1) Antonio opens by criticizing usurers for their deceitful practices of trapping desperate men in loans they cannot repay and taking all their possessions as forfeiture.
2) When his friends Salarino and Salanio ask why he seems so sad, Antonio says he does not truly know the reason for his somber mood.
3) Salanio speculates it may have to do with Jews, but Antonio says usury is a godless practice that afflicts both Jews and gentiles. He then changes the subject, not wanting to complain further.
1) Antonio opens by criticizing usurers for their deceitful practices of trapping desperate men in loans they cannot repay and taking all their possessions as forfeiture.
2) When his friends Salarino and Salanio ask why he seems so sad, Antonio says he does not truly know the reason for his somber mood.
3) Salanio speculates it may have to do with Jews, but Antonio says usury is a godless practice that afflicts both Jews and gentiles. He then changes the subject, not wanting to complain further.
1) Antonio opens by criticizing usurers for their deceitful practices of trapping desperate men in loans they cannot repay and taking all their possessions as forfeiture.
2) When his friends Salarino and Salanio ask why he seems so sad, Antonio says he does not truly know the reason for his somber mood.
3) Salanio speculates it may have to do with Jews, but Antonio says usury is a godless practice that afflicts both Jews and gentiles. He then changes the subject, not wanting to complain further.
Emended and Rectified with Notes and Commentary by Jonathan Star DRAMATIS PERSON DUKE OF VENICE PRINCE OF MOROCCO (MOROCHO-Q1, MOROCHUS-Q1) PRINCE OF ARRAGON (ARAGON) A suitors to Portia ANTONIO (ANTHONIO-Q1 ), a merchant of Venice, friend of Bassanio BASSANIO, winner of Portia LEONARDO, a servant to Bassanio GRATZIANO (GRATIANO-Q1, GRAZIANO), friend of Bassanio, with Nerissa LORENZO (LORENSO), friend of Gratziano, with Jessica SALARINO | SALANIO-Q1 (SOLANIO-Q1) | friends of Antonio SALERIO, a messenger from Venice | SHYLOCK (SHYLOCKE-Q1) a Jewish money-lender JESSICA, daughter of Shylock, with Lorenzo TUBAL (TUBALL-Q1), a Jew, friend of Shylock LAUNCELET -Q1 (LANCELET-Q2, LAUNCELOT, LANCELOT), a fool, servant to Shylock OLD GOBBO (GOBBO), father to Launcelet PORTIA, an heiress of Belmont NERISSA, her waiting-woman BALTHASAR-Q1 (BALTHAZAR) | STEPHANO (STEFANO) | servants of Portia MESSENGER, for Portia SERVANT (SERVINGMAN), for Portia MAN, messenger for Antonio MESSENGER, for Jessica Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, a Jailor, Servants and other Attendants [See Additional Notes, 0.1.1, for a further discussion on the names] Editions Editions and Printing Dates: First Quarto (Q1), 1600. The Most Excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice. Second Quarto (Q2), 1619. The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. Third Quarto (Q3), 1637. The Most Excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice. First Folio (F1), 1623; Second Folio (F2), 1632; Third Folio (F3), 1663; Fourth Folio (F4), 1685 Punctuation Key Punctuation Key: a) All line numbering and text references generally follow The Merchant of Venice, Oxford Edition, edited by Jay L. Halio, 1993. b) Text found within {special brackets} is a reference to the text as found in Q1. c) Text which follows / or // indicates alternative renderings. d) Words found within + single brackets , indicate text which was not found in the original yet which was suggested by, or which clarifies, the original. Words found within ++ double brackets ,, indicate text which has been added to the original and which was not indicated nor suggested by the original text. e) Text found within jopen square bracketsk was not found in the original but is directly indicated by the original. f) Text found within [brackets] indicate text which is found in the original but which is suspect. g) An arrow > indicates a commentary on the text 1. These opening lines of Antonio are not found in the original play and were added to focus and clarify the central conflict of the play (between Antonio and Shylock) which is principally over usury, not religion. In the original we find Antonio musing over his serious and concerned demeanor (or sadness) yet such a theme has no direct relevance to the plot nor does it set up a context for understanding the action of play. [To understand usury as it was viewed in Elizabethan England, see Additional Note, 1.1.0] 2. / But I am sickened by their very sight 3. / A plague afflicting the goodness of man / A plague upon the righteousness of man / A plague afflicting the spirit of man / A plague destroying the very heart of man / A plague that ravages the heart of man / A plague that crushes (/ destroys / ruins / shatters) the spirit of man / That which destroys the righteousness of man 4. / And all their contracts, listing penalties / And all the loans they make with forfeitures 5. / Made with a show of kindness and of friendship / Made under pretense of kindness and friendship / With shows of kindness and seeming friendship 6. / Are none but fell deceit and thievery 7. Option, add line: +Taking a loan beyond their means to pay,, 8. / All one has worked for and gained in his life / All that a man has made and gained in life / All that a man has gained in years of work 9. / Would soon come to a sad and ruinous end / / Would end in sorrow, pain, and tearful ruin / Would end in sadness and a tearful ruin / Would come to sadness and ruin in the end. 10. / Tis a greed most obscene and despicable / Showing a greed obscene and despicable / It is a show of greed, gross and despicable 11. / They but entrap those who are most desperate: Having them sign a bond to borrow money For which they cannot repay, then as forfeit, And after great despair, all that these men have Is taken, all they have worked for is lost; All is but gone to these heartless usurers. 12. / . . . and gained in life | Is lostbut gone to these heartless usurers. | Tis an obscene, despisd greed they show. ACT ONE - Scene One (1.1) Venice. Enter Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio ______________________________________________________ [added text] ++Antonio 1 I know this hatred mocks all Christian virtue / hate befouls / hatred fouls But they I loathe: their very sight abhors me. 2 They are but vile infractions of nature, / Theyre none // infracts A plague on all that is righteous and good. 3 And the contracts they use to loan out money, / they make to ply their loans 4 Made neath the guile of friendship and trust / guise of kindliness and friendship 5 Are none but instruments of fell deceit, And sordid means to fetch anothers ruin. / wretched // bring 6 They would have men sign bonds to borrow money, 7 And if the sums are not repaid on time / loan is Then, as forfeit, they would take everything; All that the man has earned in his lifetime 8 Would come to naught and end in tearful ruin. 9 Tis an obscene, despisd greed they show / It is a foul 10 These heartless usurers. There is a place / Theres a special place 11 In hell made just for them. / reserved 12
13. / Tis more a foul disease 14. / But oft youve heard me moan, /my grievance 15. / But here this face so sad, we know not well. | Why look ye so, my friend; what has got you? / But here this face so saddened, tis a sight | We know not well. Why look ye so, my friend? / But here this face so sad,tis not a sight | We know. Why look ye so, my friend? Why so? 16. The original play begins here, with Antonio talking about his sad and worrisome state. The play opens in media res, in the middle of an ongoing conversation between Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio, where Antonio is answering a question that was asked before the action of the play begins. 17. The term sad generally means grave, serious, or concerned. The commiserating images supplied by Salarino and Salanio (your mind is tossing on the ocean) suggest that Antonios state resembles some kind of uneasiness or worry rather than sadness or depression. In all of this we never discover why Antonio is so grave or concernedis it his nature to be grave (as later suggested by himself) or has his concern been brought about by some recent event? In either case, the issue of Antonios grave nature has no bearing on the play nor does it make any further appearance. Antonios talk of sadness (or concern) could simply be a tool which allows the Sals to describe the grandeur of Antonios sea ventures. Some commentators hold that the early talk of sadness is meant to present a sense of foreboding but the jovial way that the subject is approached precludes this. [See Additional Note, 1.1.1] [For a rectification of this scene, as it may have appeared in an earlier draft, see Appendix]. 18. {It wearies me, you say it wearies you} As it stands, this line is somewhat misplaced and may be an appendage from an earlier draft, where the opening conversation was between Antonio, Gratziano, and Lorenzo, and where this line was originally voiced by Gratziano. This lines suggest that Antonio has spoken about his serious nature on numerous occasions, so much so that it wearies him (talking about it) and it wearies Salarino (and Salanio) upon hearing it. The line (as it stands in the original) is also questionable, since Antonios sadness seems to be something newly experienced by the Sals, and not something they could have grown weary of. In addition, the Sals, who are unmitigated supporters of Antonio, would never have told Antonio that they were weary of hearing about his concerns. I think: {you say} I hear, I know, I believe, Im sure. This line (and especially the reference to you say) is most likely a remnant from a prior draft of the play where it opened, in media res, with Antonio, Gratziano, and Lorenzo (and not with Salarino and Salanio.) Hence, the familiar and history-based phrase, you say, was likely directed to Gratziano (as a singular)a person who was familiar with Antonios sad musings, and a person who would have told Antonio that he (Gratziano) was weary of hearing about Antonios sadness. As neither Salarino nor Salanio have heard much about Antonios sadness in the pastand as neither are so chummy and bold as to tell Antonio they are weary of hearing about itneither would have made such a comment. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.2] Salanio Those damnd Jews. / cursd Antonio No, tis no Jewish thing this usury / Tis not a Jewish thing, this usury, no Tis but a godless thing; a cursd thing, / godless / damnd 13 An aberration felling Jew and gentile / A thing bereft of all humanity A wretched thing. Enough of my complaints, / But enough of my moaning, 14 You know them well. / it Salarino And so we do, Antonio, But here this face so grave, tis not a sight / thing / face We know so well. Why look ye so, my friend? ,, / That we know well / We often see 15 ______________________________________________________ Antonio 16 In sooth, I know not why I am so somber. / truth // {sad} / grave 17 [It wearies me, I know it wearies you;] {you say} / I think / it must 18 Yet how I caught it, found it, or came by it, {But} What stuff tis made of, whereof it is born, 19. +And why it lingers on, / And why is has (/grips) me so / And why it doth remain / And why I hold it so The line found in Q1 ( I am to learn) is truncated, containing only two iambs (feet), as opposed to the usual fivei.e., four syllables as opposed to ten. It is also missing a connector, such as and. Thus, the line as it appears is likely an error, and was not intended by the author. This short line could resulted from a smudge mark, rendering the text unreadable or some other such error. [For theories about this truncated line, See Additional Notes, 1.1.5] 20. There are several anomalies with respect to Antonios opening lines, including the words you say [2], the truncated line 5, and the repetitive and unsupported content of lines 6 and 7. Clearly these later two lines [6-7] are orphaned, repeat the sentiment of the previous lines, and weaken the overall import of the passage. Due to their prominent position in the original play (appearing in the opening passage), and being that they stand rather harmless, they could remain; being that they weaken the passage, may have found their way into the text by errorand in context of the emended opening about usurythese lines should be deleted. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.6] 21. / Your mind does toss like ships upon the wave 22. {Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood} / Like proud magnificoes upon the wave, burghers: wealthy Venetians, rich citizens 23. {Or as it were the pageants of the sea} / Or like the grand water-floats of a pageant / Or like the festive pageants of the sea pageants of the sea: floats and displays that were used on ships, as part of a festive pageantry held on the water. Pageants, like modern-day floats used in a parade, refer to large displays (such as castles, ships, or other staged figures) that were wheeled about the streets in ancient shows or pageants, or ships that provided such displays. 24. {Do overpeer the petty traffickers} / Where they but dwarf the petty traffickers overpeer: peer over, look down on, tower above petty traffickers: / petty trading ships / petty trade vessels / smaller merchant ship / smaller trading ships 25. {That curtsey to them, do them reverence} / That come to lower their topsails in reverence / That do but bow to them in utter reverence / And moving them to curtsy low in reverence / Impelling them to bow in awe reverence cursy (Q1 = cursie) / curtsy: bow down. Refers to the image of: a) small ships that bob around in the wake of a passing argosy, which seemingly (and impelled by the wake) bow down or curtsy to these larger ships, or b) small cargo ships which would lower their topmasts as a sign of respect at the passing of a much larger ship. In both cases, there a show of reverence, akin to a tradesman bowing to a passing dignitary of higher rank 26. woven wing: The large sails on Antonios ships are likened to the wings of flying bird (for their speed) or to the billowing splendor of the clothes worn by wealthy burghers. 27. / Were all my wealth involved in such ventures 28. {I should be still} / Each day Id be still: always 29. {Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind} +And why it lingers on, Ive yet to learn. / And why it holds me so {I am to learn} 19 [And such a want-wit graveness makes of me ] {sadness} [That I have much ado to know myself.] 20 Salarino Your mind is tossing on the ocean. 21 There [pointing] are your argosies with portly sails / grand vessels Streaming upon the wave like proud maestros / Moving {flood} / sea 22 Or like the grand displays of a sea pageant. 23 See your ships rise above the smaller boats {overpeer} // petty boats 24 That curtsy to them in awe and reverence / bow down / prostrate 25 As they fly by with their grand, woven wings. 26 Ah, what a sight it is! / to see Salanio Believe me, sir, Were I involved in ventures of such risk {such ventures abroad} 27 The better part of my concerns would rest {affections would} Upon my hopes abroad. And everyday / Within // ships 28 Id toss the grass to know where blows the wind, / which way the winds blows 29 And peer in maps for ports and piers and roads / Peering 30. {Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt | Would make me sad.} /Misfortune to my ventures would, no doubt | But make me sad 31. By this description, and the preceding ones, we see that Salarino and Salanio are well-versed in the jargon of merchants, and both appear to be involved in the business of trade, as is Antonio. 32. {And see my wealthy Andrew docked in sand,} / And how my ship, the Andrew, rife with wealth, | Might fall a-ground and die a woeful death / piteous 33. / Laid out upon her burial like a shroud / Just like a shroud placed upon her grave / A shroud that kisses the ground of her burial / And now to kiss the ground wherein she lies 34. {Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs | To kiss her burial} vailing: lowering, bringing down ribs: the hull of a ship, made up of wooden ribs or center beams The image here is that of a ship overturned, with her top-sails now lower than her hull; the top-sails are now kissing the ground, which is the place of the ships burial (and the once proud sails have now become its burial shroud. [ See Additional Notes, 1.1.28] 35. / Would scatter all her spices on the wave 36. / I, too, would have a mind thats fraught with sadness / besieged by worry / filled with distress / sad and distraught Salarino (and Salanio) are describing Antonios risky business ventures, which would elicit concern, worry, agitation, stress, etc. rather than sadness. (Thus, sadness in this context should be taken to mean, worry, concern, distress, etc.) This talk of Antonios sadness seems to be an import of an earlier draft of the play, where the play initially opened with Antonio talking with Gratziano and Lorenzo about his (Antonios) sad nature. Later in the scene we see the same conversation about Antonios sadness repeated with Gratzianoand this relates to Antonios sad and depressed nature, and not a new-arising sadness, related to a specific conditions (as is the subject of the conversation with Salarino and Salanio). 37. / Is worried when he thinks upon his ventures These two lines are superfluous and appear too bold for either Salarino or Salaniosounding more like something Gratziano would say. These lines may be vestiges of an earlier draft which involved a conversation between Antonio and Gratziano. Thus, these two lines could be deleted without any a meaningful loss and perhaps And every object that might make me fear Misfortune to my enterprise, no doubt, / undertaking / venture, theres no Would bring concern. {Would make me sad} 30 Salarino My breath, cooling my broth, {wind} / soup 31 Would blow me to a shiver when I thought {an ague} / a frenzy / into a chill What harm a wind, too great, might do at sea. Each time I saw the sandy hour-glass run, Id think of shallow flats and sandy banks, And see my ship, the Andrew, docked in sand, / my wealthy Andrew 32 With her top-sail a-hung below her ribs / hanging / fallen // hull Kissing her grave just like a burial shroud. / as would 33 34 And should I go to church, instead of praying, Id see the holy edifice of stone And straightaway bethink of dangrous rocks / me of the rocks Which, by a mere touch of my vessels side, / gentle stroke Would spread her cache of spice upon the wave, / prize //{stream} /sea 35 And robe the roaring waters with her silk. And thus, in sum, reduce my worth to naught. / wealth // nothing Had I the mind to think on all of this, / Should I have thoughts And should I think on all that could go wrong, I, too, would have a mind oerly concerned . {oercome by sadness} 36 So tell me not: I know Antonio Is grave to think upon his parlous ventures. {sad} // about // {merchandise} / risky ventures 37 with a slight improvement in the flow of the text. 38. Previously, Antonios sadness was thought to be venture-related, then love-relatedboth causes of which Antonio denied. Here Salanio is surmising that Antonio must be sad because it is his nature to be sad. This philosophical address of Antonio sad nature is repeated later in the scene by Gratziano. It is likely, that in an earlier draft, Salanios words were mouthed by Lorenzo (or possibly Gratziano) and herein transposed (somewhat imperfectly) to Salanio. Salanio (and Salarino) seem to know a lot about Antonios business venture but little about his sad nature. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.47] 39. / Neither in love? Ah, then you must be sad 40. {Now, by two-headed Janus} Janus: the Roman god of exits and entrances, who has two faces (not two heads) which looks in opposite directions; one face is smiling and the other is frowning. One god, having two opposite faces, suggests the singular root of both comedy and tragedy. 41. / Now, by Januss | Two faces, one which laughs and one which cries / But here we see | Two sides of Janusone laughing, one crying / But here are Janus | Two heads, that face in opposite directions 42. {some that will evermore peep through their eyes} This line refers to people who smile so much so that their cheek muscles have atrophied and now keep their eyes half-shutand now they can only peep through them. The image, akin to the laughing face of Janus, is of a person smiling so much that it looks as if he is wearing the mask of a smiling face. / Some that can barely see through so much smiling / Some that eer peep through eyes half-shut by smiling 43. laugh like parrots: a) refers to the parrot who by rote response laughs at everything, even a mournful tune. Hence, laughing like a parrot refers to one who laughs at everything; one who is always laughing. b) implies a loud screeching laughter rather than the actual laughter of a parrot. 44. {at a bagpiper} The music of a bagpipe was considered woeful, which should bring on tears, not laughter. 45. / And there be others of such gloomy aspect (/sullen mode) / And others of such a vinegary aspect (/ sullen temperament) / And there be others of such sour mode / And there are others, so sour and tart Antonio Believe meno. I thank my fortune for it: My ventures are not in one vessel trusted, {bottom} Nor in one place, nor does my wealth depend {nor is my whole estate} Upon the fortune of this present year. Therefore, my ventures do not make me somber. {makes me not sad} Salanio Why then, you are in love. Antonio Nay, nay! {Fie, fie} / No, no Salanio 38 Not in love neither? Then you must be somber / Then say you are sad 39 Because you are not destined to be merry; / fated / fashioned / humoured For twere as easy now for you to laugh, / Twould be And leap, and say that you are merry, only / dance Because you are not sad. By the two faces Of Janusone which laughs and one which cries 40 41 Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time: / day Some that will smile so much their eyes have shut, / are half-shut 42 And laugh like parrots when all else are crying. / at a mournful tune 43 44 And others so acerbic in their mode / others be so gloomy 45 That theyll not show their teeth in way of smile, 46. {Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable} Nestor: a Greek officer of the Iliad, famous for his soberness and gravity. / Not even at a jest that able to rouse | Stern-browd Nestor to rambunctious laughter. / Not even at a joke that could bestir | The somber Nestor into drunken laughter. / Een at a jest that would rouse stern-browd | Nestor into a most rambunctious laughter. 47. The name of these two characters, Salarino and Salanio, are never mentioned in the play even though it is customary to name a character upon his entrance or during the first scene in which he appears. The failure to ever mention the names of these minor but significant characters may be because these they were not conceived as part of the original draft but added as part of a later draft. Thus, throughout the play, these two characters remain nameless. To rectify this omission, a line which includes both their names, could be added here. 48. {You grow exceedingly strange. Must it be so?} exceedingly strange: (a) like strangers, (b) strange in your ways, i.e, too reserved, too serious, not willing to get together for a laugh. Must it be so?: (a) i.e., it should not be that way and we must do something about itsuch as get together for a laugh. (b) must you be so serious and not willing to laugh with us. 49. In Q1 the speech heading reads Sal. which is most often attributed to Salarino. Due to the confusion in abbreviations found in Q1, and because Salarino and Salanio often talk in tandem, this line is attributed to Salanio. 50. This exchange seems more of a gratuitous gesture than an actual intention to get together. We sense a cordial distance between Bassanio and Salarino-Salanio, as they all seek Antonios attention. Bassanio may view the Sals as fans, supporters, and lesser friends of Antonio. Though stern-browed Nestor swear the jest be funny. 46 Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratziano. Here comes Bassanio, your most favored friend, / dearest of friends {most noble kinsman} With Gratziano and Lorenzo. Farewell, We leave you now with better company. Salarino I would have stayed until I made you merry, / we If worthier friends had not prevented me. / us Antonio +Nay Salarinoand my friend Salanio, 47 Your worth is very dear in my regard. / esteem I take it your own business calls you, And you embrace thoccasion to depart. / the moment Salarino [to those approaching] Good morrow, my good lords. / Good day, good gentlemen Bassanio [also in greeting] Good signors both, when shall we laugh? Say when? Youve become strangers. Must it be that way? 48 Salanio 49 Well make our leisure time fit in with yours. {leisures} / free time {to attend on} 50 Lorenzo My friend Bassanio, here you have found Antonio. {lord} {since} 51. The meeting Lorenzo is referring to involves the planning to steal Jessica [2.4]. This meeting involves the two Sals, not Bassanio. Hence, Lorenzos reminder of such a meeting to Bassanioand the assurance made in the next line by Bassanio [I will not fail you]as found in the original, is amiss. [See next note]. 52. In the original, this line is attributed to Bassanio, and reads: I will not fail you and is spoken after Salarino and Salanio have already exited. Thus Bassanio is telling Lorenzo that he (Bassanio) will not fail him (Lorenzo) and that he will be there as planned. However, there is no future plan involving Lorenzo and Bassanio. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.72] 53. Some commentators suggest that the play may have initially opened here, at line 73. Gratzianos opening statement resembles that of Antonios opening, and the discourse that follows is similar in tone to the previous conversation had with Salarino and Salanio. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.73] [See Appendix: The Three Sallies] 54. {You have too much respect upon the world} 55. {They lose it that do buy it with much care} / When too concerned about what can go wrong | You cant enjoy all the things that are right. / All this concern with loss does have a cost: | You cant enjoy all the great things that you have. Gratziano is saying that one who buys life with too much care (i.e., spends too much time in worry and sadness), cannot enjoy life. In other words, things usually turn out poorly for one who is too concerned about how things will turn out. 56. {Believe me, you are marvellously changed} / Believe me, you are decidedly different / Believe me you look nothing like yourself / Believe me when I say, youre not yourself / Believe me, friend, you are completely changed 57. {Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster} [aside, to Salarino] We, too, will leave soon, but at dinner time, I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. / bear 51 Salarino 52 We will not fail you. Salanio +Well be there as planned., Exeunt Salarino and Salanio Gratziano You look not well, Signior Antonio; 53 You care too much for the things of this world. 54 The ones who buy this world with too much care Are apt to lose it for want of enjoyment. / Do end up losing it for want of joy 55 Believe me friend, you dont look like yourself. / youre not being yourself 56 Antonio I hold the world but as the world, Gratziano, A stage where every man must play a part And mines a sad one. / grave Gratziano Let me play the fool: / me With mirth and laughter let old smiles come, {wrinkles} And let my liver rather heat with joy {wine} Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. Why should a man, whose blood is warm within, / veins run warm with blood Sit like a marble statue of his grandsire, / granite // carving 57 58. {Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice} / creep into an illness / Sleep when awake and give himself an illness jaundice: a disease related to the liver and caused by an excess of yellow bile; as such, it brings a yellowish complexion to the skin and whites of the eyes. Up until the 19 century, this disease was thought to have a th psychosomatic origin. Hence, Gratziano is saying that Antonio is going to get jaundice as a result his depressed disposition (which makes him appear as though he is asleep when awake). 59. {I tell the what, Antonio | I love thee, and tis my love that speaks:} 60. {There are a sort of men whose visages | Do cream and mantle like a standing pond | And do a willful stillness entertain} cream and mantle: cover over and mask; become pale and mask-like. This image suggests a) the algae that floats upon the surface of a stagnant pond (covering the interior of the pond), or b) the covering of cream on milk. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.90] 61. {With purpose to be dressed in an opinion} 62. {Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit} / As men of profound wisdom and insight. gravity: authority, seriousness, weight profound conceit: deep thinking; those who deeply contemplate the matter 63. {If they should speak, would almost dam those ears} dam: dam, clog up, block, stop damn: damn, curse, foul 64. {But fish not with this melancholy bait | For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.} fool gudgeon: gudgeon are fish which were thought to be gullible, easy believers in the bait, (and which would bite and anything). Thus they were easy to catch. Some editions use Popes emendation of: fools gudgeon. opinion: the opinion that others will think you are wise because you look sad and do not open your mouth. 65. There are three direct references that the parties are going meet later for dinner [70, 104, 105], plus a response to those references [72]. Is dinner in these references the same as the supper which Bassanio has the night he leaves for Belmont or is there some other meeting indicated? Sleep when he wakes, and become ill with jaundice / bring about the jaundice 58 By being peevish from morning till night? / cranky / sad-faced I say AntonioI speak out of love 59 There are some men who show no expression, / reveal no emotion Their face is held in a willful stillness Just like the muck covring a stagnant pond; / atop 60 They hope that others will look well upon them 61 As men of wisdom, gravity, and depth, {and profound conceit} 62 As who should say, I am Sir Oracle, / Who proudly say And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark! O my Antonio, I do know of those {these} Who are reputed wise for saying naught, / Who are but held as When I am sure, if they should move to speak, Twould almost dam the ears of those who listen / surely 63 And cause their brothers to say they are fools. Ill tell thee more of this another time. But fish not with this melancholy bait For eer the worthless opinion of others, / For the ill-gained / unvalued Which one can catch as easly as fool gudgeon / Which can be caught 64 +A fish inclined will biteB at any bait., / well-known to bite // evry Come good Lorenzo. Fare thee well for now; {awhile} Ill finish with my preaching after dinner. {end my exortation} Lorenzo Well, we will leave you then, till dinner-time. 65 I must be one of these same dumb wise men 66. {Fare you well. Ill grow a talker for this gear} / Farewell, Ill grow more of a talker next time gear: a) discourse, talk. Farewell, Ill take your advice and become more of a talker (next time we meet); b) matter, affair. Farewell, now that youre gone, and Im with Bassanio, Ill become a talkerfor this matter, now that there is something relevant to speak about. c) reason Farewell, Ill talk more (with respect to your advice) so that others do not think that I silent (for the reason you mentioned) to try and get others to think I am full of wisdom and profound understandingwhich is not the case. 67. {Thanks, ifaith, for silence is only commendable | In a neats tongue dried and a maid not vendible.} / Please do, for silence is best in ox-tongue, | And in craggy old maids no longer young. / Please do, for silences best in ox-tongue dried, | And in a maid too old to be a bride. neats tongue dried: the dried tongue of an ox, which is commendable precisely because one does not want this kind of tongue to talkone wants it to be dead, dried, and ready to eat. (Some commentators suggest that this reference to neats tongue dried may be a bawdy a reference to the dried up penis of an old man which cannot become erectbut why Gratziano would find this commendable is unclear). not vendible: not saleable. Refers to a maid who cannot be sold (with a dowry) in the way of marriageand thus a maid who is worthless and unsaleable. The implication is that someone who is old and unwed (and whom nobody wants) would speak with bitter and complaining wordsso her silence would be welcomed. Some interpret not vendible as referring to a maid who is too young and not yet saleable (in the marketplace of marriage)and whose talk might be witless. It seems more likely that Gratziano would commend silence in a craggy old maid (who is wont to complain) rather than in a young maid who is not yet of a marriageable age. