bless the mark, is a kind of 
 devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be 
 ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the 
 devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil 
 incarnal; and, in my conscience, my conscience is 
 but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me 
 to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more 
 friendly counsel. I will run, fiend; my heels are at 
 your command; I will run. 31 
 
 Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket. 
 
 Gob. Master young man, you, I pray you, which 
 is the way to master Jew's? 
 
 Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true-be- 
 gotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, 
 high-gravel-blind, knows me not: I will try confu- 
 sions with him. 
 
3 2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which 
 is the way to master Jew's? 39 
 
 Laun. Turn up on your right hand at the next 
 turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; 
 marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but 
 turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. 
 
 Gob. By God's sondes, 'twill be a hard way to 
 hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that 
 dwells with him, dwell with him or no? 46 
 
 Latin. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? 
 [Aside.] Mark me now; now will I raise the waters. 
 — Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? 
 
 Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son : his 
 father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding 
 poor man and, God be thanked, well to live. 
 
 Laun. Well, let his father be what a' will, we 
 talk of young Master Launcelot. 
 
 Gob. Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir. 5 5 
 
 Laun. But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I 
 beseech you, talk you of young master Launcelot? 
 
 Gob. Of Launcelot, an 't please your mastership. 
 
 Laun. Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of 
 Master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman, 
 according to Fates and Destinies and such odd say- 
 ings, the Sisters Three and such branches of learning, 
 is indeed deceased, or, as you would say in plain 
 terms, gone to heaven. 
 
 Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very 
 staff of my age, my very prop. 66 
 
 Laun. Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a 
 staff or a prop? Do you know me, father? 
 
 Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young 
 gentleman: but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, 
 God rest his soul, alive or dead ? 7 1 
 
 Laun. Do vou not know me, father? 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 33 
 
 Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you 
 not. 
 
 Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you 
 might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father that 
 knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you 
 news of your son: give me your blessing: truth will 
 come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's 
 son may, but at the length truth will out. 80 
 
 Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up: I am sure you are 
 not Launcelot, my boy. 
 
 Laun Pray you, let 's have no more fooling about 
 it, but give me your blessing: I am Launcelot, your 
 boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. 
 
 Gob. I cannot think you are my son. 86 
 
 Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: 
 but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man, and I am sure 
 Margery your w r ife is my mother. 
 
 Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be 
 sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine ow r n 
 flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be! 
 what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more 
 hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on 
 his tail. m 95 
 
 Laun. It should seem then that Dobbin's tail 
 grows backward : I am sure he had more hair of his 
 tail than I have of my face when I last saw him. 
 
 Gob. Lord, how art thou changed! How dost 
 thou and thy master «, & ree ? I have brought him a 
 present. How 'gree you now ? 101 
 
 Laun. Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I 
 have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till 
 I have run some ground. My master's a very Jew : 
 give him a present! give him a halter : I arn famished 
 in his service ; you may tell every finger I have with 
 my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come: give me 
 
34 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 your present to one Master Bassanio, who indeed 
 gives rare new liveries : if I serve not him, I will run 
 as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune! 
 here comes the man: to him, father; for I am a 
 Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer. 1 1 2 
 
 Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo and other followers. 
 
 Bass. You may do so ; but let it be so hasted that 
 supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. 
 See these letters delivered; put the liveries to making, 
 and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. 1 1 6 
 
 [Exit a Servant. 
 
 Laun. To him, father. 
 
 Gob. God bless your worship! 
 
 Bass. Gramercy! wouldst thou aught with me? 
 
 Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy — 120 
 
 Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's 
 man ; that would, sir, as my father shall specify — 
 
 Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would 
 say, to serve — 124 
 
 Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve 
 the Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall 
 specify — 
 
 Gob. His master and he, saving your worship's 
 reverence, are scarce cater-cousins — 129 
 
 Laun. To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, 
 having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, 
 being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify unto you — 
 
 Gob. I have here a dish of doves that I would 
 bestow upon your worship, and my suit is — 134 
 
 Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to 
 myself, as your worship shall know by this honest 
 old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet 
 poor man, my father. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 35 
 
 Bass. One speak for both. What would you ? 
 
 Latin. Serve you, sir. 14c 
 
 Gob. That is the very defect of the matter, sir. 
 
 Bass. I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy 
 suit: 
 Shylock thy master spoke with me this day, 
 And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment 
 To leave a rich Jew's service, to become 145 
 
 The follower of so poor a gentleman. 
 
 Latin. -The old proverb is very well parted be- 
 tween my master Shylock and you, sir: you have 
 the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. 
 
 Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with 
 thy son. 150 
 
 Take leave of thy old master and inquire 
 My lodging out. Give him a livery 
 More guarded than his fellows': see it done. 
 
 Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; 
 I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well, if any man 
 in Italy have a fairer table — which doth offer to 
 swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go 
 to, here 's a simple line of life : here 's a small trifle of 
 wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven widows 
 and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man : 
 and then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be in 
 peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here 
 are simple 'scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, 
 she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come; 
 I '11 take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an 
 eye. 166 
 
 [Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo. 
 
 Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on 
 this: 
 These things being bought and orderly bestow 'd 
 Return in haste, for I do feast to-night 
 
3 6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go. 170 
 Leon. My best endeavors shall be done herein. 
 
 Enter Gratiano. 
 
 Gra. Where is your master? 
 
 Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. {Exit. 
 
 Gra. Signior Bassanio! 
 
 Bass. Gratiano! 
 
 Gra. I have a suit to you. 
 
 Bass. You have obtain'd it. 175 
 
 Gra. You must not deny me : I must go with you 
 to Belmont. 
 
 Bass. Why then you must. But hear thee, 
 Gratiano ; 
 Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice; 
 Parts that become thee happily enough 
 And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; 180 
 But where thou art not known, why, there they 
 
 show 
 Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain 
 To allay with some cold drops of modesty 
 Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior 
 I be misconstrued in the place I go to 185 
 
 And lose my hopes. 
 
 Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: 
 
 If I do not put on a sober habit, 
 Talk with respect and swear but now and then, 
 Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely, 
 Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes 1 go 
 Thus with my hat, and sigh and say "amen," 
 Use all the observance of civility, 
 Like one well studied in a sad ostent 
 To please his grandam, never trust me more. 
 
 Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing. 195 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 37 
 
 Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not 
 gauge me 
 By what we do to-night. 
 
 Bass. No, that were pity: 
 
 I would entreat you rather to put on 
 Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends 
 That purpose merriment. But fare you well: 200 
 I have some business. 
 
 Gra. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest: 
 But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. The same, A room in Shylock's house 
 Enter Jessica and Launcelot. 
 
 Jes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so: 
 Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, 
 Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. 
 But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee: 
 And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see 5 
 Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest: 
 Give him this letter; do it secretly; 
 And so farewell: I would not have my father 
 See me in talk with thee. 
 
 Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most 
 beautif ul pagan, most sweet Jew, adieu : these foolish 
 drops do something drown my manly spirit: adieu. 
 
 Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot. 
 
 [Exit Launcelot. 
 Alack, what heinous sin is it in me 
 To be ashamed to be my father's child! 
 But though I am a daughter to his blood, 15 
 
 I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, 
 If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, 
 Become a Christian and thy loving wife. [Exit. 
 
3 8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Scene IV. The same. A street. 
 Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarlno, and Salanio. 
 
 Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, 
 Disguise us at my lodging and return, 
 All in an hour. 
 
 Gra. We have not made good preparation. 
 
 Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. 
 
 Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly 
 order'd, 6 
 
 And better in my mind not undertook. 
 
 Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two 
 hours 
 To furnish us. 
 
 Enter Launcelot, with a letter. 
 
 Friend Launcelot, what's the news? 
 
 Latin. An it shall please you to break up this, it 
 shall seem to signify. n 
 
 Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand, 
 And whiter than the paper it writ on 
 Is the fair hand that writ. 
 
 Gra. Love-news, in faith. 
 
 Laun. By your leave, sir. 15 
 
 Lor. Whither goest thou ? 
 
 Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew 
 to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. 
 
 Lor. Hold, here, take this: tell gentle Jessica 
 I will not fail her; speak it privately. 20 
 
 [Exit Launcelot. 
 Go, gentlemen, 
 
 Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? 
 I am provided of a torch-bearer. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 39 
 
 Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. 
 
 Salan. And so will I. 
 
 Lor. Meet me and Gratiano 25 
 
 At Gratiano 's lodging some hour hence. 
 
 Salar. 'Tis good we do so. 
 
 [Exeunt Salarino and Salanio. 
 
 Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? 
 
 Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed 
 How I shall take her from her father's house, 30 
 What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with, 
 What page's suit she hath in readiness. 
 If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, 
 It will be for his gentle daughter's sake: 
 And never dare misfortune cross her foot, 
 Unless she do it under this excuse, 35 
 
 That she is issue to a faithless Jew. 
 Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest: 
 Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene V. The same. Before Shylock's house. 
 Enter Shylock and Launcelot. 
 
 Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy 
 judge, 
 The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio: — 
 What, Jessica! — thou shalt not gormandize, 
 As thou hast done with me: — What, Jessica! — 
 And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out: — 5 
 Why, Jessica, I say! 
 
 Laun. Why, Jessica! 
 
 Shy. Who bids thee call ? I do not bid thee call. 
 
 Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me that I 
 could do nothing without bidding. 
 
4 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Enter Jessica. 
 
 Jes. Call you? what is your will? 10 
 
 Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: 
 There are my keys. But wherefore should I go ? 
 I am not bid for love; they flatter me: 
 But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon 
 The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, 15 
 
 Look to my house. I am right loath to go: 
 There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, 
 For I did dream of money-bags to-night. 
 
 Laun. I beseech you, sir, go: my young master 
 doth expect your reproach. 20 
 
 Shy. So do I his. 
 
 Laun. An they have conspired together, I will not 
 say you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was 
 not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black- 
 Monday last at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out 
 that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year, in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 Shy. What, are there masques? Hear you me, 
 Jessica: 
 Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum 
 And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife, 30 
 Clamber not you up to the casements then, 
 Nor thrust your head into the public street 
 To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces, 
 But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements: 
 Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter 35 
 
 My sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear, 
 I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: 
 But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah; 
 Say I will come. 
 
 Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out 
 at window, for all this; 41 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 41 
 
 There will come a Christian by 
 Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit. 
 
 Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, 
 
 ' ha? 
 Jes. His words were ''Farewell, mistress?" 
 nothing else. 45 
 
 Shy. The patch is kind enough, but a huge 
 feeder; 
 Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day 
 More than the wild-cat: drones hive not with 
 
 me: 
 Therefore I part with him, and part with him 
 To one that I would have him help to waste 50 
 His borrow'd purse. Well, Jessica, go in: 
 Perhaps I will return immediately: 
 Do as I bid you; shut doors after you: 
 Fast bind, fast find; 
 A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit. 
 
 Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, 
 I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. 
 
 Scene VI. The same. 
 Enter Gratiano and Salarino, masqued. 
 
 Gra. This is the pent-house under which Lorenzo 
 Desired us to make stand. 
 
 Solar. His hour is almost past. 
 
 Gra.' And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, 
 For lovers ever run before the clock. 
 
 Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly 5 
 To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont 
 To keep obliged faith unforfeited! 
 
42 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast 
 With that keen appetite that he sits down? 
 Where is the horse that doth untread again 10 
 
 His tedious measures with the unbated fire 
 That he did pace them first ? All things that are 
 Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd. 
 How like a younker or a prodigal 
 The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, 15 
 
 Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind! 
 How like the prodigal doth she return, 
 With over-weather'd ribs and ragged sails, 
 Lean, rent and beggar'd by the strumpet wind! 
 
 Salar. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this here- 
 after. 20 
 
 Enter Lorenzo. 
 
 Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long 
 abode; 
 Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait: 
 When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, 
 I'll watch as long for you then. Approach; 
 Here dwells my father Jew. Ho ! who 's within ? 25 
 
 Enter Jessica, above, in boy's clothes. 
 
 Jes. Who are you! Tell me, for more certainty, 
 Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. 
 
 Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. 
 
 Jes. Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, 
 For who love I so much ? And now who knows 30 
 But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? 
 
 Lor. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that 
 thou art. 
 
 Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 43 
 
 I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, 
 
 For I am much ashamed of my exchange: 35 
 
 But love is blind and lovers cannot see 
 
 The pretty follies that themselves commit; 
 
 For if they could, Cupid himself would blush 
 
 To see me thus transformed to a boy. 
 
 Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. 
 
 Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames? 
 They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. 
 Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love; 
 And I should be obscured. 
 
 Lor. So are you, sweet, 
 
 Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. 45 
 
 But come at once; 
 
 For the close night doth play the runaway, 
 And we are stay'd for at Bassanio's feast. 
 
 Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself 
 With some more ducats, and be with you straight. 50 
 
 [Exit above. 
 
 Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew. 
 
 Lor. Beshrew me but I love her heartily; 
 For she is wise, if I can judge of her, 
 And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, 
 And true she is, as she hath proved herself, 55 
 
 And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, 
 Shall she be placed in my constant soul. 
 
 Enter Jessica, below. 
 
 What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away! 
 Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. 
 
 [Exit with Jessica and Salarino. 
 
 Enter Antonio. 
 
44 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Ant. Who's there? 60 
 
 Gra. Signior Antonio! 
 
 Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where were all the rest? 
 'Tis nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you. 
 No masque to-night: the wind is come about; 
 Bassanio presently will go aboard: 65 
 
 I have sent twenty out to seek for you. 
 
 Gra. I am glad on't: I desire no more delight 
 Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene VII. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 
 Flourish of cornets. Enter Portia, with the 
 Prince of Morocco, and their trains. 
 
 Por. Go draw aside the curtains and discover 
 The several caskets to this noble prince. 
 Now make your choice. 
 
 Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription 
 bears, 
 1 ' Who chooseth me shall gain what many men de- 
 sire;" _ 5 
 The second, silver, which this promise carries, 
 " Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;" 
 This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, 
 "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 
 
 hath." 
 How shall I know if I do choose the right ? 1 o 
 
 Por. The one of them contains my picture, 
 prince: 
 If you choose that, then I am yours withal. 
 
 Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me 
 
 I will survey the inscriptions back again. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 45 
 
 What says this leaden casket ? 1 5 
 
 "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 
 
 hath." 
 Must give ! for what ? for lead ? hazard for lead ? 
 This casket threatens. Men that hazard all 
 Do it in hope of fair advantages: 
 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; 20 
 I '11 then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. 
 What says the silver with her virgin hue? 
 "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 
 As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco, 
 And weigh thy value with an even hand: 25 
 
 If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, 
 Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough 
 May not extend so far as to the lady: 
 And yet to be afeard of my deserving 
 Were but a weak disabling of myself. 3° 
 
 As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady: 
 I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, 
 In graces and in qualities of breeding; 
 But more than these, in love I do deserve. 
 What if I stray'd no further, but chose here? 3s 
 Let's see once more this saying graved in gold; 
 "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men de- 
 sire." 
 Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her; 
 From the four corners of the earth they come, 
 To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint: 40 
 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds 
 Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now 
 For princes to come view fair Portia: 
 The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head 
 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar 45 
 
 To stop the foreign spirits, but they come, 
 As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia. 
 
46 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 
 Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damna- 
 tion 
 To think so base a thought: it were too gross 50 
 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. 
 Or shall I think in silver she's immured, 
 Being ten times undervalued to tried gold? 
 O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem 
 Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 
 A coin that bears the figure of an angel 56 
 
 Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon; 
 But here an angel in a golden bed 
 Lies all within. Deliver me the key: 
 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! 60 
 
 Por. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie 
 there, 
 Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. 
 
 Mot. O hell! what have we here ? 
 
 A carrion Death, within whose empty eye 
 There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing. 
 [Reads.] All that glisters is not gold; 65 
 
 Often have you heard that told: 
 Many a man his life hath sold 
 But my outside to behold: 
 Gilded tombs do worms infold. 
 Had you been as wise as bold, 70 
 
 Young in limbs, in judgment old, 
 Your answer had not been inscroll'd: 
 Fare you well; your suit is cold. 
 
 Cold, indeed; and labor lost: 
 Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost! 
 Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart 76 
 
 To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. 
 
 [Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 47 
 
 Por. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. 
 Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene VIII. Venice. A street. 
 Enter Salarino and Salanio. 
 
 Solar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail: 
 With him is Gratiano gone along; 
 And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. 
 
 Salan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the 
 duke, 
 Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. 5 
 
 Solar. He came too late, the ship was under sail: 
 But there the duke was given to understand 
 That in a gondola were seen together 
 Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica: 
 Besides, Antonio certified the duke ia 
 
 They were not with Bassanio in his ship. 
 
 Solan. I never heard a passion so confused, 
 So strange, outrageous, and so variable, 
 As the dog Jew did utter in the streets: 
 " My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! 15 
 Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! 
 Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter! 
 A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, 
 Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! 
 And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, 
 Stolen by my daughter! Justice! find the girl; 21 
 She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats." 
 
 Solar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, 
 Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. 
 
 Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, 25 
 Or he shall pay for this. 
 
4 S THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Solar. Marry, well remember'd. 
 
 I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday, 
 Who told me, in the narrow seas that part 
 The French and English, there miscarried 
 A vessel of our country richly fraught: 30 
 
 I thought upon Antonio when he told me, 
 And wish'd in silence that it were not his. 
 
 Salan, You were best to tell Antonio what you 
 hear; 
 Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. 
 
 Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. 
 I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: 36 
 
 Bassanio told him he would make some speed 
 Of his return: he answer'd, "Do not so; 
 Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, 
 But stay the very riping of the time; 4c 
 
 And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me, 
 Let it not enter in your mind of love: 
 Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts 
 To courtship and such fair ostents of love 
 As shall conveniently become you there :" 45 
 
 And even there, his eye being big with tears, 
 Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, 
 And with affection wondrous sensible 
 He wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted. 
 
 Salan. I think he only loves the world for him. 50 
 I pray thee, let us go and find him out 
 And quicken his embraced heaviness 
 With some delight or other. 
 
 Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 49 
 
 Scene IX. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 Enter Nerissa with a Servitor. 
 
 Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the cur- 
 tain straight: 
 The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, 
 And comes to his election presently. 
 
 Flourish of comets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, 
 Portia, and their trains. 
 
 Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble 
 prince: 
 If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, 5 
 
 Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized. 
 But if you fail, without more speech, my lord. 
 You must be gone from hence immediately. 
 
 A r. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things : 
 First, never to unfold to any one 10 
 
 Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail 
 Of the right casket, never in my life 
 To woo a maid in way of marriage: 
 Lastly, 
 
 If I do fail in fortune of my choice, 15 
 
 Immediately to leave you and be gone. 
 
 Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear 
 That comes to hazard for my worthless self. 
 
 Ar. And so have I address'd me. Fortune now 
 
 To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead. 
 
 "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 
 
 hath." 2i 
 
 You shall look fairer, ere I <?ive or hazard. 
 
5° 
 
 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 What says the golden chest? ha! let me see: 
 "Who choose th me shall gain what many men de- 
 sire." 
 What many men desire! that "many" may be 
 meant 2 5 
 
 By the fool multitude, that choose by show, 
 Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; 
 Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet, 
 Builds in the weather on the outward wall, 
 Even in the force and road of casualty. 30 
 
 I will not choose what many men desire, 
 Because I will not jump with common spirits 
 And rank me with the barbarous multitudes 
 Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house 
 Tell me once more what title thou dost bear: 35 
 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves:" 
 And well said too; for who shall go about 
 To cozen fortune and be honorable 
 Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume 
 To wear an undeserved dignity. 40 
 
 O, that estates, degrees and offices 
 Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor 
 Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! 
 How many then should cover that stand bare! 
 How many be commanded that command! 45 
 
 How much low peasantry would then be glean'd 
 From the true seed of honor! and how much honor 
 Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times 
 To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice: 
 " Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 
 I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, 5 1 
 
 And instantly unlock my fortunes here. 
 
 [He opens the silver casket. 
 Por. Too long a pause for that which you find 
 there. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 51 
 
 A r. What 's here ? the portrait of a blinking idiot, 
 
 Presenting me a schedule! I will read it. 55 
 
 How much unlike art thou to Portia! 
 
 How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! 
 
 "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he de- 
 serves." 
 
 Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? 
 
 Is that my prize ? are my deserts no better ? 60 
 Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices 
 
 And of opposed natures. 
 
 Ar. What is here? 
 
 [Reads. The fire seven times tried this: 
 
 Seven times tried that judgment is, 
 
 That did never choose amiss. 65 
 
 Some there be that shadows kiss; 
 
 Such have but a shadow's bliss: 
 
 There be fools alive, I wis, 
 
 Silver'd o'er; and so was this. 
 
 Take what wife you will to bed, 70 
 
 I will ever be your head: 
 
 So be gone, sir: you are sped. 
 
 Still more fool I shall appear 
 
 By the time I linger here: 
 
 With one fool's head I came to woo, 75 
 
 But I go away with two. 
 
 Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, 
 
 Patiently to bear my wroth. 
 
 [Exeunt Arragon and train. 
 Por. Thus hath the candle singed the moth. 
 O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose, 80 
 They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. 
 
 Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy, 
 Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. 
 Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. 
 
52 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Enter a Servant. 
 
 Serv. Where is my lady? 
 
 Por. Here: what would my lord? 85 
 
 Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate 
 A young Venetian, one that comes before 
 To signify the approaching of his lord; 
 From whom he bringeth sensible regreets, 
 To wit, besides commends and courteous breath, 90 
 Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen 
 So likely an ambassador of love: 
 A day in April never came so sweet, 
 To show how costly summer was at hand, 
 As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. 95 
 
 Por. No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard 
 Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, 
 Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him. 
 Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see 
 Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly. 100 
 
 Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! 
 
 ^Exeunt. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 Scene I. Venice. A street. 
 Enter Salanio and Salarino. 
 
 Salan, Now, what news on the Rialto? 
 
 Salar. Why, yet it lives there unchecked that An- 
 tonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the nar- 
 row seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; 
 a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcasses of 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 53 
 
 many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip 
 Report be an honest woman of her word. 7 
 
 Sedan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that 
 as ever knapped ginger or made her neighbors believe 
 she wept for the death of a third husband. But it is 
 true, without any slips of prolixity or crossing the 
 plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the 
 honest Antonio — O that I had a title good enough 
 to keep his name company! — 
 
 Solar. Come, the full stop. 15 
 
 Salan. Ha! what sayest thou? Why, the end is, 
 he hath lost a ship. 
 
 Salar. I would it might prove the end of his 
 losses. 19 
 
 Salan. Let me say ' ' amen" betimes, lest the devil 
 cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of 
 a Jew. 
 
 Enter Shylock. 
 
 How now, Shylock! what news among the mer- 
 chants ? 
 
 Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as 
 you, of my daughter's flight. 26 
 
 Salar. That's certain: I, for my part, knew the 
 tailor that made the wings she flew withal. 
 
 Salan. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the 
 bird was fledged; and then it is the complexion of 
 them all to leave the dam. 31 
 
 Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel! 
 
 Salar. There is more difference between thy flesh 
 and hers than between jet and ivory; more between 
 your bloods than there is between red wine and 
 Rhenish. But tell us, do you hear whether Antonio 
 have had any loss at sea or no? 37 
 
 Shy. There I have another bad match : a bank- 
 
54 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 rupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on 
 the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to come so smug 
 upon the mart; let him look to his bond: he was 
 wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond: 
 he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy; 
 let him look to his bond. 
 
 Salar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not 
 take his flesh: what's that good for? 46 
 
 Shy. To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing 
 else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, 
 and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, 
 mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted 
 my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine en- 
 emies; and what 's his reason ? I am a Jew. Hath 
 not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, 
 dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with 
 the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject 
 to the same diseases, healed by the same means, 
 warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, 
 as a Christian is ? If you prick us, do we not bleed ? 
 if you tickle us, do we not laugh ? if you poison us, 
 do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not 
 revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will 
 resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, 
 what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian 
 wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by 
 Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy 
 you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard 
 but I will better the instruction. 67 
 
 Enter a Servant. 
 
 Serv. Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his 
 house and desires to speak with you both. 
 
 Salar. We have been up and down to seek him. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 55 
 
 Enter Tubal. 
 
 Salan. Here comes another of the tribe: a third 
 cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn 
 Jew. [Exeunt Salanio, Salarino, and Servant. 
 
 Shy. How now, Tubal! what news from Genoa ? 
 hast thou found my daughter? 75 
 
 Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but 
 cannot find her. 
 
 Shy. Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond 
 gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! 
 The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I 
 never felt it till now; two thousand ducats in that; 
 and other precious, precious jewels. I would my 
 daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her 
 ear! would she were hearsed at my foot, and the 
 ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so: 
 and I know not what's spent in the search; why, 
 thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, 
 and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, 
 no revenge: nor no ill luck stirring but what lights 
 on my shoulders; no sighs but of my breathing; no 
 tears but of my shedding. 91 
 
 Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, 
 as I heard in Genoa — 
 
 Shy. What, what, what ? ill luck, ill luck ? 
 
 Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from 
 Tripolis. 96 
 
 Shy. I thank God, I thank God. Is't true, is't 
 true? 
 
 Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that es- 
 caped the wreck. 100 
 
 Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal: good news, good 
 news! ha, ha! where? in Genoa? 
 
56 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, 
 in one night fourscore ducats! 104 
 
 Shy. Thou stickest a dagger in me : I shah never 
 see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! 
 fourscore ducats! 
 
 Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors 
 in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot 
 choose but break. no 
 
 Shy. I am very glad of it: I'll plague him; I'll 
 torture him: I am glad of it. 
 
 Tub. One of them showed me a ring that he had 
 of your daughter for a monkey. 1 1 4 
 
 Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal : 
 it was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was 
 a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness 
 of monkeys. 
 
 Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. 119 
 
 Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true. Go, 
 Tubal, fee me an officer; bespeak him a fortnight 
 before. I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; 
 for, were he out of Venice, I can make what mer- 
 chandise I will. Go to, Tubal, and meet me at our 
 synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, 
 Tubal. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene II. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 
 Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, Nerissa, 
 and Attendants. 
 
 Por. I pray you, tarry: pause a day or two 
 Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong, 
 I lose your company: therefore forbear awhile. 
 There's something tells me, but it is not love, 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 57 
 
 I would not lose you; and you know yourself, 5 
 Hate counsels not in such a quality. 
 But lest you should not understand me well — 
 And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought — 
 I would detain you here some month or two 
 Before you venture for me. I could teach you 10 
 How to choose right, but I am then forsworn; 
 So will I never be: so may you miss me; 
 But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin, 
 That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes, 
 They have o'erlook'd me and divided me; 15 
 
 One half of me is yours, the other half yours, 
 Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, 
 And so all yours. O, these naughty times 
 Put bars between the owners and their rights! 
 And so, though yours, not yours. Prove it so, 20 
 Let fortune go to hell for it, not I. 
 I speak too long; but 'tis to peize the time, 
 To eke it and to draw it out in length, 
 To stay you from election. 
 
 Bass. Let me choose; 
 
 For as I am, I live upon the rack. 25 
 
 Por. Upon the rack, Bassanio! then confess 
 What treason there is mingled with your love. 
 
 Bass. None but that ugly treason of mistrust, 
 Which makes me fear the enjoying of my love: 
 There may as well be amity and life 30 
 
 'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love. 
 
 Por. Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, 
 Where men enforced do speak anything. 
 
 Bass. Promise me life, and I '11 confess the truth. 
 
 Por. Well then, confess and live. 
 
 Bass. " Confess" and " love" 35 
 
 Had been the very sum of my confession: 
 O happy torment, when my torturer 
 
58 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Doth teach me answers for deliverance! 
 But let me to my fortune and the caskets. 
 
 Por. Away, then! I am lock'd in one of them: 4° 
 If you do love me, you will find me out. 
 Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. 
 Let music sound while he doth make his choice; 
 Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, 
 Fading in music: that the comparison 45 
 
 May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream 
 And watery death-bed for him. He may win; 
 And what is music then? Then music is 
 Even as the flourish when true subjects bow 
 To a new-crowned monarch: such it is 50 
 
 As are those dulcet sounds in break of day 
 That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear 
 And summon him to marriage. Now he goes, 
 With not less presence, but with much more love, 
 Than young Alcides, when he did redeem 55 
 
 The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy 
 To the sea- monster: I stand for sacrifice; 
 The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives, 
 With bleared visages, come forth to view 
 The issue of the exploit. Go, Hercules! 60 
 
 Live thou, I live: with much much more dismay 
 I view the fight than thou that makest the fray. 
 
 [Music, whilst Bassanio comments on the 
 caskets to himself. 
 
 Song 
 
 Tell me where is fancy bred, 
 
 Or in the heart or in the head? 
 
 How begot, how nourished? 65 
 
 Reply, reply. 
 It is engender'd in the eyes, 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 59 
 
 With gazing fed; and fancy dies 
 
 In the cradle where it lies. 
 
 Let us all ring fancy's knell: 70 
 
 I '11 begin it — Ding, dong, bell. 
 
 All. Ding, dong, bell. 
 
 Bas. So may the outward shows be least them- 
 selves; 
 The world is still deceived with ornament. 
 In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt 75 
 
 But, being season'd with a gracious voice, 
 Obscures the show of evil ? In religion, 
 What damned error, but some sober brow 
 Will bless it and approve it with a text, 
 Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? 80 
 
 There is no vice so simple but assumes 
 Some mark of virtue on his outward parts: 
 How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false 
 As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins 
 The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, 85 
 Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk; 
 And these assume but valor's excrement 
 To render them redoubted! Look on beauty, 
 And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight; 
 Which therein works a miracle in nature, 90 
 
 Making them lightest that wear most of it: 
 So are those crisped snaky golden locks 
 Which make such wanton gambols with the wind, 
 Upon supposed fairness, often known 
 To be the dowry of a second head, 95 
 
 The skull that bred them in the sepulchre. 
 Thus ornament is but the guiled shore 
 To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf 
 Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, 
 The seeming truth which cunning times put on 100 
 
60 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold, 
 Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; 
 Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge 
 'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre 
 
 lead, 
 Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught, 
 Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence; 106 
 And here choose I: joy be the consequence! 
 
 Por. [Aside.] How all the other passions fleet 
 
 to air, 
 As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, 
 And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy! no 
 
 love, be moderate; allay thy ecstasy; 
 In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess. 
 
 1 feel too much thy blessing: make it less, 
 For fear I surfeit. 
 
 Bass. What find I here? 
 
 [Opening the leaden casket. 
 Fair Portia's counterfeit ! What demi-god 1 1 5 
 
 Hath come so near creation ? Move these eyes ? 
 Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, 
 Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips, 
 Parted with sugar breath: so sweet a bar 
 Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs 
 The painter plays the spider and hath woven 121 
 A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men 
 Faster than gnats in cobwebs: but her eyes — 
 How could he see to do them? having made one, 
 Methinks it should have power to steal both his 1 2 5 
 And leave itself unfurnish'd. Yet look, how far 
 The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow 
 In underprizing it, so far this shadow 
 Doth limp behind the substance. Here's the 
 
 scroll, 
 The continent and summary of my fortune. 130 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 61 
 
 [Reads.] You that choose not by the view, 
 Chance as fair and choose as true! 
 Since this fortune falls to you, 
 Be content and seek no new. 
 If you be well pleased with this 135 
 
 And hold your fortune for your bliss, 
 Turn you where your lady is 
 And claim her with a loving kiss. 
 
 A gentle scroll. Fair lady, by your leave; 
 
 I come by note, to give and to receive. 140 
 
 Like one of two contending in a prize, 
 
 That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, 
 
 Hearing applause and universal shout, 
 
 Giddy in spirit, still gazing in a doubt 
 
 Whether those peals of praise be his or no, 145 
 
 So, thrice-fair lady, stand I, even so; 
 
 As doubtful whether what I say be true, 
 
 Until confirmed, sign'd, ratified by you. 
 
 Por. You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, 
 Such as I am: though for myself alone 150 
 
 I would not be ambitious in my wish, 
 To wish myself much better; yet, for you 
 I would be trebled twenty times myself; 
 A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times 
 More rich; 155 
 
 That only to stand high in your account, 
 I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, 
 Exceed account; but the full sum of me 
 Is sum of — something, which, to term in gross, 
 Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised; 160 
 Happy in this, she is not yet so old 
 But she may learn; happier than this, 
 She is not bred so dull but she can learn; 
 Happiest of all in that her gentle spirit 
 
62 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Commits itself to yours to be directed, 165 
 
 As from her lord, her governor, her king. 
 Myself and what is mine to you and yours 
 Is now converted: but now I was the lord 
 Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, 
 Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now, 1 70 
 This house, these servants and this same myself 
 Are yours, my lord: I give them with this ring; 
 Which when you part from, lose, or give away, 
 Let it presage the ruin of your love 
 And be my vantage to exclaim on you. 175 
 
 Bass. Madam, 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 beloved prince, there doth appear 180 
 
 Among the buzzing pleased multitude; 
 Where every something, being blent together, 
 Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy, 
 Express'd and not express'd. But when this ring 
 Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence : 185 
 O, then be bold to say Bassanio's dead! 
 
 Ner. 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! 
 
 Gra. My lord Bassanio and my gentle lady, 190 
 I 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. 195 
 
 Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. 
 
 Gra. I thank your lordship, you have got me one. 
 My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: 
 You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 63 
 
 You loved, I loved; for intermission 200 
 
 No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. 
 
 Your fortune stood upon the casket here, 
 
 And so did mine too, as the matter falls; 
 
 For wooing here until I sweat again, 
 
 And swearing till my very roof was dry 205 
 
 With oaths of love, at last, if promise last, 
 
 I got a promise of this fair one here ■ 
 
 To have her love, provided that your fortune 
 
 Achieved her mistress. 
 
 Por. Is this true, Nerissa? 
 
 Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. 
 
 Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? 
 
 Gra. Yes, faith, my lord. 
 
 Bass. Our feast shall be much honor'd in your 
 marriage. 
 
 Gra. But who comes here? Lorenzo and his 
 infidel ? 
 What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio? 215 
 
 Enter Lorenzo, Jessica, and Salerio, a mes- 
 senger from Venice. 
 
 Bass. Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither; 
 If that the youth of my new interest here 
 Have power to bid you welcome. By your leave, 
 I bid my very friends and countrymen, 
 Sweet Portia, welcome. 
 
 Por. So do I, my lord, 220 
 
 They are entirely welcome. 
 
 Lor. I thank your honor. For my part, my lord, 
 My purpose was not to have seen you here; 
 But meeting with Salerio by the way, 
 He did entreat me, past all saying nay, 225 
 
64 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 To come with him along. 
 
 Saler. I did, my lord; 
 
 And I have reason for it. Signor Antonio 
 Commends him to you. [Gives Bassanio a letter. 
 
 Bass. Ere I ope his letter, 
 
 I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. 
 
 Saler. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind ; 230 
 Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there 
 Will show you his estate. 
 
 Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon stranger; bid her wel- 
 come. 
 Your hand, Salerio: what's the news from Venice? 
 How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? 235 
 I know he will be glad of our success; 
 We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. 
 
 Saler. I would you had won the fleece that he 
 hath lost. 
 
 Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon 
 same paper, 
 That steals the color from Bassanio's cheek: 240 
 Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world 
 Could turn so much the constitution 
 Of any constant man. What, worse and worse! 
 With leave, Bassanio; I am half yourself, 
 And I must freely have the half of anything 245 
 That this same paper bring you. 
 
 Bass. O sweet Portia, 
 
 Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words 
 That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady, 
 When I did first impart my love to you, 
 I freely told you, all the wealth I had 250 
 
 Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman; 
 And then I told you true: and yet, dear lady, 
 Rating myself at nothing, you shall see 
 How much I was a braggart. When I told you 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 65 
 
 My state was nothing, I should then have told you 
 That I was worse than nothing; for indeed 256 
 I have engaged myself to a dear friend, 
 Engaged my friend to his mere enemy, 
 To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady; 
 The paper as the body of my friend, 260 
 
 And every word in it a gaping wound, 
 Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio ? 
 Have all his ventures fail'd ? What, not one hit ? 
 From Tripolis, from Mexico and England, 
 From Lisbon, Barbary and India? 265 
 
 And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch 
 Of merchant-marring rocks ? 
 
 Saler. Not one, my lord. 
 
 Besides, it should appear, that if he had 
 The present money to discharge the Jew, 
 He would not take it. Never did I know 270 
 
 A creature, that did bear the shape of man, 
 So keen and greedy to confound a man: 
 He plies the duke at morning and at night, 
 And doth impeach the freedom of the state, 
 If they deny him justice : twenty merchants, 273 
 The duke himself, and the magnificoes 
 Of greatest port, have all persuaded with him; 
 But none can drive him from the envious plea 
 Of forfeiture, of justice and his bond. 
 
 Jes. When I was with him I have heard him 
 swear 280 
 
 To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, 
 That he would rather have Antonio's flesh 
 Than twenty times the value of the sum 
 That he did owe him: and I know, my lord, 
 If law, authority and power deny not, 285 
 
 It will go hard with poor Antonio. 
 
 Por. Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble ? 
 
66 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, 
 The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit 
 In doing courtesies, and one in whom 200 
 
 The ancient Roman honor more appears 
 Than any that draws breath in Italy. 
 
 Par. What sum owes he the Jew ? 
 
 Bass. For me three thousand ducats. 
 
 For. What, no more? 
 
 Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; 295 
 Double. six thousand, and then treble that, 
 Before a friend of this description 
 Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 
 First go with me to church and call me wife. 
 And then away to Venice to your friend; 300 
 
 For never shall you lie by Portia's side 
 With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold 
 To pay the petty debt twenty times over: 
 W T hen it is paid, bring your true friend along. 
 My maid Nerissa and myself meantime 305 
 
 Will live as maids and widows. Come, away! 
 For you shall hence upon your wedding-day: 
 Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer: 
 Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear. 
 But let me hear the letter of your friend. 310 
 
 Bass. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships have 
 all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is 
 very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in 
 paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are 
 cleared between you and I. If I might but see you 
 at my death — notwithstanding, use your pleasure : 
 if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my 
 letter. 
 
 Por. O love, dispatch all business, and be gone! 
 
 Bass. Since I have your good leave to go away, 
 
 I will make haste: but, till I come again, 321 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 67 
 
 No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, 
 
 No rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene III. Venice. A sir ret. 
 
 Enter Shylock, Salarino, Antonio, and Gaoler. 
 
 Shy. Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy; 
 This is the fool that lent out money gratis: 
 Gaoler, look to him. 
 
 Ant. Hear me yet, good Shylock. 
 
 Shy. I'll have my bond; speak not against my 
 bond: 
 I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. 5 
 Thou call'st me dog before thou hadst a cause; 
 But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs: 
 The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder, 
 Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond 
 To come abroad with him at his request. 10 
 
 Ant. I pray thee, hear me speak. 
 
 Shy. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee 
 speak: 
 I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more. 
 I '11 not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, 
 To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield 15 
 To Christian intercessors. Follow not; 
 I'll have no speaking; I will have my bond. [Exit. 
 
 Salar. It is the most impenetrable cur 
 That ever kept with men. 
 
 Ant. Let him alone; 
 
 I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. 20 
 He seeks my life; his reason well I know: 
 I oft deliver'd from his forfeitures 
 
68 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Many that have at times made moan to me; 
 Therefore he hates me. 
 
 Solar. I am sure the duke 
 
 Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. 25 
 
 Ant. The duke cannot deny the course of law: 
 For the commodity that strangers have 
 With us in Venice, if it be denied, 
 Will much impeach the justice of the state; 
 Since that the trade and profit of the city 30 
 
 Consisteth of all nations. Therefore go: 
 These griefs and losses have so bated me, 
 That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh 
 To-morrow to my bloody creditor. 
 Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come 35 
 To see me pay his debt, and then I care not ! [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene IV. Belmont. A room in Portia's house. 
 
 Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and 
 Balthasar. 
 
 Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your 
 presence, 
 You have a noble and a true conceit 
 Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly 
 In bearing thus the absence of your lord. 
 But if you knew to whom you show this honor, 5 
 How true a gentleman you send relief, 
 How dear a lover of my lord your husband, 
 I know you would be prouder of the work 
 Than customary bounty can enforce you. 
 
 Por. I never did repent for doing good, 10 
 
 Nor shall not now: for in companions 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 69 
 
 That do converse and waste the time together, 
 
 Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, 
 
 There must be needs a like proportion 
 
 Of lineaments, of manners and of spirit; 15 
 
 Which makes me think that this Antonio, 
 
 Being the bosom lover of my lord, 
 
 Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, 
 
 How little is the cost I have bestow 'd 
 
 In purchasing the semblance of my soul 20 
 
 From out the state of hellish misery! 
 
 This comes too near the praising of myself: 
 
 Therefore no more of it: hear other things. 
 
 Lorenzo, I commit into your hands 
 
 The husbandry and manage of my house 25 
 
 Until my lord's return: for mine own part, 
 
 I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow 
 
 To live in prayer and contemplation, 
 
 Only attended by Nerissa here, 
 
 Until her husband and my lord's return: 30 
 
 There is a monastery two miles off; 
 
 And there will we abide. I do desire you 
 
 Not to deny this imposition, 
 
 The which my love and some necessity 
 
 Now lays upon you. 
 
 Lor. Madam, with all my heart: 35 
 
 I shall obey you in all fair commands. 
 
 Por. My people do already know my mind, 
 And will acknowledge you and Jessica 
 In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. 
 And so farewell, till we shall meet again. 40 
 
 Lor. Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on 
 you! 
 
 Jes. I wish your ladyship all heart's content. 
 
 Por. I thank you for your wish, and am well 
 pleased 
 
7 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jessica. 
 
 [Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo. 
 Now, Balthasar, 4 5 
 
 As I have ever found thee honest-true, 
 So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, 
 And use thou all the endeavor of a man 
 In speed to Padua: see thou render this 
 Into my cousin's hand, Doctor Bellario; 50 
 
 And, look, what notes and garments he doth give 
 
 thee, 
 Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed 
 Unto the traject, to the common ferry 
 Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, 
 But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. 55 
 
 Balth. Madam, I go with all convenient speed. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand 
 That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands 
 Before they think of us. 
 
 Ner. Shall they see us? 
 
 Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit , 1 c 
 That they shall think we are accomplished 
 With that we lack. I hold thee any wager, 
 When we are both accoutred like young men, 
 I '11 prove the prettier fellow of the two, 
 And wear my dagger with the braver gra< ( 5 
 
 And speak between the change of man and boy 
 With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps 
 Into a manly stride, and speak of frays 
 Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint ties, 
 How honorable ladies sought my love, 70 
 
 Which I denying, they fell sick and died; 
 I could not do withal; then I'll repent, 
 And wish, for all that, I had not kill'd them; 
 And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell, 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 71 
 
 That men shall swear I have discontinued school 7 5 
 Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind 
 A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, 
 Which I will practice. 
 
 But come, I'll tell thee all my whole device 
 When I am in my coach, which stays for us So 
 At the park gate; and therefore haste away, 
 For we must measure twenty miles to-day, 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene V. The same. A garden. 
 
 Enter Launcelot, Lorenzo, and Jessica. 
 
 Lor. Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner. 
 
 Laun. That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. 
 
 Lor. Good Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! 
 then bid them prepare dinner. 
 
 Laun. That is done too, sir; only " cover" is the 
 word. 6 
 
 Lor. Will you cover then, sir? 
 
 Laun. Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. 
 
 Lor. Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt 
 thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant ? 
 I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain 
 meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover the table, 
 serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. 13 
 
 Laun. For the table, sir, it shall be served in; 
 for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming 
 in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humors and conceits 
 shall govern. [Exit. 
 
 Lor. O dear discretion, how his words are suited ! 
 The fool hath planted in his memory 
 An army of good words; and I do know 20 
 
72 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 A many fools, that stand in better place, 
 Garnish 'd like him, that for a tricksy word 
 Defy the matter. How cheer'st thou, Jessica? 
 And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, 
 How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio's wife? 25 
 
 Jes. Past all expressing. It is very meet 
 The Lord Bassanio live an upright life; 
 For, having such a blessing in his lady, 
 He finds the joys of heaven here on earth; 
 And if on earth he do not mean it, then 30 
 
 In reason he should never come to heaven. 
 Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match 
 And on the wager lay two earthly women, 
 And Portia one, there must be something else 
 Pawn'd with the other, for the poor rude world 35 
 Hath not her fellow. 
 
 Lor. Even such a husband 
 
 Hast thou of me as she is for a wife. 
 
 Jes. Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. 
 
 Lor. I will anon: first, let us go to dinner. 
 
 Jes. Nay, let me praise you while I have a 
 stomach. 40 
 
 Lor. No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk; 
 Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things 
 I shall digest it. 
 
 Jes. Well, I'll set you forth. [Exeunt. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 73 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Scene I. Venice. A court of justice. 
 
 Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bas- 
 sanio, Gratiano, Salerio, and others. 
 
 Duke. What, is Antonio here? 
 
 Ant. Ready, so please your grace. 
 
 Duke. I am sorry for thee: thou art come to 
 answer 
 A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch 
 Uncapable of pity, void and empty 5 
 
 From any dram of mercy. 
 
 Ant. I have heard 
 
 Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify 
 His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate 
 And that no lawful means can carry me 
 Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose 10 
 
 My patience to his fury, and am arm'd 
 To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, 
 The very tyranny and rage of his. 
 
 Duke. Go one, and call the Jew into court. 
 
 Saler. He is ready at the door: he comes, my 
 lord. 15 
 
 Enter Shylock. 
 