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.112] 68. {It is that any thing now.} / He speaks and speaks, and yet says not a thing / He speaks a lot, yet says a lot of nothing. This line, as it appears in Q1, is missing three syllables and does not fit the standard meter. Editors have treated this anomalous line in several ways: A) Left it as is. B) Deleted the opening It and posited that the line as a question: Is that anything now?which means: What was all that talk about? This renders the line somewhat intelligible, but does not correct the line structure. (This emendation was first proposed by Rowe). C) Changed It to Yet:Yet is that anything now? With this emendation, Antonio is apparently referring to the newfound silence (which is being enjoyed since Gratziano, the talker, has just left). This emendation is based upon the supposition that Yet was found in the original manuscript, and somehow became Yt and then It.) All these textual contortions do not improve the line. It is most likely that the original contained a full five iambs and part of the line had become unreadable. Thus, the typesetter did his best in setting what part of the line he could read. We find that the lines of Bassanio, which follow this one, are also corrupt in that they do not adhere to the standard meter. Hence, one possibility is that the name Gratziano was originally intended to be part of Antonios line, and somehow got shifted to Bassanio. If so, the lines might have appeared as follows: Ant. Did Gratziano say anything now? Bass. He speaks an infinite deal of nothing, Ay, more than any man in all of Venice . . . [See Additional Notes, 1.1.113.] For Gratziano never lets me speak. Gratziano Well, keep my company for two more years And youll forget the sound of your own tongue. / voice Antonio Farewell. Ill grow in talk next time. 66 Gratziano Please do Silence is virtue in dried tongue of ox / preferred / better/ praisble And in craggy old maids whove got the pox. 67 Exeunt Gratziano and Lorenzo Antonio He speaks a great deal yet says not a thing. / a lot yet he says 68 69. Bassanios opening talk can be seen as a chummy elaboration upon Antonios previous remark about Gratzianos empty talk. In Q1, these lines do not appear in meter, which is odd since all the verse preceding it and following it, are in meter. Moreover, these are the first lines uttered by our romantic hero, which, though light-hearted and playful, should, at least, be delivered in the standard meter. It could be, however, for no clear reason, that this non- metered opening by Bassanio was a deliberate attempt to first present Bassanio as somewhat awkward with his words. Most likely, however, (and consistent with Antonios previous line, which is corrupt) this non-metered opening by Bassanio resulted from some problem with the reading of the text and not by original design. Q1 (uncorrected) reads: {Gratiano speaks and infinite deale of nothing more then any man in all Venice, his reasons are as two graines of wheate hid in two bushels of chaffe: you shall seeke all day ere you finde them, and when you have them, they are not worth the search.}. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.118] 70. {His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff:} his reasons: his point, his conclusions; the value of what he says / All of his wit are as two grains of wheat | Hid in two bushels full of worthless chaff 71. / In all of Venice. And, his final point Is like a grain of wheat ina heap of chaff: 72. / He speaks an infinite deal of nothing, | More so than any man in all of Venice. | His point resembles but two grains of wheat | Hid in two bushels of chaff. You must seek | All day before you find them; and when you | Finally have them, theyre not worth the search. 73. {Well, tell me now what lady is the same | To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage} Some commentators surmise that Antonios sadness has come about due to Bassanios secret rendezvous with a woman. However, this conclusion is forced and unlikely. Antonios sadness is a result of his disposition, which is confirmed by Antonio when he states that the part he has been selected to play, on the world stage, is a sad one [78-79]. Bassanios potential love interest may have exacerbated Antonios worrisome condition but this, too, is unlikely, since Bassanio did not even know the identity of the woman with whom Bassanio was meeting. All Antonio knew was that Bassanio was meeting with some woman, whose identity he swore to keep secretand whom he promised to tell Antonio about (after the meeting was over). Bassanio was well aware of the nature of the meeting, and that the subject discussed involved Antonio in some way, and that is why Bassanio told Antonio about the secret meeting and told him that he (Bassanio) was going to tell him about what he learned from the meeting today. (We can assume that the meeing took palce yesterday, as Bassanio would not delay in telling Antonio about itespecially if Antonios help, with respect to actuating the plan formulated during the meeting, was needed.) Who was this lady to whom Bassanio swore to meet with in secret (and to keep the whole meeting a secret, and to keep secret the identity of the woman with whom he was meeting)? Certainly it was not Portia, as Portia would not have arranged such a meeting nor would she have any reason to meet with Bassanio. Neither was this a meeting with an irrelevant love interestor it would not have been so secretive and Bassanio would have no reason to have discussed it with Antonio. In the meeting we know that Bassanio learned about Portia and the lotteryyet this was not something that needed to be sealed by a vow of secrecy, as this was public knowledge. The meeting had an undisclosed purpose such that Bassanio could not even reveal the identity of the lady with whom he was meeting (for he did not know it) to his dearest friendnor was he at liberty to tell his dearest friend anything about the meeting, nor what was discussed, nor the identity of the woman with whom he met (after he discovered her identity). All we know is that Bassanio does not talk about whom he met withthe one he promised to tell Antonio aboutbut only about what he learned from the meeting (which concerns Portias situation and no other). So, whom did he meet with and for what purpose? All indications suggest that he met with Nerissa, Portias trusting handmaid, to discuss Portia and the lottery. He told Antonio about the meeting because as he correctly anticipated, he needed a large sum of money (from Antonio) in order to carry out the plan hatched out in the meeting. [See, Additional Notes, 1.1.120] Bassanio 69 Our Gratziano speaks an infinite Amount of nothing, more than any man / nonsense In all of Venice. His main point is like / And, his final point is Two grains of wheat, hid in two bushels of chaff: / heaps / mounds / piles / pails 70 71 There you must seek all day ere you find them, And when you have them, theyre not worth the search. 72 Antonio Well, tell me now about this same lady To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, 73 That you, today, promised to tell me of. 74. Bassanio tells nothing of the woman he met with, only about his plan and his need of Antonios help 75. Bassanio seems to be part of an aristocratic class called gentlemena class of young, single men living off their parentage inheritance (or estate). As they do not need to work, their days are concerned with entertainment, parties, feasting, womanizing, etc. 76. {By something showing a more swelling port} / By showing off a more lavish life-style 77. / Nor do I make moan that such noble spending / lordly / Has been abridged. But now my chief concern / cut short 78. {Wherein my time something too prodigal} too prodigal: too extravagant and wasteful 79. {Hath left me gaged} gaged: a) engaged (with creditors), indebted, owing, entangled, pledged, bound b) gaged, bound by a gag, muzzled. The implication here is that Bassanio wasted all his money on high living and feasting (something too prodigal) and is now gaging (choking) on this pile debt in the same way as one might gag on biting off more food than he can chew. 80. a) Is to come clear of all the debts amassed / pay off // accrued During my time of prodigal spending, / improvident waste Which now I gag upon. To you, my friend b) Is to come fully clear from all my debts Which Ive amassed from years of wasteful spending Which now I gag upon. To you, my friend c) Is to come fully clear of the great debts / Wherein my time of wonton wastefulness | Hath left me now to gag upon. To you / Which all my time of prodigal expense | Hath left me bound and indebted. To you 81. {And from your love I have a warranty} / And by your love, I have a guarantee / And now your love does grant me permission 82. Here Bassanio claims: I will unburden all my plots and purposes yet he never discloses anything to Antonio about the woman with whom he met nor his true plota plot which involves winning Portia by way of a lottery not by customary courtship (as Antonio may be led to believe). Bassanio tells Antonio about Portia, and his sureness of winning her, but does not disclose the means (i.e. the lottery), nor the identity of the woman with whom he met, nor the true reason as to why he is so certain (and questionless) of victory. Bassanio (leading Antonio to believe his venture involves a typical courtship scenario) tells Antonio he is sure to win her because she once looked upon him favorablybut such a favorable glance has no bearing on his odds of winning her. It is irrelevant. He can only win her by choosing the right chest, through his own wit and wisdomor through some other kind of helpand not through anything Portias favorable glances could bestow. Bassanio 74 Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, How much I have depleted my savings {disabled mine estate} 75 By sometimes showing a more swelling port {something} / lavish style 76 Than my faint means could rightfully support; {would grant continuance} Nor do I moan about being deprived {abridged}/ reduced Of such a noble style. Now my chief care / From {noble rate} / grand life-style 77 Is to come fully clear of all my debts {fairly off} {the great debts} Wherein my years of prodigal spending / In which // of wastefulness and 78 Hath left me gagged. To you, Antonio 79 80 I owe the most in money, and in love, And by your love, I am granted permission {I have a warranty} 81 To unburden all my plans and purposes / To tell you all {plots} On how to clear myself of every debt. / On geting clear of all the debts I owe. 82 Antonio I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it, / tell me your plan And if it stand, as you yourself still do, 83. {And if it stand, as you yourself still do, | Within the eye of honour} > if your plan is righteous, honorable, above board, ethical, etc. Antonio is adding a caveat here: Bassanios plan must stand within the eye of honour. However, the plan as we know it, which involves a chance lottery (or, as we may surmise, receiving a guarantee of help from Nerissa if certain conditions are met) is not honorable. As such, Bassanio does not tell Antonio the actual plan, nor unburden all his pots and purposes. He presents what appears to be a normal courtship scenario without any mention of the actual plot or circumstances. (When does Antonio finally learn about the true nature of the chance venture?and what does he do when he finds out that Bassanio has borrowed the money under a false pretense?) It seems Antonios blind love for Bassanio causes him to see past all of Bassanios flaws, even the avoidable action of failing to cure Antonios bond when he had means enough, and time enough, to do so. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.137] 84. Bassanio asking Antonio for moneyyet againmight suggests some kind of abuse. In the past Bassanio has borrowed money from Antonio to show a more swelling port and to live beyond his meansand he made no attempt to repay any of the borrowed money. Here again, knowing that most of Antonios money is tied up in his ventures, Bassanio again comes to Antonio. It seems that Antonio loves this young man, who is high-spirited and who brings to Antonio a sense of life he is missingso much so that he is willing to do anything for him. Bassanio is aware of Antonios love and he uses that affectionperhaps in an innocent or careless way, as opposed to a deceitful or knowingly abusive wayfor his own financial benefit. Bassanio, too, has genuine love for Antonio, so the relationship is one of mutual support and friendship. 85. {I shot his fellow of the selfsame flight | The selfsame way} / I shot another in the selfsame way | And in the selfsame direction, but then / Id see exactly where the next one fell, | And in venturing forth I oft found both. 86.{To find the other forth, and by adventuring both, | I oft found both} / Then I would venture for the second shaft, | And oft found both. / Then, by adventuring for the second, | I oft found both. oft: oftenoften, but not always; the venture had some risk and sometimes both arrows were lost. 87. Not true! The planwhich is never truly told to Antoniois far from innocent. In the highest embodiment (and most unlikely scenario) it involves a deceitful appearance and an uncertain choice between three caskets; in the lowest embodiment (and most likely scenario) it involves cheating(for good reasons, no doubt) and the unfair winning of anothers wealth. The plan, moreover, is somewhat mercenary; it is first proposed as a way to clear up all of Bassanios debts rather than the defiant and risky action of someone truly in love. 88. {. . . I do not doubt, | As I will watch the aim, or to find both} I do not doubt. . . / That I will watch the aim and then find both / Ill watch the aim with care and find them both Within the eye of honour, be assured 83 My purse, my person, my extremest means / My bank, my body // and my every means Lie all unlocked to whateer you may need. {to your occasions} 84 Bassanio In my school days, when I had lost an arrow {shaft} I shot another one in the same way, / but And in the same direction yet, this time, / and 85 With a more careful and advisd watch; / much keener Then, in my ventring for the second arrow, / in adventure / my searching I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof / give // lesson / story 86 Because what follows is pure innocence: / my plan holds the same innocence 87 I owe you much and, like a wilful youth, That which I owe is lost; but, if youd please / were To shoot another shaft the self-same way As you did shoot the first, +and loan to me Again, one more amount,, I do not doubt / another sum Watching the aim with carethat Ill find both: 88 I will return the sums that now you risk, / bring back // loan / give 89. / And funds to clear my debtors from the past. / sums 90. {Or bring your latter hazard back again | And thankfully rest debtor for the first.} or: and latter hazard: your present loan or risk (which I will watch more carefully than I did your earlier loans). debtors for the first: all my previous debts, debtors from before (i.e., the first arrow which has been lost). thankfully rest: pay back (with gratitude); put to rest, clear up Thus, I will bring back to you all the money you risk on me now (the second arrow) and, finding this second arrow (which is all of Portias wealth) I will be able to play off all my previous debts (which are the first arrows that I lost). [See Additional Notes, 1.1.151] 91. Antonio is so eager to accommodate Bassanios plans, that he agrees to help him without so much as hearing it. (He assumes that Bassanio is going to woo Portia in accordance with customary acts of courtship; he hears nothing of the hazardous risk involved). From what we come to know (and something which Bassanio intimates in his proposed scheme to pay off his debts) the plan is decidedly a get-rich-quite scheme; it does not fall within the eye of honor nor Antonios sense of Christian virtuewhich is that money should be earned through the sweat of ones brow. 92. {To wind about my love with circumstance:} wind: a) blow wind, be long-winded a) wind about, curve, meander, be indirect wind about my love: not approach me directly; not know that I love you and will give you what you ask (without you needing to waste breath on details). with circumstance: needless details, circumlocutions, beating around the bush 93. {And, out of doubt, you do me more wrong} out of doubt: beyond doubt 94. {In making question of my uttermost} / In questioning my uttermost compliance / abidance 95. / And try my love with circuitous pleas / strain my heart // long-winded appeals That one so dear as you need never make; And now your doubt about my willingness To give my uttermost, does me more wrong / you everything 96. A loose rendering: / All you need do is tell me what you want; | Surely you know I will give it to you, | For my heart cannot say no: therefore speak. 97. {In Belmont is a lady richly left} / Who has recently come upon a fortune / Who has been left a fortune beyond measure 98. / And she is fair, and even more than fair/ And she is fair, more fair than words can say And funds enough to clear my former debts. / And all I need // rest 89 90 Antonio 91 You know me well, yet herein spend but time, / waste To try my love with needless circumstance: / burdensome detail 92 And certainly, you offer me more wrong, {And out of doubt} // do me now 93 In doubting my utmost desire to help, / questioning 94 95 Than if you had made waste of all I have. / laid waste to // my wealth Then do but say to me what I should do, / All you need do is say The most you know that may be done by me, {That in your knowledge} And I am pressed unto it. Therefore speak. / And Ill be bound to do it 96
Bassanio Alas, there is in Belmont, a lady / Alas, there is a lady in Belmont Who has since come upon a countless fortune; / great wealth and fortune 97 And she is fair and, fairer than all words, {that word} 98 Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes, from her eyes, / often // with her glance 99. {I did receive fair speechless messages} fair speechless messages: beautiful and affectionate glances (which silently told me of her affection) / I did receive her loving messages / I did receive the most adoring glances / loving of glances 100. golden fleece: Jason was the rightful heir to his fathers throne but was deprived of his rights by his uncle. Thus, to settle the matter, Jason and his uncle made an agreement: if Jason could bring back the golden fleece from Colchis (which all believed was an impossible task) then Jason would be restored to his throne and gain back his kingdom. So Jason and the Argonauts traveled to the shores (strond) of Colchis to retrieve the golden fleece. [See Additional Notes, 1.1.170] 101. {Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos strond} / Which now makes Belmont like the shores of Colchis seat: residence Colchos strond (also strand): the shores of Colchisthe land where the Golden Fleece resided. The image evoked is of many suitors (like Jason seeking his fortune) landing upon the shores of Belmont to obtain Portia (who is likened to the golden fleece in both riches and beauty). 102. This line can be added for further clarity: +Each one in quest of her riches and beauty., 103. This plea of Bassanio takes a few shifts: first from a personal connection to Portia, to a classical description of her beauty, and back to a more personal plea to Antonio, with O my Antonio. 104. Why is Bassanio impelled to borrow such a large sum of money and put his friend at risk? [See Additional Note, 1.1.174] 105. {I have a mind presages me such thrift} / I have a mind foretells me of success / I have a premonition of success / My mind tells me of assured success presages: foretells, augurs, give a premonition of such thrift: such success, such profit (which will comes from Portia and her fortune) 106. {I should questionless be fortunate.} / That I, without a doubt, shall win her fortune / That I, without question, should win her love. How does Bassanio come to be questionless, without doubt, about being fortunateabout winning Portia through a chance drawing of one of three chests? Is he so certain of his ability, or does something else tell him of his assured success? And what, exactly, is Bassanio questionless about?that he will win Portias love, or the lottery, or both? [See Additional Notes, 1.1.76] The theory which I put forth is that Bassanio received assurance from Nerissa, in their secret meeting, that she would help him with the lottery if he could win Portias love. That is why, in 2.9, when Nerissa hears news of an unannounced suitor from Venice, she already knows (and hopes) that it is Bassanio. She says, Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be! [See Appendix: The Lottery] 107. / Nor have I money, nor the extra goods I did receive fair hints of her affection. 99 Her name is Portiaand shes worth no less {and nothing undervalued} Than Catos daughter, Brutus Portia. Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, For the four winds blow in from every coast Renownd suitors; and her sunny locks / golden Adorn her temples like a golden fleece {Hang on} 100 Which turns her country estate at Belmont / beautiful // gardens Into the promising shores of Colchis. / beckoning/ venturous / glistening 101 Where many Jasons come in quest of her. 102 O my Antonio, had I but the means 103 To hold a rival place with one of them / along with them 104 My mind portends me of certain success, / foretells 105 That I, without doubt, should be fortunate. 106 Antonio You knowst that all my fortunes are at sea; Neither have I money, nor sufficient store {commodity} / goods to sell 107 To raise a present sum.B Therefore, go forth, / To raise the sum right now 108. {Try what my credit can in Venice do.} 109. {That shall be racked, even to the uttermost} racked: painfully stretched, as if on the rack. > Stretch my credit to the utmost; get every ducat you can. 110. {Where money is, and I no question make | To have it of my trust, or for my sake.} and I no question make: a) and I am sure, I do not question it (that you will get the sums you seek, based upon my credit or my reputation); b) and I will not question (nor place restrictions upon) from where you get the moneyget it from wherever you can a) / Where money is: and Im sure just the same, | Youll get it based on my credit or name b) / Secure the funds from whomever you may | Based on my name, my worth, my trust to pay. Try what my credit in Venice can do; / can bring you in Venice. 108 Let it be stretched even to the utmost {That shall he racked} {uttermost} 109 To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia. / provide Go and make inquiriesand so will I {Go presently inquire} Secure the funds from wherever you must, / whomever Based on my name, my credit, or my trust. 110 Exeunt ________________________________________________ 1. The name Nerissa is derived from the Italian root, ner, which means dark, thus suggesting that Nerissa has dark hair or a dark complexion, while Portias complexion is fair and her hair is blond. A waiting-woman is different from a maid: she is not a servant, and she can marry whomever she chooses. Hence, Nerissa, plays the part of a facilitator and confidant for Portia rather than a servant. 2. {by my troth} In truth / I tell you truly / In faith 3. little body: a figure of speech which implies that the body is small or frail in comparison to the great world (rather than implying a body that is small in comparison to other bodies). 4. / in equal measure to 5. {they are as sick that surfeit too much as they that starve with nothing} surfeit too much: live in excess, have too much, over-indulge, (eat too much) starve with nothing: have nothing, (have too little food). 6. {It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean.} > A large amount of happiness, therefore, comes to one who is positioned in the middle, between the extremes of life. mean: meager, medium, small, middle-of-the road no mean happiness: no meager happiness; no medium happiness; great happiness / There is much happiness, therefore, to sit between too much and too little. / Therefore, the means to happiness is to be seated in the mean. 7. {Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer} / Excess makes you old before your time, while moderation allows you to live longer. 8. sweet: dear / fine all: {aught} indulge: {surfeit} / glut / stuff themselves gray hairs: {white hairs} > rapid aging, aging before ones time moderation: {competency} / sufficiency / having what you need brings longer life: {lives longer} 9. {Good sentences and well-pronounced} sentences: sayings, sentiments, teachings well-delivered: well-spoken 10. The sense here is that if doing good were as easy as knowing what were good to dowhich it is notthan everyone would be doing good deeds, such as going to church and giving to the poor. This meaning could be further clarified with an added line: If to do good were as easy as to know what were good to do, +than everyone would do good:, 11. {chapels had been churches} / chapels would become churches ACT ONE - Scene Two 1.2 Portias house at Belmont. Enter Portia with her waiting-woman, Nerissa. 1 Portia By my word, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world. 2 3 Nerissa You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as are your good 4 fortunes. And yet, for all I see, those who indulge with too much are as sick as those who starve with too little. It is the means to happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean. Excess 5 6 is soon accompanied by gray hairs, while moderation brings longer life. 8 7 Portia Wise words and well-delivered. 9 Nerissa They would be better if well-followed. Portia If to do good were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels would be churches +to 10 11 12. / . . . to jhold all the worshipersk chapels would become churches; jas result of all those who gave in charityk poor mens cottages would become princes palaces. [See Additional Notes, 1.2.25] The images of this passage could be interpreted metaphorically (as opposed to literally). Hence: If to do good were as easy as to know what were good to do, then everyone would do good (and practice what they preach); by such truthful and honest actions, a meager person (a chapel) would become a person of great spiritual standing (a church) and a poor person (living in a poor mans cottage) would become princely (living in a princely palace). 13. {It is a good divine that follows his own instruction} 14. {a hot temper} / rash impulses / heated passion 15. {such a hare is madness, the youth, to skip over the meshes of good counsel, the cripple} / Such a rabbit is rashness, the youth, which jumps over the traps of good counsel, the cripple. / The rashness of youth is such a hare, that jumps over good counsel like a netted trap. 16. {But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband} / But all this philosophy is not of any use in my choosing a husband. not in the fashion: of no use (in helping me chose a husband according to my wishes); not the way I am allowed to choose a husband. In sum, there is nothing Portia can to do chose a husband, it all depends upon the test that her father devised. All of her wisdom, charm, and reasoning is of no use (not in the fashion) in helping her choose a husbandbecause the chose is not her own. 17. {I may neither choose who I would, nor refuse who I dislike} / I may neither choose whom I want, nor refuse whom I dont want 18. {that I cannot chose one nor refuse none?} I cannot choose: Portia is powerlessness; she cannot choose; she is bound by her fathers conditions and yetunlike the submissive fairy-tale princessshe is complaining about these fairy-tale conditions in a real way, secretly wishing there was something she could do to alter the situation. [See Additional Notes, 1.2.26] 19. chapels would be: {chapels had been} +from all that was given in charity,: / because of the great sums given in charity / from all that were given to the needy devise: / come up with / think up / contrive / produce / invent to control ones passion: {for the blood} / to keep the emotions in check that skips oer the traps: {to skip oer the meshes} / jumps oer the netted traps philosophy: {reasoning} / philosophizing / logic not in fashion: / not of any use I would: / I like none: / the other 20. {whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you; will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one who you shall love rightly.} / Whereof, the one who chooses the right chest, in accordance with the meaning of its inscription, wins you. his meaning: your fathers meaningi.e., the right chest, according to the meaning of its inscription. meaning: the right chest according to the inscription on it Nerissa is saying that the one who chooses the right chest (and wins Portia) will be one whom Portia rightly loves (and not necessarily the one who rightly loves Portia). Hence, the outcome of the lottery would be the same as if Portia had made her own choiceas she would chose herself a husband whom she rightly loved. So, the intent of the lottery is to deliver to Portia a man whom she truly lovesbased upon the premise that she cannot make the choice through her own wits. Here Nerissa is assuring Portia of a positive and desired outcome of the lottery-contest in obeisance to her fathers wisdomyet, it appears, that neither Portia nor Nerissa have real faith in this method. hold all the worshipers, and poor mens cottages +would be as, princely palaces +from all that was given in charity,. It is a good preacher who follows his own sermon. I could easier teach 12 13 twenty others what were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws to control ones passion, but hot desire leaps oer a 14 cold decree. Such a hare is follythe youththat skips oer the traps of good counselthe cripple. But such insight is not going to find me a husband of my choosing. O me, the word, 15 16 choose: I may neither chose whom I would, nor refuse whom I dislike. So is the will of a 17 living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that there is none I can chose, nor none I can refuse? 18 19 Nerissa Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men nearing death have good inspirations. Therefore, the lottry that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, wherein the one who chooses the right chest, by its inscription, chooses you, will no doubt, never be chosen rightly by one whom you shall not rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection 20 Later, we see, that Portia comes to rightly love Bassanio and thus she wishes that he choses the right casketwhich he does. That side of the story is clear. The reverse position, however, is not so certain: does Bassanio rightly love Portia, does he selflessly love heror is his chief aim to win her wealth. 21. ever virtuous: / a man of great virtue nearing death: {at their death}/ on their deathbed good inspirations: / are well-inspired. lottry: / lottery / contest / drawing chooses the right chest: {chooses his meaning} / chooses the right chest (according to the meaning of its inscription) already come: / since arrived? 22. {according to my description level at my affection.} level at: guess at, infer, point to . . . the level of my response will be equal toand on the same level asmy affection. 23. Neapolitans, during Shakespeares time, were famed for their horsemanship. 24. / he counts it as some great virtue 25. {and he makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself.} / and he calls attention to his own good breeding that he can shoe the horse himself / and he is quick to endorse (/commend) his own talent in that he can shoe the horse himself / and he claims himself worthy of some prize (/commendation) in that he can shoe the horse himself. 26. {his mother played false with a smith} / his mother fooled round with a blacksmith / his mother had a long ride on the blacksmith In this rather bawdy remark, Portia is saying that he loves horses, and is able to shoe his own horse, because his mother (played false with) slept with a blacksmith behind his fathers back; thus his father was a blacksmith and not a nobleman. 27. colt: unruly youth good parts: / talent / qualities / virtue appropriation to: / addition to / endorsement of / a prize of / a trophy to / a testament of / a blue ribbon to 28. {He doth nothing but frown, as who should say, And you will not have me choose.} / as if to say, I know you dont want me to choose. 29. the weeping philosopher: refers to Heraclitus, who lived about 500 B.C., and was known to weep at the sad condition of humanity 30. / so besieged by the sadness of his youth / entombed in sadness from his early youth / so inclined to sadness since his youth. towards any of these princely suitors that have already come? 21 Portia I pray thee, name them once again; and as thou namest them, I will describe them, and, according to my description, level +a guess, at my affection. {overname them} 22 Nerissa First there is the Neapolitan prince. / prince from Naples. 23 Portia Ay, theres a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse; and he counts it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe the horse himself. I am much afeard, 24 25 my lady, that his mother had a good ride upon the blacksmith! 26 27 Neriss Then there is the Count Palatine. Portia He does nothing but frown +all day,, as if to say: You would rather not have me choose. +He 28 courts sadness and that is what he finds., He hears a merry tale yet does not smile. I fear he will prove +himself to be, the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of 29 unmannerly sadness in his youth. I would rather be married to a skull with a bone in its mouth 30 31. {Id rather be married to a deaths-head with a bone in his mouth} > Id rather be dead 32. unmannerly: unfortunate / unbecoming / misappropriated / unbridled / unseemly > not fit for a youth prove +himself to be,: {prove} / prove +himself,: / prove +to be, protect: {defend} / rescue / save 33. / What do you think of 34. {a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine} 35. {He is every man in no man.} / As he is no one (in himself), he must try to be everyone else. / He seems to be everyone but himself. This line is open to several interpretations: a) as he is no one (having no character of his own) he tries to be like everyone else, to take on the traits and characteristics of those around him; b) as he is no one (and feeling inferior to those around him) he tries to impress and to look better than everyonemore of a horseman than the Neapolitan, more of a sad character than the Count. [See Additional Notes, 1.2.58] 36. Add line: But what sort of man does this make him? / +But what manner of man is he?, 37. {If a trassell sing, he falls straight a capring} trassell: / throstle / thrush falls straight: begins straight away / starts right away a capring : merrily jumping about, gayly dancing, frolicking // convulsing in fright / he suddenly convulses with fear / he immediately begins shaking / he straight away begins to dance. The exact meaning of a capring is unclear. It could mean a) that the moment he hears the sound of a bird he begins to dance about, suggesting that he is like a puppet and dances to everyone elses tunebut not his own. (It could also be that he is so eager to show off his dancing skills, that the moment a bird sings he will take that as his opportunity to dance); b) when he hears the song of a bird, a throstle sing, he falls to the ground in a frenzyso lacking in manhood and courage that even the sound of bird can cause him to shiver in fright. 38. {He will fence with his own shadow} > The possible implication of this image is that his shadow is as real as he and/or that he is afraid of his own shadow. 39. {for if he love me to madness, I shall never requite him.} 40. a-shaking: {a capring} / cowers / shivers / convulses fence: / duel / battle / do battle reject: {despise} return the favor: {forgive him} / give him the same 41. {dumb-show} / pantomime / someone in a silent show 42. {doublet} / suit (double-breasted suit) / vest / > referring to a tight-fitting upper-garment than to either of these. God protect me from these two! 31 32 Nerissa What say you of the French lord, Monsieur le Bon? {How} 33 Portia God made him so, 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 Neapolitans and a frown more formidable than the Count Palantine. As he is no one, he tries to be everyone. At the song of a sparrow, he 34 35 36 dances straight-away like a puppet. Afraid of his own shadow, he draws a sword to fence with 37 it. If I should marry him, Id have to marry twenty of him to have one husband. If he would 38 reject me I would return the favor; but should he fall madly in love with me, that I shall never requite. 39 40 Nerissa What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England? Portia You know I say nothing to him, for he understands me not, nor I him. He speaks neither Latin, French, nor Italian; and, as you would swear in court, I have a poor pennys worth of English. He is the picture of a proper manbut alas, who can converse with a picture? And how oddly 41 he is suited! I think he got his jacket in Italy, his stockings in France, his round hat in 42 43. {and his behaviour everywhere} / from who knows where. > He procures his manners from all those around him, just like his clothes. behaviour: manners / mannerisms / affection Compare Greene, Farewell to Follie (1591): I have seen an English gentleman so diffused in his suits, his doublet being the wear of Castile, his hose from Venice, his hat from France, and his cloak from Germany. 44. speaks: {hath} got: {bought} stockings: {round hose} / tights round hat: {bonnet} 45. This outdated political reference is somewhat obscure (and confusing) and should be deleted. Hence, the deletion of Nerissas question about the Scottish Lord, and Portias response to it would make for a more cogent exchange and not tax the audience with something it clearly recognizes as being partial to another time and place. It is likely that this reference, as well as the previous one, were later additions to the original textperhaps to suit the temperament of a specific audience. [See Additional Notes, 1.2.75] 46. {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.} 47. {very vilely} / with disgust / with much vile 48. {most vilely} / with loathing 49. make do: {make shift} / make the needed adjustments 50. / A thing of which I am too well aware. 51. / to prevent my worst fears from coming true 52. I will do anything, says Portiaanything short of going directly against her fathers will. In her playful suggestion that Nerisaa dupe the German suitor into picking the wrong casket, Portia is expressing her unspoken wish that Nerissa somehow intervene. Nerissa, as a loyal servant, may feel the need to act upon this unspoken wish and alter the outcome of lottery in favor of Portias choice (and allow someone whom Portia loves to win her). Thus, Portia can have her wish and remain faithful to her fathers will. Germany, and his behavior from everywhere. 43 44 Nerissa 45 [What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbor? Portia That he shows himself as a charitable neighbor: for he borrowed a punch in the ear from the Englishman, and swore that he would pay him back when he was able. I think the Frenchman secured the debt, saying he would punch the Englishman on behalf of the Scott if the Scott were unable to do so himself.] 46 secured: / {became his surety} / underwrote Nerissa How do you like the young German, nephew to the Duke of Saxony? Portia With much vile in the morning when he is sober; and with great vile in the afternoon when he 47 48 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. Should the worst fate that ever fell, now fall +and I neer see his face again,, I hope I shall make do to live without him. to live: {to go} / to go on living 49 Nerissa If he should decide to choose, and should he choose the right casketyou would refuse to perform your fathers will should you refuse to accept him. decide: {offer} perform: / carry out Portia Tis a fate of which I am well aware. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a full 50 51 glass of white wine on the contrary casket; for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know he will chose it. I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge. 52 53. full: {deep} white:{Rhenish} > a fine, white German wine, superior to the common table wine, which is red contrary: / wrong drunkard: {sponge} / sop / one who soaks up liquor like a sponge 54. In the original, no Servant enters in to bring news (from the suitors) and Nerissas next line reads: You need not fear, lady, the having of any of these lords. They have acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeed to return to their home . . . This indicates that the lords had informed Nerissa about their intention to leave before the scene openedwhich is suspect. Nerissa knew of Portias distaste for this parcel of suitors and so she would have told Portia about the good news as soon as it arrived. If Nerissa did know of the lordss departure beforehand then the scene could only be played out in a teasing fashion, with Nerissa prolonging Portias misery by having her believe that all the suitors are still vying for her. Thus, to remedy this situation, a Servant enters with the news. [See Additional Notes, 1.2.96] 55. {they have acquainted me with their determinations} With the entrance of a Servant to break the news to Nerissa, the pronoun me would be removed, as the suitors have not stated their determination directly to Nerissa. acquainted me: / apprised me of / told me of their determinations / what they have determined / what theyve decided to do / their decision / their determined course of action 56. {than your fathers imposition, depending on the caskets} / than your fathers contest of having to chose the right casket. imposition: condition, demand, imposed methodology depending on the caskets: contingent upon the contest he devised (whereby a suitor must choose the right casket to win Portia). 57. {If I live to be as old as Sibylla} / If I live to be as old as +the prophetess, Sibylla Sibylla was the prophetess of Cumae, and Apollos lover. Apollo granted her as many years of life as the grains of sand she could hold in her hand. From Ovids Metamorphoses 14.129-53 58. {are so reasonable} reasonable: a) amicable, in that they are doing what Portia wants and leaving, b) swayed by reason; a true lover would not be reasonable and would take any risk to win his beloved 59. {there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence} dote upon: {dote on} / take delight in / cherish / long for 60. Q1 = {and I pray God grant them a fair departure.} F1 ={and I wish them a fair departure.} 61. Here Nerissa tests the waters to see if Portia favors Bassanio, as Nerissa assumes she does. Portia confirms her high opinion of Bassanio. (This confirmation lets Nerissa know that her plan to have Bassanio come to Belmont, and win Portia, in on target.) Why does Nerissa even mention Bassaniowho is said to be a soldier and a scholar (which he is not) when there is no hint that he would be a likely suitor? [See Essays: The Lottery] 53 jEnter a Servingman; Nerissa meets with him. Servingman exits. k 54 Nerissa You need not fear, lady, in having any of these lords. They have all come to the same decision, 55 which is indeed to return to their home and to trouble you with no more suit, unless you may be won by some means other than your fathers condition, of having to choose the right casket. means: {sort} / method 56 condition: {imposition} / imposed contest Portia If I live to be as old as the Prophetess of Cumae, +whose years were as many as grains of sand she could hold in her hand, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my 57 fathers will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, +in deciding to depart, for there 58 is not one among them, whose very absence I do not dote upon and I pray God grant them a 59 fair departure. 60 Nerissa Do you not remember, lady, in your fathers time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in the company of Marquis of Montferrat? 61 62. {Yes, yes, it was Bassanioas I think so was he called} Portia clearly recalls his name, with enthusiasmbut quickly tempers her feelings with a seeming uncertainty. The original, as I think so was he called is a bit jumbled and confused, suggesting that she is not thinking straight and/or talking very quickly in order to mask her excitement. 63. The following line by Portion, which appears in Q1 {How now! What news?} has been deleted: Most commentators hold that this line is superfluous and out of place: Portia is not likely to greet her servant in such a way. This line is omitted in F1either in error or, more likely, with the intention of enhancing the text. If the Servant is made to enter before [line 96] then this short greeting might come as a result of Portias surpriseand perhaps in slight apprehension that there is some additional news which is contrary to the good news previously delivered (which is that all the suitors intend to leave). Hence, if this innocuous line is preserved (and if, the Servant had come once before) then Portias line would read: How now, more news? 64. {four strangers} Actually, six suitors are named in the original, and the mention of four is probably a remnant of an earlier draft. As discussed in a previous note, it is likely that the original scene had four suitors, with the Englishman and Scottish suitors added in a later draft. Several references to four suitorsand a reference to a fifth, who comes after the fourare made by Portia. One could rectify this discrepancy by a) changing all references to four to six, and the reference to a fifth, to a seventh (which is somewhat cumbersome); b) changing the references to five suitors and a sixth (and delete the Scottish suitor), or c) leaving the references as they are, to four (and delete the English and Scottish suitors). One could also leave the inaccurate references as they are, without harming to the text. In this version, five suitors are named yet the reference remains at four suitorsthe implication being that the French suitor is not extant enough to be counted as a suitor. 65. {with so good heart} /as whole-heartedly / with the fullness of heart / with the same warmheartedness / with the same warm affection 66. {if he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil} condition: / virtue / character / temperament / affection the complexion of: / the dark color of / the dark skin of [See Additional Notes, 1.2.127] 67. {I had rather he should shrive me than wive me} > If he has a dark complexion (like the devil) and a disposition like a saint, I would rather that he be my priest, and hear my confession (shrive me), than marry me (wive me). shrive me: hear my confession, absolve me of my sins (as would a priest) > the precise meaning is uncertain / I had rather he absolve me of my sin, then wive me herein Portia Yes, yes, it was Bassanioas I think so was he called. 62 Nerissa True, madam. He, of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the most deserving of a fair lady. most: {best} fair: beautiful Portia I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise. Enter a Servant
63 Servant The four foreigners seek for you, madam, to take their leaveand there is a messenger come 64 from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the Prince, his master, will be here tonight. messenger: {forerunner} / herald from: / to announce Portia If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good a heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I 65 should be glad of his approach. And if he had the temperament of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should hear of my strife than take me as a wife. 66 67 68. {Come Nerissa, sirrah, go before} sirrah: a term used to address someone of low standing, such as a servant, or a boy 69. {Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer} wooer: in the original, wooer may have rhymed with before and door, and thereby provided for a triplicate rhyme scheme. In modern pronunciation the rhyme is only between before and door. / Whiles one suitor leaves, and chances no more, / Whiles one suitor leaves to depart my shore / We go and shut the gate upon one more 70. {Another knocks at the door} / While comes another to knock at the door 71. As mentioned (in a previous note), the original may have been pronounced with a triplicate rhyme scheme, involving before, wooer, and door. The meter of the rhyming lines, however, is not certain, (and is not part of the standard iambic meter): the first two lines have nine syllables and the third, has seven. If a triplicate rhyme was intended, then the third line would contain nine syllable and could be emended as follows: Another suitor knocks at the door or Another comes to knock at my door. The rectification above, contains three rhyming lines of ten syllables each, yet the meter does not conform to the standard iambic pentameter. In the standard iambic pentameter, there is an emphasis on the fourth syllable, in the above meter, the emphasis is on the fifth syllable. Come Nerissa, tis just like before: / its / it is 68 Whiles we shut the gate upon one / upon one more 69 Another now comes to knock at the door. / on my 70 71 Exeunt 1. ducats: (lit., of the duke); gold coins. These were first struck in Venice in the thirteenth century and came to signify a wealthy currency (such as the South African Kugerrand does today). Three thousand ducats, during that time, was an extremely large sum of money. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.1] 2. {Three thousand ducats, well} well: good / alright / OK // yes? / is that right? The repeated use of the term, yes? or good after each condition would be like a person going over a checklist and acknowledging that the stated condition is clear and understoodand agreed upon. A question is indicated by Bassanios response in the next line, which is: Ay sir, for three months. If the term good is used, it would be spoken three times, in the same matter-of-fact style, as one going over a checklist. The term well, which is found in the original, is an imprecise fit. Many productions, in trying to make the term well sound natural, have added different inflections and tonalities to it. Thus, instead of the term being repeated in the exact same way each time, the word is intoned as a question, a note of surprise, a sense of disbelief, etc. 3. shall be bound: shall cover the loan, shall sign the bond 4. {May you stead me?} / Can you cover me? / Can you supply the money for me? 5. {Will you pleasure me?} / Will you meet my needs?/ Will you please me with your reply? / Will you fulfill my request / Will you help me? 6. Shall you say, yes? / Shall your answer be yes? / What is your answer? _________________________________________________________________________ ACT ONE - Scene Three 1.3 Venice. Enter Bassanio and Shylock. Shylock Three thousand ducats yes? {well} / good / alright 1 2 Bassanio Ay sir, for three months. Shylock For three monthsyes? {well} / good / alright Bassanio For which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. 3 Shylock. Antonio shall be boundyes? {become} {well} / good / alright Bassanio Can you help me? Will you do me this favor? Shall I know your answer? 4 5 6 Shylock Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound. Bassanio Your answer to that? Shylock Antonio is a good man. 7. {upon} / from news on / as heard upon / upon word at 8. {squandered abroad} / extended abroad / flung about / at risk in foreign waters / scattered recklessly (Onions). Squander in this context does not carry the negative connotation of being wasteful but pertains more to a sense of over-reaching. 9. There is no factual accuracy in this description, as no merchant of Venice would have such a varied range of ventures. This long description serves to show Antonios standing as a grand merchant, and also to show that Shylock is well aware of everything concerning Antonio and his ventures. 10. The original reads {there be land rats and water rats, water thieves and land thievesI mean pirates.} Pirates may be a bad pun for pier-rats, which would indicate the rats which run about the pier and steal food. In this emendation the terms land thieves and water thieves have been reversed. With this new order the term pirates is clearly related to water-thieves. (The pun on pirates could also be made by the following word order: There be land rats and land thieves, water rats and water thievesI mean pirates. In some productions the term pirates is pronounced as pie-rats; the meaning and reason for this emphasis is uncertain but it may indicate petty thieves who steal crumbs (as rats steal the crumbs from pies). 11. is sufficient: has adequate wealth (and means) to cover the debt 12. his means: his business, his ventures, his means of making money in question: {in supposition} / in doubt / questionable an argosy: a merchant ship Tripolis: a port in Libya or Lebanon Rialto: merchant exchange in Venice nonetheless: {notwithstanding} / nevertheless / despite all that 13. {I will bethink me} 14. Shylock already knows Antonios store and need not think it over {I will bethink me} to be assured; nor does he need to discuss anything with Antonio to be assured. As we will see, none of the subsequent conversation with Antonio leads to Shylocks further assurance as he never once asks Antonio about the state of his ventures (or other collateral that Antonio may have). Shylock is using this notion of needing to be assured as a rouse whereby he can speak directly with Antonio both from a position of equals and from the position of superiority, where Antonio needs his help. Shylock is taking this rare opportunity of engagement to confront Antonio about personal matterssuch as Antonios mistreatment of Shylock. Bassanio Have you ever heard any imputation to the contrary? / accusation / charge Shylock Oh, no, no, no, no. What I mean in saying, he is a good man, is to have you understand that he is sufficient +to cover the loan,. Yet his means are in question. He hath an argosy bound for Tripolis, another to the Indies. I understand, moreover, from word on the Rialto, he hath a 7 third at Mexico, a forth for England, and other ventures he hath scattered about. Yet ships are 8 9 but boards, sailors but men. There be land rats and water rats, land thieves and water thievesI mean pirates. And then there is the peril of the water, wind, and rocks. The man is nonetheless 10 sufficient. Three thousand ducatsI think I may take his bond. 11 12 Bassanio Be assured you may. / With assurance you may Shylock I will be assured I may; and that I may be assured, I will think it over. May I speak with 13 Antonio? 14 Bassanio If it please you to dine with us. / come Shylock Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the swine which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil 15. Sometimes this line is staged as an aside, rather than a direct comment (and insult) to Bassanio. Reference is to Jesus of Nazareth who conjured a demon out of two men and cast it into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8:28-33); or to the story where Jesus cast out unclean spirits from a man named Legion into a herd of pigs (Mark 5:1-13). In both stories the pigs were driven off a cliff into the sea. 16. Shylock could not be asking this of Bassanio since Bassanio has no knowledge of what is happening on the Rialto. In a staging, Shylock could look up and see a fellow merchant, and instinctively ask him about news on the Rialtoand then notice Antonios arrival. This, however, would require the scene to be staging in the market, with additional characters moving on stage. Another option would be to delete this line, which is irrelevant to the action, and which would not make sense if the scene is staged between Shylock and Bassanio (with no additional characters on stage). 17. swine: / pigs {habitation} > dwelling place so forth: {following} 18. From his opening bombast (in this revised version) we know that Antonio despises usurers and here, though necessity we find him thrust into a usurers domain. Antonio cannot be pleased with the situationrather he is dismayed and taken abackyet, for the love of his friend, he is willing to endure this unfortunate convergence. (Without understanding Antonios hatred of usuryand now seeing him thrust into the liar of one whose practice he despisesthe scene would fail to hold the tension that was intended by the author, a tension surely felt and understood by an informed Elizabethan audience.) 19. {How like a fawning publican he looks} / How like an over-eager servant he looks / How like an eager inn-keeper he looks / How he looks like an all too eager innkeeper. fawning: humble, cowering, accommodating, obsequious publican: innkeeper, pub-keeper. Sharing similar roots with: pub, and public. A fawning publican refers to an obsequious and ever-ready-to-serve inn- or bar-keeper. The image here is that of Antonio, the well-respected royal merchant who, in this capacity, looks like a lowly innkeeper so ready to accommodate the needs of his friend. This image is supported by Shylocks later description of Antonio as one who acts in low simplicity. There is something about this all-too-willing posture which is alien to Shylock and both offends and threatens his concept of life. A publican could also be a reference to those who served as tax-collectors for the Romans [Luke 18:9-14]and in so doing oppressed the Jewsbut this is a more remote possibility. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.38] 20. / +Ever so eager to be of assistance, / +Ever so willing to help out his friends, 21. / how he looks More like a fawning slave, +the way he tries to / lowly servant, +as he tries to Accommodate the wantings of his friend., 22. {I hate him for he is a Christian} / I hate his Christian kind of charity / breed / acts / show / I hate his Christian meddling, but more so into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so forthbut I will 15 not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. [What news on the Rialto? ] Who is he 16 comes here? 17 Enter Antonio Bassanio It is Signior Antonio. {This is} / Here comes jBassanio goes over to Antonio and they converse in private.k 18 Shylock [aside] +Here comes the royal merchant,how much more / closer / keener Does he resemble a fawning innkeeper, / look like / an obsequious servant 19 +So eager in serving the needs of others., / Seeking / Ready 20 21 How I despise his Christian haughtiness / charity 22 / I hate his feigned Christian goodness, but more This is a highly controversial line which, as it stands, seems to portray Shylock as a Christian-hater. What Shylock hates, is not Christians, per se, but something about Antonios form of Christianityperhaps what he sees as Antonios Christian affect which is here seen as one who is ever-ready to serve and accommodate othersand it is this form of Christian charity, practiced by Antonio, which undermines Shylocks business. Some productions, in trying to put forth a pro-Shylock sentiment, delete this line (and the entire section), and preserve only the first line, {How like a fawning publican he looks}. When this line about Shylocks hatred is taken at face value (and without the conditions offered by Shylock in the later lines of the section) it might suggest that Shylock hates Antonio for no other reason than that he is a Christianwhich is clearly not the case. (Shylock makes no such negative comment about Bassanio nor any other Christiannor has reason to.) Shylock hates something about Antonios version and practice of Christianity (especially as it interferes with Shylocks business), but also personally, as Antonio rails at Shylock (where the merchants meet) and does whatever he can to undermine him. Antonio, on the other hand, does not hate Shylock personally, but moreover the institution he represents. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.39] 23. {But more, for in low simplicity} / But more his simple-minded view, wherein low simplicity: naivety and ignorance 24. / I hate his Christian pretenses, but more | For that in low simplicity he lends | Out money gratis and brings down the rate | Of interest for all us here in Venice. | Out money gratis and thereby brings down | The rate of usance here with us in Venice. The sense here is that Shylock hates something about Antonios version or breed of Christianity, but most specifically his naive and simple-minded understanding of Christian values, whereby he is quick to loan out money, without interest (to those in need)which hurts Shylocks business by bringing down the rate of interest for the moneylenders in Venice. So, the primary hatred, it seems, is over money, not values or personality. 25. catch upon the hip: a wrestling term which means to grab hold of or gain advantage over ones opponent; to be in a superior position or have ones opponent at a disadvantage. Having an opponent by the hip, in wrestling, indicates that you are in a good position to score points by a take down. / If I can once, and gain an advantage / If I can catch him once when hes off-guard 26. feed fat: indulge in, exploit, gratify, delight in; take full advantage of Shylock is hoping to find a way to entrap Antonio, to gain an advantage on him, then to use that opportunity to exploit his long-standing resentment. Feeding fat indicates that Shylock will take delight in, and indulge in, his revenge against Antonio. What exactly is Shylocks plan to catch Antonio upon the hip and gain an advantage over him?so much so that he (Shylock) may exploit (feed fat) his ancient grudge? Most likely (and not so obviously), Shylocks advantage over Antonio would be in having him sign a bond with humiliating terms. (The idea of Antonio defaulting on the loan is too long of a shot; and this would not have been part of Shylocks initial plan.) It seems that Shylocks initial intention was to humiliate Antonio, and to put him at a moral disadvantage, which later turned more sinister when Antonio, unexpectedly, defaulted on his loan. 27. / He hates our sacred nation; and he rails At me where merchants most do congregate, / meet to do business Cursing my contracts and my well-won thrift, / business 28. {Cursd be my tribe | If I forgive him} Shylockperhaps as a compensation for his own sense of lack(and this is something we also see later in the play) is invoking something larger than himself in his vows against Antonio. Here he lays the curse on his tribe (not himself) should he forgive Antonio. Thus, by brining in his tribe (ND the nation of Jews) Shylock invokes the position that Antonios harsh treatment of him represents the harsh treatment levied by Christians against all Jews. Shylock links his oppression solely to his Judaism and fails to see (or conveniently refuses to see) that Antonios harsh actions are based upon Shylocks practice of usury, not his Judaism. Shylock is never able to personally own the oppression, nor ever singularly link it to his practice of usuryas he always defends his usury (and Antonios mistreatment of him) in the context of Judaism. One could say that he is playing the religious or Jew card and trying to displace the conflict away from its true source, which is his ruinous practice of usury. But more, for that in low simplicity, / for in his / simple ignorance / simple-mindedness 23 He lends out money gratis and brings down The rate of interest here with us in Venice. {usance} 24 If I can catch him once upon the hip / at a disadvantage / at my advantage 25 I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. / exploit / Ill gratify 26 He hates our sacred nation; and even Where merchants most do congregate, he rails / meet to do business On me, my contracts, and my well-earned profit, {bargains} / business {well-won thrift} 27 Which he calls, usury. Cursd be my tribe {interest} 28 This line could be rendered in a more personal way: Now am I supposed | To just forgive him? 29. a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe: Both the terms Hebrew and tribe are somewhat misplaced. Tribe may refer to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but Jews did not generally refer to themselves as tribe members. In a more indigenous language, Shylock may have said, Tubal, a rich man of my congregation. Shylock only expresses doubt about having the full sum after he sees Antonio enter. Here he is stalling so that he might find an opportunity to engage with Antonio. Once Antonio agrees to the terms of the bond, we hear that Shylock is going to purse the ducats straight [171] which suggests that he had ample store from the beginning and that his involvement of Tubal was simply a rouse. 30. Shylock knows full well that the bond is for three months, as he has already stated it twice. Here is again staling for time or, most likely, mindlessly repeating idle words (small talk) to Bassanio as he waits for Antonio to arrive. 31. Shylocks words are most gracious, generously welcoming of Antonio, and what appear to be Shylocks true offer of friendshipwhich Antonio might now be inclined (or obligated) to accept, as Antonio is in need of Shylocks help. Yet, Antonio may see this overtly warm welcome as a usurers rouse, a pretense of friendship only offered to gain advantage. Hence, Antonio neither accepts the welcome nor returns it. Antonio refuses to befriend a usurer. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.57] 32. / Ill break a custom to supply the ripe / ready / pressing Wants of my friend. 