 Duke. Make room, and let him stand before our 
 face. 
 Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, 
 That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice 
 To the last hour of act; and then 'tis thought 
 Thou 'It show thy mercy and remorse more strange 
 
74 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; 21 
 
 And where thou now exact'st the penalty, 
 Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh, 
 Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture, 
 But, touch 'd with human gentleness and love, 25 
 Forgive a moiety of the principal; 
 Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, 
 That have of late so huddled on his back, 
 Enow to press a royal merchant down 
 And pluck commiseration of his state 30 
 
 From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, 
 From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd 
 To offices of tender courtesy. 
 We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. 
 Shy. I have possess 'd your grace of what I pur- 
 pose 3$ 
 And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn 
 To have the due and forfeit of my bond: 
 If you deny it, let the danger light 
 Upon your charter and your city's freedom. 
 You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have 4c 
 A weight of carrion flesh than to receive 
 Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: 
 But, say, it is my humor: is it answer'd? 
 What if my house be troubled with a rat, 
 And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats 45 
 To have it baned ? What, are you answer'd yet ? 
 Some men there are love not a gaping pig; 
 Some, that are mad if they behold a cat; 
 Some, when they hear the bag-pipe: for affection, 
 Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood 50 
 Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer: 
 As there is no firm reason to be render'd, 
 Why he cannot abide a gaping pig; 
 Why he, a harmless necessary cat; 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 75 
 
 Why he, a woollen hag-pipe; but of force 55 
 
 Must yield to such inevitable shame 
 
 As to offend, himself being offended; 
 
 So can I give no reason, nor I will not, 
 
 More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing 
 
 I bear xAntonio, that I follow thus 60 
 
 A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd? 
 
 Bass. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man. 
 To excuse the current of thy cruelty. 
 Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my 
 
 answers. 
 Bass. Do all men kill the things they do not love ? 
 Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not 
 kill? 66 
 
 Bass. Every offence is not a hate at first. 
 Shy. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting 
 
 thee twice? 
 Ant. I pray you, think you question with the Jew : 
 You may as well go stand upon the beach 7° 
 
 And bid the main flood bate his usual height; 
 Yoiumay as well use question with the wolf 
 Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; 
 You may as well forbid the mountain pines 
 To wag their high tops and to make no noise, 75 
 When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; 
 You may as well do anything most hard, 
 As seek to soften that — than which what's harder ? — 
 His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you, 
 Make no more offers, use no further means, 80 
 
 But with all brief and plain conveniency 
 Let me have judgment and the Jew his will. 
 
 Bass. For my three thousand ducats here are six. 
 Shy. If every ducat in six thousand ducats 
 Were in six parts and every part a ducat, 85 
 
 I would not draw them; I would have my bond. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 Duke. How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering 
 
 none 
 
 Shy. What judgment shall I dread, doing no 
 wrong ? 
 You have among you many a purchased slave, 
 Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, 90 
 You use in abject and in slavish parts, 
 Because you bought them: shall I say to you, 
 Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? 
 Why sweat they under burthens ? let their beds 
 Be made as soft as yours and let their palates 95 
 Be season'd with such viands? You will answer 
 "The slaves are ours:" so do I answer you: 
 The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, 
 Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it. 
 If you deny me, fie upon your law! 100 
 
 There is no force in the decrees of Venice. 
 I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? 
 
 Duke. Upon my power I may dismiss this court. 
 Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, 
 Whom I have sent for to determine this, , 105 
 
 Come here to-day. 
 
 Salar. My lord, here stays without 
 
 A messenger with letters from the doctor, 
 New come from Padua. 
 
 Duke. Bring us the letters; call the messenger. 
 
 Bass. Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, cour- 
 age yet! no 
 The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, 
 Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. 
 
 Ant. I am a tainted wether of the flock, 
 Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit 
 Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me: 115 
 You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, 
 Than to live still and write mine epitaph. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 77 
 
 Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk. 
 
 Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario ? 
 
 Ner. From both, my lord. Bellario greets your 
 grace. [Presenting a letter. 
 
 Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earn- 
 estly? 120 
 
 Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt 
 there. 
 
 Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, 
 Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can, 
 No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness 
 Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee ? 125 
 
 Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. 
 
 Gra. O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog! 
 And for thy life let justice be accused. 
 Thou almost makest me waver in my faith 
 To hold opinion with Pythagoras, 130 
 
 That souls of animals infuse themselves 
 Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit 
 Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, 
 Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, 
 And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, 135 
 Infused itself in thee; for thy desires 
 Are wolfish j bloody, starved and ravenous. 
 
 Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my 
 bond, 
 Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: 
 Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall 140 
 
 To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. 
 
 Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend 
 A young and learned doctor to our court. 
 Where is he? 
 
 Ner. He attendeth here hard by, 
 
 To know your answer, whether you'll admit him. 
 
78 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four 
 of you 146 
 
 Go give him courteous conduct to this place. 
 Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter. 
 
 Clerk. [Reads.] Your grace will understand that 
 at the receipt of your letter I am very sick: but in the 
 instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation 
 was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is 
 Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause of the 
 controversy between the Jew and Antonio the mer- 
 chant: we turned o'er many books together: he is 
 furnished with my opinion; which, bettered with his 
 own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough 
 commend comes with him, at my importunity, to fill 
 up your grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, , 
 let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack 
 a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a 
 body with so old a head. I leave him to your 
 gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish | 
 his commendation. 
 
 Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he 
 writes: 165 
 
 And here, I take it, is the doctor come. 
 
 Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws. 
 
 Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario ? 
 
 Par. I did, my lord. 
 
 Duke. You are welcome: take your place. 
 
 Are you acquainted with the difference 
 That holds this present question in the court? 170 
 
 Par. I am informed throughly of the cause. 
 Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew ? 
 
 Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. 
 
 Por. Is your name Shylock? 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 79 
 
 Shy. Shylock is my name. 
 
 Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; 
 Yet in such rule that the Venetian law 176 
 
 Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. 
 You stand within his danger, do you not ? 
 
 Ant. Ay, so he says. 
 
 Por Do you confess the bond ? 
 
 Ant. I do. 
 
 Por. Then must the Jew be merciful. 180 
 
 Shy. On what compulsion must I ? tell me that. 
 
 Por. The quality of mercy is not strain 'd; 
 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
 Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest; 
 It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 185 
 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes 
 The throned monarch better than his crown; 
 His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, 
 The attribute to awe and majesty, 
 Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; 190 
 But mercy is above this sceptred sway; 
 It is enthroned in the hearts of kings. 
 It is an attribute to God himself; 
 And earthly power doth then show likest God's 
 When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, 195 
 Though justice be thy plea, consider this, 
 That, in the course of justice, none of us 
 Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; 
 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 
 The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much 200 
 To mitigate the justice of thy plea; 
 Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 
 Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. 
 
 Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, 
 The penalty and forfeit of my bond. 205 
 
 Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? 
 
80 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; 
 Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, 
 I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, 
 On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: 210 
 If this will not suffice, it must appear 
 That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you 
 Wrest once the law to your authority: 
 To do a great right, do a little wrong, 
 And curb this cruel devil of his will. 215 
 
 Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice 
 Can alter a decree established: 
 'Twill be recorded for a precedent, 
 And many an error by the same example 
 Will rush into the state: it cannot be. 220 
 
 Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! 
 O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! 
 
 Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. 
 
 Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. 
 
 Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd 
 thee. 225 
 
 Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: 
 Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? 
 No, not for Venice. 
 
 Por. Why, this bond is forfeit; 
 
 And lawfully by this the Jew may claim 
 A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off 230 
 
 Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: 
 Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. 
 
 Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor. 
 It doth appear you are a worthy judge; 
 You know the law, your exposition 235 
 
 Hath been most sound : I charge you by the law, 
 Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, 
 Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear 
 There is no power in the tongue of man 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 81 
 
 To alter me: I stay here on my bond. 240 
 
 Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court 
 To give the judgment. 
 
 Por. Why then, thus it is 
 
 You must prepare your bosom for his knife. 
 
 Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man! 
 
 Por. For the intent and purpose of the law 245 
 Hath full relation to the penalty 
 Which here appeareth due upon the bond. 
 
 Shy. ; Tis very true: O wise and upright judge! 
 How much more elder art thou than thy looks! 
 
 Por. Therefore lay bare your bosom. 
 
 Shy. Ay, his breast: 250 
 
 So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge? 
 " Nearest his heart": those are the very words. 
 
 Por. It is so. Are there balance here to weigh 
 The flesh? 
 
 Shy. I have them ready. 
 
 Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your 
 charge, 255 
 
 To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. 
 
 Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? 
 
 Por. It is not so express'd: but what of that? 
 'Twere good you do so much for charity. 
 
 Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. 260 
 
 Por. You, merchant, have you anything so say? 
 
 Ant. But little: I am arm'd and well prepared. 
 Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! 
 Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; 
 For herein Fortune shows herself more kind 265 
 Than is her custom: it is still her use 
 To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, 
 To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow 
 An age of poverty; from which lingering penance 
 Of such a misery doth she cut me off. 270 
 
82 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Commend me to your honorable wife: 
 
 Tell her the process of Antonio's end; 
 
 Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; 
 
 And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge 
 
 Whether Bassanio had not once a love. 275 
 
 Repent but you that you shall lose your friend, 
 
 And he repents not that he pays your debt; 
 
 For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, 
 
 I "11 pay it instantly with all my heart. 
 
 Bass, Antonio, I am married to a wife 280 
 
 Which is as dear to me as life itself; 
 But life itself, my wife, and all the world, 
 Are not with me esteem 'd above thy life: 
 I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all 
 Here to this devil, to deliver you. 285 
 
 Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for 
 that, 
 [f she were by, to hear you make the offer. 
 
 Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love: 
 I would she were in heaven, so she could 
 Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. 290 
 
 Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back; 
 The wish would make else an unquiet house. 
 
 Shy. [Aside.] These be the Christian husbands. 
 I have a daughter; 
 Mould any of the stock of Barrabas 
 Had been her husband rather than a Christian! 295 
 [Aloud.] We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sen- 
 tence. 
 
 Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is 
 thine: 
 The court awards it, and the law doth give it. 
 
 Shy. Most rightful judge! 
 
 Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his 
 breast: 300 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE S3 
 
 The law allows it, and the court awards it. 
 
 Shy. Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, 
 prepare! 
 
 Par. Tarry a little; there is something else. 
 This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; 
 The words expressly are "a pound of flesh:" 305 
 Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; 
 But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed 
 One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods 
 Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate 
 Unto the state of Venice. 310 
 
 Gra. O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned 
 judge! 
 
 Shy. Is that the law ? 
 
 Por. Thyself shall see the act: 
 
 For, as thou urgest justice, be assured 
 Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. 
 
 Gra. O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned 
 judge! 3*5 
 
 Shy. I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice 
 And let the Christian go. 
 
 Bass. Here is the money. 
 
 Por. Soft! 
 The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: 
 He shall have nothing but the penalty. 320 
 
 Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge' 
 
 Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. 
 Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more 
 But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more 
 Or less than a just pound, be it but so much 325 
 As makes it light or heavy in the substance 
 Or the division of the twentieth part 
 Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn 
 But in the estimation of a hair, 
 Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate. 33c 
 
8 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! 
 Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip. 
 
 Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy for- 
 feiture. 
 
 Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. 
 
 Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. 335 
 
 Por. He hath refused it in the open court: 
 He shall have merely justice and his bond. 
 
 Gra. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! 
 I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. 
 
 Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ? 340 
 
 Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, 
 To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. 
 
 Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it! 
 I'll stay no longer question. 
 
 Por. Tarry, Jew: 
 
 The law hath yet another hold on you. 345 
 
 It is enacted in the laws of Venice, 
 If it be proved against an alien 
 That by direct or indirect attempts 
 He seek the life of any citizen, 
 The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive 350 
 Shall seize one-half his goods; the other half 
 Comes to the privy coffer of the state; 
 And the offender's life lies in the mercy 
 Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. 
 In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st; 355 
 For it appears, by manifest proceeding, 
 That indirectly and directly too 
 Thou hast contrived against the very life 
 Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd 
 The danger formerly by me rehearsed. 360 
 
 Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. 
 
 Gra. Beg that thou may'st have leave to hang 
 thyself: 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 85 
 
 And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, 
 
 Thou hast not left the value of a cord; 
 
 Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. 
 
 Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our 
 spirits, 366 
 
 I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: 
 For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; 
 The other half comes to the general state, 
 Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. 370 
 
 Por. Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. 
 
 Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: 
 You take my house when you do take the prop 
 That doth sustain my house; you take my life 
 When you do take the means whereby I live. 375 
 
 Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? 
 
 Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. 
 
 Ant. So please my lord the duke and all the 
 court 
 To quit the fine for one-half of his goods 
 I am content; so he will let me have 380 
 
 The other half in use, to render it, 
 Upon his death, unto the gentleman 
 That lately stole his daughter: 
 Two things provided more, that, for this favor, 
 He presently become a Christian; 385 
 
 The other, that he do record a gift, 
 Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, 
 Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. 
 
 Duke. He shall do this, or else I do recant 
 The pardon that I late pronounced here. 390 
 
 Por. Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou 
 say? 
 
 Shy. I am content. 
 
 Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift. 
 
 Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; 
 
86 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 I am not well: send the deed after me, 
 And I will sign it. 
 
 Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. 395 
 
 Gra. In christening shalt thou have two god- 
 fathers; 
 Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more 
 To bring thee to the gallows, not the font. 
 
 [Exit Shylock. 
 
 Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. 
 
 For. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon : 
 I must away this night toward Padua, 401 
 
 And it is meet I presently set forth. 
 
 Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. 
 Antonio, gratify this gentleman, 
 For, in my mind, you are much bound to him. 4° 5 
 [Exeunt Duke and his train. 
 
 Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend 
 Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted 
 Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, 
 Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, 
 We freely cope your courteous pains withal. 410 
 
 Ant. And stand indebted, over and above, 
 In love and service to you evermore. 
 
 For. He is well paid that is well satisfied; 
 And I, delivering you, am satisfied 
 And therein do account myself well paid : 415 
 
 My mind was never yet more mercenary. 
 I pray you, know me when we meet again: 
 I wish you well, and so I take my leave. 
 
 Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you 
 further: 
 Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, 420 
 Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, 
 Not to deny me, and to pardon me. 
 
 Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE S7 
 
 [To Ant.] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for 
 
 your sake; 
 [To Bass.] And, for your love, I'll take this ring 
 from you: 425 
 
 Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; 
 And you in love shall not deny me this. 
 
 Bass. This ring, good sir — alas, it is a trifle! 
 I will not shame myself to give you this. 
 
 Por. I will have nothing else but only this; 430 
 And now methinks I have a mind to it. 
 
 Bass. There 's more depends on this than on the 
 value. 
 The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, 
 And find it out by proclamation: 
 Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. 435 
 
 For. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers : 
 You taught me first to beg; and now methinks 
 You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd. 
 
 Bass. Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife ; 
 And when she put it on, she made me vow 440 
 That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. 
 
 Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their 
 gifts. 
 An if your wife be not a mad-woman, 
 And know how well I have deserved this ring, 
 She would not hold out enemy for ever, 445 
 
 For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! 
 
 [Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. 
 
 Ant. My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: 
 Let his deservings and my love withal 
 Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. 
 
 Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; 450 
 Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, 
 Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste. 
 
 [Exit Gratiano. 
 
SS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Come, you and I will thither presently; 
 And in the morning early will we both 
 Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. 455 
 
 [ExeunL 
 
 Scene II. The same. A street. 
 
 Enter Portia and Nerissa. 
 
 Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this 
 deed 
 And let him sign it: we'll away to-night 
 And be a day before our husbands home: 
 This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. 
 
 Enter Gratiano. 
 
 Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en: 5 
 
 My Lord Bassanio upon more advice 
 Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat 
 Your company at dinner. 
 
 Por. That cannot be: 
 
 His ring I do accept most thankfully: 
 And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore, 10 
 
 I pray you, show my youth old Shvlock's house. 
 
 Gra. That will I do. 
 
 Ner. Sir, I would speak with you. 
 
 [Aside to Por.] I'll see if I can get my husband's 
 
 ring, 
 Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. 
 
 Por. [Aside to Ner.] Thou may'st, I warrant. 
 We shall have old swearing 15 
 
 That they did give the rings away to men; 
 But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 89 
 
 [Aloud.] Away! make haste: thou know 'st where I 
 will tarry. 
 Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this 
 house ? [Exeunt. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 Scene I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's house. 
 Enter Lorenzo and Jessica. 
 
 Lor. The moon shines bright: in such a night as 
 this, 
 When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees 
 And they did make no noise, in such a night 
 Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls 
 And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, 5 
 Where Cressid lay that night. 
 
 Jes. In such a night 
 
 Did Thisbe fearfully o'erstrip the dew, 
 And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, 
 And ran dismay'd away. 
 
 Lor. In such a night 
 
 Stood Dido with a willow in her hand 10 
 
 Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love 
 To come again to Carthage. 
 
 Jes. In such a night 
 
 Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs 
 That did renew old ^son. 
 
 Lor. In such a night 
 
 Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew 15 
 
 And with an unthrift love did run from Venice 
 As far as Belmont. 
 
9o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Jes. In such a night 
 
 Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, 
 Stealing her soul with many vows of faith 
 And ne'er a true one. 
 
 Lor. In such a night 20 
 
 Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, 
 Slander her love, and he forgave it her. 
 
 Jes. I would out-night you, did no body come; 
 But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. 
 
 Enter Stephano. 
 
 Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night ? 2 5 
 
 Steph. A friend. 
 
 Lor. A friend! what friend? your name, I pray 
 you, friend? 
 
 Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word 
 My mistress will before the break of day 
 Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about 30 
 
 By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays 
 For happy wedlock hours. 
 
 Lor. Who comes with her? 
 
 Steph. None but a holy hermit and her maid. 
 I pray you, is my master yet return'd? 
 
 Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him. 
 But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, 36 
 
 And ceremoniously let us prepare 
 Some welcome for the mistress of the house. 
 
 Enter Launcelot. 
 
 Laun. Sola, sola! wo ha, ho! sola, sola! 
 Lor. Who calls? 40 
 
 Laun. Sola! did you see Master Lorenzo ? Mas- 
 ter Lorenzo, sola, sola! 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 91 
 
 Lor. Leave hollaing, man: here. 
 
 Laun. Sola! where? where? 
 
 Lor. Here. 45 
 
 Laun. Tell him there's a post come from my 
 master, with his horn full of good news: my master 
 will be here ere morning. [Exit. 
 
 Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their 
 coming. 
 And yet no matter: why should we go in? 50 
 
 My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, 
 Within the house, your mistress is at hand; 
 And bring your music forth into the air. 
 
 [Exit Stephano. 
 How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! 
 Here will we sit and let the sounds of music 55 
 Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night 
 Become the touches of sweet harmony. 
 Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven 
 Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: 
 There 's not the smallest orb which thou behold 'st 60 
 But in his motion like an angel sings, 
 Still quiring to the young-eyed cherub ins; 
 Such harmony is in immortal souls; 
 But whilst this muddy vesture of decay 
 Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. 65 
 
 Enter Musicians. 
 
 Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn: 
 With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear 
 And draw her home with music. [Music. 
 
 Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. 
 
 Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: 70 
 For do but note a wild and wanton herd, 
 
92 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, 
 
 Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, 
 
 Which is the hot condition of their blood; 
 
 If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, 75 
 
 Or any air of music touch their ears, 
 
 You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, 
 
 Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze 
 
 By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet 
 
 Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and 
 
 floods ; 
 Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage, 81 
 But music for the time doth change his nature. 
 The man that hath no music in himself, 
 Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, 
 Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; 85 
 
 The motions of his spirit are dull as night 
 And his affections dark as Erebus: 
 Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music. 
 
 Enter Portia and Nerissa. 
 
 Por. That light we see is burning in my hall. 
 How far that little candle throws his beams! 90 
 So shines a good deed in a naughty world. 
 
 Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the 
 candle. 
 
 Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less: 
 A substitute shines brightly as a king 
 Until a king be by, and then his state 95 
 
 Empties itself, as doth an inland brook 
 Into the main of waters. Music! hark! 
 
 Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. 
 
 Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect: 
 Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. 100 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 93 
 
 Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. 
 
 Por. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark 
 When neither is attended, and I think 
 The nightingale, if she should sing by day, 
 When every goose is cackling, would be thought 
 No better musician than the wren. 106 
 
 How many things by season season'd are 
 To their right praise and true perfection! 
 Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion 
 And would not be awaked. [Music ceases. 
 
 Lor. That is the voice, 1 1 o 
 
 Or I am much deceived, of Portia. 
 
 Por. He knows me as the blind man knows the 
 cuckoo, 
 By the bad voice. 
 
 Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. 
 
 Por. We have been praying for our husband's 
 healths, 
 Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. 1 1 5 
 Are they return 'd? 
 
 Lor. Madam, they are not yet; 
 
 But there is come a messenger before, 
 To signify their coming. 
 
 Por. Go in, Nerissa; 
 
 Give order to my servants that they take 
 No note at all of our being absent hence; 120 
 
 Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you. 
 
 [A tucket sounds. 
 
 Lor. Your husband is at hand; I hear his trum- 
 pet: 
 We are not tell-tales, madam; fear you not. 
 
 Por. This night methinks is but the daylight 
 sick; 
 It looks a little paler: 'tis a day, 125 
 
 Such as the day is when the sun is hid. 
 
94 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their 
 followers. 
 
 Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, 
 If you would walk in absence of the sun. 
 
 For. Let me give light, but let me not be light; 
 For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, 130 
 And never be Bassanio so for me: 
 But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. 
 
 Bass. I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my 
 friend. 
 This is the man, this is Antonio, 
 To whom I am so infinitely bound. 135 
 
 For. You should in all sense be much bound to 
 him, 
 For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. 
 
 Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of. 
 
 For. Sir, you are very welcome to our house: 
 It must appear in other ways than words, 140 
 
 Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. 
 
 Gra. [^ Ner.] By yonder moon I swear you do 
 me wrong; 
 In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk: 
 Would he were dead that had it, for my part, 
 Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. 145 
 
 For. A quarrel, ho, already! what's the matter? 
 
 Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring 
 That she did give to me, whose posy was 
 For all the world like cutler's poetry 
 Upon a knife, "Love me, and leave me not." 150 
 
 Ner. What talk you of the posy or the value ? 
 You swore to me, when I did give it you, 
 That you would wear it till your hour of death, 
 And that it should lie with you in your grave: 
 Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, 1 5 5 
 
THE MERCHANT OF YE: 
 
 95 
 
 You should have been respective and have kept it. 
 Gave it a judge's clerk! no, God's my judge, 
 The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it. 
 
 Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. 
 
 Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man. 160 
 
 Gra. Now by this hand, I gave it to a youth, 
 A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy, 
 No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk, 
 A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee: 
 I could not for my heart deny it him. 165 
 
 Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, 
 To part so lightly with your wife's first gift; 
 A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger 
 And riveted with faith unto your flesh. 
 I gave my love a ring and made him swear 170 
 Never to part with it; and here he stands; 
 I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it, 
 Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth 
 That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano. 
 You give your wife too unkind cause of grief: 175 
 An 'twere to me, I should be mad at it. 
 
 Bass. [Aside.] Why, I were best to cut my left 
 hand off, 
 And swear I lost the ring defending it. 
 
 Gra. My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away 
 Unto the judge that begg'd it and indeed 180 
 
 Deserved it too: and then the boy, his clerk, 
 That took some pains in writing, he begg'd mine; 
 And neither man nor master would take aught 
 But the two rings. 
 
 Por. What ring gave you, my lord? 
 
 Not that, I hope, which you received of me. 185 
 
 Bass. If I could add a lie unto a fault, 
 I would deny it; but you see my finger 
 Hath not the ring upon it; it is gone. 
 
96 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. 
 By heaven, I will never be your wife 190 
 
 Until I see the ring. 
 
 Ner. No, nor I yours 
 
 Till I again see mine. 
 
 Bass. Sweet Portia, 
 
 If you did know to whom I gave the ring, 
 If you did know for whom I gave the ring, 195 
 And would conceive for what I gave the ring, 
 And how unwillingly I left the ring, 
 When nought would be accepted but the ring, 
 You would abate the strength of your displeasure. 
 
 Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring, 
 Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, 200 
 
 Or your own honor to contain the ring, 
 You would not then have parted with the ring. 
 What man is there so much unreasonable, 
 If you had pleased to have defended it 
 With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty 205 
 To urge the thing held as a ceremony? 
 Nerissa teaches me what to believe: 
 I '11 die for 't but some woman had the ring. 
 
 Bass. No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, 
 No woman had it, but a civil doctor, 210 
 
 Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me 
 And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him, 
 And suffer'd him to go displeased away; 
 Even he that did uphold the very life 
 Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet 
 
 lady? 
 I was enforced to send it after him; 216 
 
 I was beset with shame and courtesy; 
 My honor would not let ingratitude 
 So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady; 
 For, by these blessed candles of the night, 220 
 
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 97 
 
 Had you been there, I think you would have begg'd 
 The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. 
 
 Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. 
 
 Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome not- 
 withstanding. 
 
 Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; 225 
 And, in the hearing of these many friends, 
 I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, 
 Wherein I see myself — 
 
 Por. Mark you but that! 
 
 In both my eyes he doubly sees himself; 
 In each eye, one: swear by your double self, 230 
 And there's an oath of credit. 
 
 Bass. Nay, but hear me: 
 
 Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear 
 I never more will break an oath with thee. 
 
 Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth; 
 Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, 
 Had quite miscarried: I dare be bound again, 236 
 My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord 
 Will never more break faith advisedly. 
 
 Por. Then you shall be his surety. Give him 
 this, 
 And bid him keep it better than the other. 240 
 
 Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this 
 ring. 
 
 Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor I 
 
 Por. You are all amazed: 
 Here is a letter: read it at your leisure; 
 It comes from Padua, from Bellario: 245 
 
 There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, 
 Nerissa there her clerk: Lorenzo here 
 Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, 
 And even but now return'd: I have not yet 
 Enter'd my house. Antonio, you are welcome; 
 
98 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 And I have better news in store for you 251 
 
 Than you expect: unseal this letter soon; 
 
 There you shall find three of your argosies 
 
 Are richly come to harbor suddenly: 
 
 You shall not know by what strange accident 255 
 
 I chanced on this letter. 
 
 Ant. I am dumb. 
 
 Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not ? 
 
 Gra. Were you the clerk, and yet I knew you not ? 
 
 Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and 
 living; 
 For here I read for certain that my ships 260 
 
 Are safely come to road. 
 
 Por. How now, Lorenzo! 
 
 My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. 
 
 Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee. 
 There do I give to you and Jessica, 
 From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, 265 
 
 After his death, of all he dies possess'd of. 
 
 Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way 
 Of starved people. 
 
 Por. It is almost morning, 
 
 And yet I am sure you are not satisfied 
 Of these events at full. Let us go in; 270 
 
 And charge us there upon inter'gatories, 
 And we will answer all things faithfully. 
 
 Gra. Well, while I live I'll fear no other thing 
 So sore as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. [Exeunt. 
 
NOTES 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 Scene I. 
 
 i In sooth . In truth, truly. 
 
 i Sad. Serious, melancholy rather than actual grief. 
 It seems to be introduced as a kind of presentiment of coming 
 trouble. Furness says: 
 
 "Shakespeare foresaw the difficulty of representing a 
 merchant, royal among merchants, as executing a bond so 
 hazardous in its conditions that any child would shrink from 
 signing it, and therefore introduced him as of so changeable 
 a mood that he was borne down by a nameless melancholy 
 and utterly unlike himself; and if to this we add the appella- 
 tion of 'Want-wit,' which he gives himself, we have the ele- 
 ments of character that are needed, in the scene with Shy- 
 lock, to give an air of consistency in the sealing to the bond. 
 This melancholy, then, is after all, a keynote to the play, but 
 not as portending disasters or as preluding a tragedy." 
 
 3 Came by. Acquired. 
 
 5 To learn. An abbreviated expression; 1 am still 
 under the necessity of leaving. 
 
 6 Wanl-wii. Foolish, lacking good sense. Wit often 
 means good sense in Shakespeare. 
 
 7 Ado. Difficult}' in recognizing myself. 
 
 8 Ocean. Pronounced in three syllables. 
 
 9 Argosies. Large merchant vessels, so called from 
 Ragusa, a port in Italy, which sent out many trading vessels, 
 especially to England. 
 
 9 Portly. Swelling with the wind. 
 
 io Signiors. Gentlemen, men of rank; an Italian word. 
 
 io Burghers. Citizens, men of some property. 
 
 ir Pagea-nis. Shows; these vessels resembled the imi- 
 
ioo THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 tations of castles, ships, dragons, and so on, that were often 
 ■exhibited at fairs and other shows. 
 
 12 Over peer. Look down upon with condescension. 
 
 12 Petty traffickers. Smaller ships. 
 
 13 Curtsy. Furness says that curtsy is "suggested by 
 the rocking, ducking motion in the petty traffickers caused 
 by the wake of the argosy as it sails by them. 
 
 14 Woven ivings. Sails. 
 
 15 Venture forth. Wealth risked in foreign trade. 
 Foreign merchants at this time were called merchant ad- 
 venturers. 
 
 1 7 Hopes. The chances of my trade. 
 
 17 Still. Always; the usual meaning of the word in 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 18 Plucking the grass. That is, holding up a blade of 
 grass to see which way the wind would blow it. 
 
 18 Sits. Shakespeare frequently uses the word in this 
 way with wind. 
 
 19 Piers Harbors. 
 
 19 Roads. Roadsteads, or stretches of water where 
 ships could be anchored at some distance from the land. 
 21 Out of doubt. Beyond doubt, undoubtedly. 
 21 To. Into a fever by reminding one of a wind at sea. 
 
 25 Hour-glass. A glass made in two compartments 
 and filled with sand, used to tell time before the invention 
 of clocks. The sand was timed to run from one compart- 
 ment into the other in exactly an hour. In Shakespeare's 
 day such a glass always stood near the pulpit in a church; 
 
 26 Flats. Sand banks near the surface of the water. 
 
 27 Andrew. This may be simply the name of the ship, 
 but more probably it was a popular name for any ship; de- 
 rived from Andrea Doria, a famous admiral of Genoa. 
 
 27 Dock'd. That is, fixed fast in a sand bank as a ship 
 is in a dock. 
 
 28 Vailing. Sinking, lowering. 
 
 28 High-top. The top of her main-mast. 
 
 28 Ribs. The timbers forming the framework of the 
 hull. 
 
 29 Burial. The place of her burial. 
 
 31 Bethink. Call to mind, remind myself. 
 
 31 Straight. Straightway, immediately. 
 
 32 But. Merely touching. 
 
 32 Gentle. Gentle in comparison with the dangerous 
 rocks. 
 
NOTES 101 
 
 35 Even now. And I, at one moment with all this 
 wealth, should in the next be worth nothing. 
 
 36 Thought. Imagination. 
 
 38 Bechanced. If such a thing should happen. 
 
 40 To think. In thinking. 
 
 41 Fortune. Good luck. 
 
 42 Bottom. Ship. He speaks of the bottom, or hold 
 of the vessel, where the goods were stored, as if it were the 
 ship itself. 
 
 44 Upon. Risked, depend upon the chances of one 
 year. 
 
 47 Neither. Double negatives are frequent in Shakes- 
 peare. 
 
 50 Janus. A Roman god, the gate-keeper of heaven 
 and the guardian deity of all gates. As a gate locks two ways 
 he was represented with two heads. His festival fell on 
 New Year's day; hence the name January. On this ac- 
 count, also, he is often represented with one face old and 
 wrinkled, the other young and laughing. This fact explains 
 the following lines in the text. 
 
 52 Evermore. Always keep their eyes half shut as one 
 does in laughing. 
 
 53 Parrots. As foolishly as parrots. 
 
 53 Bag-piper. The bag-pipe is a wind instrument, 
 having a peculiarly shrill and reedy sound, used in Scotland 
 and some parts of England. 
 
 54 Other. Others. 
 
 54 Aspect. Accent on last syllable; sour looks. 
 
 56 Nestor. The king of Pylos, a Greek famous for his 
 wisdom and gravity. 
 
 57 Comes. When the verb comes first in the sentence 
 it is often singular, though followed, as here, by a plural 
 subject. 
 
 58 Fare. From the old English jar an, to go; hence, 
 may you go well. 
 
 61 Prevented. Anticipated me; as we should say, 
 got ahead of me. 
 
 63 Calls. Demands attention. 
 
 64 Embrace. Seize the opportunity. 
 
 65 Morrow. Morning. 
 
 67 Strange. That is, "You let us see very little of you; 
 must you really go?" 
 
 68 Attend. Keep company with; we will make our 
 leisure time accord with vours. 
 
io2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 71 Have in mind. Keep, remember. 
 
 74 Respect upon. You think too much about worldly 
 affairs. 
 
 75 It. Worldly matters; those that think too much about 
 worldly matters lose time and strength to no purpose. 
 
 78 Stage. Compare As You Like It, 11. vn. 139-66. 
 80 Old wrinkles. The wrinkles of old age. 
 82 Mortifying. Causing death; groans were supposed 
 to drain the blood. 
 
 84 Alabaster. A fine white rock like marble, largely 
 used for tombs and effigies. 
 
 85 Jaundice. A disease which causes the skin to be- 
 come sallow. It is a fact that this disease is often caused 
 by depression, bad news, peevishness, and other emotions. 
 
 89 Cream and mantle. Are so still that they become 
 covered with scum and vegetation. 
 
 90 Wilful stillness. An obstinate reserve. 
 
 91 Purpose. For the purpose of. 
 
 91 Opinion. Gaining a reputation for wisdom, etc. 
 
 92 Conceit. Thought, that which is conceived. 
 
 93 As who. As if one should say. 
 
 93 Sir Oracle. Sir was sometimes a title of respect; 
 sometimes of contemptuous familiarity, although in the 
 latter case the form was usually sirrah. An oracle is one 
 whose words are supposed to be inspired by a god. 
 
 96 Therefore. That is, for saying nothing. 
 
 96 Wise. "Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is 
 counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a 
 man of understanding." — Proverbs, xvn. 28. 
 
 98 Damn. Their hearers would call them fools and so 
 bring themselves into condemnation. Compare Matthew, 
 v. 22. Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (vain 
 fellow), shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever 
 shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fare." 
 
 102 Fool. Foolish, worthless. 
 
 102 Gudgeon. A kind of fish easily caught but worth- 
 less. 
 
 102 Opinion- Reputation. 
 
 108 Moe. An olden form of more. 
 
 no Gear. Matter; because of what you have just 
 said. 
 
 112 Ned's tongue. The tongue of an ox. 
 
 113 Thing. Is there any sense in his words; where's 
 the joke? 
 
NOTES I03 
 
 119 Same. The one, that. 
 
 123 Disabled. Impaired, injured. 
 
 124 Something. To some extent displaying. 
 
 124 Swelling part. A more magnificent style of living. 
 
 125 Faint means. Slender income. 
 
 125 Continuance. Enable me to keep up. 
 
 126 Abridged. Complain because I must cut down my 
 expenses. 
 
 127 Rate. Lavishness. 
 
 128 Fairly. Clear myself honorably. 
 
 129 Time. Youthful lavishness. 
 
 130 Gaged. Pledged, involved. 
 
 132 Warranty. Sanction, justification for. 
 
 133 Plots. Plans. 
 
 135 It. That is, "plots and purposes." 
 
 136 Still. Always. 
 
 137 Honor. Within the scope of what I should call 
 honorable. 
 
 138 Extremest. The utmost that I have to give. 
 
 139 Occasions. Necessities; pronounced in four sylla- 
 bles. 
 
 140. Shaft. Arrow. 
 
 141 Self -same flight. An arrow of the same size, and 
 therefore having the same range. 
 
 142 Advised. Noting its flight more carefully. 
 
 143 Forth. Out. 
 
 144 Childhood. Childish experiment. 
 
 145 Pure innocence. Is just as innocent and free from 
 trickery, as the experiment with the arrow. 
 
 148 ' Self. Same. 
 
 150. As. For I will so watch the aim as to, etc. 
 
 151 Or. Either. 
 
 151 Hazard. The money which last risked. 
 
 153 Herein. In using so many words, "beating about 
 the bush." 
 
 154 To wind. In trying to wind. 
 
 154 Circumstance. Circumlocution, many words. 
 
 155 Out of. Without. 
 
 156 Uttermost. In doubting that I will do my utmost 
 for you. 
 
 159 Knowledge. That you know I can do. 
 
 160 Prest. Ready to do it. 
 
 161 Richly left. An orphan of wealth. 
 163 Sometimes. In past times, formerly. 
 
104 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 164 Speechless. Kind looks. 
 
 165 Undervalued to. Not inferior to. 
 
 166 Cato's daughter. The wife of Brutus, one of the 
 murderers of Julius Caesar. She was the daughter of Cato,. 
 a famous Roman statesman, and was possessed of great 
 virtue and courage. She is one of the characters in Shakes- 
 peare's Julius Ccesar. 
 
 170 Golden fleece. The golden fleece, according to 
 Greek legend, hung in the grove of Ares, god of war, in Col- 
 chis, on the shore of the Black Sea, and was guarded by a 
 dragon. 
 
 171 Strand. Shore. 
 
 172 Jasons. Jason was the son of the king of Iolcus. 
 His uncle had usurped the throne, but promised to give it up 
 if Jason would bring him the golden fleece. Jason built 
 a ship, called the Argo, and with many heroes, sailed to 
 Colchis, where with the aid of Media, daughter of the king 
 of that country, he succeeded in securing the fleece. 
 
 172 Quest. Search. 
 
 174 Rival. To take my place among them as an equaL 
 
 175 Presages. Which foretells. 
 
 175 Thrift. Thriving, success. 
 
 176 Questionless. Without doubt. 
 
 178 Commodity. Merchandise on which money could 
 be raised. 
 
 179 Present. Immediate. 
 
 180 Credit. What money you can borrow on my credit* 
 
 181 Rack'd. Stretched out, strained. 
 
 182 Furnish. Supply you with the means of going as 
 a suitor. 
 
 183 Presently. Instantly. 
 
 184 Is. Is to be borrowed. 
 
 185 Of my trust, etc. Either on my credit as a business 
 man, or as a personal favor. 
 
 185 Sake. The rhymed couplets at the end of scenes 
 were introduced, it is supposed, as a signal to the musicians, 
 and the audience that the scene was ended. 
 
NOTES 105 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 1 Troth. Faith what I hold true; upon my word. 
 
 2 Aweary. The a is a corruption of the intensive of 
 in Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 6 Surfeit. Are surfeited, overloaded. 
 
 7 Mean. Placed midway between wealth and poverty; 
 the word is a pun on mean (slight). 
 
 9 By white hairs. Acquired signs of age sooner on ac- 
 count of self-indulgence. 
 
 9 Competency. One in moderate circumstances. 
 j 10 Sentences. Wise sayings, maxims. 
 
 12 Were. The conditional mode, would be. 
 
 13 Chapels. A small church situated in an outlying 
 division of a parish. The word is derived from the "cappella 
 or cloak of St. Martin, preserved by the Frankish kings as a 
 sacred relic, which was borne before them in battle, and used 
 to give sanctity in oaths, the name was applied to the sanctu- 
 ary in which this was preserved under the care of its cappelain 
 or chaplains, and thence generally to a sanctuary containing 
 holy relics, attached to a palace, etc., and so to any private 
 sanctuary or holy place, and finally to any apartment or 
 building for orisons or worship, not being a church, the earlier 
 name for which was Oratorium." — Murray 
 
 18 Blood. Emotional nature. 
 
 19 Decree. The dictate of reason. 
 
 19 Youth. That is, so headstrong youth, like a hare, 
 lightly passes over the good advice by which sober age would 
 restrain it. The figure is borrowed from the hunter laying 
 a snare for the swift-footed game. 
 
 21 Fashion. Is not of a kind to help me in choosing. 
 
 23 Would. Desire. 
 
 24 Will. Desire, preference. 
 
 25 Will. A legal testament; a play is intended on will 
 in the line above. 
 
 26 None. Another case of the double negative; we 
 should now say "or refuse any." 
 
 28 Inspiration. It was a common belief that the words 
 of the dying were supernaturally inspired. 
 
 29 Lottery. The caskets by which you must be chosen, 
 which resemble the chances in a lottery. 
 
 31 Meaning. Of which three caskets, he who chooses 
 the one that your father intended to be chosen, by that choice 
 wins you. 
 
106 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 32 One. By one, 
 
 32 Who. We should now say whom. 
 
 33 Affection. Inclination, attitude of mind. 
 35 Over-name. Name them one by one. 
 37 Level. Guess. 
 
 39 Colt. Wild, headstrong youth. 
 
 40 Appropriation. Addition; something that redounds 
 to his credit. 
 
 41 Parts. Qualities. 
 
 43 County Palatine. Count and County are both used 
 in the same sense by Shakespeare. The latter form of the 
 word we still have in county or shire, originally the domain 
 of a Count. Count Palatine was one who ruled over land 
 belonging to the king's domain, in return for services done 
 by his house to the throne. 
 
 47 Weeping philosophers. A certain Greek, Heraclitus 
 of Ephesus, was so called on account of the extreme austerity 
 of his life. 
 
 49 Death's head. An allusion to the skull and cross- 
 bones so often carved on tombstones. 
 
 52 By. In reference to, concerning. 
 
 54 God made him, etc. A popular expression found in 
 other plays. 
 
 57 Better bad. A frown that surpasses that of the Count 
 Palatine. 
 
 58 Every man. He imitates everylxniy, and has no 
 mind of his own. 
 
 59 Throstle. The English name for thrush. 
 
 59 A capering. A is a corruption of the old preposition 
 "on" used after verbs of motion. 
 
 69 Pennyworth. A very small amount. 
 
 70 Proper man's picture. The picture of a handsome 
 man. See Hebrews, xi. 23: "By faith Moses, when he 
 was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they 
 saw he was a proper child." 
 
 72 Suited. Dressed. 
 
 72 Doublet. A close-fitting garment, covering the body 
 from the neck to the waist. 
 
 73 Hose. Clothes that went from the waist to the knees. 
 They were called round, because they were puffed out in 
 globe-like shape. 
 
 73 Bonnet. Head-gear; used now only for a woman, 
 or the cap worn by the Scotch Highlander. 
 
 78 Borrowed a box. He received a box on the ear from 
 
NOTES 107 
 
 the Englishman, which, though freely given, he pretended 
 that he meant to repay some time. 
 
 80 Surety. The Frenchman bound himself to see that 
 the promise was carried out. 
 
 81 Sealed under. He put his seal under that of the 
 Scotchman for whom he became surety. 
 
 88 Make shift. To contrive to do without. 
 
 91 Should. We now say, "You would refuse." 
 
 94 Rhenish. A white wine, similar to the modern 
 Hock. It is produced in the Rhine valley. 
 
 94 Contrary. The casket that does not contain the 
 picture. 
 
 100 Determinations. As each one had decided to do. 
 
 103 Im-position. The condition laid down by the father. 
 
 104 Sibylla. A name by which various prophetic women 
 were known. They are supposed to have lived to a great 
 age. The most famous, and the one intended here, was the 
 Cumasan Sibyl, who guided ^Eneas to the under world. 
 
 105 Diana. The Roman goddess of the hunt. She 
 was never married, and is regarded as the type of purity. 
 
 106 Parcel. Lot. It is used here as a noun of multi- 
 tude, and is thus followed by a plural verb. 
 
 108 Very absence. Long for his going away. 
 122 Forerunner. A messenger who has brought word 
 of the coming of the Prince of Morocco from Africa. 
 125 So good a heart. With such pleasure. 
 
 127 Condition. Disposition, character. 
 
 128 Complexion. Portia here refers to the fact of the 
 Prince's being a Moor, hence black. 
 
 129 Shrive. She would rather he should be her father- 
 confessor, and give her absolution for her sin, than that he 
 should be her husband. 
 
 130 Sirrah. This word is equivalent to fellow, or sir, 
 spoken with contemptuous force. Here Portia addresses 
 the servant. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 1 Ducats. A ducat was a coin so called from its being 
 issued in a Duchy. In Venice it was worth about one dollar. 
 
 6 Bound. To become responsible for the payment of 
 the loan. 
 
 7 Stead me. Aid me. 
 
 13 Imputation. Charge. 
 
108 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 17 Sufficient. Competent. 
 
 17 Supposition. His wealth is not a matter of certainty, 
 but dependent upon conditions. 
 
 18 Argosy. A large merchant vessel, especially one 
 carrying a rich freight. 
 
 18 Tripolis. This is not the city in Barbary in Northern 
 Africa, but the sea-port in Syria. It was on the way from 
 Venice to the East, by the "Euphrates Valley route." In 
 Crusading times it was a famous port, and traded with 
 Venice in glass. 
 
 19 The Indies. The West Indies of America. See 
 Twelfth Night, Act III., Scene II., line 85. "He does smile 
 his face into more lines than is in the new map with the 
 augmentation of the Indies." 
 
 19 Rialto. The meeting-place or "exchange" of the 
 merchants. This name was also given to an island and to 
 the bridge connecting this island with the St. Mark's quarter 
 of Venice. 
 
 21 Squandered. Scattered recklessly. This use of the 
 word is rare. 
 
 24 Pirates. By this of course he refers only to the water- 
 thieves. These were probably the Barbary pirates, who in- 
 fested the Mediterranean until the bombardment of Algiers 
 by Lord Exmouth in 18 16. 
 
 29 Will be assured. He intends to make sure for him- 
 self that he may. 
 
 33. Pork. Held in abomination by Jews. 
 
 33 Habitation. When Christ cast out the devils by 
 which two men were possessed, he caused them to enter 
 into a herd of swine. See MattJiew vm. 28-32. 
 
 34 Nazarite. For Nazarene, or inhabitant of Nazareth. 
 The term Nazarite is now used only of those who bound 
 themselves by a vow not to touch wine, but in Shakespeare's 
 day it also meant an inhabitant of Nazareth, and is used 
 thus in versions of the Bible previous to that of 161 1. 
 
 40 Fawning publican. Shylock here expresses his con- 
 tempt for the Roman tax-gatherers. 
 
 42 Low simplicity. Foolish humility. 
 
 43 Gratis. That is, for nothing; without interest. 
 
 44 Usance. Interest. 
 
 45 Upon the hip. Get him at an advantage. The 
 phrase has reference to a wrestling-bout. 
 
 48 Where merchants. That is, where Shylock's chances 
 of business could be most injured by Antonio. 
 
NOTES 
 
 109 
 
 50 Interest. The money charged for a loan. Shy lock 
 considers it profit made with much trouble and industry. 
 54 Gross. The entire sum. 
 59 Last man. The last one spoken of. 
 