33. Antonios first words to Shylockwithout even so much as a greetingare an outright rejection of Shylock and his business. Antonio is in need of Shylocks money to help Bassanio yet Antonio wants to make it clear, from the onset, that he is doing this out of duress, as an exceptionand still upholds his harsh opinion of usury. Shylock, of course, is ready to exposeand use to his advantagethis hypocrisy. If I forgive him. Bassanio Shylock, do you hear? Shylock I am considering my present store, {debating of} / considring of And by the near guess of my memory, / rough I cannot instantly raise up the gross / acquire / obtain // the sum Of full three thousand ducats. What of that? / What to do? Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe, 29 Will furnish me. But wait! How many months {soft} Do you desire? [To Antonio] Rest you fair, good signior, 30 Your worship was the last man in our mouths. / that we mentioned 31 Antonio Shylock, although I neither lend nor borrow {albeit} By taking nor by giving with interest {of excess} Yet to supply the ripe needs of my friend / ready / pressing / urgent {wants} Ill break a custom. [to Bassanio] Does he know the amount, {Is he yet possessed} 32 33 How much you want? Shylock Ay, ay, three thousand ducats. Antonio And for three months. Shylock 34. Shylock definitely did not forget that the term of the bond was for three months. He is playing a game of positioning, perhaps wanting to appear rather nonchalant and not entirely focused on the details of the bond; or he may want to appear somewhat playful and chummy with Bassanio to gain positioning on Antonio. (How Bassanio comes to find Shylock in the first place is not known. What is clear is that Antonio, even out of love for Bassanio, would never has stooped so low as to approach Shylock on his own accord.) 35. Abram: Abraham. The Author uses the original name, Abram, which means exalted father rather than Abraham which means, father of many nations, because the biblical account he refers to uses the name Abram, not Abraham. Abram received the name Abraham from God when he was 99 years old. 36. {This Jacob from our holy Abram was, | As his wise mother wrought in his behalf, | The third possessor; ay, he was the third} Jacob was made third in line through the cleverness (and deception) of his mother, Rebecca, who substituted Jacob (for Esau, her elder son) so that Jacob would received Isaacs blessing and inheritance (making him third in line from Abraham) rather than Esau, who rightly deserved it. (This deception is what Shylock calls a wise action.) Shylock is thus justifying his deceptive practice of usury by citing a Biblical precedence of deception. Shylock then goes on to tell how Jacob deceived Laban and thereby prospered. Both stories are taken out of context, and Shylock is herein using Biblical passages to justify his deceptive practice of usury, which he calls thrift and blessing. Antonio does not accept this explanation; to the contrary, he is appalled at the way Shylock misquotes, and abuses scripture in support of his own immoral practices. [See Additional Note, 1.3.71] 37. / He first agreed with Laban that all sheep Found pied or spotted, Jacob, for his earnings, / born with streaks or spots Could keep. What eer a ewe sees when she mates I had forgotthree months. [to Bassanio] You told me so. 34 Well then, your bond. And let me see. . . But hear you: / and now the rate Methought you said you neither lend nor borrow / I thought On sums that bear interest. {upon advantage} Antonio I never do. {I never use it} > engage in such activity Shylock When Jacob grazed his uncle Labans sheep / tended He then was third in line from Abraham 35 This, his wise mother, had deftly arranged; {wrought in his behalf} The third possessoray, he was the third. / and so he was. 36 Antonio And what of it? Did he take interest? {him} Shylock No, not directlyhear what Jacob did: He first agreed with Laban, that for earnings, / payment He could have all the sheep born marked or spotted. / He would receive {pied} Tis known, whatever a ewe sees when mating / Now then 37 Thats what her newborn will come to resemble. Autumn had come; it was the time for breeding. / The fall So Jacob peeled off the bark from some sticks And when the work of generations was Between these wooly breeders in the act He put the branches in front of the ewes. In spring they conceived lambs that were spotted 38. Shylock cites this story in support of Jacobs wise actions which allowed him to prosper. Antonio says that the spots were brought about by the hand of heavenin accordance with divine dispensation (impelled by Jacobs purity and faith). This was done so that Jacob could prosper after having been deceived by Laban. 39. {And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.} / Such thrift is seen as a blessing, if men | Gain it through cleverness and not through theft. 40. A line could be added here: +Your story tells of human trickery:, This line would show that Shylocks version of the story is based upon that which pertains to human deception, not the hand of God. 41. {Such was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for} Here Antonio is pointing out that Jacob worked for the sheep, that he earned them from the sweat of his brow (both in tending the sheep and serving his uncle). The part of the story that Shylock and Antonio shy away fromincluding the prelude story where Jacob deceives Isaac and gains his landis that Jacob used deception to gain Labans sheep. 42. {A thing not in his power to bring to pass | But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven.} a thing: a) his venture, which was based upon the natural reproduction of his sheep. swayed: determined, directed, shaped fashioned: brought about, created, produced the hand of heaven: Gods Will Such a thingi.e., the creation and reproduction of life is only in the power of God to bring to pass. As such, the reproduction of money is unnatural and contrary to the natural laws of God, and what God brings to pass. Thus, Antonio is refuting Shylocks story (and its justification of his business) on two accounts: a) that Jacob earned the money by working for it, and b) that the hand of heavennot Jacobs own power and skillallowed Jacob to prosper through its power by which animals naturally reproduce. Antonio is saying that the reproduction of moneywhere money reproduces on its own, through the charging of interest on a loanis unnatural, Godless, and cannot be compared to Jacobs venture. (Some scholars argue that this also goes against Jewish law in that the money earns interest, or creates, on the Sabbath). 43. +For living creatures are sanctioned by God | To breedand such does not apply to gold., +Which allows creatures to naturally breed | Such laws as these do not apply to money., [See Additional Notes, 1.3.90] 44. {Was this inserted to make interest good?} / Was this a story to make usury right? / Was this a story in defense (/support) of usury? was this inserted: was this story told; was this biblical reference inserted into our conversation interest: Antonio uses the term interest (which means the practice of loaning out money which carries interest) but he is using it to implicate the practice of usurya practice which involves loaning out money with interest but, more villainous, usury often involves a stiff penalty or forfeiture (if the loan is not repaid in time) and also involves some measure of deception, exploitation, and entrapment. Usury is something far more nefarious than the simple loaning out money with interest. 45. {Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?} / Or does your gold and silver breed like sheep? This relates to the Augustinian argument (previously invoked by Antonio) that the loaning of money which bears interest is an unnatural act and goes against God law since only living things have Gods sanction to reproduce. Loaning money which bears interest causes barren metal (gold and silver) to breed like living things. And all the offspring rightly went to Jacob. 38 This was the way he thrived, and he was blessed; And thrift is blessing if men steal it not. 39 Antonio 40 This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for, 41 A thing not in his power to bring to pass But swayed and fashioned by the hand of heaven 42 +Which naturally allows all creatures to breed / Which allows all creatures to reproduce The same of which does not apply to money., / gold 43 Was this inserted to justify usury? / Was this a story / Did you tell this 44 Or is your gold and wealth like Jacobs sheep? / Or are your golden coin 45 Shylock I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast. 46. What was Shylock going to say before he was interrupted? Clearly he is derailed by Antonios harsh commentsor perhaps by some extraneous distraction, such as the knocking over of some money or some paper on his table. In the next line, Shylock composes himself by stating something obvious and bland {Three thousand ducats, tis a nice round sum} then he regains his previous line of thoughtwhere he expresses his deep resentment at the way Antonio has treated him. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.93] 47. witness: accounts, testaments, evidence (to support his evil views) 48. {goodly} > appearing good on the outside 49. Antonios harsh wordsif spoken directly to Shylockreflect his true feelings (which he is not able to hold back) even though such an outburst jeopardizes Bassanios chances of getting the loan. To paint Antonio in a more sensitive light, these words could be spoken as an aside to Bassanio. If Shylock is meant to hear these words it would come as a frontal attack, referring to him as a devil, an evil soul, a rotten apple, and a villain. Antonio says this unabashedly, with impunity, as if somehow he is entitled to speak to Shylock in such a wayeven when he is in the situation of disadvantage and in need of Shylocks help. (Later in the conversation Antonio continues his stance by saying, I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee, too. [126-27]) Shylock never speaks to Antonio in this way as he does not feel the same kind of entitlement or superiority as does Antonio. Even later, when the tables turn and Shylock has full power over Antonio, he does not attack him with words, nor does he use any disparaging terms. He only refers back to what Antonio has called him, thou calledst me dog, yet he does not attack Antonio nor call him a dog. What Shylock does when in a position of power, rather than attack and abuse, is to retreat, to refuse Antonio the right to speak [3.3.12;13;17]. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.99] 50. / O, how these lies are wrapped in good appearance. / Oh what a good appearance falsehood wears! 51. These lines could be added to reveal Antonios discomfort at being in the presence of a usurerand tangentially show that his hatred is toward the vile practice of usurers, not Jews (otherwise the line might have read: Could ye not find a one but this vile Jew?) To more forcefully show Antonios position, and specifically show that his hatred against Shylock is in regard to his practice of usury and not his Jewishness, Antonio could praise the Jews while pointing out that Shylocks actions are at odds with those of his own people. Thus, the following lines could be added instead: +Now here is one who serves his own interest, +And thus befouls the honor of his own people. , / And fouls the righteousness of his own people But hear me, signor {note} 46 Antonio Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness / that cites the holy books 47 Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. / shiny // to the core 48 O, what a godly outside falsehood hath! {goodly} / tempting 49 50 + [aside] Of all the men in Venice, good Bassanio,, +Could ye not find a one but this vile usurer? , 51 Shylock Three thousand ducats. Tis a good round sum. Three months from twelve; now, let me see the rate. . . . {then} Antonio Well, Shylock, shall we be indebted to you? {beholding} / beholden Shylock Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you berated me, {have rated} About my monies and my usances / business Yet I have borne it with a patient shrug, {still} > always 52. {For suffrance is the badge of all our tribe} suffrance: forbearance, patient endurance (of abuse), long-suffering. the badge of our tribe: refers to the distinguishing trait of Jews which is their ability to endure the hardship piled upon them by Christian oppression. It could also refer to the badge, a distinguishing yellow O, that Venetian Jews were compelled to wear. In 1.3, the term tribe, designating the nation of Jews, is used by Shylock three times: cursd be my tribe [1.3.48]; a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe [1.3.54]; sufferance is the badge of our tribe [1.3.107]. The term, however is misplaced and it is unlikely that a Jew would refer to the nation of Jew by that term. 53. misbeliever: infidel; one who believes in a mistaken God or path to salvationas opposed to a disbeliever which refers to one who has no belief in God. 54. cut-throat: one who cuts the throat of others. The terms would refer to the usurer who cuts the throat of, or kills, the livelihood of othersand is therefore likened to a murderer. 55. {Go to, then; you come to me and you say} go to: an expression of annoyance and disbelief which, in extreme cases, could mean go to hell or get lost. It could be more vaguely, and less forcefully, expressed as: come on now, you must be kidding, or whats up with that? The forceful expression of go to hell (or get lost) serves to prompt Antonio into anger, into a stormwhich works to Shylocks advantagewhereas go to, then come on now, is less prompting in its effect. Spit on thatwhich means to reject somethingrelates to Antonios action of spitting on Shylock (which Shylock cites later in his complaint). 56. {Over your threshold, monies is your suit.} / Outside your house; now money is your suit. 57. {in a bondmans key} bondmans key: sounding like, with the voice of, in the feeble tone of a serf or servant (bondman). 58. / With a gentle breath, and a humble whisper For sufferance is the badge of all my people. / mark, sign > hallmark {tribe} 52 You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog, 53 54 And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help / Well, well To hell with that! You come to me and say: / Well spit on that 55 Shylock, we wish for monies. You say so {would have} / need some You that did void your spit upon my beard {rheum} // face And kick me as youd spurn a worthless dog {stranger cur} / lingring dog Out from your doorway. Now you ask for money: {over your threshold} 56 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 / dog / mutt Shall I bend low, and in a servants voice, / lowly tone 57 With bated breath and whispering humbleness, / whimpering 58 Say this: Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last / kind You spurned me such a day. Another time You called me dogand for these courtesies Ill lend you thus much monies? Antonio I am as like to call thee so again, / And I am wont 59. Antonios likely response, being that he is in need of Shylocks help, is to apologize, pay Shylock the lip-service he desires. But Antonio refuses to acknowledge his mistreatment of Shylock or apologize for iteven though such an apology would better his chances to help Bassanio. Antonio is willing to give up his life for Bassanio, but he is not willing to treat Shylock as an equal nor approve of any manner of usury or usurer. As part of a staging, Bassanio could intervene (for his own benefit, to insure that the loan is not jeopardized) and calm Antonio down. 60. Optional lines to add: +And every usurer as well! You beguile / deceive And cozen men of their rightful possessions / out of their livelihood Leaving them hapless and in total ruin. / stricken / helpless You call this thrift, though it be none but theft., / I say it is thievery +Your banefulpractice of usury affronts / harmful / sinful / wretched All that is righteous in the eyes of God., These lines could be added here to explain Antonios loathsome attitude toward usury (which usually involves trickery and deceit more so than simply loaning money which carries interest). Antonios attitude toward usury was already made know in the revised opening lines and would not be necessary here (unless the production wanted to emphasize this point). This passage indicates the true grievance Antonio has against Shylockwhich involves his ruinous practice of usury, not his Jewishness. However, Shylock is quick to implicate Antonios hatred as being that against Jews (as opposed to a usurers), saying: He hates our sacred nation[1.3.45]. Obviously Shylock is mistaken in this regard. Usury was seen as an ungodly practice, founded upon deception and exploitation, which often led to the loss of all ones wealth and propertyand that is why the good Antonio was so adamantly set against it. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.127] 61. {As to thy friends, for when did friendship take | A breed for barren metal of his friend?} breed: offspring. Charging interest on a loan (i.e., making money from money, producing offspring from barren metal) was viewed as unnatural (and going against divine law); for money, made out of metal, cannot breed and multiply (its own kind) like a living thing. Jews, at the time, could not own property and loaning of money, with interest, was one of the few ways they could earn a profit. Some argue that the charging of a full seven days of interest (per week) went against the laws of the Sabbath since ones money was working and creating on the day when man was commanded to rest. 62. / for when did friendship breed | Barren metal +as twere a living thing? | Such a perversion goes against nature., / for when did friendship charge | Interest on barren metal +as if it were | The offspring of a living creature. Tis | A perversion which fouls divine law., / frustrates / offends 63. {Why look you how you storm} / Why how you storm The line, as it appears in Q1, is somewhat awkward, as it repeats the term you twice, and contains 6 + 6 iambs (instead of 4 + 6). Both suggest some kind of error in the text or typesetting. The emended contains a singular reference to you, and is made to fit the standard meter of 5 iambs (instead of 6). 64. {And take no doit | Of usance for my monies} / And take no drop | Of profit for my monies / interest 65. What does it mean: youll not hear me? If could mean: and you will not hear my offer, my proposal (for the loan). More deeply, it could mean: and you will not hear me, you will not accept me as a person, as an equal, as a friend. Antonio never sees or hears Shylock as a person; likewise, when Shylock has power over Antonio, he To spit on thee again, to spurn thee, too. 59 60 If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not / dont lend it As to thy friendfor when did friendship make {take} Profit on barren metal, +breeding it / Interest //as if it 61 As if the offspring of a living creature?, / Just like / would / twere 62 Nay, lend it rather to thine enemy {But} Who, if he breaks, thou mayst with better face / sterner / rigid Exact the penalty. / Demand Shylock Look how you storm! 63 I would be friends with you and have your love, / favor / grace Forget the shames that you have stained me with, Supply your present wants, and take no drop {no doit} / no hint Of interest for my monies and youll not hear me. {usance} / profit 64 65 refuses to hear him: [Ant: I pray thee, hear me speak. Shy: Ill have my bond: I will not hear thee speak. 3.3.11-12] [See Additional Notes, 1.3.137] 66. {This is kind I offer}: kind: a) kindness, benevolence, b) kinship, friendship, c) something natural (as opposed to something unnaturalwhich is Antonios objection to charging interest on a loan, which allows barren metal to produce offspring of metal. What is Shylock offering? This is kind I offerI am offering to loan you the money on your terms, in kind (likeness) with your sentiments, and to loan you money (as would a friend) without charging interest. I am going to offer you that, but you storm and interrupt me, and not even allow me to make such an offersince you are assuming that I am your enemy, and not your friend, and that I am going to charge you interest. Now, I am offering to loan you this money as a friend, without interest, but you will not hear me, you will not allow me to speak. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.138] 67. / This is kindness! Here Bassanio is confirming that such an offer (as this pointwithout having yet heard the grotesque terms of the bond) is kind. Some productions present the care-free Bassanio as a skeptic and have him pose the line as a cynical question or remark. 68. Shylock is here building upon Bassanios interpretation of the, kind, to mean kindness, even though Shylock may have intended the term to mean, kinship. 69. {seal me there | Your single bond} / Your fullest guarantee single bond: implies a bond that Antonio would singularly guarantee; an unconditional bond. 70. / and, in light-hearted fun 71. / Be such that I may have an equal pound 72. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.148a] 73. This grotesque term closely follows that found in Il Perecone: una libra di carne daddosso di qualunque luogo e volesse (a pound of flesh from whatever place you wish). How does Shylock (or the Jew in Il Perecone, or in The Ballad of Gernutus) come to nominate this term of a pound of flesh?to be cut off and taken from what part of your body pleaseth me. And how/why does the condition come to change?and come to read, nearest his heart? {Ay, his breast, | So says the bond, doth it not noble judge? | Nearest his heart, those are the very words. [4.1.249-251]} [See Additional Notes, 1.3.148b] 74. There is likely to be some emotional reaction (on the part of Bassanio) to such a grotesque, alien, and bizarre conditionespecially one that puts Antonios life in danger. Hence, to make known this sentiment, two lines have been added. 75. / These terms are beastly and bizarre What dwells | In a mans heart to contrive such a thing? / These terms are bizarre and ludicrous. | Neer have I heard a thing so ill-conceived. This is kind I offer. 66 Bassanio This were kindness. / is / would be / is 67 Shylock This kindness will I show: 68 Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your guarantee, and, in a merry sport, / jest / game 69 70 If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit / Set forth Be designated as an equal pound {Be nominated for} / Be thereby namd for 71 Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken From what part of your body pleaseth me. {In} {It pleaseth me} 72 73 +Bassanio 74 This is more beastly than bizarre. Neer have I heard of terms so odd and ill-conceived. , 75 76. {Ill rather dwell in my necessity} / Id rather suffer in my present needs 77. {break his day}: miss his payment when it is due (on such and such a day) 78. {Is not so estimable, profitable neither} / Has neither worth nor can it bring a profit / Brings neither value nor the same profit / Has but no worth; one cannot even sell it 79. This argument is, of course, specious. Shylock argues that the pound of flesh has no valueso why would he take it? Yet, the value gained by taking of a pound of Antonios flesh, is in killing Antonio. So, Shylock should rightfully say, What would I gain from taking the forfeiture, and thereby killing Antonio? 80. Shylock may be somewhat sincere in what he says herebut the notion of buying Antonios friendship, rather than gaining in through natural means, is misplaced. Below all this talk, however, we sense Shylocks deceitfulness and we see him using the ploy of a usurer to somehow entrap Antonio; Shylock himself revealed his intentions when he expressed a deep desire to catch Antonio upon the hip, i.e., gain an advantage over him. Hence, we know that Shylock has a hidden agendato put Antonio at a disadvantage. So, what is Shylock trying to accomplish by having Antonio sign this bond? The possibility that Antonio would default on the bond is too remote to be part of a viable plan (and, besides, Shylock is not a gambling man). Why would Shylock hold up 3000 ducats (which could command a good profit otherwise invested) on something so remote. It is more likely that having Antonio sign such a bondwith such grotesque and unflattering termsis Shylocks agenda, for such a bond debases Antonio and brings Shylock to an equal or superior status with Antonio (in Shylocks mind). [See footnote for 1.3.148] 81. {And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not} / I pray, dont wrong me with an evil motive / Please dont assign to me an evil motive for my love: for this act of kindness wrong me not: / blame me not / dont blame me / > dont attribute or assign to me some wrong This last part of Shylocks speech (or argument) is a clear example of the deceptive art employed by usurers: first he says that a pound of human flesh is worthless, and so he would have no reason to take it; then he contends Antonio I have no doubts; Ill seal to such a bond, {Content in faith} // sign And say there is much kindness in the Jew. Bassanio You shall not seal to such a bond for me; / must Id rather dwell within my present needs. / suffer in // in mine own neediness 76 Antonio Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it. Within these two monthsthats a month before This bond expiresI do expect return / a profit Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shylock O father Abram, how these Christians are: Their own hard dealings teach them to suspect / mistrust > be suspicious of The thoughts of others! [to Bassanio] Pray you, tell me this: If he should break his day what should I gain / If he cant pay on time 77 By the exaction of the forfeiture? / By my demanding of A pound of mans flesh, taken from a man, Has neither worth nor can afford a profit / command 78 As flesh of mutton, cow, or goat. I say, / Like 79 To buy his favour, I extend this friendship: 80 If he will take it, so; if not, adieu. And for this gesture, for this act of kindness, I pray you, wrong me not with evil motives. 81 82 that he is acting out of love and kindnessand so much so that he does not want his actions to be misinterpreted as harmfulyet the exact opposite is true: the bond of a pound of flesh (which is humiliating) is worth a lot to Shylock, and his real intention is not motivated by love (as contended) but by hatred (as clearly revealed by Shylock earlier in the scene.) [38-49]. 82. / If he will take it, so be it; if not, | Adieu. And for this kind and friendly gesture, | I pray, dont wrong me with an evil motive. 83. {And I will go and purse the ducats straight} / And Ill go straightaway to purse the ducats, Previously Shylock stated that he would have to get the ducats from Tubal [55]; here he says that he has the ducats and will get them straightaway. Obviously his previous mention of needing to get the ducats from Tubal was part of a rouse. 84. fearful guard: / terribly poor guard / inept hands The implication here is that Shylocks inept servant (Launcelet) is not guarding the house, that he is asleep on the job; but more than that Shylock is going to check on the unthrifty Launcelet to make sure he is not wasting things (and/or eating too much). 85. {Of an unthrifty knave} / Of a do-nothing knave / Of an eer wasteful knave unthrifty: wasteful, unproductive, unprofitable, good for nothing; lazy The term thrift, as is most often used, refers to success and profit. To a lesser degree it means, as it does today, one who is frugal and careful about his spending. Thus, an unthrifty knave would refer to someone who is unprofitable, someone who wastes ones profit. Bass: I have a mind presages me such thrift [1.1.175]; Shy: On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift [1.3.47]; Shy: And thrift is blessing if men steal it not [1.3.87]. Shy: Fast bind, fast find | A proverb never stale in a thrifty mind. [2.5.53-54] knave: fool, imbecile It is doubtful that Shylock would be commenting to Antonio and Bassanio about his unthrifty knave (Launcelet) nor would Shylock have any real reason to check on his house (left in fearful guard.) This line comes, however, as an unflattering introduction to Shylocks foolish servant, Launcelet, so that when the knave first appears in 2.2 the audience will have some sense of who he is. 86. By all conceivable reckoning, Shylock has agreed to loan Antonio a substantial sum of money, 3000 ducats, interest-free, for three months. This money would have been more profitably used by Shylock if he loaned it out to another party. In this transaction he makes no profit, and the odds that Antonio will break his day (not repay the loan on time) is next to none. So what is Shylocks motivation in making this merry bond? What advantage does he gain? Antonio Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond. Shylock Then meet me forthwith at the notarys, / right away Give him direction for this merry bond; / instructions And straightaway Ill go to purse the ducats, / go collect 83 See to my houseleft in the bumbling care / Check on {fearful guard} 84 Of an unthrifty knave and soon thereafter, {and presently} / and right away 85 Ill be with you. Exit Shylock Antonio Hurry thee, gentle Jew. {Hie thee} / Go with speed The Hebrew will turn Christianhe grows kind. 86 Bassanio 87. {I like not fair terms and a villains mind} fair . . . villain: these terms are contrasted, with fair referring to the fairness of Christian values and villain referring to a Jew. [See Additional Notes, 1.3.176] 88. Possible addition of one line: I like not fair terms from a villains mind / I like not straight terms from a crooked mind. +Nor have I comfort in the terms we find. , The virtue of this added line (though it weakens the overall rhyme) would be to further express Bassanios uneasiness. Bassanios scepticism concerning Shylocks villainy could alternatively be expressed as a concern: Ant: The Hebrew turns Christian, tis what we find. Bass: I have no comfort in these terms so kind. 89. / Come now, in this there can be no concern, A month before the day my ships return. I like not fair terms from a villains mind. {and} / in 87 88 Antonio Come on, in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day. 89 Exeunt ____________________________________________ 1. This is a short, filler scene, which helps alternate the action between Venice and Belmont. In deference to time, many productions delete this scene or merge elements of it with Moroccos next appearance in 2.7. 2. / Do not disfavor me for my complexion my complexion: my complexion which is dark. A light complexion was held (be Europeans) to be fair or beautiful, whereas a dark complexion was thought to be attractive (and the color of the devil). To fit the meter, complexion is pronounced with four syllables: comPLEXeeON 3. / . . . bestowed by the sun 4. {To whom I am a neighbor and near bred.} / Near which I live and near where I was bred / Which all my kin, bred near its heat, do wear. 5. / Bring me a fair creature born in the north / Bring me a man with light and frosty skin, 6. / Who comes from cold and ever-dark regions. / One who was born in the northernmost region 7. {Where Phoebuss fire scarce thaws the icicles} Phoebuss fire: the suns heat. Phoebus was god of the sun. 8. {And let us make incision for your love} 9. / Has wrought great fear in the hearts of the valiant / Has prompted many heros to run in fright. 10. / By my love, I swear, it too has been loved 11. {best-regarded} / most respected / most revered 12. It seems the whole of Moroccos plea is designed to overcome or appease the sure prejudice (and dislike of those with dark complexions) which he knows Portia possesses. Even though Portias opinion of him has no effect on the outcome of his drawing, he may be testing her, to see if she likes himfor what is the purpose of winning a woman who cannot stand your sight? Portias positive response to Moroccos pleawhich is polite to the point of being misleadingleads Morocco to believe that she accepts (and even likes) his dark complexion. Thus, with this OK he proceeds with his choice. 