 61 Of excess. Anything over and above the amount 
 borrowed or lent. 
 
 62 Ripe wants. Wants that cannot be delayed. 
 
 63 Possess'd. Informed. Shakespeare frequently uses 
 the word in this sense. 
 
 64 Would. Wish. 
 
 69 Advantage. Interest. 
 
 70 Jacob grazed. He took the sheep out to pasture and 
 tended them there. See Genesis xxx.) 
 
 71 Abram. Abraham. 
 
 72 Wrought. Performed. Rebekah suggested the trick 
 by which Jacob supplanted Esau. See Genesis xxvu. 
 
 77 Compromised. Entered into a mutual agreement ► 
 This is the literal meaning of the word. 
 
 78 Eanlings. The new-born lambs. 
 
 78 Pied. Variegated; parti-colored; spotted. 
 
 84 Sway'd and fashion d. Controlled and shaped by 
 Providence. 
 
 8* Inserted. Introduced. 
 
 85 Good. Just. 
 
 97 Beholding. Beholden; obliged. 
 
 98 Oft. Often. Saying a thing over and over again. 
 100 Moneys. Sums of money. 
 
 102 Sufferance. By this he means that patient endur- 
 ance is the distinguishing mark of his tribe. 
 
 103 Cut-throat. A murderer; an assassin. 
 
 104 Gaberdine. A large, loose cloak, worn by others 
 beside Jews. Spanish, gaberdina, a sort of cassock, with 
 closely buttoned sleeves. 
 
 105 For use. Because I use. 
 
 109 Rheum. Spit upon my beard. 
 
 no Foot. Kick me. 
 
 115 Bondman's key. The whining tones of a slave. 
 
 126 A breed for barren metal. When did a friend take 
 of his friend money that has proceeded from money lent,, 
 seeing that money, being lifeless metal, cannot increase as 
 animals do? 
 
 132 Doit. Half a farthing. (A Dutch word.) 
 
 137 Single bond. Antonio's bond alone, without any 
 other person as security. 
 
no THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 140 In the condition. As set forth in the contract. 
 
 141 Nominated. Named. (The forfeit named shall 
 be for.) 
 
 144 Seal. Put my seal to. 
 
 153 Suspect. To suspect. "To" was omitted as it is after 
 auxiliary verbs, because at one time there was confusion as 
 to what were and were not auxiliary verbs. 
 
 156 Forfeiture. Penalty due. 
 
 158 Estimable. This word is now applied only to per- 
 sons, but its use was less restricted in Elizabethan English. 
 Compare the use of varnished in Act II., Scene V., line 32, 
 and Act II., Scene IX., line 49. 
 
 159 Muttons, beefs. French moutotis, boeufs. The dis- 
 tinction between "sheep" and "ox" on one side, as living 
 animals, and "mutton" and "beef" on the other, as the same 
 animals brought to table, had not become fixed in Shakes- 
 peare's time. 
 
 162 For my love. For the sake of the love I bear you, 
 do not misunderstand me. 
 
 166 Purse the ducats. Put the money into bags. 
 
 167 The fearful guard. Not secure, risky. Fearful used 
 to mean "causing fear for" as well as "causing fear of." 
 
 172 No dismay. There can be nothing to cause dismay 
 or frighten us. 
 
 ACT II. 
 Scene I. 
 
 1 Mislike. Dislike. 
 
 2 Sliadowed livery. The Prince of Morocco speaks of 
 himself as the servant of the sun, and compares his dusky 
 skin to a dark-colored uniform furnished him by the sun. 
 
 3 Near bred. Morocco, where he was born and brought 
 up, is on the border of the torrid zone. The sun is nearer to 
 there than to the more northern countries. 
 
 5 Phoebus' fire. The sun's fire. Phoebus was the 
 Roman god of the sun. 
 
 5 Scarce thaws. The sun has scarcely power to thaw 
 the icicles. 
 
 6 Make incision. Make a cut in the body. It was the 
 custom in the East for lovers to show their sincerity by cut- 
 ting themselves in the presence of their lady-loves. 
 
NOTES in 
 
 7 Reddest. The reddest blood was believed to be the 
 sign of the greatest courage, just as cowards were said to be 
 'white-livered." 
 
 8 Aspect. Look. The accent is on the second syllable. 
 
 9 Fear'd. Frightened. The verb " fear " of ten has this 
 transitive form in Shakespeare. 
 
 io Best-regarded. Most highly thought of. 
 
 ii Change this hue. He would not change his color 
 unless by so doing he might steal Portia's affections, win her 
 love. 
 
 13 Terms of choke. In regard to the matter of choosing. 
 
 14 Nice direction. Fastidious guidance. 
 
 15 Lottery. The lottery by which her destiny is to be 
 decided. 
 
 16 Bars me. Deprives me of the right of choosing for 
 myself. 
 
 17 Scanted. Limited. Given little freedom. 
 
 18 Hedged. Confined; protected. 
 
 18 Wit. Wisdom; foresight. 
 
 19 His wife ivlu>. Wife of that man who. 
 
 20 Stood as fair. Would have stood in as good a posi- 
 tion for winning my love as any of those who have come for 
 that purpose. Portia could well say this, for she cared for 
 none of her suitors. 
 
 24 Scimitar. A curved sword, with a broad point, used 
 in the East. 
 
 25 Sophy. The Shah of Persia, of whom "Sufi" mean- 
 ing "wise man," was a common title. 
 
 26 Won three fields. Successful in three battles. 
 
 26 Sultan Solyman. A Turkish Sultan, called "The 
 Magnificent," who reigned from 15 20-1 566. He defeated 
 the Christians at Belgrade and Rhodes, but failed to capture 
 Vienna. He also met defeat in Persia about 1534- 
 
 31 A las the while! An expression of sorrow for the 
 present circumstances. 
 
 3 2 Hercules. A Greek hero, famed for his great strength. 
 32 Lichas. The squire or attendant of Hercules. 
 
 35 Alcides. Another name for Hercules; so called 
 from his grandfather, Alcasus. 
 
 42 Be advised. Consider well what you are about to 
 do. 
 
 43 Nor will not. Nor will I seek another wife. 
 
 44 Temple. The church where the oath was to be taken. 
 "Temple" is used for "church" several times in Shakes- 
 
ii2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 peare, in those plays in which the scene is in Rome or 
 Greece. 
 
 45 Good fortune then! May good fortune then attend 
 me! 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 i Conscience will serve. Halliwell thinks there should 
 be "not" before "serve." Although he pretends to deliber- 
 ate between obeying the dictates of conscience and yielding 
 to the temptation of the fiend, Launcelot has already made 
 up his mind. 
 
 9 With thy heels. As if kicking with your heels at some 
 animal behind; despising the idea of running away. 
 
 io Pack. Be off. We still say, "Send him packing." 
 
 io Vial Away. This word was formerly used by 
 commanders to encourage their men, by riders to their 
 horses, etc. It was also an expression of impatience or 
 defiance. 
 
 ii For the heavens. By heaven; or, For heaven's sake. 
 
 13 Hanging about. His conscience clings to his heart, 
 restraining his wishes, as one person clinging to the neck of 
 another prevents his going. 
 
 16 Did something smack. Had something villainous or 
 dishonorable in his character. 
 
 17 Grow to. Had a tendency to. This phrsae was 
 originally applied to milk burned on the bottom of a sauce- 
 pan, thus acquiring an unpleasant taste. 
 
 21 To be ruled. If I were ruled. 
 
 22 God bless the mark. This is said as an apology for 
 mentioning the devil. 
 
 25 Saving your reverence. Another apology for using 
 an offensive term. 
 
 27 Incarnal. Launcelot means "incarnate," in the 
 flesh. He and his father make many ludicrous mistakes 
 in their misuse of long words. 
 
 27 In my conscience. Upon my conscience. 
 
 28 To offer. In being ready to offer. 
 
 35 Sand-blind. Half -blind. Sand is a corruption of 
 A. S. sam; Latin, semi. 
 
 36 High-gravel-blind. More than half -blind, gravel 
 being larger than sand. This is a comical word of Launce- 
 lot's own coining. 
 
 36 Try confusions. Launcelot probably means "Try 
 
NOTES 
 
 "3 
 
 conclusions," but "confusions," is fitting, because he tries 
 to confuse his father. 
 
 42 Of no hand. Turn neither to the right nor to the 
 left. 
 
 44 Sonties. This is a corruption of "sanctities" or of 
 "saintes," an old plural of "saint," pronounced as two 
 syllables. 
 
 48 Raise the waters. In his eyes; make him weep. 
 
 52 Well to live. With the prospect of a long life. 
 
 53 A\ He. The letter "a," sometimes with the 
 apostrophe before it, sometimes after it, and sometimes with 
 no apostrophe, is found in Old English not only for "he," 
 but for "she," "it," and "they." 
 
 56 Ergo. Latin, for therefore, but Launcelot does not 
 know this. 
 
 58 An't. "An it." If it. 
 
 62 Sisters three. The three Fates, goddesses of the 
 Greeks, who controlled man's birth, life, and death. They 
 were Clotho, who drew out the thread of life, Lachesis, who 
 determined its length, and Atropos, who cut it off. 
 
 67 A hovel-post. A post supporting a hovel or shed. 
 
 71 God rest. May God give rest to. Rest is ordinarily 
 intransitive, or reflexive. 
 
 77 Will come. Is certain to come. 
 
 83 Fooling. Nonsense. 
 
 93 What a beard hast thou got. Launcelot kneels down 
 and presents the back of his head to his father, who takes the 
 long, thick hair for a beard. 
 
 94 Fill-horse. Cart-horse. The fills or thills are the 
 shafts of a cart. 
 
 97 Hair of his tail. A comparison of Launcelot' s words 
 with Old Gobbo's shows that "of" has much the same sense 
 as "on" here. 
 
 103 Set up my rest. Make up my mind. A phrase used 
 in an old card-game. 
 
 104 Run some ground. That is, run over some ground. 
 114 Of the clock. Contracted to o'clock. In Shakes- 
 peare's time meals were early: dinner at n, for instance. 
 
 116 Anon. At once. 
 
 119 Grammercy! Corruption of French grand merci> 
 great thanks. 
 
 122 Specify. Launcelot' s mistake for certify; assure. 
 
 123 Infection. Mistake for affection. 
 
 129 Are scarce cater-cousins. Are hardly on speaking 
 
ii 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 terms. (Supposed to be derived from French qtiatre-cousin, 
 a fourth cousin, distant relation.) 
 
 132 Frutify. For certify. 
 
 135 Impertinent. He means pertinent, concerning. 
 
 141 Defect. For effect. 
 
 144 Prejerrd. Recommended for promotion. 
 
 147 The old proverb. "The Grace of God is better 
 than riches," or, in the Scottish form, "God's Grace is gear 
 enough . " — Sta u nton . 
 
 151 Take leave. Get your permission to leave his ser- 
 vice and bid him farewell. 
 
 153 More guarded. More richly trimmed; the trim- 
 mings or facings serving to protect the material of the 
 dress. 
 
 156 Table. Palm of the hand. 
 
 156 Which doth offer, etc. Which says as certainly as 
 a man on his oath that I shall have good fortune. Palmistry 
 was the science of telling fortunes by examining the lines of 
 the hand. 
 
 158 Simple. He means the opposite, good. 
 
 160 Coming-in. Allowance. 
 
 164 For this gear. For this matter. 
 
 168 Orderly bestow' d. Set in their proper place. 
 
 177 Hear thee, Gratiano. Notice diat Bassanio first 
 uses you in addressing Gratiano, then thee. The second 
 person singular of the pronoun was in Shakespeare's time 
 used among friends, in addressing servants, and in anger to 
 strangers. Bassanio first uses the ordinary you; then, 
 when he gives some friendly advice to Gratiano, he adopts 
 a more familiar tone, and uses thee. 
 
 178 Too r tide and bold. Too rough and plain-spoken. 
 
 1 79 Parts thai, etc. Manners which are in keeping with 
 your open nature, and which to us, who know the worth of 
 that nature, do not appear as faults. 
 
 182 Liberal. This word is here generally explained as 
 "gross," "coarse," "licentious." Funiess, however, points 
 out with truth that such adjectives are too strong for Bas- 
 sanio's friendly remonstrance, and that our modern "free 
 and easy" is more the meaning of the word. 
 
 182 Pray thee. I beg you; often spelt Prithee. 
 
 182 Pain. Usually pains. 
 
 183 To allay, etc. Gratiano's skipping spirit (i.e.. lively 
 disposition) is compared to something too hot, which needs 
 cooling. See Coriolanus, Act n.. Scene i., 53: "One that 
 
NOTES n 5 
 
 loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying Tiber in 
 it." 
 
 185 Misconstrued. Misjudged. 
 
 187 Habit. Behavior. 
 
 188 With respect. Seriously. 
 188 But. Only. 
 
 190 Hood. Cover. 
 
 191 Sigh. That is, give evidence of my seriousness. 
 
 192 AU tlte observance, etc. All those manners which 
 good breeding dictates. 
 
 193 Sad ostent. Display of serious behavior. (Latin. 
 ostendere, to show.) 
 
 195 Your bearing. How you bear yourself; behave 
 yourself. 
 
 196 Bar. Except, leave out. 
 196 Gauge. Measure, judge. 
 
 198 Put on. A merry bearing is compared to a suit of 
 clothes, which may be put on and off. 
 
 200 Purpose merriment. Mean to enjoy themselves 
 thoroughly. 
 
 202 Must. That is, must go. The verb of motion is 
 often thus omitted. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 1 Thou wilt. You are determined to. 
 
 2 Our Jwuse is hell. Shylock is, therefore, as unpleas- 
 ant in his home-life as in his business relations. Launcelot 
 had called him the devil in the previous scene. 
 
 3 Tediousn-ess. Wearisomeness. Jessica, being the 
 daughter of a hated Jew, is shut out from all the pleasures 
 which other girls might enjoy, and Shylock is too mean to 
 entertain company belonging to his own race. 
 
 10 Exhibit. For inhibit, prevent. He pretends that he 
 cannot speak for weeping. 
 
 11 Pagan. Heathen. (Latin, paganus, countryman. 
 Christianity affected the towns first, and people in country 
 places were ignorant of it. Hence the use of the word 
 meaning "countryman" to mean "one not a Christian.) 
 
 14 Heinous. Hateful. (O. F- hainos, from hair, to 
 hate.) 
 
 16 But though, etc. But though by birth I am my 
 father's child, I am in no way kindred to his disposi- 
 tion. 
 
ii6 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 1 8 I shall end this strife. There will be an end to this 
 contest in my mind between duty to my father and love for 
 Lorenzo. 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 5 Spoke us yet of. Bespoke for ourselves, made ar- 
 rangements with. Torch-bearers were a necessary part of 
 every troop of masquers. 
 
 6 Quaintly ordered. Gracefully arranged. (Quaint was 
 supposed to be derived from Latin, competus, adorned, 
 through French, coint. It really comes from cognitus, well- 
 known.) 
 
 7 And better, etc. That is, "and it would be better if 
 it were not undertaken." 
 
 io Break up. Open. 
 
 12 Hand. Hand-writing. We still say, "he writes a 
 fair hand." 
 
 14 Writ. Wrote. 
 
 15 By your leave. With your permission I will be 
 off. 
 
 19 Hold here. Here, catch hold of this; generally in 
 this sense in the imperative, as here, and frequently followed 
 by the personal pronoun "thee," not "thou," or "you." 
 
 22 Masque. An entertainment of which acting and 
 dancing formed part, the guests and performers being 
 masked. 
 
 23 Provided of. Shakespeare often used of where we 
 should use with or another preposition. 
 
 31 Gold and jewels. It never even occurs to Lorenzo 
 or Jessica or any of their friends that there was anything to 
 be said against their going off with Shylock's property. If 
 they had thought about it, they would have defended it on 
 the ground that Shylock made no use of his wealth, and that 
 he was a common enemy with whom the ordinary laws did 
 not hold. 
 
 35 Dare misfortune, etc. Let misfortune never dare 
 stand in her way except under the excuse (for Jessica herself 
 deserves no ill-fortune) that she is a Jew's daughter. She 
 in line 36 refers to Misfortune personified; she in line 37 to 
 Jessica. 
 
 37 Faithless. Without religious (i.e., Christian) faith, 
 unbelieving; it now means not keeping faith. 
 
 38 Peruse. Read over carefully. 
 
NOTES 117 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 3 What, Jessica! Shylock raises his voice and calls 
 his daughter. 
 
 3 Gormandize. To eat like a gourmand, a glutton. 
 Shylock speaks as though it was pleasant to be in his service: 
 Launcelot has a different opinion. (French, gourmand, 
 glutton.) 
 
 8 Wont. Accustomed. 
 11 Bid forth. Invited out. 
 
 13 They flatter me. They have invited me merely in 
 order to cajole me. 
 
 16 Look to my house. Take good care of the house, see 
 that no thieves get in. 
 
 16 Right loath. Very unwilling. 
 
 17 A-brewing. Preparing. 
 
 17 Towards my rest. That will affect my rest. 
 
 18 To-night. Last night; the phrase meaning merely 
 "for the night," may refer to the present, the past, or the 
 future, and in all of these senses we find it frequently in 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 20 Reproach. Launcelot means "approach." Shylock 
 in bis So do I his takes it literally, blame. 
 
 24 Black Monday. Easter Monday, so called because 
 on that day, April 14, 1360, when Edward III. was besieging 
 Paris, many of his soldiers died through the bitter cold. 
 
 26 Was four year. Four years ago — Launcelot has 
 his presentiments, but his dates and his memory generally 
 are rather confused. 
 
 30 Wry-neck' d fife. A curved kind of fife. Or "fife" 
 may here mean the "player," who turns his neck awry as 
 he plays. 
 
 31 Casements. Window frames. 
 
 ^^ . Varnish' d. Painted; or it may refer to the small 
 black masks. 
 
 36 Jacob's staff. A common name for a pilgrim's staff. 
 See Genesis xxxn, 10, where Jacob says: "With my staff I 
 passed over this Jordan." St. James (Jacobus is Latin for 
 James), the patron of pilgrims, is represented as holding a 
 staff. 
 
 43 Jewess' eye. A play on the common expression, 
 "worth a Jew's eye." Money was often extorted from Jews 
 by torture; the saying expressed the sum which a Jew 
 would pay rather than lose an eye. 
 
n8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 44 Hagar's offspring. Hagar was bondwoman to Sarah, 
 Abraham's wife, and by him had a son, named Ishmael, who 
 afterwards, when Sarah bore Isaac, was driven out into the 
 wilderness; his descendants, the Ishmaelites, being despised 
 by the Israelites, the descendants of Isaac. 
 
 46 The patch. Fools are said to have been so called 
 from the patched or motley coats worn by them. 
 
 46 Kind enough. Good-natured enough. 
 
 47 Snail-slow in profit. In everything that concerns his 
 master's profit, as slow as a snail. 
 
 47 Sleeps, etc. The wild-cat sleeps nearly all day, 
 seeking its prey at night. It was common in Shakespeare's 
 time, but is now only rarely found in remote parts of Scot- 
 land. 
 
 49 And part with him. Part with him not merely 
 because he is of no use to me, but in order that he may by his 
 extravagance and sloth help to waste the money which his 
 new master (whom I hate as being a Christian) has by 
 Antonio's help borrowed of me. 
 
 52 Perhaps I will return immediately. Said in order to 
 frighten her into being careful. 
 
 54 Fast bind, fast find. Dyce quotes Cotgrave: "Bon 
 guet chasse malaveniure: Good watch prevents misfortune; 
 'fast bind, fast find,' say we." 
 
 55 A proverb. A proverb which to men of careful mind 
 never loses its force. 
 
 56 Crost. Crossed. Thwarted, interfered with. 
 
 Scene VI. 
 
 1 Pent-house. A corruption of the French appentis, 
 from Latin appendicium, an appendage, something added 
 on to a house, a shed. 
 
 2 To make stand. To take up our stand. 
 
 3 Out-dwells. Over-stays. 
 
 5 Venus' pigeons. Properly doves, which drew the 
 chariot of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. 
 
 7 Obliged. Pledged previously. 
 
 9 Sits down. Sits down "with." 
 
 10 Untread again. Retrace. 
 
 11 Tedious measures. Space marked out for him, 
 which become tedious, wearisome, on the return journey. 
 
 12 Are. Exist. 
 
NOTES 119 
 
 14 Younher. Young man. (Dutch jong, young; heer, 
 sir.) 
 
 15 Scarfed. Decked with flags. This is a vivid phrase 
 for a fresh-trimmed vessel, wearing her sails like so much 
 finely. 
 
 15 Puts from. Puts off from. 
 
 16 Hugged and embraced. Favored by the wind. 
 
 16 Strumpet wind. The wind that favors many ships, 
 and is false to them all (because it does damage.) 
 
 17 How like, etc. An allusion to the Prodigal Son. 
 Luke xv. 1 1-32. 
 
 1 8 Over-weather' d. Weather-beaten. 
 21 Your patience. I ask your pardon. 
 21 Abode. Delay. 
 
 27 Albeit. Although. 
 
 28 Love. Lover. 
 
 30 Who love. Whom love. 
 
 35 Exchange. An exchange of clothing. 
 
 38 Cupid. The Son of Venus. His arrows were sup- 
 posed to fill people with love, causing them to commit fol- 
 lies at which he laughed. But even Cupid would blush with 
 shame at this folly of Jessica's. 
 
 42 Good sooth. In good truth. 
 
 42 Light. A play on "light" meaning "bright," and 
 " light" in the sense of gay, frivolous. 
 
 43 Office of discovery. Duty that will tend to reveal 
 me. The duty of a torch-bearer is to show things up. 
 
 44 Obscured. Hidden. 
 
 45 Garnish. Dress. 
 
 47 The close night. The secret or concealing night. 
 The time of complete darkness is fast passing away. 
 
 48 Stay'd. Waited. 
 
 49 Gild. Another pun. Jessica means provide her- 
 self with gold, with a reference to the meaning of "gild" 
 as "adorn," "beautiful." 
 
 51 By my hood. Gratiano was probably disguised as 
 a friar, and intends a kind of pun on "hood" as in "man- 
 hood." "By my knighthood" was a common oath. 
 
 51 Gentiles. A pun on "gentle." 
 
 52 Beshrew. Curse. To "beshrew," literally to 
 "curse," is frequently used by Shakespeare for a mild form 
 of imprecation, very similar to the modern slang, "hang 
 me," if I do not. 
 
 56 And therefore, etc. And therefore she being, as she 
 
120 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 is, wise, fair, and true, I enshrine her in my heart with a love 
 that shall never know change. 
 
 62 Fie, fie. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for 
 delaying so long. 
 
 64 Is come about. Has veered round, i.e., to a quarter 
 that will allow of our setting sail at once. 
 
 65 Presently. At once; as more usually in Shakes- 
 peare. 
 
 66 Twenty. That is, a great number; this indefinite 
 sense is very frequent in Shakespeare. 
 
 Scene VII. 
 
 1 Discover. Show, reveal. 
 
 2 Several. Different. 
 
 4 Who. Which. "Who" is now used only for per- 
 sons, "which" for things and animals. 
 
 8 As blunt. The motto is as pointless as lead itself. 
 
 1 1 The one of them. One of them, but specially the 
 one. 
 
 1 2 Withal. Together with it. 
 
 14 Back again. Going over them again, but in reverse 
 order. 
 
 1 7 Hazard for lead? Must I make this hazard, run this 
 risk, of all I have for something so unattractive as this 
 leaden casket? 
 
 20 A golden mind. A noble mind does not deign to 
 concern itself with things so worthless as this lead shows it- 
 self to be. The prince has a high opinion of himself. 
 
 21 Then. Therefore. 
 
 22 Virgin. Pure, unsullied. 
 
 25 With an even hand. With impartial judgment. 
 
 26 By thy estimation.' By the estimation in which you 
 are held by others, your true value. 
 
 27 And yet enough. And yet that's "enough." 
 
 29 And yet, etc. And yet for me to have any doubts 
 as to my deserts would be for myself weakly to disparage 
 myself. 
 
 31 That's the lady. What I deserve is the lady. 
 
 32 Deserve her. By being her equal. 
 
 ^^ hi qualities of breeding. In those accomplishments 
 which show good breeding. 
 36 Graved. Cut, carved. 
 
NOTES 121 
 
 40 Mortal breathing saint. Saint while still living. Per- 
 sons are recognized as saints usually after death. Portia 
 was so good as to deserve, in the prince's opinion, that name 
 while still alive. 
 
 41 Hyrcanian deserts. Hyrcania, a province of the 
 ancient Persian empire, on the south and south-east of the 
 Caspian or Hyrcanian Sea, is frequently mentioned by old 
 English writers as being famous for tigers. 
 
 41 Vasty wilds. Boundless and desolate tracts. 
 
 42 Throughjares. Ways one may go through. Now 
 spelt "thoroughfare." (Old English, faran, to go; hence, 
 "fare" the money paid for a journey.) 
 
 43 View. "To" is omitted. In modern English we 
 say, "Come and see." 
 
 44 Ambitious head. Wave that rises high as though with 
 ambition. 
 
 46 Spirits. Courageous men. 
 49 Like. Likely. 
 
 49 'Twere damnation. It would be deserving of ever- 
 lasting perdition. 
 
 50 It were too gross. It would be too common to inclose 
 (as the ribs inclose the body) her shroud. 
 
 51 Cerecloth. Wax-cloth, shroud, the dress of a dead 
 person. (Latin, cera, wax.) 
 
 51 Obscure. Dark. 
 
 52 Immured. Shut up, as within walls (Latin, murus t 
 wall). 
 
 53 Undervalued. In 1600 gold was worth ten times 
 as much as silver. 
 
 56 Angel. An old English coin varying in value from 
 seven shillings to ten shillings. 
 
 57 Insculp'd upon. The figure of St. Michael piercing 
 the dragon was so cut as to stand out above the surface of 
 the coin. 
 
 60 Thrive I as I may. Let my success be what it 
 will. 
 
 63 A carrion Death. A skull, from which the flesh had 
 
 rotted away. 
 
 68 But. Merely, only. 
 
 73 Is cold. Is coldly received. 
 
 77 Part. Depart. 
 
122 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Scene VIII. 
 
 4 Raised the duke. Stirred him up to use his authority 
 towards recovering Jessica. 
 
 8 Gondola. A kind of boat very common in Venice, 
 where people go from place to place by water, the only streets 
 being canals. 
 
 12 A passion so confused. An exhibition of violent 
 emotion of so mixed a character; partly on account of the 
 marriage of his daughter with a Christian, partly for the loss 
 of his money. 
 
 16 Fled with Christians. Jessica had thus cut herself 
 off from the number of the chosen people. Shylock's pas- 
 sion is of a piece with the convictions which the Jews held, 
 at anyrate after the return from the Babylonish captivity. 
 So when Ezra heard of the "mixed marriages," he says of 
 himself, "I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked 
 off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down 
 astonied." — Ezra, IX. 3. 
 
 16 O my Christian ducats! Shylock is represented as 
 mixing up, in his excitement, execrations upon the Christian ; 
 that is, Lorenzo, and regrets for the loss of his money. 
 
 21 Justice/ I will have justice. 
 
 25 Look he keep his day. Take care to be ready with 
 the money on the day arranged. 
 
 27 Reasoned. Talked. 
 
 29 Miscarried. Was wrecked. 
 
 30 Richly fraught. Was freighted with a valuable 
 cargo. 
 
 ^ You were best. "You had better," as we should 
 say. 
 
 37 Some speed. Make as much speed as possible in 
 returning. 
 
 39 Slubber not business. Do not by over-haste spoil the 
 business upon which you go. 
 
 40 The very riping. The full time till the matter is 
 ripe for action. 
 
 41 For the bond. As regards the bond. 
 
 41 Hath of me. Holds from me. 
 
 42 Your mind of love. Your loving mind, your mind 
 which is intent upon, occupied by, thoughts of love. 
 
 44 O stents. Demonstration. 
 
 45 As shall conveniently. As shall be fit and proper 
 for you to make. 
 
NOTES 123 
 
 46 And even tltere. And even at this point, as he said 
 these words. 
 
 47 Turning his face. Turning away his face so that 
 Bassanio might not be grieved by the sight of his emotion. 
 
 48 Wondrous sensible. Showing himself of very sensitive 
 feelings. 
 
 50 Loves the world for him. That is, if it were not for 
 his affection for Bassanio, Antonio would have no pleasure 
 in life. 
 
 52 Quicken. Enliven. 
 
 52 His embraced heaviyiess. Sadness which has such 
 a hold on him that he appears to cling to it. 
 
 Scene IX. 
 
 1 Straight. Immediately, at once. 
 
 2 His oath. See Arragon's speech immediately be- 
 low. 
 
 3 To his election presently. To make his choice at 
 once- 
 
 6 Nuptial rites. Wedding ceremony. 
 
 10 Unfold. Disclose, tell. 
 
 18 Hazard. The chance of choosing. 
 
 19 Addressed me. Prepared myself. 
 25 Meant by. Intended to refer to. 
 
 27 Fond. Foolish. 
 
 28 Martlet. The house-martin, which builds its nest 
 under the eaves of a house; "let" is a diminutive ending. 
 
 29 In the weather. Exposed to the weather. 
 
 30 Even in the force, etc. Even in the way of accidents, 
 and where they are likely to be most violent. 
 
 32 Jump. Agree. 
 
 ^ Me. Myself. 
 
 ^ Barbarous. Uncivilized, not polite. 
 
 37 Go about. Seek. 
 
 38 Cozen. Cheat. 
 
 41 Estates, degrees. Ranks, titles. 
 
 42 Derived. Obtained. 
 
 42 Clear. Bright, unspotted (Latin, clarus). 
 
 43 Purchased. Obtained, won; (from French, pour- 
 chasser, to hunt after, pursue eagerly). 
 
 44 How many, etc. In that case how many who now 
 
124 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 humbly stand bare-headed, would wear their hats (while 
 others stood bare-headed before them). 
 
 46 How much, etc. How much that was low and mean 
 would then be found mixed up with, and would be separated 
 from, that which is truly honorable! how much that was 
 truly honorable would be found mixed up with, and would 
 be separated from, the chaff and refuse of the time, to be 
 again restored to its original bright condition ! There is 
 a confusion of metaphors owing to that introduction of ruin 
 (to which alone new-varnish' d is applicable), but the word 
 seems to be used to mark the deteriorating effect which the 
 times had had upon character, an idea which "chaff of the 
 times" would not have conveyed. 
 
 49 But to my choice. But I must proceed to make my 
 choice, without longer indulging in these reflections. 
 
 51 I will assume desert. I will take it for granted that 
 I possess the required desert. 
 
 55 Schedule. A small written roll of parchment. 
 
 61 To offend and judge. The same man cannot be an 
 offender, and the judge in his own case. 
 
 61 Distinct. Accent on first syllable. 
 
 68 J wis. This is really Old English, ywis, cer- 
 tainly; but came to be regarded as the first person of a verb 
 meaning "to know." 
 
 69 So was this. In the casket. 
 
 71 /. That is, the fool's head. 
 
 72 Sped. Done with. 
 
 74 By. In proportion to. 
 
 80 Deliberate. Careful in making up their mind. 
 
 81 They have the wisdom. They are so clever in their 
 reasonings that they show themselves to be too clever and 
 fail. And they are wise after all, for I do not care for them. 
 
 82 Heresy. False teaching. 
 
 83 Goes. A singular verb with two nouns. 
 
 85 My lord. Portia playfully gives her servant a title 
 corresponding to the one he had used. She was on good 
 terms with her servants. 
 
 89 Sensible regreets. Substantial greetings: "sensible," 
 plain to the senses (of sight and touch). 
 
 90 To wit. Namely. 
 
 90 Commends. Salutations, compliments. 
 
 90 Courteous breath. Polite verbal messages. 
 
 91 Yet. As yet, up to now. 
 
 92 So likely. So well fitted for his office. 
 
NOTES 125 
 
 94 Costly. Rich in its gifts. 
 
 95 Fore-spurrer. A fore-runner who has ridden in ad- 
 vance in order to announce his lord's coming. 
 
 98 High-day. Elegant (as though the servant's wit was 
 dressed in holiday clothes). 
 
 100 Post. Speedy messenger. News was carried by 
 messengers, who stopped to change horses at fixed stations 
 (posts) on the way. 
 
 101 Lord Love. Cupid. Nerissa means, "I hope it 
 will turn out to be Bassanio. " 
 
 ACT III. 
 Scene I. 
 
 2 It lives there unchecked. The report is still going 
 about uncontradicted. 
 
 3 The narrow seas. The English Channel. 
 
 4 The Goodwins. The Goodwin Sands, dangerous 
 quicksands off the south coast of Kent. Traditions say that 
 they were once an island belonging to Earl Goodwin, which 
 was swallowed up by the sea about 11 00 a.d. 
 
 5 The Carcasses. The remains of wrecked ships, with 
 their bare ribs looking like skeletons. 
 
 6 My gossip Report. That tattling old woman, Re- 
 port; gossip, properly meaning a sponsor in the baptism, 
 Old English, gossib, that is, god-relative, came to be used, 
 from the talkative nature of the old women who often acted in 
 this capacity, for any talkative person, and also for empty talk. 
 
 9 Knapped. Snapped, broke into pieces. Old people 
 were fond of eating ginger. 
 
 11 Prolixity. "Long-windedness." 
 
 11 Crossing the plain highway of talk. Telling a story 
 is compared to walking along a road. Salanio says he will 
 tell his story straightforwardly, without wandering from side 
 to side. 
 
 15 The full stop. Salanio is not keeping his word. 
 Salarino tells him to finish his story. 
 
 20 Betimes. Quickly, in good time. 
 
 21 Cross my prayer. That is, come between Salanio 
 and Salarino before the former could say his prayer, "Amen" 
 or "so be it," to confirm the latter's good wishes. 
 
156 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 21 In the likeness. In the person; as though the devil 
 had assumed the likeness of Shylock. 
 
 25 None so well. Better than any one; meaning that 
 Salanio had had a hand in Jessica's flight. 
 
 28 Wings. That is, the disguise. 
 
 30 Complexion. Nature. It is the nature of young, 
 birds when fledged to leave the parents' nest. 
 
 38 Match. Bargain. 
 
 39 A prodigal. Not in extravagantly spending his; 
 money upon himself, but in lending money in so lavish a; 
 way to his friends. 
 
 40 So smug. With such an air of respectability. 
 
 41 The mart. The Exchange on the Rialto. 
 
 46 What's that good for? Of what possible use could 
 that be to you? 
 
 49 Half a million. From gaining half a million ducats. 
 
 50 Thwarted. Hindered. 
 
 53 Organs. Such as the heart, the eyes, etc. 
 
 54 Dimensions. Size and shape. 
 
 63 What is his humility? Humility, meekness, is one 
 of the virtues of a truly Christian man. Shylock asks what 
 meekness does a Christian show if he is wronged ? 
 
 64 Sufferance. Patient endurance. 
 
 79 Frankfort. In Germany. Then famous for its fairs. 
 
 80 Curse. The evils foretold in Scripture against the 
 Jews. Shylock argues that the curse never fell till now be- 
 cause he had never felt it. Notice how this fine touch shows 
 the selfishness of the man. 
 
 81 That. The diamond. 
 
 84 Hearsed. In a hearse on the way to burial. 
 
 85 So. So much for that. 
 
 87 Loss upon loss. One loss coming after another; 
 the loss of his daughter, and upon that the loss of his money. 
 
 89 Nor no. The double negative adding emphasis. 
 
 89 No ill-luck stirring, etc. Shylock is impatient to 
 hear that misfortune has fallen on Antonio, but so far the 
 only misfortune has been his own. 
 
 94 What, what, what? This is said with eager impa- 
 tience to hear that Antonio also had suffered in some way. 
 
 105 Thou slickest, etc. Your words stab me to the 
 heart. Tubal having given him a ray of comfort in mention- 
 ing Antonio's losses, proceeds to plague him again. 
 
 106 At a sitting. At one time and place. 
 108 Divers. Several. 
 
NOTES 
 
 127 
 
 109 Cannot choose but break. Cannot help becoming 
 bankrupt. 
 
 114 For a monkey. In payment for a monkey she 
 bought of him. 
 
 1 16 Turquoise. A precious stone of blue color, found in 
 east Persia. It was supposed to preserve love between 
 man and wife. 
 
 116 Leah. Shylock's dead wife. 
 
 119 Undone. Ruined. 
 
 121 Fee me an officer. Arrange with an officer to be 
 ready to arrest Antonio as soon as the bond becomes due. 
 
 125 Synagogue. A Jewish place of worship. 
 
 Scene II. 
 
 2 In choosing wrong. In the event of your choosing 
 wrong. 
 
 4 But it is not love. Portia will modestly await the 
 result of Bassanio's choice before she actually confesses her 
 love. And yet her whole speech expresses it. 
 
 5 / would not lose you. I should not like you to go 
 away. 
 
 6 Hate counsels not. Hatred does not give advice of 
 such a kind as that which I have just now given you. 
 
 8 And yet a maiden. And yet, even if you stay long, 
 you will not understand me, for whatever thoughts a maiden 
 may have, she may not express them. 
 
 11 Forsworn. Guilty of breaking my oath. Portia 
 had promised (her father, perhaps) not to reveal the secret 
 of the caskets. 
 
 15 Overlooked. Bewitched. 
 
 16 Yours. Portia would prettily make a slight pause 
 before the second yours. 
 
 18 Naughty. Wicked. 
 
 20 Though yours, not yours. That is, yours in love, 
 but not yet in right. 
 
 22 Feize. Weigh down, make the time pass heavily, 
 slowly. (French, peser.) 
 
 23 Eke. Lengthen. 
 
 25 Upon the rack. Bassanio compares his feelings, in 
 his uncertainty, to the sufferings of a man stretched on the 
 rack, the wooden frame on which prisoners were tortured 
 in order to make them confess their crime. Traitors especi- 
 
i 2 8 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 ally were tortured. Notice how from the very beginning 
 Portia teases Bassanio. 
 
 29 Fear the enjoying. Fear as to the winning of her 
 whom I love. 
 
 30 There may, etc. Snow and lire may as well live to- 
 gether in friendship as treason and my love. 
 
 2,2, Enforced. In order to end their torture, tortured men 
 often made any statements, true or false, which they thought 
 would be acceptable to their persecutors. 
 
 34 Promise me life. As was often done in the case of 
 those from whom it was important to extract a confession of 
 the truth. 
 
 35 "Confess," etc. If I had to confess, all that I should 
 need to say would be, "I confess my love." 
 
 38 For deliverance. Which shall procure my deliver- 
 ance. 
 
 39 Let me to. Let me go to. 
 
 42 Aloof. At a distance. (Old English on; loo] from 
 Dutch Icef, the side of a ship towards the wind.) 
 
 44 A swan-like end. Swans were believed to sing just 
 before their death. 
 
 45 Fading. Disappearing. 
 
 49 Flourish. The blast of trumpets sounded when the 
 crown is placed on the sovereign's head. 
 
 51 Dulcet. Sweet. (Latin, dulcis, sweet.) 
 51 As are, etc. This passage refers to the custom of 
 the musicians, who were hired for the wedding, waking the 
 bridegroom in the early morning: they afterwards accom- 
 panied him to the house of the bride. 
 
 54 Presence. Handsome appearance. 
 
 55 When he did, etc. Laomedon, King of Troy, hav- 
 ing refused to pay to Poseidon (Neptune) the wages he had 
 promised him for building the walls of Troy, Poseidon sent 
 a sea-monster to ravage the country. By the command of 
 an oracle, the Trojans were bound, from time to time, to 
 sacrifice a maiden to the monster. At the time when Hesione, 
 the daughter of Laomedon, was, by lot, about to be sacri- 
 ficed, Hercules (Alcides) returning from his expedition 
 against the Amazons, happened to stop at Troy. On con- 
 dition that he should kill the monster, Laomedon promised 
 him the pair of divine horses which Zeus, in compensation 
 for carrying off Ganymede, Laomedon's son, to be his cup- 
 bearer, had given him. Hercules accordingly slew the 
 monster, but Laomedon refused to keep his promise. 
 
NOTES 129 
 
 57 I stand for sacrifice. I in this matter represent 
 Hesione. 
 
 58 The Dardanian wives. The Trojan matrons, some 
 of whose daughters had been offered as a sacrifice to the 
 monster. Dardanus, son of Zeus and Electra, was the 
 mythical ancestor of the Trojans, and by him the ancient 
 city Dardania is said by Homer to have been founded near 
 the site, and before the building of Troy. 
 
 59 With bleared eyes. With eyes made dim by the 
 tears they shed for the maidens offered up in sacrifices; 
 "blear" is only another form of "blur." 
 
 61 Live thou, I live. If you live, I live; if you fail, it is 
 death to me. 
 
 62 That niak'st the fray. Who engage in the trial. 
 
 63 Fancy. Frequent in Shakespeare for love, or, rather 
 the inclination to love, which may or may not be lasting. 
 
 67 Engendered. Made to exist. 
 
 73 So may the outward shows. During the music Bas- 
 sanio has been thinking. Now he speaks his thought: 
 the outward appearance may be very unlike the real things. 
 
 74 Still. Constantly. 
 
 75 In law, what plea. A bad case in law may be made 
 to appear good by the eloquence of counsel. 
 
 76 Seasoned. The lawyer's pleasing (gracious) voice 
 puts out of sight the badness of the plea, as sauces and con- 
 diments cover up the bad taste of tainted meat. 
 
 78 Some sober brow. Some grave-looking person. 
 
 79 Approve. Justify. 
 
 80 Grossness. Greatness of the error. 
 
 81 Simple. Thorough, out and out. (Simple means 
 properly "one-fold"; Latin, simplex.) 
 
 82 His. Its. 
 
 83 All. Altogether. 
 
 85 Mars. God of War. 
 
 86 Livers white as milk. An expression used with ref- 
 erence to cowards. 
 
 89 By the weight. For so much an ounce, pound, etc. 
 
 91 Making them lightest. Making those who wear 
 most of it (and who should therefore weigh heaviest) light- 
 est (in character); their frivolity, wantonness, being all the 
 more conspicuous for that which they have called in to help 
 their good looks. 
 
 92 Crisped. Close-curled. 
 
 92 Snaky in appearance. Also deceitful. 
 
130 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 93 Which make, etc. Which wave in the wind as though 
 they are merrily playing with it. 
 
 94 Upon supposed fairness. Placed on what appears 
 beautiful, but is not — referring to the made-up complex- 
 ions of some of the court ladies. 
 
 95 To be, etc. To be in reality those which once be- 
 longed to another head. The practice of wearing false 
 hair was very common in Shakespeare's day. 
 
 95 Dowry. A gift bestowed on a woman on her mar- 
 riage. 
 
 96 In the sepulchre. Being in the sepulchre. 
 
 97 Guiled. Treacherous, deceitful. 
 
 99 An Indian beauty. That is, a dark colored woman, 
 who, though a beauty in her own land, would not be con- 
 sidered beautiful by an Englishman. 
 
 102 Midas. The fabled king of Phrygia who, being al- 
 lowed by the god Bacchus to ask any favor he pleased, begged 
 that all that he touched might be changed to gold. But 
 when even his food and drink changed to gold, he feared to 
 die of starvation, and begged that the power might be re- 
 moved. 
 
 103 Drudge. Slave; because silver was the metal most 
 used for coins. 
 
 104 Meagre. Poor in appearance and value. 
 
 108 Fleet. Fly away, vanish. 
 
 109 Rash-embraced despair. Despair that is felt rashly, 
 without sufficient cause. 
 
 no Green-eyed jealousy. So called from the jaundiced, 
 sickly look imputed to those suffering from it. 
 
 in Ecstasy. Any strong emotion, here of joy; literally, 
 a standing out of oneself. • 
 
 114 Surfeit. Have too much. 
 
 115 Counterfeit. Portrait. 
 
 117 Riding on these balls. Being impressed on my 
 eyeballs and moving with them. 
 
 119 Parted with sugar breath. Between Portia's lips 
 the sweetest breath seems to be coming forth; that is, so 
 skilful is the painting that one almost imagines he sees the 
 breath as it comes out from between the lips. 
 
 121 Plays the spider. Acts the part of a spider. 
 
 122 Mesh. Net. 
 
 126 Unfurnish'd. Unprovided with a mate. 
 
 127 Shadow. The picture. 
 
 130 Continent. That which contains. 
 
NOTES i 3t 
 
 136 Hold. Consider. 
 
 140 / come by note. I come as directed by the paper, 
 to give a kiss and to receive the lady. 
 
 141 Contending in a prize. Contending in a struggle 
 in which a prize is to be given to the victor. 
 
 144 Giddy in spirit. Wavering in his mind between 
 hope and fear. 
 
 145 His or no. Be meant for him or for his opponent. 
 
 147 As doubtful. Being doubtful. 
 
 148 Ratified. Settled. 
 
 157 Livings. Estates, possessions. 
 
 158 Exceed account. Exceed all calculations. 
 
 159 To term in gross. To state at its full value. 
 168 But now. A moment ago. 
 
 170 Even now, but now. At this present moment. 
 
 172 With this ring. The giving of the ring, so natural 
 and unforced an incident, has an important bearing on the 
 end of the play. 
 
 174 Presage. Foretell. 
 
 1 75 Be my vantage. Be the ground on which I can base 
 unanswerable complaints against you. 
 
 176 Bereft. Robbed. 
 
 177 Only my blood. My joy is too great for words, 
 but makes my heart beat faster. 
 
 182 Where every something, etc. Where all the exclama- 
 tions being mingled together, become one wild chorus in 
 which nothing can be distinguished but joy, and that is ex- 
 pressed only in the general sound, and not in clear words. 
 