13. We see that Moroccos bases himself upon the virtue of his strength and physical attributes. His first reference is to his outer appearance; thereafter all his references are to his strength and physical prowess: swearing upon his sword (that slew great rulers and won three battles), he tells how he would outstare and outbrave the most daring men, defy bears and lions; then he likens himself to Hercules, the strongest man on earth. In this context (dependent solely upon physical prowess) he does not comprehend the skill involved in the lottery and sees it in terms of pure ACT TWO - Scene One 2.1.0 Xxx 1 Portias house in Belmont. A flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince from Morocco (a dark-skinned Moor dressed in white), and three or four followers (of similar complexion) with Portia, Nerissa, and attendants Morocco Mislike me not for my complexion; / Dislike 2 This darkened raiment of the burnished sun {shadowed livery} // burning 3 Is worn by all who breed so near its fire. / who live // beneath 4 Bring me a man whose skin is light and fair, 5 Born from the coldest regions of the north, 6 Where the suns heat can scarce thaw an icicle, / rays / fire // scarcely thaw the ice 7 And let us make a cut, at loves behest, / cut our skin // request 8 To prove whose blood is reddesthis or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine / I say, dear lady // feature Has brought much fear to brave and valiant men. 9 And by my love, I swear, it too was loved 10 By the most-honored virgins of our clime. / region / climate 11 I would not change this dark and noble hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. / know 12 13 14 chance, like the roll of a dice. In terms of the three suitors, Morocco represents the physical dimension and its superior position (in terms of strength over others). This is the exterior or outermost garment; thus, according to his own disposition, he chooses the gold chest. Arragon, represents the mind and its superior position (in terms of intellect). This is still exterior to the true essence or the heart of a man, but more internal than the body. Accordingly, he chooses the silver casket, which represents the shine of the mind. Bassanio, represents the heart, the innermost being of a manand that which is not swayed by outer showand, accordingly, chooses the lead. Bassanios speech, however, belies the true sentiment of the heart; it appears critical, riddled with discordant images, and it makes not one reference to Portia (or her attributes) which does not seem consistent with a true-hearted hero. Morocco is true to himself, and chooses accordingly; Aragon is true to himself, and chooses accordingly. With Bassanio, however, these seems to be a mismatch between himself (and what we know of him) and his outer presentation (presenting himself as a rich man) and his choosing the lead casket (and not being prompted by outer show). [See Additional Notes, 3.2.73] 14. to steal your thoughts: to gain access to, or win. your thoughts; to win your affection, to have you think highly of me. (In other words, I would give up my dark appearance, which is my dearest possession, to win your affection). A literal interpretation might be that Morocco wants to steal Portias thoughts (to know what she is thinking) so he could know which casket to choosebut this is not in keeping with his noble character. 15. soley: The word is somewhat askew in this context. In normal usage, this would read, I am not exclusively led, but in this context would better read, I am not at all led in terms of choice. Nothing has a bearing on Portias choice (of a husband) so she is here referring to her personal choice, her affection. 16. {By nice direction of} / By that which oft persuades / By sights that often sway / By what is pleasing to / By sights that oft allure / By that which captivates / By every fancy of nice direction: attraction toward what is nice. It is surmised by Morocco that Portia (being a maiden) has the same sense of beauty as a maidenwhich is usually directed toward (in the nice or pleasant direction of) those who are light-skinned (as opposed to Morocco, who is dark-skinned). However, Portia tells Morocco that she is not solely swayed by outer appearance (which he assumes to mean that his looks are acceptable to her). Then she refutes all relevance to this line by adding a caveat: that her opinion bears no value in terms of her choice, nor does it have any bearing on the outcome of the lottery. Morocco, however, is not so much concerned with winning Portia as a prize but wants to know (before he chooses) if she finds him attractiveso that if he does wins her, he will have a wife who loves him (and not someone who despises the way he looks). Clearly Portia dislikes the way he lookshis dark skin being in such contrast to her light skinbut she does not reveal this. She allows Morocco to interpret her leading (yet not definitive) remarks in the way which most suits him. 17. {Besides, the lottry of my destiny} / Besides, the lottry of my fathers will / Besides, the lottery that deems my fate 18. / Prevents me from effecting mine own choice / Prevents me from a voluntary choosing / Denies me from the right of mine own choice 19. {And hedged me by his wit to yield myself} hedged: hedged me in, restricted me, bound me (by oath) his wit: his wisdom, his ingenuity (by which this lottery was devised) to yield myself: to give myself as wife (in way of marriage)but not necessarily give in way of love 20. {His wife who wins me by that means I told you} / As wife to he who chooses the right casket / As wife who wins me by the means described 21. {Yourself, renownd prince, then stood as fair} / Then you, renownd prince, would stand as fair then stood as fair: a) stood as favored, worthy; occupied an equally favorable position b) were as appealing, attractive, c) stood as fair a chance Portia tells Morocco that he stands as fair (a chance) as any suitor she has looked upon (for her affection). Morocco ingenuously assumes this as a high complement. What Portia does not tell Morocco is that she has found all the previous suitors to be deplorableMorocco, looking like a devil to her, stands equal to the German sponge, the French no man, the dreadfully sad Count, the self-promoting Neopolitan, and the ill-suited Englishman. In the instance where fair refers to Moroccos equal chances of winning her, she is not saying anything either: she is saying Portia In terms of choice, I am not solely led 15 By that which gratifies a maidens eye. / By what is pleasing to 16 Besides the contest rendered by my father / devised / designed 17 Bars me the right of voluntary choosing. / Prevents my right 18 But if my father had not scanted me, / thwarted / shorted And hedged me by his wit to yield myself, / bound / forced // will /// give 19 As wife, to he who chooses the right casket / whom so chooses / whom doth choose 20 Then you great prince, would stand as fair a chance 21 that Morocco has as fair (equal) a chance of winning her (and her affection) as any suitor she has thus far looked upon. 22. scimitar: a curved, single-edged sword. In a possible staging, Morocco could draw and flourish his scimitar (much to the surprise of Portias attendants). This would make clear the reference his sword (for those who are not familiar with the term scimitar.). A blander, yet more recognizable term for scimitar could be Arab sword, faithful sword, constant sword, etc. 23. {That won three fields of Sultan Suleiman} / That won three battles against Suleiman. 24. {Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth} 25. / And grab the prey from a hungry lion 26. {If Hercules and Lichas play at dice} Lichas: Herculess (somewhat low-minded) servant. Lichas was thrown into the sea by Hercules after he (Lichas) unwitting brought Hercules a poisoned shirt which killed him (Hercules). 27. / A throw by chance / A random throw / A chancd toss 28. {So is Alicides beaten by his rage} Alicides: Hercules rage: wanton behavior, wild folly, anger. Although Hercules was known to display rage, the notion of him being defeated by his ragewith respect to the chance drawing of the lotterydoes not really fit. Pope emends rage with page, which is similar to the emendation of rogue (derived from roge.) Both apply to a servant of Hercules, one who is weaker and a lesser man. Hence, the intended meaning would be that Hercules is beaten by his page or his rogue which is possible when the competition is based upon a pure chance throw of the dice, rather than skill. 29. / And so may I, led forth by blinded luck / simple 30. Add line: +And not the prowess held by mine own hand , +And not the skillful means of mine own hand , / endeavors / own effort 31. / And I, now being led by blind fortune, | May miss the prize that lesser ones may win. 32. / And either vacate all your rights to choose As any comer I have looked on yet / suitor // Ive yet looked upon For my affection. / To win my favor Morocco Even for that I thank you. Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets To try my fortune. By this scimitar / Arab(ian) sword 22 That slew a Sultan and a Persian Prince, {Sophy} / Empror / great Shah That thrice defeated the great Suleiman, / the Sultan of Turkey 23 I would oer-stare the sternest eyes that look, / harshest Outbrave the boldest heart that eer did beat; 24 Pluck the young suckling cubs from the she-bear, / Snatch / grab Yea, mock the lion when it roars for prey, / Defy {he} 25 To win thee, lady. But alas the while, If Hercules and his servant play dice, 26 The hand of chance decides the better man / determines the victor / winner 27 Which may grant victory to the weaker hand: / fortune / triumph So is the hero beaten by his page. {bested} 28 And so may I, blind fortune leading me, / with mere chance 29 30 Miss that which one of lesser worth attains {one unworthier may} 31 And die with grieving. / from Portia You must take your chance, And either not attempt to chose at all, 32 Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong, / beforehand, that 33. {Never to speak to lady afterward} / Neer thereafter to propose to a lady / Never to ask a woman after that 34. / I do acceptnow bring me to the caskets / I will acceptbring me unto the caskets 35. / First, make you oath at the chapel. This evening / Make first your solemn vow. Then, after dinner, To neer thereafter take a ladys hand / propose to a lady 33 By way of marriage. Therefore, be advised. {In} / ponder well / be so warned Morocco I need not. Come, bring me unto my chance. {Nor will not} // the caskets / my choice 34 Portia First forward to the altar, +there to take / go ye to / go unto {temple} / chapel The solemn oath required., After dinner 35 Your hazard shall be made. Morocco Good fortune then, To make me blest or cursdst among men. / To be most Flourish of cornets. Exeunt ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ [Optional Added Scene] ACT Two, Scene One, A 2.1A Venice. Enter Shylock and Tubal Tubal Three thousand ducats, with no profitand to Antonio? Shylock Indeed he loathes me, my means, my presence. He spits upon my face; he calls me usurer, a cut- throat, a dog. And why? Because I loan money to those who need it. Well, now Antonio is the one who needs it. Tubal But you are tying up so many ducats? Shylock Let him revile me at the mart. Let him peddle his Christian virtue. Then, how will I respond? I will politely ask: Antonio, did you not once borrow money from me? Did you not need the money which I had? Did I not loan you money, gratis, as a friend, which you requested of me? What then could he say to that? Would he open his mouth to speak? Would he spit on me again? Nay. The moment Antonio seals this bond we are equals. He will never again have anything over me. Tubal And what will come if he forfeits? What then? Shylock Nay, nay, Antonio will not forfeit. Nay, there is no chance that Antonio will forfeit. The only thing he will forfeit is his Christian arroganceand he will forfeit that the moment he seals unto my bond. Tubal But why a pound of flesh? Such terms are strange and most unseemly? +Shylock What use are gold and ducats to a dog? Would not a dog prefer a pound of flesh over a case of ducats? Well then, if he would see me as a dog, then give me something of valuea pound of flesh. Tubal You are no dog, ay, Shylock take the gold., Shylock I offered friendshipyet he refused. I offered love, and to forgive his years of abuseyet he refused. He would not even hear me. All he offered in kind was to spit on my face and call me dog once again. I offeredyet he refused. He wanted to be my enemy, for me to loan him money on those terms. So you ask, why a pound of flesh? Why something so grotesque? I say, if nothing else then to humiliate himto debase him as he has debased me. Let him call me usurer; I will call him harlot. He has put up his body for money, my moneyI bought it. Now tell me, what could the good Christian say to that? harlot: / a whore Exeunt ______________________________________________ 1. Launcelets soliloquy, which provides a comic interlude, may have more significance than immediately realized. This is the only time a character appears alone on stage (apart from the two exiting lines delivered by Jessica in 2.6.55-6). This is not significant in itself but may echo the larger issue of Shylocks internal battle with his own conscience (and his own fiend) with respect to his actions against Antonio. Shylock, tries to resolve his inner turmoil by making an oath to God that he will have his bond even though his conscience and Jewish sense of righteousness bids him to do otherwise. Ironically, Shylock makes his oath to God so that he may have the resolver to support the fiend and go against his conscience. Thus, in the end, both Shylock and Launcelet give into their fiendish side. Clearly this soliloquy can be seen as a parody on the grand confrontations of the human soulperhaps suggesting that no matter what we plan on doing, no matter what we decide, Gods plans are ultimately actuated. Here we see Launcelet musing over what appears to be a minor decision in the scheme of things and more than likely moot: no matter what Launcelet decides, he can only go if Shylock allows him to go. The moment Launcelet decides to run (and give into the fiend) he collides with his father, his higher sense of conscience. [See Additional Notes: 2.2.1] 2. {Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master} / will not allow me to run / will serve me jif it allows mek to run / will try an prevent my running certainly: Launcelet opens the scene with the word, certainly, which tells us that he is certain about his own uncertainty. Such an ironic certainty is also had by Shylock. serve: a) permit, allow, b) prevent, not permit, not allow, say nothing against In the context of the following monologuewhere Launcelets conscience is bidding him to stay while the fiend at his elbow is telling him to gothe term serve would more likely mean prevent than serve (or allow). (It could also be a error for severan odd form meaning prevent or keep me frombut this is unlikely). Various explanations have been offered as to what this line might mean, such as: Im sure Ill feel guilty if I run from this Jew,(Crowther); I can run away from my master the Jew with a clear conscience, (Durband); although conscience speaks against it, he will show good reason why he should go, (Brown). 3. / by my good side 4. / get them going 5. {Via!} / Get ye gone! via: Italian for away 6. / let bravery enter your mind 7. my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart: an anatomical mix-up, signifying timidity, a clinging, affectionate attitude, or perhaps a reference to being all chocked up. 8. honest: in the sense one who is faithful, one who keeps his marriage vows of fidelity. 9. {for indeed my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of tastewell . . . } / did something which smacked of the lewd, something gross / did something smack, something gross, it left a bad taste (in the mouth)well . . . smack: pertaining to vice, lecherous, lewd. It also means a) to kiss noisily (verb); b) flavor or trait (noun); inclination. grow to: an expression that generally referred to burnt milk which gets stuck to the bottom of a pan or to that which has the taste of burnt milkand by extension it could mean something which has been ruined and/or which has a bad taste; also something sticky (like milk sticking to the bottom of a pot)which might carry a lewd reference to semen. The term could be rendered as: something sticky; something gross (which sounds like grow to); ACT TWO - Scene Two 2.2.0 xxx Venice. Enter Launcelet Gobbo, the clown, alone. 1 Launcelet Certainly my conscience will not permit me to run from this Jew, my master. The fiend at mine 2 elbow tempts me, saying, Gobbo, Launcelet Gobbo, good Launcelet, or good Gobbo, or 3 good Launcelet Gobbouse your legs, take the start, run away. My conscience says, No, 4 take heed, honorable Launcelet; take heed honest Gobbo,or as aforesaid, honorable Launcelet Gobbodo not run; scorn running with thy heels. Well the most courageous fiend bids me pack my things. Get going! says the fiend. Away! says the fiend. For the sake of 5 heaven, says the fiend, rouse up a brave mind and run. Well, my conscience, hanging 6 about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, My honest friend Launcelet being an 7 honest mans son, or rather, an honest womans sonfor indeed my father did something lewd, 8 something sticky, he had a kind of taste +for women who would . . . , well, my conscience 9 something which leaves a bad taste; something of bad taste (which means tasting bad and of poor taste, lacking judgment); rather unsavory; ruinous (as in a dish ruined by burning), etc. Some commentators hold the term to mean, to grow or get larger, implicating a male erectionbut such an interpretation is a bit of a stretch and does not really fit this context. taste: a) inclination toward; b) enjoyment, relish in; c) funny smell about him; d) taste for woman The three references in this line (smack, grow to, and taste) all suggest some kind of lechery and untoward sexual conductall of which makes Launcelet the son of a not quite honest man. 10. {God bless the mark} 11. {saving your reverence} / pardon me for saying 12. The line found in the original (Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and in my conscience) is uncertain, misplaced, and was likely inserted into the text as an afterthought (by someone other than the Author). In addition, this unlikely addition weakens (and contradicts) the word play found previous linewhich states that the Jew is a kind of devil and the fiend is the devil himself. The repetition of the word certainly, which begins the soliloquy is also suspect. The term, incarnation is a poor pun for incarnate. All said, the line is weak and suspect and therefore it has been deleted. 13. {my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew} 14. will not permit: {will serve} / will not allow honorable: {honest} scorn running: scorn such running bids me pack: urges me to pack for the sake of heavens: {for the heavens} / for heavens sake command: {commandment} 15. Launcelets exit could be staged by his running into his gravel-blind father, who is just entering. His being stopped by his father could be seen as a symbolic representation of his conscience (superego) stopping him, despite his final decision to follow the fiends counsel and run away. This scene between Launcelet and his father takes up over 75 lines, and then involves Bassanio for another 50 lines, for a total of 125 lines [30-161] yet none of this moves the story. Thus, most productions edit down or even delete this first portion of the scene. For instance, the entire interaction between Launcelet and his father could be cut, with the scene opening at line 162. Thus the scene would open with Bassanio instructing Lorenzo (to get things ready for his voyage) and where Gratziano enters a few lines later. Another way to edit the scene would be to remove Old Gobbo altogether: such would include Launcelets opening monologue [1-30], then have Launcelet exit the stage, running into one of Bassanios men (instead of Old Gobbo). With no actual father present, Launcelot (unable to muster his own courage to speak directly to Bassanio) could invoke (and play the part of) an imaginary father to help him; as such, we would see the same kind of split-personality he displayed in the opening of the scene. [For such a line by line editing of this scene, see Additional Notes 2.2.29] 16. my true begotten father: a mix-up for, my true begotten son. Launcelet was begotten by Old Gobbo not the other way around. The phrase is backwards, yet we clearly understand this to mean that Old Gobbo is Launcelets true father. says, Launcelet, budge not. Budge, says the fiend. Budge not, says my conscience. Conscience, I say, you counsel well. Fiend, I say, you counsel well. If I were ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew, my master, whoGod forgive me for saying is a 10 kind of devil. And, if I were to I run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend who, with all due respect, is the devil himself. My conscience is but a kind of hard conscience which 11 12 counsels me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel. O fiend, I will 13 run. My heels are at your commandI will run. 14 Enter Old Gobbo, gravel-blind, with a basket 15 Old Gobbo Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jews? Launcelet [aside] O heavens, this is my true-begotten father who, being more than sand-blindhigh-gravel- 16 17. sand-blind, high-gravel-blind: blindness comes in gradations and Launcelet makes up a some new terms: sand blind is someone partially blind; gravel-blind is someone midway between sand-blind and stone-blind (total blindness), high-gravel blind, is somewhere between gravel-blind and stone-blind, which means he can barely see at all. 18. {I will try confusions with him.} confusions: Q2 renders this as conclusions which means experimentsI will try experimenting with him (to see how he reacts.) Launcelet, however, seems more intent on playfully confusing his father. 19. Then!: {marry}: The term marry has the force of verily, indeed and by extension, now listen carefully or pay attention, etc. 20. {By Gods sonties} / By Gods little saints / Even with Gods favor / Even with Gods help / Even with the blessings of God sonties: a) little saints, b) sanctity, blessedness. 21. {Can you tell me whether one Launcelet that dwells with him dwells with him or not?} / Can you tell me whether one Launcelet, who is supposed to live with him, lives with him or not? place: {way} hit: / find 22. {Your worships friend and Launcelet, sir.} / My worship, do you know my boy Launcelet, sir? your worship: honorific title for someone of high standing your worships friend: this could be interpreted as a polite rejection of the title of master (when applied to Launcelet), who is not a master. This resembles the previous line, where Old Gobbo rejects the term master when applied to Launcelet [No master, sir, but a poor mans son. [47].] Here, again, he makes the same correction so that there is no confusion and to insure that the two parties are referring to the same Launceletwho is not a master. blind, knows me not. I will try confusing him. 17 18 Old Gobbo Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jews? Launcelet Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning after that, turn left. Then!+pay careful attention, at the very next turning, dont turn at all but veer off 19 indirectly to the Jews house. Old Gobbo By the saints of God twill be a hard place to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelet, 20 who is supposed to live with him, still lives with him or no? 21 Launcelet Talk you of young Master Launcelet? [aside] Watch me nowI will raise a few tears! Talk you of young Master Launcelet? a few tears: {the waters} Old Gobbo No master, sir, but a poor mans son. His father, though I say it, is an honest, exceeding poor man and, God be thanked, in good health. {well to live} Launcelet Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young Master Launcelet. Old Gobbo Is he your worships friend, my Launcelet, sir? 22 23. ergo: Latin term which means, therefore, herein used by Launcelet to impress his father with his knowledge Latin, and also to mock scholars who were wont to overuse the term. 24. {father} 25. {Sisters Three} The three old women of classical mythology who spin, measure, and cut the thread of a persons life, thus determining the length of ones life span. 26. / who measure the length of a mans life / who determine the length of ones life 27. {Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop?} cudgel: short branch, club 28. {Do you know me, father?} 29. Inversion of the proverb: Its a wise child who knows his own father. Launcelet But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo I beseech you, talk you of young Master Launcelet? 23 Old Gobbo Of Launcelet, if it please your mastership. {ant} / should it Launcelet Ergo Master Launcelet. Talk not of Master Launcelet, old man, for the young 24 gentlemanaccording to his fate and destiny, and various legends which include the three sisters +who measure out and cut the thread of ones life, and such branches of 25 26 learningis, indeed deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven. Old Gobbo Mother of Godforbid! The boy was +to be, the staff of my older years, my very prop. Launcelet Do I look like a short stick or a post to hold up a sagging hovel? Am I but a staff or a prop? Do you not know me, father? 27 28 Old Gobbo Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman. But I pray you, tell me, is my boyGod rest his soulalive or dead? Launcelet Do you not know me father? Old Gobbo Alack sir, I am all but blind. I know you not. {I am sand-blind} Launcelet Nay, indeed, even if you had your eyes, you might still fail in knowing me. It is a wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son. [he kneels] Give me 29 your blessing. Truth will come to light, just as a crime cannot be hidden for long. A mans son may +also hide, but in the end the truth will come out. / be known Old Gobbo 30. / stop all the pretending 31. The action parallels of the same trick played on Isaac by Jacob and his mother (a story referenced by Shylock in his first meeting with Antonio). In this story, Jacob substituted himself for Esau (Jacobs older brother) in order to receive his fathers blessings. Jacob, who was smooth-skinned, placed lamb wool over his face and handsto feel hairy like his brother. When his blind father touched his face, he believed that he was touching Esau (not Jacob) and thereupon blessed Jacob and bequeathed to him all his land and possessions. 32. {Lord worshiped might he be} / What blessings the Lord has granted! 33. {set up my rest} / go for broke / risk everything / go all in Set up my rest is a phrase used in the card game, primero, where a final wager is made and one bets (risks) all he has. In the modern poker-style game of Texas Hold-em, this would be akin to going all in. Launcelet, speaking in modern jargon might have said: I decided to go all in and run away. Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you are not Launcelet, my boy. Launcelet Pray you, lets have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing: I am Launcelet, your 30 boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. Old Gobbo I cannot think you are my son. Launcelet I know not what I shall think of that. But I am Launcelet, the Jews man, and I am sure Margery, your wife, is my mother. Old Gobbo Her name is Margery, indeed. Ill be sworn, if thou be Launcelet, thou are mine own flesh and blood. Old Gobbo reaches out to feel Launcelets face Launcelet offers the back of his head 31 All praise the Lord, what a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than 32 Dobbin, my cart-horse, has on his tail. Launcelet It should seem, then, that Dobbins tail grows from long to short: I am sure he had more hair on his tail than I have on my face, when I last saw him. {backwards} Old Gobbo Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master get along? I have brought him a present. How gree you now? {agree} Launcelet Well, well, but for mine own part, I have decided to risk it all and run away, so I will not rest 33 34. In Q1 the word play is on the two meanings of rest: I have set up my rest (i.e., risk it all), in deciding to run away, and I will not rest till I have run some ground. Alternatively, a play could be made on the word made (or taken): Ive made (taken) my final stance, which is to run away, so I will not rest till I have made (taken) some ground. 35. Add: +I provide him with comsummed service and for this get but the lowest wages., Consummed, a slip for consummate, but also with the implication that Launcelet eats a lot. 36. Add: +as he allows me no more than three meals a day., 37. {You may tell every finger I have with my ribs} The line is backwards, and should read: You may tell every rib I have with your fingers. A more literal rendering might be: You may count every rib as if it were a finger. 38. very: true \ veritable count: {tell} / recognize 39. A common staging is one where Launcelet spreads out his fingers on his own rib cage and then guides his fathers hand to feels his fingers as if they were his exposed ribs. 40. {Give me your present } / Give your present on my behalf 41. {gives rare new liveries} / gives rare new outfits +to his servants, / gives embroidered costumes +to his workers, / suits his workers with fine new costumes 42. Launcelet seems to be making some heroic claim of making ground, or running to the far ends of the earth yet in Venice, which is a series of island, his end would come after a few hundred yards. 43. / What a stroke of luck! 44. In Q1, the line reads: {To him father, for I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer.} for I am a Jew: for I am a villain This appears as another ex post facto line added to the textwhich is also evidenced in 24-25 and 160. As expected, most of these corrupted (and Jew-disparaging) lines, are added toward the end of a passage, where they can most easily be slipped into the text (without much disruption). However, in virtually all cases, these corrupted emendations appear misplaced, gratuitous, and orphaned from the rest of the passageboth in terms of style and content. 45. Bassanio is busy preparing for his departure to Belmont, which is to take place later that night. put the new uniforms to making: {put the liveries to making} refers to the uniforms (not yet made) which are needed for the servants who will be attending Bassanio on his trip to Belmont. and direct Gratziano: this also refers to Bassanios tripBassanio seeks to take Gratziano with him to Belmont, even before Gratziano makes his request to go [2.2.170] [See Additional Notes, 2.2.113] 46. done quickly: {so hasted} at the lasted by: {at the farthest by} no later than direct: {desire} / please have till I have run some ground. My masters a very Jew. Give him a present?rather give him a 34 noose! I am famished in his service; you may count every rib I have with your fingers. 35 36 37 38 +Launcelet guides Old Gobbos fingers to the side of his chest; Old Gobbos fingers fall 39 down to Launcelets pot belly; Launcelet again guides Old Gobbos fingers to his ribs, and they again fall to his belly. Launcelet retreats., Father, I am glad you are come. Give your present, for me, to one Master Bassanio, who indeed 40 fashions his servants with fine new uniforms. If I serve not him, I will run as far as God has 41 made ground. 42 Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo and other followers O rare fortune! Here comes the manto him, father, +give your gift to him., 43 44 Bassanio [to one of his men] You may do so, but let it be done quickly that supper be ready at the latest by five oclock. See these letters delivered, put the new uniforms to making, and direct Gratziano to come anon to my lodging. 45 46 47. {Gramercy}: lit.: grant mercy; [God] grant [you] mercy 48. {are scarce cater-cousins} scarce: (a) scarcely, hardly cater-cousins: close friends, those who give (or cater) to each other like cousins 49. Error for fructify or certify. 50. Error for pertinent. Seems to be a blend between important and pertinent Exit Servant Launcelet jpushing his fatherk To him, father. Old Gobbo jbowingk God bless your worship. Bassanio Many thanks. Wouldst thou want with me? {aught} 47 Old Gobbo Heres my son, sir, a poor boy Launcelet jsteps forwardk Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jews man that would, sir, as my father shall specify jpulls his father in frontk Old Gobbo He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve > affection / desire Launcelet jpulls his father awayk Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have the desire, as my father shall specify jpulls his father in frontk Old Gobbo His master and hesaving your worships reverenceare scarce on good terms 48 Launcelet jpulls his father awayk To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my fatherbeing, I hope, a respected manshall frutify unto you jpulls his father in frontk 49 respected: {old} / a man wise with wisdom Old Gobbo I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is bestow: / offer / present suit: / request Launcelet jpulls his father awayk In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old 50 51. {though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father} / though I say it, it is though jsaid byk this old yet poor man, my father. 