 192 Wish none from me. You are so happy that you 
 will not wish to deprive me of any happiness. 
 
 196 So. Provided that. 
 
 200 Intermission. Delay. Gratiano means that as 
 Bassanio had very quickly fallen in love with Portia on his 
 previous visit, so he had just as quickly loved Nerissa when 
 he saw her. 
 
 202 Stood upon. Depended upon. 
 
 203 As the matter falls. As it turns out. 
 
 205 Roof. The roof of the mouth. 
 
 206 If promise last. If the promise is kept. Note the 
 pun. 
 
 208 Provided that your fortune. Provided you had the 
 good fortune to win her mistress; "achieve" from Old 
 French, achever, achiever, to accomplish. 
 
 212 Faith, In faith, truly. 
 
132 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 213 Shall. Will. 
 
 214 Infidel. Jessica, who, being a Jewess, did not be- 
 lieve in the Christian religion. 
 
 217 " Youth of my new interest. Bassanio is modestly 
 doubting whether his position is of long-standing enough to 
 warrant him in welcoming his friends to Portia's house. 
 
 219 Very. True. (Latin, verus, true.) * 
 
 232 Estate. Condition. 
 
 235 Royal. Kingly in wealth and estimation. The 
 term "royal" was orignally applied to merchants employed 
 by sovereigns as their agents, and this was especially the 
 case in the Venice of early days. 
 
 237 Jasons. See note on line 172, Act I., Scene 1. 
 
 239 Shrewd. Evil. 
 
 242 Constitution. Temper of mind. 
 
 243 Constant. Even-minded. 
 254 Braggart. Boaster. 
 
 258 Engaged. Pledged to the repayment of a debt. 
 
 258 Mere. Out and out. 
 
 259 To feed my means. To increase my money. 
 
 260 The paper as. The paper standing for, represent- 
 ing. 
 
 262 Issuing. Sending forth. 
 
 263 Hit. Succeeded. 
 
 265 Barbary. The Barbary states in the north of Africa. 
 
 267 Merchant-marring. Causing ruin to merchants. 
 
 269 Discharge. Pay his debt to. 
 
 272 Confound. Ruin. 
 
 273 Plies. Presses with petitions. • 
 
 274 Doth impeach the freedom. Denies that there is 
 free justice for all parties in Venice. 
 
 276 Magnificoes. Nobles. 
 
 277 Port. Importance. 
 
 277 Persuaded. Argued. 
 
 278 Envious. Malicious. 
 285 Deny. Forbid. 
 
 289 Best-condition' d. Best natured. 
 289 Unwearied. That is, most unwearied; we have to 
 supply a superlative from best. 
 
 291 The ancient Roman honor. That honorable spirit 
 which was so characteristic of the ancient Romans (from 
 whom he is a worthy descendant). 
 
 292 Than any. Than in any who, etc. 
 294 For me. That is, as security for me. 
 
NOTES 
 
 '33 
 
 295 Deface. Cancel, by an acknowledgment of pay- 
 ment written across it. 
 
 298 Shall lose a hair. Shall suffer the smallest injury. 
 
 299 Call me wife. Make yourself legally my husband. 
 304 Along. With you. 
 
 306 As maids and widows. As maids in having no 
 husbands, as widows in having lost our husbands. 
 
 307 Shall hence. Shall go hence; the verb of motion 
 omitted with the adverb, as so frequently. 
 
 308 Cheer. Look, countenance; from Old French, 
 chere, chiere, the face, look. 
 
 309 Since you are dear bought. Portia did not intend 
 by these words ungenerously to remind Bassanio of the 
 benefits she had conferred upon him, but was referring to 
 the anxiety of mind which she had undergone while her 
 fate depended upon the choice of the caskets made by her 
 different suitors; possibly there is a reference to Antonio's 
 sacrifice for Bassanio; dear, an adverb. 
 
 311 Sweet. My dear friend. 
 
 312 Estate . Condition . 
 
 313 Forfeit. Forfeited. 
 
 315 Between you and I. This is incorrect grammar. 
 It should be, of course, "Between you and me." This 
 irregularity is common in Elizabethan English. 
 
 315 If I might, etc. Antonio begins to express a wish 
 to see Bassanio; then remembering that his friend is in the 
 delightful society of Portia, he breaks off, and forbears to 
 urge him, thus affording another instance of his unselfishness. 
 
 316 Use your pleasure. Do what is most convenient to 
 you. 
 
 317 Love. That is, love for Antonio. 
 
 319 Dispatch. Arrange with all possible speed. 
 
 322 No bed. No bed shall have to answer for my de- 
 laying, no sleep shall keep me away a moment longer than is 
 absolutely necessary. 
 
 Scene III. 
 
 1 Look to him. Take good care that he does not escape. 
 
 4 Speak not against my bond. It is no use your trying 
 to argue me out of the full penalty laid down in the bond. 
 
 9 Naughty. Literally "of naught," "of no value," 
 is now applied chiefly to children, but in Shakespeare's day 
 had a much stronger meaning. 
 
i 3 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 9 Fond. Foolish; the primary meaning of the word, 
 and thence applied to the foolish caressing of children, etc. 
 
 10 To. As to. 
 
 10 Abroad. Out-of-doors. 
 
 14 Dull-eyed. Either wanting in sense, as we speak of 
 a short-sighted action, or easily brought to tears. 
 
 17 Vll have 110 speaking. I will not allow you to talk 
 with me; I will not be talked into yielding. 
 
 18 Impenetrable cur. Low, ill-bred fellow incapable of 
 feeling. 
 
 19 Kept. Dwelt; a word still in use in the Universities, 
 where a man is said to "keep" in such and such rooms. 
 
 20 Bootless. Fruitless, useless; Anglo-Saxon, bot, ad- 
 vantage, profit, and leas, loose, without. 
 
 22 Forfeitures. Penalties. 
 
 23 Made moan to me. Complained to me of his strict 
 insistence upon payment to the very day. 
 
 25 Will never grant. Will never allow the terms upon 
 which the bond is to be forfeited to hold good. 
 
 26 Deny the course of law. Refuse to let the law take 
 its course. 
 
 27 Commodity. The advantage that foreigners enjoyed 
 of being treated as equals with the natives. Another ex- 
 planation is, "convenience of trading." 
 
 32 Bated. Lessened, "pulled me down." (Shortened 
 from "abate," Old French, abatre, to beat down.) 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 2 Conceit. Idea. 
 
 3 Godlike amity. Lorenzo means that Portia shows 
 her esteem of friendship as something higher than human 
 by speeding Bassanio on his way at such a moment. There 
 is not a conflict here, as has been sometimes said, between 
 love and friendship. It is more correct to say that Portia 
 feels the truth of her husband's love involved in the loyalty 
 of his friendship; but indeed Shakespeare in this scene, as 
 often elsewhere, uses the same word "love" of both passions, 
 as the cavalier did of devotion to his lady and devotion to his 
 cause: 
 
 "I could not love thee, dear, so much, 
 Loved I not honor more." 
 6 How true, That is, to how true. 
 
NOTES 135 
 
 7 Lover. A term in use in Shakespeare's day for a dear 
 friend. 
 
 9 Than customary bounty. Than your usual kindness 
 and generosity can make you to be. 
 
 11 Nor shall not. Double negative. 
 
 12 Waste. Spend (not necessarily unprofitably) . 
 
 13 Whose souls do bear. Who love each other equally, 
 just as two oxen yoked together bear equal burdens. 
 
 14 A like proportion. People who love each other 
 equally must be alike in features {lineaments) in manners, and 
 in character (spirit). 
 
 20 Semblance of my soul. In buying the release of An- 
 tonio, who resembles Bassanio, who is as dear to me as 
 my soul. The idea is that of redeeming souls from 
 purgatory. 
 
 25 Husbandry. Stewardship. 
 
 25 Manage. Management. 
 
 27 Breathed a secret vow. This is a pious fiction on the 
 part of Portia, in order to conceal her plan of going to Padua 
 to play the lawyer. It was not uncommon in the middle 
 ages for ladies to seek refuge in monasteries while their 
 male relatives were absent. 
 
 33 Deny this imposition. Not to refuse this task I put 
 upon you. 
 
 35 Lays. Singular verb with two nominatives. 
 
 36 All fair commands. That is, all such commands as 
 you are likely to lay upon me. 
 
 37 My mind. My intention of leaving you in charge 
 of my house. 
 
 38 Acknowledge you. As master and mistress. 
 
 42 All heart's content. Everything that can satisfy your 
 desires. 
 
 44 To wish it back. To reciprocate it. 
 
 48 All the endeavor of a man. The best efforts a man 
 can make. 
 
 49 See thou render. Take care to give. 
 
 52 With imagined speed. Quick as thought. 
 
 53 Traject, ferry. Italian, traghetto. (The old editions 
 have tranect, which does not occur elsewhere, and is probably 
 a. mistake.) 
 
 53 Ferry. Ferry-boat. 
 
 54 Trades. Goes to and from Venice. 
 
 56 With all convenient speed. With all such speed as 
 the circumstances will allow. 
 
136 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 59 Before they think of us. Before they have any idea 
 of our being on the scene. 
 
 60 Habit. Dress, costume, viz., that of lawyers. 
 
 61 We are accomplished, etc. We possess what we 
 have not (that is, manliness). 
 
 63 Accoutred. Dressed and provided with weapons. 
 
 65 Braver grace. More gallant and distinguished ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 67 Reed voice. The voice of a boy who is passing into 
 manhood, one in a state of transition between boyhood and 
 manhood. 
 
 67 Mincing. Little. 
 
 68 Frays. Fights, quarrels. 
 
 69 Quaint. Artfully made up. 
 
 72 / could not do withal. I could not help it. 
 
 74 Puny. Feeble. 
 
 75 That. So that. 
 
 77 Raw tricks. Tricks showing the clumsiness and in- 
 experience of youth. 
 
 77 Jacks. A common nickname. 
 
 79 All my whole. A pleonastic expression; that is, more 
 words are used to express the sense than are necessary. 
 
 80 Coach. Coaches came into use in England in the 
 sixteenth century. Though the scene is laid in Venice and 
 the neighborhood, Shakespeare ascribes to the Venetians 
 customs and ideas common to the Englishmen of his day. 
 It has been said of the mobs of citizens in his Roman plays, 
 that they are thoroughly and unmistakably English. 
 
 82 Measure. Travel. 
 
 Scene V. 
 
 1 Sirrah. Fellow. 
 
 3 Wit-snappers. One who snaps up what is said in 
 order to exercise his wit on it; joke about it. 
 
 7 Will you cover. There is a pun here. Lorenzo 
 means, "Will you lay covers on the table?" Launcelot an- 
 swers him as if he meant "Will you cover your head ?" 
 
 9 Quarrelling with occasion. Seizing every opportunity 
 to make perverse replies. 
 
 18 Discretion. Judgment in the choice of words. 
 
 18 Suited. Arranged. 
 
 21 A many fools, etc. Many fools of higher rank, 
 
NOTES 137 
 
 with no more intelligence than he has, will turn a serious 
 subject to ridicule for the sake of their joking word. 
 
 23 How cheer' st thou? What cheer? How are you? 
 
 27 Live. Should live. 
 
 30 Mean it. That is, mean to lead an upright life. (It 
 is believed that there is some corruption in the text.) 
 
 35 Pawn'd. Pledged. 
 
 37 Of me. In me. 
 
 39 Anon. Presently. 
 
 40 Stomach. Inclination. 
 
 43 Set you forth. Give a full description of you. Jessica 
 would probably say this in a joking yet emphatic way; as 
 much as to say, you don't know yet what you'll have to digest 
 in my description. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Scene I 
 
 1 What. Exclamation caling attention. 
 3 To answer. To render account to. 
 5 Uncapable. Used in Shakespeare's time as well as 
 incapable. 
 
 5 Void and empty. Void (Latin, viduus) means empty. 
 Shylock is so merciless as to be compared to a stone jar 
 absolutely empty of liquid. 
 
 6 From. We now say of. 
 
 7 Qualify. Modify, alter. 
 
 8 Rigorous course. Harsh proceedings. 
 
 8 Obdurate. Hardened and immovable. (Latin, ob, 
 and duro, I harden.) 
 
 10 Out of his envy's reach. Beyond the power of his 
 hatred. 
 
 10 Oppose. Place against. 
 
 11 Patience. Firm endurance, fortitude. 
 
 12 Quietness of spirit. Calmness and resignation. 
 
 13 The very tyranny. The utmost cruelty. 
 
 16 Make room. Stand back and make way for him. 
 
 17 The world. People in general. 
 
 18 That thou, etc. That you are continuing this ap- 
 pearance of malicious design only till the hour comes for act- 
 ing on it. 
 
 20 Remorse. Pitv, considerateness. 
 
138 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 22 Where. Whereas. 
 
 24 Loose. Let go. 
 
 26 Moiety. Portion. (Literally half.) 
 
 26 Principal. Sum lent. 
 
 28 Huddled. Crowded one after another. 
 
 29 Enow. Enough. (Old English, genoh.) 
 
 32 Turks and Tartars. Owing to the religious wars, 
 the Turks were in those days looked upon as a hateful race, 
 while Tartars, the natives of Tartary (more properly Tatary), 
 were supposed to be of a wild, savage disposition, and to 
 "catch a Tartar" became a proverb for meeting with more 
 than one's match. 
 
 33 Offices of tender courtesy. Voluntary acts of kindli- 
 ness. 
 
 34 Gentle. A pun on "Gentile." 
 
 35 Possess'd. Informed. 
 
 37 Due and forfeit. Debt and penalty. 
 
 39 Upon your charter. Shakespeare appeared to think 
 that Venice was free by charter from an emperor, just as 
 London had a charter of freedom from Henry I. But 
 Venice was itself a free republic. 
 
 41 Carrion. Dead. 
 
 43 Say. Suppose. 
 
 43 Is it answered? Is that answer sufficient ? 
 
 44 What if my house. Suppose that my house. 
 
 46 Batted. Destroyed, poisoned. 
 
 47 Love. That is, that love; omission of the relative. 
 47 Gaping pig. This is, either a squealing pig, or a 
 
 pig's head served at table. At Queen's College, Oxford, 
 a boar's head is still served upon Christmas Day with a 
 lemon in its mouth. 
 
 49 For affection, Mistress of passion. Affection here has 
 its old sense of an impulse of any kind. It is distinguished 
 from passion as excitement from feeling, the nervous im- 
 pulse from the mental state. 
 
 53 He. The word lie in this and the two following lines 
 alludes to the different men in lines 46-48. 
 
 55 Woollen. The air-bag of the bag-pipe was perhaps 
 made of sheep-skin with the wool left on it. But woollen 
 may refer only to the covering of the air-bag. 
 
 59 Lodged. Fixed. Hate that has accumulated. 
 
 60 That. Why. 
 
 61 A losing suit. Shy lock would lose his three thousand 
 ducats and gain nothing but worthless flesh. 
 
NOTES t 3 9 
 
 63 Current. Swift course. 
 
 67 Offence. Injured feeling. 
 
 69 Think you question. Remember that it is the hard 
 Jew you are arguing with. 
 
 71 Main flood. The ocean. 
 
 71 Bate his usual height. Fall short of the height to 
 which the tide usually rises. 
 
 75 To make no noise. We must supply bid from for- 
 bid. 
 
 76 Fretted. Disturbed, waved to and fro. (Old Eng- 
 lish, fretan, to gnaw.) 
 
 81 With all brief, etc. In the shortest and plainest 
 way that is suitable. 
 
 82 Judgment. Sentence against me. 
 
 91 Abject. Mean. (Latin, ab, away; jacere, to throw.) 
 
 91 Parts. Duties. 
 
 103 Upon my power. On my authority. 
 
 105 I have sent for. Portia could hardly have known 
 that the Duke had sent for Bellario. She had probably left 
 Belmont to ask him, being a friend of hers, what was the 
 exact legal position of her husband's friend Antonio. Find- 
 ing that Bellario had been sent for, she would persuade him 
 to let her go disguised in his place, and get him to coach her 
 in the legal points. 
 
 105 Determine. Decide. 
 
 114 Meetest. Fittest. 
 
 117 Epitaph. Inscription on a tomb in memory of the 
 dead. 
 
 122 Not on thy sole, but on thy soul. Shylock is sharp- 
 ening his knife on the sole of his shoe. Gratiano says that 
 his soul is so hard that he might almost use that for the same 
 purpose. 
 
 127 Inexecrable. One that cannot be cursed enough. 
 
 1 28 Let justice be accused. Justice herself is committing 
 a crime in letting you live. 
 
 130 Pythagoras. (540-510 B.C.) A great philosopher, 
 who held the doctrine of transmigration of souls from men to 
 animals and from animals to men. 
 
 131 Infuse themselves. Pour themselves into (as a 
 liquid into a vessel). (Latin, in, into; fundere, to pour.) 
 
 132 Thy currish spirit. Your dog-like spirit once dwelt 
 in and controlled the actions of a wolf. 
 
 133 Who. There is no verb to this nominative, which 
 may be considered a nominative absolute. 
 
140 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 134 Fell. Cruel. 
 
 138 Rail. Scold. Abuse. 
 
 139 Offend'st. Harmest. 
 
 141 ' Cureless. Past mending. 
 
 142 Doth commend. Introduces with favorable notice. 
 144 Hard by. Close at hand; used of time as well as 
 
 of place. 
 
 147 Give him courteous conduct. Conduct him to my 
 presence with all courtesy. 
 
 151 In loving visitation. Upon a friendly visit. 
 
 154 Controversy. Dispute. The word in Shakespeare's 
 day was used in a wider sense than it now has (viz., that of a 
 dispute by argument) for any quarrel, even one to be de- 
 cided by force of arms. 
 
 158 At my importunity. By my urgent request. 
 
 158 To fill up. To satisfy in place of myself the request 
 for my opinion which you honored me by making. 
 
 160 No impediment. No hindrance to his, receiving the 
 consideration due to his position as a great lawyer. 
 
 163 Whose trial. Whose may refer either to him or to 
 you: either way, the meaning is that experience of the 
 young lawyer's skill would commend him better than any 
 letter of introduction. 
 
 168 Take' your place. Probably by the side of the Duke. 
 
 169 Difference. Dispute. 
 
 170 That holds this present question. That is, the sub- 
 ject of the present argument. 
 
 171 Throughly. Thoroughly. 
 
 176 In such rule. In such strict accordance with legal 
 form. 
 
 177 Impugn. Call in question, attack. 
 
 178 Within his danger. Within his power to injure; 
 danger, from Old French, dangier (Modern French, danger), 
 absolute power, irresponsible authority; hence power to 
 harm (as here). 
 
 181 Must I? Shylock seizes on the word must, which 
 had been used by Portia without emphasis. 
 
 182 Quality of mercy. Mercy, one of the qualities or 
 attributes of the soul, is not forced. 
 
 184 Twice blest. Brings a double blessing. 
 186 Becomes. As becoming to, adorns. 
 188 Shows. Is the emblem of. 
 
 188 Temporal power. Earthly power, power for a time 
 only, as contrasted with God's power, which is eternal. 
 
NOTES 
 
 141 
 
 189 The attribute. That which belongs to the awe and 
 majesty of kings, and on which rests the fear in which they 
 are held by their subjects. 
 
 192 Enthroned in the hearts. While a king's power de- 
 pends on things outside himself, mercy does not, but itself 
 rules in his heart. 
 
 194 Show. Appear. 
 
 195 Season 'd. Moderates, and so makes more pleasant. 
 
 196 Though justice be thy plea. Though you base your 
 demand on justice. 
 
 197 In the course of justice. If justice were allowed 
 to run its course without mercy. 
 
 199 That same prayer. The Lord's prayer. Shylock 
 would not recognize the Lord's Prayer, but the same teach- 
 ing is contained in some parts of the Old Testament. 
 
 199 . Render. Give in return. 
 
 201 Mitigate. Soften. (Latin, mitis, soft.) 
 
 204 My deeds upon my head. I will be answerable for 
 my own actions. 
 
 206 Discharge the money. Pay the debt. 
 
 212 Malice bears down truth. The Jew's hatred is 
 stronger than his honorableness (as though the qualities 
 were placed on the opposite sides of a pair of scales) . 
 
 213 Wrest once the law. For once, make the law give 
 way to your will. 
 
 215 Of his will. From getting what he wishes. 
 
 217 Can. That can: omission of the relative. 
 
 218 Precedent. When engaged in legal cases, lawyers 
 often quote precedents, that is, preceding cases, which have 
 been decided before, and the decisions in which they think 
 should influence the decision in the present case. Hence 
 one wrongful decision might be the cause of others. 
 
 221 A Daniel. Referring to the wise judgment of Daniel 
 in a difficult case, when a young man. See History of 
 Susannah and the Elders, v. 45, one of the Apocryphal books 
 of the Bible. 
 
 226 An oath. I have bound myself by an oath before 
 God to exact the full penalty. 
 
 227 Lay perjury. Shylock is willing (see line 202) 
 to accept the responsibility for inhuman cruelty towards 
 Antonio, but he now professes himself unwilling to have the 
 guilt of breaking his oath upon his conscience. 
 
 228 Forfeit. Forfeited. 
 
 233 Tenor. The terms, what is set forth. 
 
I 4 2 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 235 Exposition. Explanation. Shylock tries flattery. 
 
 245 Intent and purpose. The meaning and the purpose 
 of the law fully pply to the present case, even though the 
 penalty, which by the terms of the bond is due to the Jew, 
 should be so extraordinary. 
 
 249 More elder. Double comparative. 
 
 250 Ay, his breast, etc. Shylock here shows how he 
 hates Antonio. 
 
 253 Balanced. Scales; singular used as plural, perhaps 
 because the word ends with an 5 sound. 
 
 255 On your charge. At your expense. 
 
 257 Nominated. Named. 
 
 259 'Twere good you do. It would be well for you to 
 do. Shylock, by relying so absolutely on his bond, is really 
 cutting the ground from under his own feet. See line 301, 
 etc. 
 
 266 Still her use. Constantly her custom. 
 
 272 Process. The whole circumstances. 
 
 273 Speak me fair in death. Speak well of me when I 
 am dead. 
 
 275 Love. Dear friend. 
 
 276 Repent but you. If only you are sorry. 
 
 279 With all my heart. A pun. Antonio says this with 
 an attempt to smile, in order to cheer his friend. So Charles 
 II., when at the point of death, apologized to those standing 
 by for being so long dying. 
 
 289 So. If only. 
 
 294 Barrabas. Any even of the descendants of Barab- 
 bas, a robber who, when under sentence of death, was re- 
 leased when Christ was crucified. 
 
 296 Pursue sentence. Do not delay in delivering sen- 
 tence; literally, follow it up quickly. 
 
 298 The Court awards. The court awards it in accord- 
 ance with the provisions of the law. 
 
 304 No jot of blood. Not a little, or smallest portion; 
 jot from the Greek iota ( i.e. i.), the smallest letter of that al- 
 phabet, as yod (i.e. y) was of the Hebrew. 
 
 307 In tlie cutting it. We should now say either " in 
 the cutting of it," or "in cutting it," but the construction in 
 the text is one very common in Shakespeare. 
 