52. / What would you want of me? 53. Mistake for effect, purpose, or purport 54. Bassanio is referring to an unlikely conversation had between himself and Shylockwhich the audience did not see. Perhaps it came when Bassanio came to borrow money from Shylock and opened the conversation with some idle chit-chat. Shylock may have casually complained about his unthrifty knave, and may have said something to Bssanio like, if you borrow all this money, maybe you will have enough to employ my servant as your own. (Or perhaps Shylock wanted to pawn off his gormandizing servant to help eat away at the money he loaned to Bassanio, which would hasten the default of the loan). We do not, however, know what Shylock could have said about Launcelet which would prompt Bassanio to so readily accept himunless it could be that Shylock, wanting to get rid of Launcelet, highly recommended his wasteful servant to Bassanio. Shylock mentioned (to Bassanio and Antonio) that his house was left in the fearful guard | Of an unthrifty knave [1.3.172-73], which was not a flattering way to describe is servantand certainly would not prompt Bassanio to say, he hath preferred (recommended) thee. 55. {And has preferred thee, if it be preferment} Alt: this one line could be replaced with three lineslines which express that Shylock wanted so much to get rid of Launcelet that we would pay Bassanio to take the fool. And recommended you, +and was so kind | To offer me some gold if I would take you., | Tell me, is this a change that you prefer? 56. / The lowly servant of a poor gentleman 57. The old proverb is: The grace of God is gear enough, which comes from the biblical passage: My grace is sufficient for thee. [2 Cor. 12:9] / The grace of God is well enough / The grace of God provides enough / The grace of God provides you with all you need. 58. {The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.} man; and though I say it, it is though this old man, this poor man, my father 51 Bassanio Let one but speak for both. [to Launcelet] What do you want? {What would you} 52 Launcelet To serve you, sir. Old Gobbo That is the very defect of the matter, sir. 53 Bassanio [to Launcelet] I know thee well. Thou hast obtained thy suit. / I shall grant thy request Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, 54 And recommended thee. But why prefer 55 To leave a rich Jews service to become The follower of so poor a gentleman? 56 Launcelet As the old proverb says, The grace of God provides enough. This very well divides my 57 master Shylock from you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. 58 Bassanio Thou speakst it well[to Old Gobbo] Go, father, with thy son. 59. {Give him a livery | More guarded than his fellows.} guarded: ornamented with braid or trim; fancy, trimmed, ornamental. Why Launcelet gets a uniform more guarded than his fellows is not clear. Launcelets fancy uniform finds likeness to the gold casket which is the most ornamental in show yet which contains the least inside. The ornamental garment also brings to mind the image of a yellow-guarded coat which might be worn by a fool or a jester. We must, however, assume Bassanios motives are generous, and welcoming, and have nothing to do with accentuating Lancelets fool-heartedness. 60. / I cannot speak for myself? This line is delivered with sarcasm. Launcelet is realizing (in a moment of clarity) that he is a fool, and cannot even get a service job for himself (without the help of his father). This is soon remedied when Launcelet takes to reading his own palm, and discovers that rather than having a simple life (as expected) he is going to be a grand personage, with 15 wives! In his reading he reinterprets the word simple, imparting it with a new and grandiose meaning. (A simple man would ordinarily have one wife, but simple, in Launcelets new definition of the terms, means he is going to have a great number of wives). 61. {Go to}: a) a slight expression of disbelief and surprise: come on, whats this (unexpected thing I see); b) a slight curse, such as: damn, to hell, go to hell. Launcelet, looking at his palm, could a) be pleasantly surprised about his good fortune and all the wives and adventure he is going to have, or b) be taken aback and cursing his discovery of a simple lifelinewhich he then refutes. [See Additional Notes, 2.2.153] Shylock uses the same phrase, in 1.3.112 [Well, now it appears you need my help | Go to, then]. 62. / And in regards to that small matter of wives, [looking down again]alas, here it says fifteen wives in the very least. 63. {a leven}: The two-word term suggests the analogy of a dozen (or an even dozen) though most editions supplant the term with eleven. Some editions retain the spelling aleven which seems to imply eleven. 64. {is a simple coming-in}: implies income, perhaps from dowries, but also has the sexual innuendo of entering into (coming-in) a woman. 65. {and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bedhere are simple scapes} the edge of a feather-bed: this implies that he is coming out of a soft-bed with another mans wife (which puts his life in peril). This is humorous mix-up of the phrase, the edge of a sword becomes edge of a feather-bed. 66. {Ill take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling.} in the twinkling: immediately, without delay, in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye. This line, along with a few others in the scene [including 24-5, and 108] are amiss in terms of content and tonalityand may have been later-made additions. This line could be left as is (in its incomplete form), emended (in the twinkling of an eye), or rectifiedpreserving the intent of the line, which is that Launcelet intends to take leave of the Jew without delay. In this rendering, the term tinkle is used only because is sounds like twinkle. The absurd image used in this rendering echos (or rather mocks) the heros cry, who, having an urgent task to perform, tells his lady that he will not sleep until the task is accomplished (and he returns). This is the pledge Bassanio makes to Portia right before be takes his leave from Belmont [3.2.321-24]. Here Launcelet is claiming that he will not urinate until his task is accomplished. As part of a comic staging, Launcelet could look very restless, needing to go real bad, and hence in a great hurry to take leave of the Jew and relieve himself. before I take a tinkle: / before I relieve myself / before I take my tinkling / before I take a piss. 67. lets go: {in} he may: {doth} palm: {table} and it tells of: {heres} in the least: {is nothing} task: {gear} / work / stuff / business / matter [to Launcelet] Take leave of thy old master; then make way Unto my house. [To one of his men] Give him a uniform {livery} More fancy than his fellows. See it done. / braided / trimmed // the others 59 Launcelet Father, lets go. I cannot get a service job +on my own,?I have neer a tongue in my head! 60 [Looking at his palm] Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer palm, which he may offer to swear upon the Book, I shall have good fortune. [Looking more closely at the lines] What heres a 61 simple line of lifeand it tells of a small trifle of wivesalas, fifteen in the least. A dozen 62 63 widows and nine maids is a simple incomeor coming-infor one man. And here it says I 64 will scape from drowning thrice and elude the peril of a swordbelonging to a man who catches me on the edge of a featherbed with his wife. Well, if Fortune be a woman, shes a 65 good wench for this task. Father, come, Ill take my leave of the Jew before I take a tinkle. 66 67 68. {I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this} / I pray thee Leonard, attend to this think on this: a) attend to these matters, b) think carefully about what I am saying 69. Bassanio is preparing to leave for Belmont and is having his provisions stowed on board his ship. 70. {for I do feast tonight} feast: a) entertain, throw a feast for (my best-esteemed acquaintance); b) eat, party, enjoy myself at a feast (with my best-esteemed acquaintance) 71. {. . . for I do feast tonight | My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee, go.} The reference here is singular; Bassanio refers to his best-esteemed acquaintance. This might be interpreted as a reference to Antonio yet Antonio is his dearest friend not his best-esteemed acquaintance. Odd as it may seem, this is most likely a reference to Shylock, who is an acquaintance (not a friend) and who is best-esteemed in that he loaned Bassanio the money which enabled him to make his journey. Thus, Shylock as the best-esteemed acquaintance will be the honored guest at Bassanios celebration. 72. Q1 has Gratiano. Signior has been added to complete the meter, and to echo Gratzianos words. Exeunt Launcelet and Old Gobbo Bassanio [continuing his instructions] I pray, Leonardo, attend thee to this: 68 When everything is bought and stowed on board {orderly bestowed} 69 Return in haste, for I do feast tonight / entertain 70 With all my dearest friends. Now hurry, go. / My best-esteemed companions 71 Leonardo My best endeavors shall be done herein. / Ill do my utmost to complete the task Leonardo moves to exit. Enter Gratziano. Gratziano Wheres your master? Leonardo Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit Leonardo Gratziano Signior Bassanio! Bassanio Signior Gratziano! 72 Gratziano I have a suit for you. / I have but one request Bassanio You have obtained it. / And I will grant it Gratziano 73. {You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont.} This line is likely corrupt for the following reasons: a) the iambs are misplaced (with no emphasis on the fourth syllable) and b) the line contains seven iambs (instead of five). In addition, Gratziano is amiss in making a demand [you must not deny me] after his request has already been granted. More likely, Gratziano would be confirming what Bassanio had just granted, with a line such as: Very well thenIll go with you to Belmont. To bring this line into the regular iambic verse, some editions add Nay, to the beginning: Nay, you must not deny me. I must go | With you to Belmont. Another way to rectify the line (in terms of meter and content) would be to have Bassanio grant Gratzianos request once, not twice: Grat: I have a suitand you must not say no / deny me Signior, I must go with you to Belmont. Bass: Why then you must. But hear thee Gratziano, 74. It is likely that Bassanio knew of Gratzianos request before he even asked itand that is why he granted Gratzianos suit without even hearing it. This is in accord with the following theory (as previously stated) which goes as follows: a) Nerissa may have had a chance meeting with Gratziano (where they took a liking to each other and where Nerissa learned about Bassanioand where she recalled that Bassanio had already been to Belmont and caught Portias eye); b) Nerissa (in service to Portia) arranged to have a secret meeting with Bassanio, where Nerissa proposed to him a plan: she told him that if he could win Portias love (where Portia falls in love with him, and would chose him to be her husband) then she (Nerissa) would help him to choose the right casket; c) as part of this planand for her own romantic interestsshe told Bassanio to bring Gratziano with him to Belmont. [See Additional Note, 2.2.171] 75. / Aspects that fit thy manner well enough / Traits that are fitting to thee well enough / Qualities that become you well enough 76. {And in such eyes as ours appear not faults} / And traits that we do not decry as faults 77. {But where thou art not known} / But where they know you not 78. {Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain} Something too liberal: / somewhat too in-your-face 79. {To allay with some cold drops of modesty} 80. One could expand the previous two line into three: / To allay thy exuberant spirit With a few drops of cooling modesty, Lest through your wild and raucous behavior / unruly / froward 81. {I be misconstered}: / I be misconstrued / I find disfavor 82. And lose my hopes: More likely Bassanio should say, and blow my coverthe cover of pretending to be a rich and cultured suitor (which Gratzianos unruly conduct would undermine). According to a fair drawing of the lottery, if Bassanio was going to chose a casket based solely on his own wit, then none of Gratzianos actions would have any effect on the outcome of the lottery nor cause Bassanio to lose his hopes. Thus it appears that Bassanio is pinning his hopes of success on something other than a simple drawing of the lottery. According to our theory (which states that Bassanio will get help with the lottery, from Nerissa, if he is able to win Portias heart), if Gratziano is too rude, then this might put off Portiaand not reflect the noble character Bassanio is trying to put forthand, thus, Bassanio would lose his hopes of Portia falling in love with him. [See Additional Notes, 2.2.181] Very well: I must go with you to Belmont. 73 74 Bassanio Why then you must, but hear thee Gratziano: Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice Parts that become thee happily enough, / Aspects that suit / fittingly 75 And, to our eyes, do not appear as faults; 76 But where thou art not known, why there they look / these may appear 77 Somewhat too overbearing. Thus, take pains {Something} / A tad / A bit 78 To allay, with some drops of self-control, {modesty} 79 Thy bounding spirit, lest through thy wild behavior {skipping} / leaping 80 I be disfavored in the place I go {I be misconstered} // in the eyes of others 81 And lose my hopes +of success,. / ruin / dash 82 Gratziano Now hear me: {Signor Bassanio} 83. {If I do not put on a sober habit} sober habit: a) solemn, serious, funeral-like behavior, b) sober clothing, a sober garbreferring to a sober exterior look. 84. {Wear prayer-books in my pocket} 85. / Nay, morewhile grace is being said, look down 86. {Use all observance of civility} / Observe all manner of good behavior / And use all manner of civility / And observe all counts of civility / And employ every manner of politeness 87. / So as to please his grandmatrust me never. 88. {Nay, but I bar tonight} but I bar tonight: a) only if I behave (suppress, stop, bar) myself tonightwhich I am not going to do, so do not judge my actions by my raucous actions tonight. b) Nay, but I bar (refuse to accept any such restrictions) tonight; I am exempted from any such restrictions tonight. 89. {No, that were a pity} No, that would be a pity (if you were barred from drinking and having fun tonight) 90. {That purpose merriment. But fare you well} / Whore set on merriment / That want a rousing party. But farewell If I do not display a staid demeanor, / sober manner 83 Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Hold a prayer-book in my hand, look demurely 84 Nay, morewhile saying grace, cover mine eyes {while grace is saying} 85 Thus, with my hat, and sigh, and say, Amen, And follow every count of good behavior / manner of politeness 86 Like one well-studied in a sad expression / well-versed {sad ostent} To please his grandmanever trust me more. / neer trust me again 87 Bassanio Well, we shall see the way you hold yourself. Gratziano Nay, but I drink tonight: you shall not judge me {gauge} 88 By what we do tonight. Bassanio No, twere a pity. /Twould be a pity 89 I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth; for we have friends That want some merriment. But fare you well / a good party 90 I have some business. Gratziano And I must meet Lorenzo and the rest. {to} But we will visit you at suppertime. Exeunt ________________________________________________ 1. Rowe, who was a foremost Shakespeare commentator, and a practical man of the theatre, did not divide 2.2 - 2.6 into separate scenes but played them all as one continuous action. 2. / When things got hellishly drab around here, | You, like a merry devil, came to rob | The taste of tediuousness with your laughter. 3. Slip for inhibit, but this term might also apply in the sense that he is talking with his tears and that his tears are telling what his tongue is unable to tell. 4. {If a Christian do not play the knave and get thee} / If a Christian did not fool behind you your fathers back and beget thee 5. {To be ashamed to be my fathers child} It is not clear as to why being ashamed to be her fathers child is a heinous sin. The sin relates to Jessicas upcoming actions, whereby she betrays and dishonors her father. Thus, the line has been changed to reflect this view. 6. {I am not to his manners} Manners most likely refers to Shylocks somber and thrifty (or hardened) ways; to his frugal manner. His spirit is old and thrifty as opposed to Jessicas which is carefree and youthful. (We see the stark difference in their manners when Shylock carefully accounts fro every ducat and where Jessica, the moment she comes upon some money, frivolously spends it.). Manner could also refers to Shylocks loyalty to his Jewish tradition (and the inner sacrifice that entails); Jessica is more inclined to pleasure and is quick to abandon her tradition for the hope of a better, more comfortable, life. [See Additional Notes, 2.3.19] 7./ If as you promise, if your word be true, | Ill soon be Christian, and eer with you. ACT TWO - Scene Three 2.3.0 1 Shylocks house. Enter Jessica and Launcelet. Jessica Im sorry thou wilt leave my father so. Our house is hell; and thou, a merry devil, > hellishly dull Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. 2 But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee. And Launcelet, soon at supper shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new masters guest. Give him this letter; do it secretly. And so farewell. I would not have my father See me in talk with thee. Launcelet Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew. If a Christian did not 3 fool round with your mother and get thee I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish 4 drops do sometimes drown my manly spirit. Adieu. drops: / tears Exit Launcelet Jessica Farewell, good Launcelet. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me, To shun my father and bring him dishonor. 5 But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, / I am not kin to his ways 6 If thou keep promise I shall end this strife, / O my Lorenzo, soon Ill end this strife Become a Christian and thy loving wife. 7 Exit ______________________________________________ 1. Like many other scenes, this scene also opens in media res, in the middle of an ongoing conversation. Here Lorenzo is discussing the preparation of a plan, which is surely the plan to steal away Jessica later that night. 2. / And return here within an hours time 3. This is a poorly conceived plan, as Gratziano notes in the following line. They do not yet know if Shylock is going to be at the dinner (which they find out from Launcelet later in the scene [16]). The plan might be to slink away during dinner and then return within an hour to the masque (which would follow dinner). Again, why they plan to go the dinner in the first place, and why they should return in a disguise, is not known. Perhaps the plan is tentative and changes with the arrival of Jessicas letter, which notes that Shylock will be out for the evening. 4. preparation: preparation for stealing away Jessica. As part of this preparation, they must also prepare their costumes. 5. {Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered} / Tis bound to fail unless it be well-planned vile: foul, likely to go wrong quaintly: noticeably; well-, carefully, with consideration ordered: a) planned, b) carried out / Tis bound to fail unless it is clearly planned 6. {And better in my mind not undertook} / And better yet, the plan should be abandoned. This reference refers to the ill-conceived plan to steal away Jessica, which they are discussing. Salanio, it seems, is more level-headed than both Lorenzo (who is foolishly acting out of love) and Gratziano, who is, well, Gratziano. 7. {Friend Launcelet, whats the news?} It is not clear how Lorenzo would know Launcelet, or come to call him friend, but we can suspect that his interest in Jessicaand the common method of using servants to deliver messages back and forthwould make Launcelet his friend. Where Lorenzo and the others are meeting (which, we suspect, is in a private place, since they are discussing secret plans to steal away Jessica) and how Launcelet comes upon them is unclear. Jessica instructed Launcelet to deliver the message to Lorenzo at dinner: soon at supper shalt thou see | Lorenzo, who is thy new masters guest. | Give him this letter; do it secretly. [2.3.5-7]. Here it is four ACT TWO Scene Four 2.4.0 Venice. Enter Gratziano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio 1 Lorenzo Nay, we will slip away at supper-time, {slink} / steal // during the feast Go to my lodging, put on our disguise, And all return within the hour. 2 3 Gratziano We have not made good preparation. 4 Salarino We have not spoke as yet of torchbearers. {spoke us yet} / spoken yet Salanio This plan will go afoul if not well-made; 5 And best, I think, abandoned altogether. / methinks // And better yet 6 Lorenzo Tis now but four oclock: we have two hours To get things ready. {To furnish us} / to run the plan / to finish up Enter Launcelet with a letter Launcelet, whats the news? 7 oclock, not six oclock. [See Additional Notes, 2.4.9] 8. {And it shall please you to break up this, shall it seem to signify} 9. I know the hand: refers to Jessicas beautiful handwriting. 10. / With your permission, sir, I now will leave 11. Jessicas letter outlines her plan with a go ahead for tonight. This confirmation, we must assume, is based upon Jessicas belief that her father will accept Bassanios invitation for dinner and be away that evening. 12. {Tell gentle Jessica | I will not fail her} All Launcelet knows is that Lorenzo will not fail Jessicahe knows nothing about what Lorenzo is referring to, nor anything about Lorenzo coming by to Jessicas house later that evening. However, in the next scene, when Launcelet is bidding farewell to Shylock, his final words to Jessica are: Mistress, look out at window for all this: | There will come a Christian by | Will be worth a Jews eye. [2.5.39-42] As stated, he had no way of knowing this. One way to rectify this discrepancy would be to add a line whereby Lorenzo tells Launcelet something of the plan: Hold here, take this [gives him a coin]. Tell gentle Jessica, +Well meet as planned, beneath her balcony, I will not fail her. The discrepancy is slight and need not be rectified; whereas Lorenzo telling the loose-lipped Launcelot of his plan may be more problematic. 13.What we find is that Lorenzo does fail her, that he comes an hour late [2.6.2]a delay which, in all likelihood, would have blown the whole plan. This delay (which he attributes to having had to finish up some business) would have given Shylock ample time to return from dinnerunless the business which caused his delay was to wait at Bassanios until he was sure that Shylock arrived (which meant that the coast was clear). Launcelet [handing him the letter] And shall it please you to break the seal it shall tell you. 8 Lorenzo I know the handwriting tis a fair hand, {I know the hand, in faith} 9 And whiter than the paper tis writ on Is the fair hand that writ Gratziano Love-news, I think. {in faith} / It must be love-news Launcelet By your leave, sir. 10 Lorenzo Where goest thou? {Whither} Launcelet Well sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the Christian. 11 Lorenzo Hold here, take this [gives him a coin]. Tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her. Speak it privately. / Tell her 12 13 Exit Launcelet 14. / Go gentlemenprepare you for the masque 15. The Q1 text reads: I will not fail her, speak it privately Go Gentlemen, will you prepare you for this mask tonight, I am provided of a Torch-bearer. Exit Clowne. [See Additional Notes, 2.4.21] 16. {I am provided of a torchbearer} Masquerade parties were elaborate affairs and sometimes the guests, dressed as dignitaries, would be accompanied by a torchbearer to announce their entry. Lorenzos reference to Jessica as his torchbearer not only indicates that she will mark his entrance to the masque but that she will illumine his life with love and beauty. It is clear that Jessica will not be playing the part of Lorenzos torchbearer at the masque, and that all reference to Jessica being a torchbearer is by way of analogy. Jessica and Lorenzo, filled up with gold, are going to make their way out of town while everyone (including Shylock) is distracted with the colorful event. 17. {Ay, marry, Ill be gone about it straight} marry: An exclamation evoking the name of Mary, Jesuss mother. It is similar to by Mary, or by the mother of God and would, by extension, mean: in truth, indeed, surely, etc. 18. This plan is contingent upon Shylock being out of the house, which is something they are not yet sure of since the invitation to dine with Bassanio has not yet been accepted. It seems that Jessica is sure that Shylock will accept the offer (even though he is hesitant). 19. The next three lines are odd and out of place and have no reason to come out of Lorenzos mouthand these harsh lines divert, and interfere with, Lorenzos loving reverie concerning Jessica. These appear like anti-Semitic emendations; these emendations make a rude entrance at the end of several scenes or as part of a characters exiting [to Salarino and Salanio] Will you be ready for the masque tonight? / the masquerade? 14 15 Ive got myself a golden torchbearer. / I am provided with 16 Salarino By Mary, Ill get to it straight away. {Ay marry} / With tending / God willing 17 Salanio And so will I. Lorenzo Meet me and Gratziano At Gratzianos lodging in an hour. {some hour hence) / one hour hence Salarino Tis good we do so. / Well surely do so Exit Salarino and Salanio Gratziano Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lorenzo I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed How I shall take her from her fathers house, What gold and jewels she is furnished with, / she will bring with her What pages suit shell wear for her disguise. {she hath in readiness} 18 If eer the Jew, her father, comes to heaven It will be for his gentle daughters sake; 19 lines. Not only are these lines suspect (in this content) they break up the flow of the passage and force their way in as an inopportune afterthought. Hence, these words do nothing more than drag the dialogue and harm Lorenzos character. As these lines are misplacedand were likely added by someone other than the authorthey have been deleted. The lines, as found in Q1, read as follows: {And never dare misfortune cross her foot} / And may misfortune never cross her path, {Unless she do it under this excuse:} / Else it befalls her under this excuse: {That she is issue to a faithless Jew} / daughter cross her foot: obstruct her path. This refers to the inauspicious omen of tripping over something when on a journey. Here it could be applied to her journey of life, the journey she is about to take as wife of Lorenzo. Unless she: unless it, unless misfortune. Fate, destiny, and fortuneand in this case misfortunewere attributed to a goddess and female in gender. Thus she refers to the goddess of misfortune and not Jessica. faithless: a) lacking faith in Christ, b) lacking truth, untrustworthy [See Additional Notes, 2.4.37] 20. As stated in a previous note, this reference to a torchbearer does not mean that Jessica is going to be Lorenzos torchbearer at the masque but, symbolically, that she is going to light his way. We might also assume, by way of analogy, that part of the light that Jessica will provide is the light (or brightness) of the gold she is going to gild herself with. Compare this light-giving aspect of Jessica with Portias light-giving in 5.1.129. Come, go with me; [gives Gratziano the letter] peruse this as thou goest. Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. 20 Exeunt ____________________________________________________ 1. {Thou shalt not gormandize} / Thou shall not gluttonize. A curious combination of a Jewish type commandment, thou shalt not and a Christian admonition against gluttony. 2. {And sleep, and snore, and rend apparel out} / And sleep and snore, and wear out all your clothes / And wear out clothes from sitting round all day. / And sleep and snore and wear out the bottom | Of pants from sitting on them all day long. / And sleep, and wear out the seat of your pants | From all your sitting on them all the day. rend: this terms usually implies tearing. In this contextwhere Launcelet sleeps and snores on the jobrend would imply the wearing out of clothes through sitting on them all day, thinning the fabricespecially at the seat of ones pantsmaking them more prone to tears and rips. 3. { Shy: And sleep and snore and rend apparel out Why Jessica, I say! Launce: Why Jessica! Shy: Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Launce: Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.} ACT TWO Scene Five 2.5.0 Venice. Enter Shylock and Launcelet Shylock Well, thou shalt seethy eyes shall be thy judge / shall / will The difference tween old Shylock and Bassanio. {of} [calling] Hey Jessica! Thou shalt not stuff thyself {What} 1 As thou hast done with me. [calling] Hey Jessica! {What} Nor sleep, and snore, and wear out all your pants From sitting round all day. [calling louder] Hey Jessica! {Why} 2 Launcelet Hey Jessica! {Why} Shylock Who bids thee call? Not I. I do not bid thee call. Launcelet Your worship always Told me I could do nothing without bidding. 3 Enter Jessica Jessica Have you been calling me? What is your will? {Call you?} Shylock I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: Here are my keys. But why then should I go? {wherefore} 4. {I am not bid for love. They flatter me}. / I am not bid for friendship nor for love: | They seek to flatter meand nothing more. / I am not bid for love. They +only seek | To, flatter me, +to soften up the Jew., 5. It is odd that, having previously said to Bassanio, I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you[1.3.34], Shylock is now going to eat with him. His motivations, therefore, to eat with Bassanioand go against his wordmust be quite strong. Later he states that he is going in hate to try and eat a lot (and therefore bankrupt the Christian) which is a comical excuse. (And this may be the same reasoning by which he gave his gormandizing servant to Bassanio). By all indications, however, Shylock is going because Antonios closest friend, Bassanio, has offered him something by way of friendship (whereas, in the past, all he received from Antonio was scorn); Shylock also wants to be placed on an equal status with the Christians and wants Antonio to see him (Shylock) being commended by Bassanio. In terms of anti-Semitism, Bassanio is clearly aloof to it. Bassanio, it seems, is somewhat friendly toward Shylock (and may even feel a debt of gratitude towards him) enough so to invite him over to his house for dinner that night. And the uncertain meaning of line 2.2.165 [for I do feast tonight | My best-esteemed acquaintance] could mean that Bassanio is throwing the feast for Shylock or that Shylock is the guest of honor. 6. / There is something about which is disturbing / There is something amiss, which ruins my peace 7. {For I did dream of money bags tonight} tonight: last night. During Elizabethan times, a persons dreams were thought to portend an opposite occurrence in real life. Hence, Shylocks dream of money-bags (bags filled with money) portends its oppositea loss of money. The contemporary understanding of dreams holds that the content of persons dream corresponds to some waking state occurrence rather than the opposite. 8. To realize the original meaning, an additional line was added. / A sign which tells me of some loss to come. / An omen telling me of some great loss / And all the bags were empty of their gold. 9. reproach (scolding, blame): error for approach. Shylock understands the term intended (approach) yet responds in kind to the word reproach. 10. {And they have conspired together} 11. {a masque} 12. Lancelot makes a confused and nonsensical prediction (using various signs and omens) as a way to mockand also dismiss the validity ofShylocks ill-boding dream. We have the impression that Launcelet is aware of the upcoming plan, which is contingent upon Shylock attending the feast, and therefore he does his best to get Shylock to accept the invitation. I am not bid for love. They flatter me. 4 5 But yet Ill go in spite, to feed upon {hate} The wasteful Christian. Jessica, my girl, {prodigal} Care for my house. I am right loathe to go; {Look to} / Attend / Maintain There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest / in my mind 6 For I did dream of money-bags last night {tonight} 7 +A sign which tells of an upcoming loss., / augurs some loss in the future 8 Launcelet I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect your reproach. 9 Shylock As I expect his. {So do I his} Launcelet And they are planning something. I will not say you shall see a masquerade party but if you 10 11 do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black Monday last, at six oclock ithmorning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday, the fourth year in the afternoon. 12 / then it must have been because // Easter Shylock 13. / And the vile squeals of the wry-necked fife-player fife: a small, shrill-toned musical instrument resembling a flute and used mainly with drums to make music which would accompany marching. Fife as well as drum (mentioned in the previous line) could refer to the instrument or the musician playing the instrument. Hence, drum would be a reference to a drummer and fife to a fife-player. wry-necked fife: refers to the image of a flute player who twists his neck and hold his head awry (bent to one side) while playing. McDonnell, however, believes that the squealing of the wry-necked fife might indicate the sound of the wry neck, a bird with a high-pitched call which writhes its head and neck, though this interpretation is a stretch. (In current literature, this line is often misquoted as: the vile squeaking of the wry-necked fife.) 14. {Clamber not you up top the casements then} / Do not arise and look ye out the window // Dont climb you up to the windows to look 15. {By Jacobs staff} This is not a Jewish saying. Jacobs thrift, however, is a characteristic admired by Shylock, and Shylock often identifies with this biblical character. A Jacobs staff referred to a pole which provided a firm foundation for a compass or astronomical instrument. Thus, by Jacobs staff would mean, by that which supports me, or more loosely, by my gut feeling. 16. We find no clear reason as to why Shylock is invited to dinnerunless out of Bassanios gratitude for his having generously loaned him the money, gratis. The feast may be in honor of Shylock. Moreover, we do not know why Shylock consents to go, especially after having made the point, earlier that day, that he (as a Jew) would not eat with a Christian. [1.3.9-30] [See Additional Notes, 2.6.38] 17. {Go you before me, sirrah} sirrah: a low (though not disparaging) term which is often used in reference to a servant. Portia also uses the term when addressing her servants [1.2.129] 18. Hagars offspring: a negative reference to Ishmael, the foolish son of Abrahamss Egyptian concubine, Hagar. Hagar (and her son) left Abrahams house, complaining of his harsh treatment, and later they became outcasts. [Genesis 21:9-21] [See Additional Note, 2.5.43] What, theres a masque? Hear you me, Jessica, {What, are there masques?} / A masquerade? Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, 13 Do not climb you up to the windows then, 14 Nor thrust your head into the public street To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces: / painted // colored masks But plug my houses earsI mean my casements; {stop} // windows Let not the sound of mindless foppry enter {shallow} / folly My somber house. . . . By Jacobs staff I swear 15 I have no mind of feasting forth tonight, / Ive no desire // going out But I will go. [To Launcelet] Go you before me, then, 16 17 Say I will come. Launcelet I will go before, sir. [aside to Jessica] Mistress, look out the window for all this: There will come a Christian by / There a Christian will come by, Will be worth a Jewess eye / Worthy of a Jewess eye. Exit Shylock What says that fool of Hagars offspring, ha? 18 Jessica His words were, farewell mistressnothing more. Shylock 19. patch: dolt, fool, clown. A term referring to the motley or patchwork garb used by professional fools. It might also refer to someone as worthless as a patch of cloth. The terms is used in other plays in the canon, such as A Midsummers Night Dream and The Comedy of Errors. Shylocks complaints are not personal attacks, per se: the brunt of his contempt is directed at Launcelets wastefulness (i.e. his laziness and large appetite) which is at odds with Shylocks thriftiness. 20. {Drones hive not with me} 21. {To one that I would have him help waste} / And now to one with whom he can help waste} / Now to the Christian, so to help him waste 22. This is a mild threat for Jessica to stay put. 23. This common proverb, used from the fifteenth century onwards, means: if you lock things up, then you will be able to keep hold of them. These are Shylocks last words to his daughterand they are mistaken. It turns out that the very opposite is true: He treats his daughter in the same binding way as he would treat his gold or some possession. [See Additional Notes, 2.6. 54] 24. {Farewell; and if my fortune be not crossed | I have a father, you a daughter lost.} I have a father: refers to Jessicas gaining a husband (who will take care of her like a new father); it could also indicate her gaining a holy Father, through her marriage and conversion to Christianity (which involves the loss of her Jewish father and heritage). crossed: a possible punshe is hoping that her fortune be not crossed (i.e., that nothing will cross, thwart, or come in the way of her plan to marry Lorenzo and become a Christian), yet her fortune is crossed in that she is converting to Christianity, symbolized by the cross. The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder. / dolt / fool // eater 19 Snail-slow in working, and he sleeps by day {profit} > producing anything More than the wildcat. Drones that do not work Stay not in my hive. Thus I part with him / let him go /give him up 20 Now to the Christian so he can help waste / with whom he can waste 21 His borrowed purse. Well Jessica, go in, / funds / wealth Perhaps I will return immediately. / return at once. So now 22 Do as I bid and shut doors after you: {you,} //close up Fast bind, fast find A proverb never stale in a thrifty mind. 23 Exit Jessica Farewell, and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a husband, you a daughter lost. / gain {a father} 24 Exit, opposite door ____________________________________________ 1. The stage heading in Q1 reads: Enter the maskers, Gratiano and Salerino. This stage heading is somewhat confusing, both in its reference to Salerino (which seems to indicate Salarino and not Salerio) and to the maskerswhich appears before the character names. Such an anomaly suggests an ad hoc change in the original text. We can assume that the original heading may have read Enter maskers which indicated the entrance of Gratziano, Salarino, and Salanio. Thus, it is likely that a diligent typesetter, wanting to clarify the text, later added the names of Gratiano and Salerino to the heading. The mistaken spelling of Salarino suggests that this name was not part of the original heading (but added later). Thus, with this partial typesetter additionthe addition of Salarino and not Salarino and Salanio most editors assume that Salanio (because he is not specifically listed) is absent from the scene. This, however, is unlikely since Salarino and Salanio were both part of the original planning and both, up til now, have always appeared together. The scene, however, remains unaffected by this minor point and it can be staged with one or both Sals being present. In keeping with the prior action of the play, and the fact that Salarino and Salanio always appear together, both Salarino and Salanio are included in the scene. [See Additional Notes, 2.6.0] 2. The lines in Q1 appear as follows: Gra: Desired us to make stand. Sal: His hour is almost past. Gra: And it is a marvel he outdwells his hour. The first two lines are truncated; and if they are combined they would form a line too long for the standard meter. In addition, Salarino states that Lorenzos hour is almost past whereas Gratziano replies that he outdwells his hour. The lines could remain as they stand, or they could be combined into one standard line. Gra: Told us to wait. Lor: His hour is almost past. / all but past Gra: It is a marvel he prolongs his hour. / outdwells 3. Venus pigeons: May refer to the pigeons that draw Venuss chariot (or carry Venus) though this image is very odd and not consistent with any known mythology. Warburton holds that the original may have read Venus widgeons (which refers to a kind of duck and suggests a wayward and silly bird) though such an emendation would offer no improvement upon the original. Most agree that the subject (the one who seals loves bond) refers to Venus and not to the pigeons that draw her. All said, Venus pigeons probably refers neither to Venus nor her pigeons but should be taken as a metaphor for a somewhat inconsistent lover (a pigeon) who is smitten by love (Venus) and who runs fast to obtain the object of his desire. / O ten times faster fly love-stricken youths / Love-smitten younkers run ten times as fast / A wayward lover runs tens times as fast 4. {To keep obligd faith unforfeited.} obligd: pledged, obligated Salarino is claiming that lovers are very quick to enter a new bond of love (and make all kinds of pledges)rushing in like the doves of Venusyet are just as quick to break those same vows (when some other love interest emerges). / To keep intact their new-made obligations / To keep intact the vows already made / To keep their faith ACT TWO Scene Six 2.6.0 Venice. Enter the maskers, Gratziano, Salarino, and Salanio. 1 Gratziano This is the window under which Lorenzo {penthouse under} / balcony by Desired us to wait. {make stand} Salarino His hour is past. {is almost past} 2 Gratziano It is a marvel he out-dwells his hour, / And tis // that he comes so late For lovers ever-run before the clock. Salarino O, ten times faster fly the doves of Venus {Venus pigeons fly} 3 To seal loves bond new made than they are wont / To newly seal loves bond To keep their well-intentioned vows intact. / meaningful promise // unbroken 4 with vows already made [See Additional Notes, 2.6.7] 5. / With the keen appetite that he sits down? / With the same (/keen) hunger as when he sat down? 6. / The proud vessel / The ship so proud 7. {The scarfed bark puts from her native bay} / The decorated ship leaves from her bay scarfed: refers to something wrapped or adorned with streaming banners, such as the side of a ship (bark) decorated with flags and steamers while it makes a glorious departure from her native port. 8. {the strumpet wind} / a good, strong wind strumpet: refers to something inconsistent, something promising yet unreliable. The terms brings to fore the metaphor of the Prodigal Son and the prostitutes (strumpets) upon whom he wasted his fortune. Here the promising wind is quick to bring ones ship out to sea and, later, it is that same wind which brings the ship to ruin. 9. In Q1 this speech heading is abbreviated as Sal. and could indicate either Salarino or Salanio (depending on which one is listed in the stage heading). Since both characters are present in the scene (which was the likely intention of the author, though not specifically stated in the stage heading), and since both characters should have lines, Salanio is given this line. In terms of staging, Gratziano and Salarino might be lounging around, talking about the pigeons of Venus, while Salanio, who is not talking, first noticesand announcesLorenzos arrival. 10. Such tardiness would put this whole plan in jeopardy since the long delay would give Shylock ample time to return from dinner before Lorenzos arrival. What more pressing affairs could have caused Lorenzo to be so late? Perhaps the delay was brought about by poor planning and last minute demands or because Lorenzo was waiting at Bassanios feast to make sure Shylock was well situated before he departed. 11. father: future father-in-law. Gratziano That ever holds: Who riseth from a feast / Tis always true With the keen hunger of one sitting down? / same 5 Where is the horse that doth retread again {untread} / gallop Another lap with the unbated fire {His tedious measures} // same kind of passion That he did pace the first? All things that are, Are with more spirit chasd than enjoyed. / vigor pursued How like a young man or a prodigal {younker}/ young son The bannered ship leaves from her native bay, / lofty / splendid 6 7 Hugged and escorted by the forceful wind; / embracd / caressd 8 How like the prodigal doth she return With over-weathered ribs and raggd sails, / weather-beaten / a storm-beaten hull Lean, rent, and beggared by the forceful wind! {strumpet} / heady / sturdy / ruthless Enter Lorenzo Salanio 9 Here comes Lorenzomore of this hereafter. Lorenzo Sweet friends, your patience for my long delay. / forgive me for {abode} Not I, but my affairs have made you wait: 10 When you shall please to play the thieves for wives / a wife-stealer Then I will watch as long for you. Come here. {Approach} / Tis here Here dwells my father Jew. [calling] Hey! Whos within? {Howe} 11 Enter Jessica above, dressed as a boy Jessica 12. / Lorenzo certainly, my love indeed 13. Stage direction: a) she throws down the chest filled with goldwhich is painfully caught or b) she is about to throw down the chest but is urged by a group of Nos to carry it down instead. 14. exchange: change of appearance (into a boy), transfiguration 15. {pretty} / artful / petty > comedic, ridiculous 16. Cupid, god of love, is often depicted as blind (and unable to see) thus conveying the sense that love is blind, that it obeys the heart and not outer conditions. Such a Cupid (unable to see Jessica dressed as a boy) would not blush. 17. / To see the way Ive changed into a boy. 18. Lorenzo is using this image figuratively, as per the imagery enlisted in 2.4.22;39. He is saying, you must be the one who brings light and radiance into my life; your light must lead my way in the world. This is in contradiction to Jessicas wish to remain hidden under the cover of night. 19. {They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light} / They are, good heavens, already too light. (my shames are) . . . too too light: a) much too apparent, evident, in full view; b) immodest, unethical. Here Jessica is saying that she does not want her shames (her dressing as a boy or more likely her dishonorable actions with respect to her father) to be further exposed. The reference to light can also carry the meaning of being unfaithful (such as someone who is light in keeping her vows) though this is not Jessicas intended meaning. Later in the play (5.1.129) we hear Portia using the term light (meaning unfaithful) in this sense: Let me give light, but let me know be light: | For a light wife doth make a heavy husband. good sooth: good truth. In sooth means, in truth, to tell you honestly, whereas good sooth is more akin to a light swearing, such as good heavens, good God, or by God. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, / so I am assured /can be sure Although Ill swear that I do know your voice. {Albeit} > all be it / {tongue} Lorenzo Lorenzoand thy love. / your Jessica Lorenzo, surely, and my love indeed {certain} 12 The one I love so much! And now who knows {For who love I so much} But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lorenzo Heaven and my thoughts are witness that thou art. Jessica Here, catch this casketit is worth the pains. 13 Im glad tis night, so you dont look on me, For I am much ashamed of my appearance. {exchange} / new look 14 But love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit; / petty // theyre wont to commit 15 For if they could, Cupid himself would blush 16 To see me thus transformd to a boy. / transformed into 17 Lorenzo Come down, for you must be my torchbearer. {Descend} 18 Jessica What, must I hold a candle to my shames? / bright flame They are, good sooth, already too too light. / far / much 19 20. {Why, tis an office of discovery, love,} / a matter / a function / Why, love is best when kept behind close doors. Jessica is here reflecting some of her fathers manner, desiring to keep things hidden behind closed doors. 21. {Even} To preserve the iambic meter, even would be pronounced as een. 22. lowly: Q1 has louely, which is an old spelling of lowly but could also be read as lovely. Lowly does not quite fit, since the garb of a boy is not lowly: lovely ties in more closely with sweet, and would be said in playful jest, especially is light of Jessicas embarrassment. 23. {But come at once}. The line is truncated for no appreciable reason and is likely in error. In Q1, these four syllables are added to the end of the previous line, thus producing a line with seven iambs (as opposed to five): {Even in the lovely garnish of a boy, but come at once}. This line could be preserved in its truncated form or emended with three additional iambs: / But come at once +and make no more delays, 24. {For the close night doth play the runaway} / The covring night doth quickly run away close: covering, secretness; darkness of night, which conceals. play the runaway: is running away, is speeding by, is passing quickly. This is also a reference to Jessica, who is running away. 25. It seems that someone at Bassanios feast is waiting for them. Thus they are urged to hurry in order to make a clean getaway before arousing suspicion (by their absence at the masque). stayed for: waited for. The term stay (wait) also appears in 59 (Our masquing mates by this time for us stay) and 63 (Tis nine oclock: our friends all stay for you). [See Additional Notes, 2.6.48] 26. guild myself: provide myself with more ducats. It also carries the implication of dressing or gilding herself with more gold, in the same way that an ornament might be gilded with gold. [See Moroccos choice of the gold casket, which takes place in the next scene, and which carries the ominous warning he finds on the scroll: Gilded timbers do worms enfold (2.7. 69)] Here again we see a conflict in Jessica: she wants to remain hidden (and not hold a candle to her shame); she wants her affections to remain behind closed doors, yet here she is gilding herself in gold, and putting herself in a position to be seen. Certainly, though she acts in hiding, everyone is going to hear about her actionsand some might even see her actions as directly linked to Shylocks anger and his demand for payment on the bond. 27.{Beshrew me but I love her heartily} / Forswear me if she is not my beloved / Reprove me but with all my heart I love her Beshrew me: A mild swear akin to curse me > derived from the injury which comes from the bite of a shrew. but: if not, if I dont > Let me be bitten by a shrew if I dont love her heartily Why, tis loves nature to remain in hiding, / concealed 20 And I should be concealed. / I too {obscured} Lorenzo So are you, sweet, Een in the lovely garnish of a boy. / lowly / outfit 21 22 But come at once +and tarry you no further,: 23 For the covring of night soon runs away / will soon depart 24 And we are stayed for at Bassanios feast. / And were expected 25 Jesssica I will make fast the doors, and guild myself 26 With some more ducats, and be with you straight. Exit above Gratziano Now, by my word, shes more gentile than Jew. {by my hood} / I do swear Lorenzo You can berate me if I do not love her 27 For she is wiseif I can be the judge; {if I can judge of her} 28. / Shall she be carried, always, in my soul. 29. {What, are thou come! On gentlemen, away.} What, art thou come!: / How beautiful! > How beautifully thou art come! / What beauty has come! Gentlemen away 30. on gentlemen away: Q1 has {What, art thou come, on gentleman away} which many editions emend in the form of a question: What, are thou come? On, gentleman, away! But to whom does the term gentleman refer? (Jessica is disguised as a boy and not a gentleman). F1 has: On gentlemen, away which is more likely and more fitting the scene (and this is a term which could refer to Salarino and Salanio, and it could include Jessica in jest). Thus we can suspect that the original term may have been gentlemen which may have been changed to gentleman by a well-meaning typesetter (the same one who corrected the stage heading by adding the name Salerino to it). This likelihood also supports the notion that both Salarino and Salanio are present in this scene. 31. {What, art thou come! On, gentlemen, away | Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.} / . . . On gentlemen, away | Lets go before we cause too much dismay / . . . On gentlemen, lets go | Let us get far before our friends eer know. masquing mates: fellow party-goers who will be at Bassanios masquerade party. The masqing mates may be waiting for this group to arriveyet it is unlikely that Lorenzo is going to the ball to meet them. The command on gentlemen is more likely a prompting (along with For the close of night doth play the runaway) that they make their getaway before their masquing mates notice they are not at the feast (and go out looking for them). Despite Lorenzos excitement about having a torchbearer (someone to herald his entrance) the masque is the last place they want to be seen; the plan is to exit the city, under cover of night, while everyone in distracted with the masque. [See Additional Notes, 2.6.59] 32. In 2.8 Salarino tells Salanio of Bassanios departure and so he must have gotten off the gondola and proceeded to the masque (where he might have been employed as a distraction or to offer an excuse as to Lorenzos whereabouts). Meanwhile Salanio helped Lorenzo and Jessica steal away from Venice (while everyone was busy with the masque). Lorenzos last line, Our masquing mates by this time for us stay, should be taken as an indication to make haste, since by this time their masquing mates (friends at the party) are waiting for their arrival and, as the hour grows late, they might get ancy and go out looking for them, which might draw notice and suspicion. As it turns out, everyone at the masque became acutely aware that Gratziano (and likely Lorenzo) was missing, because 20 men were sent out in search of him. 33. The timing of Antonios arrival, and his meeting with Gratziano near Shylocks house, is amiss. Antonio would not be going out in search of Gratziano with Bassanios departure so immanent (for Antonio had already sent out 20 men to find him). Rather, Antonio would be eking out his time with Bassanio. [See Additional Notes, 2.6.60] And fair she isif that mine eyes be true; And true she isas she hath proved herself; And therefore, like herselfwise, fair, and true Shall she be carried in my constant soul. {placd} / faithful / deepest 28 Enter Jessica What, beauty art thou! Gentlemen, away, {What, art thou come!} 29 30 Let us make ground awhile the maskers play. / make haste / depart / be gone 31 32 Exeunt Lorenzo, Jessica, Salarino, and Salanio Enter Antonio 33 Antonio Whos there? Gratziano Signior Antonio? Antonio 34. {where are all the rest?} / where is everyone? We are not sure whom Antonio is referring to when he says all the rest. He might be inquiring about Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio, whom Antonio believed was with Gratziano all this time (and may have made for his delay) but Antonio, curiously, finds Gratziano all alone. 35. {No masque tonight, the wind is come about.} / No masque for you tonightthe wind has come no masque: one reading of this could indicate that the masquerade party, planned for that night, has been cancelled (due to Bassanios departure) or that the masque is already overboth scenarios of which are unlikely. More likely, no masque tonight refers to no masque for Gratziano, as he must set sail immediately. It could also be played as a literal reference to the mask that Gratziano is wearing (which Antonio pulls off when he says no masque tonightthus implying that Gratziano should take off the mask he is wearing, stop his fun and games, and attend to the task of readying himself for departure. the wind is come about: the wind has turned favorable (which now allows Bassanio to make a swift departure to Belmont). From the foregoing action it appears that Bassanio borrows the money from Shylock in the morning, makes preparations in the afternoon, puts on a feast in the evening, and intends to depart the next day. Yet, the winds having turned favorable (and Bassanio impatiently wanting to get to Belmont without delay) he decides to depart immediatelyright in the middle of his own feast. Owing to the fact that Portia has many known suitors, and any delay in Bassanios trip to Belmont would diminish his chances of winning here, an immediate departure (the very same day as he acquires the money) is to be expected. The time frame implicated by the action is, of course, not consistent with Shylocks bond, which is for three months; Bassanio hears of the expiration of Shylocks bond the very day he arrives in Belmont, which would imply that the bond expired on the very day it was made. 36. {Bassanio presently will go aboard} / Bassanio now awaits aboard his ship / And now Bassanios ship will go abroad 37. Antonio says that the wind has come aboutwhich prompts Bassanio to make a hasty departure, right in the middle of the party he is throwingyet wind is not a factor in travel to Belmont: throughout the play, people go back and forth between Venice and Belmont without any need of favorable wind. [See Additional Notes, 2.6.66] 38. Gratziano, the ultimate party man, would have little reason to delight upon hearing that the masque was cancelled unless there was something greater which he desired, and which could only be found on Belmont. 39. In the Kean production of 1858, Jessica is swept away by Lorenzo and departs in a whirl of carnival figures. Straight after, Shylock makes an entrance and a slow walk across the stage; he then knocks twice on the door to his house and there is no answer. A long silence follows and then the curtain falls. Some productions have Shylock enter his house, and sensing the ill-brood of Jessicas absence, cries out her namewith no answer. Fie Gratziano! Where are all the rest? {Fie, fie} / Damn it 34 Tis nine oclock; our friends all stay for you. / wait No masque tonight, the wind has come about, 35 And now Bassanio is aboard his ship. 36 I have sent twenty out to seek for you. / men to look for you. 37 Gratziano Im glad of it: I seek no more delight, {I am glad ont} {desire} / wish Than to be under sail and gone tonight. 38 Exeunt 39 ___________________________________________ 1. Some editors, following Capell, add the stage direction here to signify Moroccos entrance. However, Moroccos arrival has already been announced, and he is already in residence. Some editors also add jflourish of cornettsk at the end of the scene, with Moroccos exit, which is also unlikely. 2. / The first of gold, which offers this inscription: / presenting / delivring 3. The inscriptions on the caskets, found in the source story, Gesta Romanorum, (1595), are as follows: Gold: Who so chooseth me shall find what he deserves. Silver: Who so chooseth me shall find what his nature desires. Lead: Who so chooseth me shall find what God has disposed for him. [See Additional Notes, 2.7.9] 4. withal: with all. I am yours withal = I am all yours, all of what is mine is yours / If you chose that, then I am wholly yours ACT TWO - Scene Seven 2.7.0 Portias house at Belmont. 1 A flourish of cornetts. Enter Portia and the Prince of Morocco, with their attendants Portia [to servant] Go, draw aside the curtains and disclose {discover} / reveal The triple caskets for this noble prince. {several} / choice of The curtains are drawn aside and three caskets are revealed Now make your choice. The Prince examines each one Morocco The first of gold, which this inscription bears: {who} 2 Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. The second, silver, which this promise carries: Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. The third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt: / just Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. 3 [to Portia] How shall I know if I do chose the right? / right one Portia The one of them contains my picture, Prince; If you choose that, then all of mine is yours. {then I am yours withal} 4 Morocco Some god direct my judgement. Let me see I will inspect thinscriptions once again. {survey} {back} What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard for lead? / Risk all This casket threatens: Men that hazard all / who 5. {Do it in hope of fair advantages} fair advantages: gaining something not fully deserved / Do so in hope of quick and feeble gain 6. {A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross} shows of dross: worthless displays 7. virgin hue: silver is the color of the moon, and Diana, the virgin goddess, is the moons goddess. (Kittredge) 8. {estimation} / reputation / own repute 9. / If estimated by mine worthiness | I do deserve enough 10. / Would be to lower and debase myself / Would be to weaken and debase my value 11. qualities of breeding: more suggestive of Arabian horses than a royal bloodline. This is an image favored by Morocco but may be ill-suited for European sentiments. 12. this shrine: a container for the relics (and/or bones) of a saint. Morocco refers to the Portia as a shrinean object of worshipbut, realizing that a shrine may also refer to a tomb, which contains a dead saint, quickly corrects himself with a modifier, calling Portia, a mortal breathing saint. 13. {The Hyrcanian deserts and vasty wilds} / The unrelenting deserts and vast wilds Q1 = vastie; F1 = vast. Hyrcania: an area south of the Caspian Sea known for its wilderness. 14. {The watry kingdom, whose ambitious head} ambitious head: / high-reaching waves 15. spits: the image of a waves crest spewing water into the air 16. {is no bar} / has no chance / is no barrier / cannot slow / cannot stymie | Nor stop Do so in hope of some untoward advantage. / unseemly gain / of undeservd gain 5 A golden mind stoops not to petty schemes. / lowly 6 Ill neither give nor hazard all for lead. {Ill then nor} {aught} What says the silver with her virgin hue? / moonlike 7 Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. As much as he deserves. Pause there Morocco / stay / stop And weigh thy value with an even hand. / a steady If thou be valued by thine worthiness, {best} {rated} 8 Thou dost deserve enough and yet enough 9 May not extend so far as to the lady. And yet to be afraid of my deserving {afeared} // fear what I truly deserve Would be a weak disabling of myself. {Were but} // debasing / discredit 10 As much as I deservewhy, thats the lady! I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, In graces, and in qualities of breeding / In manner // in royal ancestry 11 But more than these, in love I do deserve. / deserve her What if I strayed no further, but chose here? Lets see, once more, this saying graved in gold: / carved > engraved Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. Why thats the lady! All the world desires her. From the four corners of the earth they come To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint. 12 The Persian deserts and the vasty wilds / wilderness / barren wilds 13 Of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now For every prince to come and view fair Portia. The watry kingdom whose high-reaching wave / raging ocean {ambitious head} 14 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar / barrier // cannot block 15 16 17. foreign spirits: men of courage and determination (who hail from foreign lands). 18. {As oer a book to see fair Portia} Two lines, above, replace one line in the original. / To glimpse one moment of fair Portia 19. / It is revolting / obscene / repugnant / unthinkable 20. {To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave} cerecloth: waxed cloth which corpses were wrapped in for burial obscure: a) dark, distant b) common, undistinguished, forgotten It is an insult to think that she (her image) could be found in lead, or wrapped in a wax cerecloth, both of which suggest the status of a commonerone who gets buried in an obscure or unmarked grave. 21. insculpted upon: engraved upon the surface. This obscure word is found in the English translation of Gesta Romanorum, the source from which the Author borrowed the casket story: The third vessel was made of lead, full within of precious stones, and thereupon was insculpt this posey: Who so chooseth me, shall find what God has disposed for him. [See Additional Notes, 2.7.9] 22. / Could eer be set in something worse than gold. / Was ever set There is a coin in England, stamped in gold, / They have That bears the figure of a radant angel But thats insculped on the outer surface; / engraved upon 23. It is the picture of Portia, representing Portia, which lies within. 24. / Here I do choose, deliver me the key | And let my fortune fall as it may be. / I will stop heredeliver me the key | Here I do choose, and thrive as I may be. 25. The original reads: {Stamped in gold, but thats insculped upon; But here an angel in a golden bed Lies all within. Deliver me the key. Here I do choose, and thrive as I may.} The word key may have been pronounced kay and thus the intent of the original was for Moroccos speech to end in a final rhyme. (This was also the case with Bassanios speech before the caskets but not quite with Arragons: Arragons last line ends with here, rhyming with Portias next line, ending with there.) To stop these dauntless suitors, who but leap {foreign spirits} {but they come} 17 +Across her vast expanse,, as oer a brook, / twere To catch one sight of the fair Portia. / glimpse 18 One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Ist like that lead contains her? Twere damnation / Couldt be To think so base a thought. It is too gross {were} / It is abhorrent 19 That she be wrapped in common cerecloth Like one whos buried in the obscure grave. / one interred in the forgotten 20 Or shall I think in silver shes immured, / enclosed / contained Which holds one-tenth the value of tried gold? {Being ten time undervalued} / true / pure O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold. They have in England / less > anything less valuable A coin that bears the figure of an angel Stamped in gold; but thats insculpted upon / engraved upon 21 22 The surfacehere an angel lies within! 