 309 Confiscate. Confiscated, forfeited. 
 
 311 Mark, Jew. Gratiano is so delighted at the new 
 turn things are taking that he begins to mock Shylock with 
 his own words. 
 
NOTES i 43 
 
 314 More than thou desirest. Portia here for the first 
 time clearly sides against the Jew. 
 
 325 A just pound. Exactly a pound. 
 
 326 In the substance. In the gross weight. 
 
 327 Division. That is, one grain, the twentieth part 
 into which a scruple is divided. 
 
 329 Estimation oj a hair. Either if the scale is un- 
 even by the breadth of a hair, or by the weight of a hair. 
 337 Merely. Nothing but. 
 342 So. As stated in the bond. 
 344 Question. Argument. 
 
 347 Alien. Foreigner. 
 
 348 Direct or indirect. Shylock's attempt was both 
 direct and indirect. The penalty directly stated in the bond 
 was a pound of flesh; but this of course involved the death 
 of the man from whom it should be cut. 
 
 350 Contrive. Plot. 
 
 352 Privy coffer. Private treasury. 
 
 353 In the mercy. We should say, at the mercy. 
 
 354 'Gainst all other voice. No one's appeal being of 
 any avail if the duke choose that he shall die. 
 
 355 Predicament. Condition, situation; originally a 
 term in logic for one of the most general classes into which 
 things can be distributed. 
 
 356 By manifest proceeding. By the plainest evidence 
 of action. 
 
 358 The very life. The life itself; not merely personal 
 injury. 
 
 359 Incurr'd. Come in the way of. 
 
 360 Formerly by me rehearsed. Repeated just now. 
 368 For. As for, concerning. 
 
 370 Humbleness may drive. Submission may induce 
 me to make you pay a fine, instead of handing over all your 
 money. 
 
 371 For the state, not. Portia means that the duke may 
 accept a fine instead of the half due to the state, but that An- 
 tonio must receive his half in full. 
 
 377 Halter. Rope to hang himself with. 
 
 379 Quit. Give up demanding. Antonio asks that 
 Shylock may not even have to pay a fine to the state. 
 
 380 So. If. 
 
 381 In use. In trust. 
 
 385 Presently. At once. In Shakespeare's time it was 
 common for men to change their religion suddenly. 
 
144 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 387 Possess' d. That is, possessed "of." 
 
 389 Recant. Recall, withdraw. 
 
 390 Late. Lately; that is, just now. 
 
 392 Draw a deed of gift. Draw up a document by which 
 this gift may be legally made. 
 
 397 Ten more. To make up twelve jurymen to find him 
 guilty. 
 
 400 Desire your grace of pardon. We should say, "de- 
 sire pardon of your grace." 
 
 403 Serves you not. Is not at your disposal. 
 
 404 Gratify. Make some return to. 
 
 408 In lieu whereof. In return for which. 
 410 Cope. Give as an equal return. 
 410 Withal. With; preposition governing ducats. 
 416 More mercenary. Derived any further reward than 
 my own satisfaction with a good deed done. 
 419 Of force. Of necessity. 
 
 419 Attempt you further. Make a further attempt to 
 persuade you. 
 
 420 Tribute. Acknowledgment of our thanks. 
 
 423 You press me far. By placing your request upon 
 this footing, you put upon me a pressure I cannot resist. 
 
 425 For your love. In consequence of the love you bear 
 to me, as shown by your urgent request. 
 
 427 In love. Out of the love you profess. 
 
 429 Shame myself to give. Disgrace myself by giving. 
 
 448 Withal. In addition. 
 
 Scene II 
 
 5 You are well overtaken. I am glad to have overtaken 
 you. 
 
 6 Advice. Consideration. 
 
 11 My youth. Nerissa. Mark how skilfully Shakes- 
 peare manages to bring Gratiano and Nerissa together. 
 
 15 Old. Used intensively, without any special meaning, 
 as in the schoolboy's slang phrase, "fine old game." 
 
 19 Show. Conduct. 
 
NOTES 145 
 
 ACT V 
 
 Scene I 
 
 4 Troilus. Son of Priam King of Troy. His love, 
 Cressida, was given to the Greeks in exchange for a Trojan 
 prisoner. Shakespeare had in mind a line in Chaucer's 
 poem Trolius and Creseide. 
 
 5 Sigh'd his soul. Sighed as though his very soul were 
 leaving his body in yearning after Cressida. 
 
 7 Thisbe. A beautiful girl of Babylon, loved by Pyra- 
 mus. She arranged to meet him, and while waiting for him 
 at the appointed place, saw a lioness, and ran away. In 
 running one of her garments slipped from her, which the 
 lioness soiled with blood. Pyramus found it, and thinking 
 Thisbe was devoured, he killed himself, as Thisbe did when 
 she found his dead body. Her story is told by Ovid. 
 
 10 Dido. Queen of Carthage in North Africa, was be- 
 loved for a time by /Eneas of Troy, the founder of the Roman 
 race, who landed at Carthage in the course of his wanderings. 
 When he sailed away for Italy she was heart-broken, and 
 Shakespeare (without classical authority) pictures her upon 
 the seashore waving a willow branch, the emblem of forsaken 
 love, to induce him to return. In the account of Dido in 
 Vergil's JSneid, she has herself burnt to death on a funeral pile. 
 
 1 1 Waft. Made signs to her lover, by waving her arms, 
 to urge him to return. 
 
 13 Medea. The daughter of the King of Colchis, who 
 fell in love with Jason (see note on line 171, Act 1., Scene 1.) 
 and helped him get the golden fleece. 
 
 13 Enchanted. Herbs gathered at particular times, as 
 at midnight or by moonlight, and in particular places, and 
 with certain ceremonies, were supposed to have magical 
 powers. 
 
 14 That did renew. ^Eson, the father of Jason, who, 
 according to mythology, was, on the return of Jason from 
 the Argonautic expedition, restored to youth by the magic 
 power of Medea. 
 
 15 Steals. In two senses; away, steal his precious 
 ducats and jewels. 
 
 16 With an unthrift love. With a love which recked 
 nothing for such consideration as that of the wealth she was 
 forfeiting by leaving her father. 
 
146 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 19 Stealing. Jessica means that she is not the only 
 one who stole, for if she stole her father's money, Lorenzo 
 stole her heart away. 
 
 19 Vows of faith. Promises that he would be true to her. 
 
 21 Shrew. Scolding woman. 
 
 23 J would out-night you. I would out-do you in tell- 
 ing of things that happened "in such a night." 
 
 28 Stephano. Accent on second syllable, though the 
 accent is properly on the first. 
 
 30 Stray. Wander. 
 
 31 Crosses. Crosses are erected, in all Roman Catholic 
 countries, on many spots, to commemorate various events. 
 
 37 Ceremoniously. With proper arrangements, such as 
 lighting up the hall (line 89), and arranging for the playing 
 of music (line 53). 
 
 39 Sola, sola! "Launcelot is here imitating the horn of 
 the courier or "post" as he was called, who always wore that 
 appendage suspended from his neck." — Staunton. 
 
 43 Leave hollaing. Cease shouting. 
 
 47 Horn. There is a punning allusion here to the full 
 hom as an emblem of plenty. 
 
 49 Expect. Await. 
 
 51 Signify. Make known. 
 
 53 Music. Musical instruments, or band of musicians. 
 
 57 Touches. Notes. 
 
 59 Patines. Small plates of gold in wich the conse- 
 crated wafer or bread is presented to communicants. Now, 
 "patens." 
 
 61 Like an angel sings. Shakespeare is here perhaps 
 referring to what is called the "music of the spheres." The 
 earth was supposed by the ancients to be inclosed by eight 
 spheres, on each of which stood a beautiful female form, who 
 uttered a single note as the sphere went round, the whole 
 eight forming perfect harmony. So in Job xxxvin. 7, we 
 read, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the 
 sons of God shouted for joy." Lorenzo partly adopts this 
 old idea of celestial music, and represents stars and angels 
 as an answering one another in song. 
 
 62 Cherubins. The plural of the Hebrew word cherub 
 is cherubin, but cherubin was used as a singular in the Latin 
 version of the Bible called the Vulgate, and so in English and 
 French cherubin was regarded as singular, and a new plural 
 cherubins was formed. In English we also have the plural 
 cherubs. 
 
NOTES 147 
 
 66 Diana. The Roman goddess of light; represented the 
 moon. 
 
 70 Attentive. Thinking of other things. 
 
 71 Wanton. Playful. 
 
 72 Unhandled. Not broken in. 
 
 73 Fetching. Performing. 
 
 77 Make a mutual stand. All stand still with one con- 
 sent. 
 
 79 The poet. The Roman poet Ovid (b.c. 43-A.D 18). 
 He tells the story in his great poem the Metamorphoses, 
 Books X. and XI. 
 
 80 Orpheus. One of Jason's companions. He was 
 given a lyre by the god Apollo, and played so sweetly that 
 animals, trees, and rocks moved after him. His wife, Eury- 
 dice having died, he followed her to Hades, where he so 
 charmed the god of the infernal regions that Eurydice was 
 allowed to follow him to earth, on condition that Orpheus 
 would not look at her until they had reached the upper 
 world. He had just reacked the boundary when his anxiety 
 to see if his wife were following him overcame him. He 
 looked round, and immediately Eurydice was snatched 
 away. 
 
 81 Stockish. Lifeless like a block of wood or stone. 
 
 85 Treasons, stratagems, and spoils. Plots against the 
 state, tricks against fellowmen, and acts of plunder. 
 
 87 Dark as Erebus. The workings of his mind are slow 
 and uninteresting, and his disposition is as gloomy as Erebus. 
 
 87 Erebus. The name given to the dark space beneath 
 the earth, through which souls were supposed to pass on their 
 way to Hades. 
 
 91 Naughty. Wicked. 
 
 94 Brightly as. As brightly as. 
 
 96 Empties itself. He loses his position, and his bril- 
 liance seems to be swallowed up in his master's. 
 
 97 Main of waters. Ocean. 
 
 98 Music. That is, band. 
 
 99 Without respect. Without considering or comparing 
 with other things. Just as the candle's light seems strong 
 when seen alone, but feeble when the moon is shining, so the 
 music in the calmness of the night sounds sweeter than it 
 would if heard by day. 
 
 103 Attended. Listened to attentively. 
 107 By season. How many things act agreeably on our 
 senses, so that we can esteem them aright and see their true 
 
148 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 excellence, because they come at a fitting time — there is a 
 pun on season. 
 
 109 Peace, ho! Portia raises her voice, and Lorenzo and 
 Jessica start up from their seat on the bank. 
 
 109 The moon sleeps with Endymion. Endymion was 
 a youth of such beauty that the moon goddess, who cared 
 for no one else, fell in love with him, and sent him into a 
 deep sleep so that she might lie by his side and kiss him with- 
 out his knowledge. 
 
 no Would not be awaked. The moon was now hidden 
 behind a cloud. So Diana was represented as sleeping with 
 Endymion, not wishing to be awaked until morning. 
 
 no Would not. Wished not. 
 
 1 1 5 Speed. Prosper. 
 
 120 No note. No notice, make no remark. 
 
 121 Tucket. Set of notes on the trumpet. (Italian, 
 toccata.) 
 
 127 Hold day. We should have daylight at the same 
 time as the people on the other side of the world, if you would 
 walk in our night-time when the sun has gone to them. 
 Bassanio greets his wife with a pretty compliment. 
 
 129 Light. There is a pun here. 
 
 130 A light wife. Frivolous in conduct. 
 130 Heavy. Sad; another pun. 
 
 132 God sort all! May God dispose, arrange, all things. 
 
 136 In all sense. In all reason, or in every respect. 
 
 141 / scant. I cut short this courtesy which consists in 
 words only. 
 
 148 Posy. The motto cut on the ring. So called be- 
 cause such mottoes were often in verse; it is the same word 
 as poesy. 
 
 150 Leave me not. Do not part with me. Another 
 such motto is, "Cut and come again." 
 
 151 What. Why; an exclamation of impatience. 
 
 155 Not for me, yet for, etc. You should have been re- 
 gardful, if not of me, yet of your strongly expressed oaths. 
 
 158 Clerk will ne'er wear. Nerissa means that he gave 
 it to a lady — as of course he unknowingly did. 
 
 162 Scrubbed. Short, stumpy. We now use scrub in the 
 same sense. So shrub is a short tree, scrub is short brush- 
 wood. (Old English, scrob). 
 
 164 Prating. Talkative. 
 
 167 So slightly. On so slight a plea, after such little 
 pressing. 
 
NOTES 149 
 
 169 Riveted with faith. Fastened by a promise. 
 
 172. Leave it. Lose it, part with it. 
 
 173 For the wealth. For all the wealth that the whole 
 world is master of, possesses. 
 
 182 That took some pains. This is Gratiano's reason 
 for giving the ring. As the judge (Portia) had deserved 
 Bassanio's ring by what he had done for Antonio, so, Grati- 
 ano thought, the clerk (Nerissa) had deserved his ring by 
 the pains he took in writing the deed or the record of the 
 judgment. No doubt Nerissa had to take pains to make 
 her writing appear like a clerk's. 
 
 189 Void. Empty. 
 
 193 Gave the ring. Bassanio's repetition of the words, 
 the ring, shows that he is playfully trying to appease his 
 wife's wrath — as much as to say, what a lot of fuss about so 
 small a thing! 
 
 201 Or your own honor. If you considered how your 
 honor was involved in keeping the ring safe. 
 
 203 What man. No man in the world would have shown 
 himself so wanting in all decency as to press his request for 
 that which you regarded as something sacred, if you had 
 cared to assert by arguments of real warmth your desire to 
 retain possession of it. 
 
 204 To have defended. To defend would be more cor- 
 rect. 
 
 205. With any terms of zeal. That is, earnestly, as if 
 you meant it. 
 
 210 Civil doctor. Doctor of civil law, that is, law made 
 by men to govern their relations as citizens (Latin, civis, 
 citizen); opposed to divine law, the laws of God. 
 
 217 / was beset. I was troubled with a feeling of shame 
 at seeming ungrateful in refusing so small a thing, and with 
 a sense of what courtesy demanded of me. 
 
 220 Candles of the night. The stars. 
 
 225 Enforced wrong. Wrong I could not help doing. 
 
 231 Of credit. Worthy of belief. To swear double is 
 to swear falsely. Portia is ironical. 
 
 234 Wealth. Well-being, welfare. 
 
 235 Which. The loan of my body. 
 
 236 Had miscarried. Would have been disastrous, 
 ended in disaster. 
 
 238 Advisedly. Deliberately. 
 
 239 Surety. One who is bound for another. 
 254 Richly. With rich cargoes. 
 
1 5 o THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 254 Suddenly. Unexpectedly. 
 256 Dumb. With surprise and joy. 
 267 Manna. The heaven-sent food on which the Is- 
 raelites were fed in the wilderness of Arabia. See Exodus, 
 
 XVI. 
 
 269 You are not satisfied. You are not fully satisfied 
 with my story of these events. 
 
 271 Charge us there. "In the Court of Queen's Bench, 
 when a complaint is made against a person for a ' contempt,' 
 the practice is that before sentence is finally pronounced he 
 is sent into the Crown Office, and being there 'charged 
 upon interrogatories,' he is made to swear that he will 'an- 
 swer all things faithfully.'" The familiarity with legal 
 terms which Shakespeare shows has led some to think that 
 he may have been in youth a lawyer's clerk. But he shows 
 great familiarity with many things, such as seamanship, 
 medicine, madness, soldiery; and he could not have been 
 engaged in every profession. 
 
PASSAGES FOR SPECIAL STUDY 
 
 Memorizing 
 
 Act I, Scene I, lines 79-104 
 
 Act I, lines 140-176 
 
 Act I, Scene 3, lines 92-115 
 
 Act II, Scene 8, lines 35-49 
 
 Act III, Scene 1, lines 41-58 
 
 Act III, Scene 2, lines 1-24 
 
 Act III, Scene 2, lines 43-62 
 
 Act III, Scene 2, lines 149-175 
 
 Act III, Scene 4, lines 10-35 
 
 Act IV, Scene 1, lines 35-61 
 
 Act IV, Scene 1, line 180 to line 194 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, to line 15 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, from line 54 to line 66 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, from line 83 to line 66 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, from line 90 to line 98 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, from line 90 to line 98 
 
 Act V, Scene 1, from line 102 to line 109 
 
 Figures of Speech 
 
 Act I, Scene 1 
 
 Act I, Scene 2 
 
 Act I, Scene 3, from line 55 to close 
 
 Act II, Scene 6, to line 20 
 
 Act II, Scene 7 
 
 Act II, Scene 9 
 
 Act III, Scene 2, from line 40 to line 187 
 
 Act V, Scene 1 
 
 151 
 
152 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 Imagery 
 
 Act IV, Scene i 
 
 Act V, Scene i, to line 25 
 
 Character Study 
 
 Act I, Scene 2 
 
 Act I, Scene 3 
 
 Act II, Scene 1 
 
 Act II, Scene 7 
 
 Act II, Scene 8 
 
 Act II, Scene 9 
 
 Act III, Scene 1 
 
 Act III, Scene 2 to line 190 
 
 Act III, Scene 3 to line 18 
 
 Containing Special Difficulties 
 
 Act I, Scene 1, lines 95-99 
 Act I, Scene 2, lines 17, 18 
 Act I, Scene 3, line 122 
 Act II, Scene 2, lines 14, 15 
 Act II, Scene 2, lines 144 
 Act II, Scene 4, lines 35-37 
 Act II, Scene 9, lines 46-49 
 Act III, Scene 2, lines 182-184 
 Act III, Scene 2, line 314 
 Act III, Scene 3, lines 26-28 
 Act IV, Scene 1, lines 49-51 
 Act IV, Scene 1, lines 55-57 
 Act IV, Scene 1, line 325 
 Act V, Scene 1, lines 203-206 
 
FAMILIAR AND PROVERBIAL 
 EXPRESSIONS 
 
 i. A Daniel come to judgment, Act IV, Scene i, 
 line 219. 
 
 2. a harmless necessary cat, Act IV, Scene 1, 
 
 line 54. 
 
 3. an infinite deal of nothing, Act I, Scene 1, 
 
 line 114. 
 
 4. All that glitters is not gold, Act II, Scene 7, 
 
 line 65. 
 
 5. Fast bind, fast find, Act II, Scene 5, line 53. 
 
 6. God made him, and therefore let him pass for 
 
 man, Act I, Scene 2, line 47. 
 
 7. Hanging and wiving goes by destiny, Act II, 
 
 Scene 9, line 83. 
 
 8. I am Sir Oracle, 
 
 And when I ope my lips let no dog bark. 
 Act I, Scene 1, line 93. 
 
 9. It is a good divine that follows his own instruc- 
 
 tions, Act I, Scene 2, line 13. 
 
 10. Like one well studied in a sad ostent 
 To please his grandam. Act II, Scene 
 
 2, line 179. 
 
 11. love is blind, Act II, Scene 6, line 36. 
 
 12. Nature hath framed strange fellows in her 
 
 time, Act I, Scene I, line 51. 
 
 13. suff ranee is the badge of all our tribe, Act I, 
 
 Scene 3, line 69. 
 
 153 
 
i 5 4 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 
 
 14. The devil can cite scripture for his purpose, 
 
 Act I, Scene 3, line 84. 
 
 15. The man that hath no music in himself, 
 Nor is not moved with concord of sweet 
 
 sounds, 
 Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. 
 Act V, Scene 1, line 83. 
 
 16. What damned error, but some sober brow 
 Will bless it and approve it with a text! 
 
 Act III, Scene 2, line 78. 
 
 17. with bated breath and whispering humbleness, 
 
 Act I, Scene 3, line no. 
 
 18. worth a Jewess' eye, Act II, Scene 5, line 41. 
 
J IRVING. History of New York. Vol. I. 
 
 2J History of New York. Vol. II. 
 
 4> Sketch Book. Part I. jjm i 
 
 4> Sketch Book. Part II. 
 
 J Tales of a Traveller. Parts I. and II. 
 
 >|\ Tales of a Traveller. Parts III. and IV. 
 
 /j\ JOHNSON. Rasselas, the Prince of Abyssinia. •J-'.fe, 
 
 & Lives of the Poets. $A 
 
 J^ Addison, Savage, Swift. 
 
 j|\ Gay, Thompson, Young, Gray, etc L 
 
 & Waller, Milton, Cowley. 
 
 T Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope. 
 
 /jv Butler, Denham, Dryden, Roscommon, 
 
 it etc * ''$"' 
 
 jj LONGFELLOW. Hiawatha. 
 
 $ Evangeline. 
 
 /(> Courtship of Miles Standish. 
 
 <l> Tales of a Wayside Inn. 
 
 A> LOWELL. Vision of Sir Launfal. 
 
 d> LAMB. Essays of Elia. 
 
 Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. I. 
 Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. II. 
 
 §MACAULAY. Life of Johnson. 
 Life of Goldsmith. 
 2£ Essay on Milton. 
 
 /}> Essay on Addison. 
 
 $ Francis Bacon. 
 
 g Warren Hastings. IM 
 
 fa Lays of Ancient Rome. 
 
 /<\ MULOCK. Little Lame Prince. 
 
 X MILTON. Paradise Lost. Books I. and II. EU 
 
 $ Minor Poems. ^ 
 
 $ MITCHELL. Reveries of a Bachelor. « 
 
 * PLUTARCH'S LIVES. 
 
 JJ Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. ^ 
 
 /ji, Pericles, Cicero, etc. a 
 
 jj Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Aristides, etc. w 
 
 Jj; Agesilaus, Pompey and Phocion. 
 
 $ POE. Raven and Other Poems. W 
 
 & Tales. $ 
 
Rape or the Look. 
 
 Translation of thb Iliad. 
 
 Poems. i 
 
 Essay on Man. 
 KIN. King of the Golden Rive*. 
 
 Sesame and Lilies. j 
 
 IAKESPEARE. Macbeth. 
 
 Merchant of Venice. j 
 
 Twelfth Night. \ 
 
 ■ Henry VIII. 
 
 The Tempest. \ 
 
 Midsummer Night's Dream. 
 
 As You Like It. 
 3H Julius Caesar. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 H King John. 
 
 King Richard II. 
 
 Coriolanus. 
 
 §King Henry V. 
 King Lear. 
 Cymbeline. 
 King Richard III. 
 Othello. 
 a- Romeo and Juliet. 
 THEY. Life of Nelson. 
 ELL. Black Beauty. 
 
 TT. Marmion. 
 ^ ^___S Lay of the Last Minstrel. 
 |H Lady of the Lake. 
 
 STEELE. Isaac Bickerstaff, Physician and Astrologer. 
 
 SWIFT. Gulliver's Travels. Voyage to Lilliput. 
 Gulliver Among the Giants. 
 
 4 SPENSER. The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol. I. 
 & The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol. II. 
 
 TENNYSON. The Princess. 
 > Idylls of the King. I. 
 
 & Idylls of the King. II. 
 
 /fi Enoch Arden. 
 
 J WHITE. Natural History of Selborne. L 
 a Natural History of Selborne. II. 
 
 WEBSTER. Bunker Hill Orations. 
 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 
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