23 Deliver me the key, and straight away Here do I choose, and prosper as I may. 24 25 Portia There, take it, prince. And if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Morocco unlocks the golden casket 26. Q1 reads: Gilded timber do worms infold. To rectify the meter, most editions follow Johnsons emendation and change timber to tombs. Rowe, however corrects the meter by replacing timber with woodwhich is close in meaning to the supposed original. Replacing timber with coffin would be a more exact fit, yet disrupt the meter. Timber refers to a wood coffin, which is gilded on the outside but which decays and becomes enfolded with worms. A tomb (which is associated with stone and which lies above ground) may be gilded but is not likely to be enfolded with worms 27. {Cold indeed and labour lost | Then farewell heat, and welcome frost} Moroccos first two lines follow the same rhyme scheme as the scroll (which is also the case with the lines spoken by Arragon and Bassanio after the scroll); his next two lines, however, revert back to the standard iambic meter. This anomaly produces a rhythmic break between the meter of Moroccos first rhyming pair and his second. The four lines could be left as is, with the different meters (8-8-10-10) or one could preserve the meter of the first two lines, and conform the next two lines to the same meter (8-8-8-8). Or, the first lined pair could conform with the second, having all four lines in iambic pentameteryet this would not be consistent with the post-scroll meter found in Arragon and Bassanio. 28. This is a paraphrased inversion of the old proverb, Farewell, frost: Therefore are you so foule, and so, farewell, frost. (Lillys Mother Bombie); Farewell, frost, will you needes be gone (Wapulls Tyde Taryeth No Man, 1576) 29. {Portia, adieu, I have too grieved a heart: | To take a tedious leave, thus losers part.} / To stay a long good-byeand thus I part. 30. Some editions add jflourish of cornettsk as part of this stage direction. This direction is not found in any of the quartos. Morocco has just lost the contest and is leaving in disgracehardly the kind of exit one would want to herald with cornetts. If a flourish of cornetts was added here, it would have to be unconvincing, deflated, and, comedicand perhaps quashed in midstream by a sensitive gentleman from Portias train. 31. complexion: most notably refers to Moroccos dark complexion (and Portias dislike of it), though it could also be a politically correct reference to Moroccos manner or disposition (as the term complexion can also have this meaning, as it does in[3.1.28]). / For such good riddance, I have fate to blame, | May all with his vainglory chose the same. Morocco O hell! What have we here? A hideous skull, within whose empty eye {A carrion death} There is a written scroll. Ill read the writing: All that glitters is not gold; {glisters} Often have your heard that told. / this Many a man his life hath sold, For the outside to behold, {But my} / Just the / Only Gilded tombs do worms enfold. / graves {infold} 26 Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgement old, / but > but in Your answer had not been inscrolled / fate would not be so Fair you well, your suit is cold. Tis cold indeed, and labor lost. {Cold indeed} Now farewell heat and welcome frost. {Then} 27 28 Portia I have too grieved a heart / And here For tedious leave, and so I part. / For long good-byes // thus I depart 29 Exit with his attendants 30 Portia A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go Let all of his complexion choose me so. 31 Exeunt ________________________________________________ 1. This portion of the text, where the two Sals are talking to each other (and filling in crucial details about the main characters) shows why two similar characters were added to the text (as part of a later draft). The function of these two characters has no bearing on the action of the play; their function is to inform the audience with respect to unseen action involving the main characters. [For an further discussion of the names, See Additional Notes, 2.8.0] 2. Only someone of considerable influence (and in utter desperation) could wake the Duke and summon him from his house to investigate a minor incident. 3. / That someone saw Lorenzo, and his love | Jessica, fleeing in a gondola. 4. / That they were not aboard Bassanios ship 5. so oddly spoke: {so variable} / conflicted / out of whack / disparate / discordant 6. my Christian ducats: this line indicates the confusion between Shylocks sense of loss in regards to his ducats and his daughterboth of which are seen as property. This line echoes a line found in Marlows play, The Jew of Malta. [See Additional Note, 2.8.15]. 7. two rich and precious stones: Later there is a reference to a diamond purchased in Frankfort for 2000 ducats [3.1.80] but we do not know what the second stone might be; it could be the turquoise ring, which Shylock references later, but it is unlikely that he would refer to the ring as a precious stone. ACT TWO - Scene Eight 2.8.0 Venice. Enter Salarino and Salanio. 1 Salarino Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail, And Gratzianos gone along with him. {With him is Gratziano gone along} Im sure Lorenzo is not on their ship. / has not gone with them Salanio The villain Jew with outcries roused the Duke, {raised} / woke Who went with him to search Bassanios ship. 2 Salarino He came too late; the ship was under sail. / had just left port But there the Duke was givn to understand / made That seen together, in a gondola, Were young Lorenzo and his amorous love. / his Jessica 3 Besides, Antonio assured the Duke {certified} / well-assured They were not with Bassanio in his ship. 4 Salanio I never heard an outburst so confused, {a passion} So strange, outlandish, and so oddly spoke {outrageous} / excessive // dissident 5 As the dog Jew did utter in the streets: [mimicing] My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! 6 Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter! A seald bag, two seald bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stoln from me by my daughter! And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, 7 Stoln by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! 8. / England and France 9. / I thought it might be good Antonios ship 10. Thus, Salarino was present at Bassanios departure while Salanio was not. 11. {Of his return. He answered, Do not so} / Bassanio told him hed return with haste. | To which Antonio said, Do not do so; 12. {Slumber not business for my sake, Bassanio} Q1 has the term slumber which Q2, F, and virtually all modern editors emend as slubber. slubber: to perform with haste and/or with lack of care; sully, spoil, ruin slubber not business: dont rush or hurry with your affairs slumber not business: dont sleep on the job; be attentive to the task at hand. In modern English, the term slumber is readily recognized (and would be understood in the context of Antonios statement) whereas the term slubber is not readily recognized and might bring up amiss associations with slobber or blubber. 13. {But stay the very riping of the time} 14. / Be joyous; let your only concern be / foremost She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats! Salarino Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, His stones, his daughter, and his ducats! Salanio Let good Antonio look to keep his day. {look he keep} // forfeit not Or he shall pay for this. Salarino Ay, well remembered {Marry} // By Mary I conversed with a Frenchman yesterday {I reasoned} / Id spoken Who told me, in the narrow seas that part / dividing / between The French and English, there did overturn {miscarrid}/ overturnd // was dashed to pieces 8 A vessel of our country, fraught with riches. {richly fraught} I thought about Antonio when he told me, {upon} 9 And wished in silence that it were not his. Salanio Youre best to tell Antonio what you hear; {You are} / Tis / heard Yet do it gently, else it may grieve him. {Yet do not suddenly, for it} Salarino A kinder gentleman treads not this earth: / man walks not upon I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. 10 Bassanio told him he would make some speed Of his return. Antonio said, Do not; / No, no 11 Rush not your heart for my sake, Bassanio, 12 But stay until the time has fully ripened. / ripening of time 13 As for the Jews bond which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind or heart: {of love} Be joyous and employ your chiefest thoughts {merry} // engage /// highest 14 15. {To courtship and such fair ostents of love} fair ostents of love: / fair displays of love / fair showings of love ostent: a shortened form of ostentation. Ostents, as used here, means to show or display, whereas the term ostentation carries the meaning of a grand, pompous, or even pretentious display. 16./ As shall arise in your heart when youre there At this point, Antonio still believes that Bassanio is going to Belmont in order to win Portia in a conventional scenario, which would involve wooing and courtship, and fair ostents of love. This is the scenario that was first presented to Antonio in 1.1 and the one he still believes to be true. Antonio has not been told of the true nature of Bassanios hazardous venture which involves a chance drawing of caskets. [See Essays: The Lottery] 17. And then, right there, his eyes abound with tears / afresh / adorned / aflow // filled / bursting 18. {Turning his face, he put his hand behind him} This image painted by Salarino suggests that Antonio says good-bye to Bassanio and then puts his hand behind him (Bassanio) in an affectionate, half-embrace. Alternatively, it might indicate that Antonio says good-bye to Bassanio, turns his face to go, but wanting one final touch, Antonio (without looking back) puts his hand behind himself, and reaches back to touch Bassanio. The first image suggests that Antonio half-embraces Bassanio and then wrings his hand; the second image suggests that Antonio reaches back and wrings Bassanios hand. 19. {And with affection wondrous sensible} / And with his love so fully evident wondrous sensible: amazingly evident (to the senses) 20. {He wrung Bassanios hand, and so they parted} It seems unlikely that this amazingly evident display of affection would culminate with a regular handshake, after such displays as hugging and kissing were over. More likely, it indicates one, last desperate attempt to touch Bassanio, however so slight, by Antonio. To simplify this image, the handshake was replaced with a kiss. 21. / And even there, among the onlookers, His eyes were big with tears. Turning his face, He put his arms around him, then with great Affection, showing wondrous emotion 22. {I think he only loves the world for him} / I think his only love in life is him. / I think Bassanio is the world to him. / I think he liveth only for Bassanio. 23. / And steal the sorrow he doth now embrace To courtship and such fair ostents of love / To win her with // displays 15 As shall most fittingly become you there. {conveniently} // come to 16 And then, right there, his eyes aflow with tears, {And even there} / And on the spot 17 He turned his face and put his arms around him, 18 And with affection, so fully displayed, expressed / apparent / evident 19 He kissed Bassanios cheek, and so they parted. / thus 20 21 Salanio His only love in this world is for him. 22 I pray thee, let us go and find Antonio {find him out} To quicken his embracd heaviness / lighten 23 With some delight or other. / and laughter Salarino So we shall. {Do we so} / Let us go Exeunt _______________________________________________ 1. / Quick, quick, draw back the curtain straight away / Quick, I pray, draw the curtain straight away straight: right away / straight away 2. {And comes to his election presently} 3. / And should you choose the one containing me 4. {Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized} / Straight shall we go to church and there be married 5. / You must be gone from hence immediately 6. / To chose the right casket, neer in my life 7. {Immediately to leave you and be gone.} 8. / These are the terms to which all men must swear 9. / Who chance to win my less than worthy self / Who chance to win my undeserving self worthless: insignificant, less than worthy (when compared to the worth of these great suitors). This is a false show of modesty. ACT TWO - Scene Nine 2.9.0 Belmont. Enter Nerissa and a Servant Nerissa Quickly, I pray theedraw the curtain straight. / now 1 The Prince of Arragon has taen his oath And comes at once to make his choice of caskets. 2 A servant draws back the curtain, revealing the three caskets. jA flourish of cornetts.k Enter the Prince of Arragon, Portia, and attendants Portia Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince. If you chose that wherein my pictures found, {I am contained} 3 Straightaway shall we take our nuptial vows. / Then straightaway well take 4 But should you fail, without another word, / more speech, my lord My lord, you must depart from hence at once. / be gone 5 Arragon I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: / obliged > obligated, bound First, never to disclose to anyone {unfold} / reveal Which casket twas I chose. Next, if I fail Of the right casket, never in my life 6 To join a maid by way of marriage. Lastly, {woo} If I do fail in fortune of my choice, To leave at once and forever be gone. / forthwith 7 Portia To these injunctions everyone doth swear / conditions 8 Who comes to hazard for my worthless self. / lowly 9 Arragon 10. {And so I have addressed me} / And Ive attended to them / And thus Ive taken the vows addressed me: I have addressed (and fulfilled) these injunctions by taking the required vows. 11. / You must have greater value than mere lead 12. Arragon dismisses the lead casket in one line saying, you must look more beautiful before I would risk anything upon you ( You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard). In other words, he makes his decision based upon looks and not consideration of the inscription. Then, ironically, the bulk of his speech is dedicated to condemning those who judge by outer appearance and the fool multitude that choose by show. 13. / Before I should give or hazard on you 14. Previous two lines replace one line in the original: {You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard} 15. / And yet that many may well indicate 16. The original reads: {What many men desire? That many may be meant | By the fool multitudes}. The line is competent enough but contains an additional (and superfluous iamb); it is unlikely that the learned Arragon would stray from the standard meter where there was no reason to do so. The original most likely would have read: What many men desire may be meantwith Arragon referring back to the last portion of the inscription (what many men desire) rather than one word (many). In this version, the standard meter has been preserved. 17. / Not seeing past the fondness of their eyes / Not seeing past what attracts their attention fond eyes: that which is attractive to the eye and which appeals to the outer senses (and thereby lacking true inner vision and wisdom) 18. {martlet}: a bird, probably referring to the house-martin or swift 19. / Exposing it to hazardous conditions 20. {Even in the force and road of casualty} / And well upon the highway to disaster / Which is the road unto harm and casualty / Putting itself in danger and in harms way / Een at the risk of injury and death / Subject to hazard, danger, and destruction [See Additional Notes, 2.9.29] 21. / Because I wont commune / Because I shallnt conspire 22. {Because I will not jump with common spirits} jump with: run the same course as, be in agreement with, be associated with, be allied with, etc. 23. / And be so ranked with the barbarous masses / And have me ranked with the ignorant hordes 24. / and to show ones honor And so am I obligd. Fortune now / And thus have I so pledgd 10 To my hearts hope! Gold, silver, and base lead: Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. xxx You must have greater beauty than mere lead 11 12 Ere I should give or hazard all on you. / Before I 13 14 What says the golden chest? Ah, let me see: {Ha} Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. What many men desire may indicate / may but suggest / may refer to 15 16 The foolish multitudes that choose by show. / ignorant masses Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach / than what fond eye teaches 17 Which pries not inwardly but like the martlet / looks / seeks {to theinterior} 18 Doth build its nest upon the outer wall Therein exposing it to harsh conditions, 19 Een at the risk of hazard and disaster. / And in the way 20 I will not chose what many men desire Because I will not jump with common sorts, / move // common souls / commoners 21 22 And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. / class / stand 23 Now then, to thee, thou silver treasure-house, Tell me once more what title thou dost bear: / saying // inscription thou bear Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. And well said too! For who shall go about / For what man shall attempt To cozen fortune by a show of honor / To cheat ones / Beguiling 24 25. {O, that estates, degrees, and offices} / O that position, wealth, and higher office estates: a) one privilege, ones position, b) ones wealth, ones fortune, what one owns degrees: rank, position 26. {Were purchased by the merit of the wearer} / procured / Were found upon the worth of those who wear it. 27. / Were not obtained through some corrupted means; / deceitful And that true honor were justly bestowed In accord with the worth of those who wear it. 28. {How many then should cover that stand bare!} cover: succeed, be covered with the dress of success, wear (cover themselves with) a suit of dignity, b) cover that: who now that stand bare: a) those who have nothing, who stand naked (without wealth or honor), b) the bare head of servants, who do not wear a hat in the presence of their masters. A) How many then (if rank and position were not derived corruptly) should cover their bare headsas they do nowwith hats or crowns, to signify their true honor?none. B) How many then should keep their hats on (cover their heads) when those of presumed rank passed by?everyone. (No one would doff his hat as a sign of respect). / All would have covered heads as they pass by / All would keep their hats on as they pass by C) How many then, would succeed, that now have nothing? How many then, who now stand bare (without recognition) would be covered with medals (signifying honor)?a few. [See Additional Notes, 2.9.43] 29. The next six lines are somewhat vague (and the metaphors used are inconsistent) but their intent is clear: Arragon is saying that those who now have honor are not deserving of it (and that the honor they show was derived corruptly). Two of the lines, however, could be interpreted more amicably: one could mean that among those who are low (with bare heads) some are worthy and could wear the hats normally worn by dignitaries (signifying honor); the other, that among the chaff and ruin some are truly honorableand could be made to appear that way with the right exterior coating (varnish). For the most part, however, all the lines are emended to reflect Arragons view that those who are currently in the place of honor are undeserving of it, (rather than the more complex image that among those who are poor and lowly could be found people who are deserving of honor). In an attempt to rectify the metaphor (and preserve its agricultural references) Bailey (1862) emends the passage as follows: How much low peasants rye would then be screend | From the true seed of honor! and how much seed | Pickd from the chaff and strewings of the temse | To be new garnerd ! (Temse refers to a kind of sieve). Bailey notes that the term peasantry is not found in any of Shakespeares dramas. [See Additional Notes, 2.9.48] 30. {How much low peasantry would then be gleaned} Q reads, how much low peasantry, whereas F reads, how much low pleasantry. low peasantry: lowliness, low rank or conduct of a peasant low pleasantry: low remarks of humor; low courteous remarks; lip service, facetiousness 31. {From the true seed of honor} / From so-called noblemen 32. [See Additional Notes, 2.9.48] 33. {I will assume desert. Give me a key for this} Without the seal of merit? Let none presume {stamp} / badge / mark To wear an undeservd dignity. / worthiness O that ones status, wealth, and high position 25 Were not derived corruptly; and that true honor / by falsehood {clear} / bright Were rightly earned by those who deem to wear it. 26 27 How many then should be without their crowns! / medals 28 29 How many that command would be commanded! How much low peasantry would then be gleaned / culled // could we extract 30 From those of noble birth; and how much honor / royal blood 31 Amply bestowed upon our dignitaries / Decorated // Amply awarded to Would be but varnish? Well, but to my choice: 32 Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. I will assume what I rightly deserve; I choose the silver chest. Give me a key, 33 34. {I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, | And instantly unlock my fortunes here} / I will assume desertgive me the key | To claim my prize for all the world to see. / I will assume desertthe key for this | To instantly unlock my prize of bliss 35. Unlike Moroccos soliloquy, Arragon makes no mention of Portia, only himself. Morocco mentions both himself and the lady; Bassanio mentions neither himself nor the lady. 36. Here, as in 2.9.78, Portias subsequent line rhymes with Arragons previous line. The original reads: Arr: And instantly unlock my fortunes here. Arr: Patiently to bear my wroth. Por: Too long a pause for that which you find there. [52] Por: Thus hath the candle singed the moth. [78] In this emendation (unlike the original) Arragon closes with a rhyming couplet. As such, the triplicate rhyme added by Portia may not be necessary. 37. Arragon misquotes the inscription which suggests that he is recalling it, not actually reading it. 38. / By your own hand, you have rendered a verdict / By you own choice, O prince, you gave a verdict 39.{To offend and judge are distinct offices | And of opposd natures.} Portia is saying: One who offends (Arragon), due to lack of wisdom, cannot be in a position to judge or give sentence (since this requires wisdom). In other words, an offender is in no position to judge himself; someone qualified to judge would not have committed the offence in the first place. If Portia is being asked by Arragon to be the judge (and overrule the verdict), she is politely excusing herself. She does not want to offend Arragon by personally agreeing with the verdict; nor does she need be in the position of judge since Arragons own choice has already rendered judgement. [See Additional Notes, 2.9.60] 40. / Need I be judge of that? / Tis not my place to judge || And what is here? / I need not be the judge of that. || Whats here? 41. {The fire seven times tried this} tried: refined, purified [See Moroccos use of the term, 2.7.53] 42. Q1 reads as follows: The fire seven times tried this Seven times that judgement is, To claim my prize and my fortune to be. / And heres 34 35
He opens the silver casket and pauses Portia Too long a pause for that which you find there. / you do see / would agree 36 Arragon Whats here? The portrait of a blinking idiot. / dull-eyed Presenting me a schedule. I will read it. / with a scroll How much unlike art thou to Portia! How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves. 37 Did I deserve no more than a fools head! Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? > Is what I deserve Portia By your own hand, O Prince, your choice is made; / you made your choice 38 Can I be judge of that? / Need // I need not be the judge 39 40 Arragon And what is here? He reads Five times fire did burn this; {try} > purify 41 42 That did never choose amiss, Some there be that shadows kiss, Such have but a shadows bliss: There be fools alive Iwis (I wis) Silvered oer, and so was this. Take what wife you will to bed, I will ever be your head: So be gone, you are sped. 43. {That did never choose amiss} / Choose you now another miss / That did never choose iwis 44.{There be fools alive Iwis} Iwis: certainly, assuredly, for sure; I know, I think. The capitalization suggests that the original intent was probably I wis, or I know. 45. {Silvered oer, and so was this} silvered oer: a) Dressed up with the appearance of merit, perhaps donning some silver medals. This reference specifically implicates Arragon for the very thing he so diligently condemned in othersundeserved worth. b) The silver or gray hair found on aged persons, who are considered wise (due to age) but who are, indeed, fools. 46. {Take what wife you will to bed} This line speaks of taking a wife to bed, yet the vow forbids a suitor from ever taking a wife should he choose the wrong casket. A possible rendering might be: Take your vanished wife to bed. Vanished plays on the words vanity, vanquished. Here a vanished wife refers to a wife that Arragon will never haveas all he will ever take to bed is the thought of having a wife. 47. {I will ever be your head} This suggests that I (the head of a blinking idiot) will ever be Arragons head. (Arragon will always have the head of an idiot). As an alternative, the line could read: I will eer be in your head. This suggests that thoughts about losing the lottery (and thoughts about this idiot head) will ever be in Arragons mind (and Arragon will ever come to think of himself as a fool for failing at the lottery). 48. / Sweet adieuIll keep my vow, | Bearing sorrow, then as now. || To your good choice, O prince, I bow / And to my fortune I do bow. / A moth into the flamesand how! / Sweet adieu, my oath Ill keep | With but patience as I weep || Ay, one more night of restful sleep. / Sweet adieu, my life Ill wait | Patiently to bear my fate || Thank God tis not a moment late. 49. {Sweet, adieu. Ill keep my oath, | Patiently to bear my wroath.} Por: {Thus hath the candle singed the moath} wroath: wroth > a variant of ruth (sorrow, grief). Due to the spelling, it is likely that oath and wroath were meant to form a triplicate rhyme with moath. In modern pronunciation, the rhyme between oath and wroth is lost, whereas the rhyme between wroth and moth is preserved. Thus, in modern pronunciation Arrgons speech is completed in rhyme by Portias following line (wroth-moth). Similarly, at the end of Arragons speech before the caskets [2.9.50-51] there is no ending rhyme (this-here)yet the rhyme with Arragons last line is completed by Portias following line (here-there). Five times judgement brings a hiss, / brings abyss / falls amiss, Now your choice begets a miss; / That their choice is eer amiss 43 Some there be that shadows kiss, / Now they have a Such have but a shadows bliss. / Claiming / Getting There be fools we all dismiss, 44 Silvered oer, and so was this. / Varnished 45 Take what thought you will to bed {wife} 46 I will ever be your head / eer be in your head 47 So be gone, for you are sped. > dismissed Still more fool I shall appear, With the time I linger here, {By} With one fools head I came to woo, But I go away with two. Sweet adieu, Ive lost my claim, / my suit/fate is lame / I am lost and neer the same Thus I go to bear my shame. / Now to go and 48 49 50. {Thus hath the candle singed the moth} 51. deliberate: deliberating, calculating, over-thinking. This term suggests a reliance on the mind as opposed to the heart. Portia, however, is thankful for this deliberation since it leads such suitors into making the wrong choice. 52. {The ancient saying is no heresy: | Hanging and wiving goes by destiny} / The ancient saying is a verity / is a truth I see / The ancient saying is not one of hearsay: | Hanging and wiving go by fate I dear say / found on / The ancient saying holds true even now: | Hanging and wiving are fated somehow 53. my lord: Portia is using this term playfully as it would never be used in reference to a messenger. She is playing on the use of the term my lady, suggesting by her playful, my lord, that she does not hold the rank of a lady. This line {Where is my lady? || Here my lord}, however, is suspect, both in the messengers superfluous question, and Portia askew response.. Thus, this line could be deleted without any loss. 54. {thapproaching}/ tharrival / the coming 55. {From whom he bringeth sensible regreets} / From whom he bringeth bounding compliments / From whom he brings abounding (/abundant) salutations. sensible: evident to the senses, abundant regreets: a) salutations, greetings, compliments, b) gifts Sensible regreets would usually be interpreted as abundant greetings, yet with the modifier (Gifts of great value) the expression would suggest, a lot of giftsand gifts of great value. 56. {To wit, besides commends and courteous breath} to wit: namely, that is to say / That isbesides his words of lavish praise / That is to saybesides great compliments / That is to saybesides his courteous words / To wit (besides abounding compliments) / To wit (besides his courteous Exit Arragon and his attendants Portia One more moth into the flame. / Another / Flies the 50 O, these high-minded fools when they do choose, {deliberate} 51 They have the wisdom by their wits to lose. Nerissa The ancient saying is still true of late: / to date / and straight Hanging and wiving are compelled by fate. / obliged by / outcomes of / fortunes of 52 Portia Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Enter a Messenger [Messenger Where is my lady? Portia Here. What would my lord? ] 53 Messenger Madam, there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian, one who has arrived {comes before}/ who comes in advance To indicate the approach of his lord, {To signify} / Thus announce // tharrival 54 From whom he bringeth bounteous offrings, / numerous 55 That is to say (besides his courteous words) > {To wit} 56 words and praise) 57. {Yet, I have not seen} / I have not yet seen / As of yet, Ive not seen yet: as of yet, heretofore 58. / So promising a harbinger of love / courier / messenger 59. {To show how costly summer was at hand} / To show how fully summer was at hand costly: lavish, full, bountiful 60. fore-spurrer: a forerunner who comes on a horse. 61. {Thou spendst such high-day wit in praising him} / Thou spendst thy Sunday best in praising him. high-day: holiday, fit for a high holy day or a Sunday; high-blown, lavish, extravagant high-day wit: language befitting a special day, 62. The line found in Q1 reads: Bassanio Lord, love if thy will it be. Most editors reject this punctuation and follow the sensible emendation of Rowe, which reads: Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be! The punctuation in Q1 refers the term Lord to Bassanio (Lord Bassanio), rather than it being a reference to Cupid (Lord love), who is mentioned in the previous line. Another possibility is that Nerissa is making a plea to God, the Lord, in hopes of Bassanios arrival: Bassanio, Lordlove if they will it be. / Bassanio! [please] Lord[let there be] love if thy will it be! / if its meant to be! / [Please let it be] Bassanio, Lord, [and let there be] love, if they will it be! / O Lord, Bassanioif thy will it be! / Bassanio, Lord of Love, I pray it be [See Additional Notes, 2.9.100] 63. The question begged by this line is: How might Nerissa come to know, or even surmise, that Bassanio was a suitor, and likely to arrive in Belmont?likely enough for her to wish it. Her delighted mention of Bassanio, and her plea to Cupid (or God) for it to be Bassanio, tells us that she was not only expecting his arrival but was hoping for it. (Bassanios arrival also portends the arrival of Gratziano, which may what Nerissa was really hoping for). [See Essays: The Lottery] Gifts of rich value. Til now, Ive not seen > As of yet / Up to this time 57 So hopeful an ambassador of love. {likely} > promising 58 A day in spring has never come so sweet {in April never came} To show the bounty of summers approach 59 As this forerunner comes before his lord. {fore-spurrer} 60 Portia No more, I pray thee. I am half afeared / afraid Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee / he is your cousin Thou spendst such lavish wit in praising him. / your finest wit / such high-blown wit 61 Come, come, Nerissa, this I long to see, / for One from Cupids post, come so gracefully. {mannerly} Nerissa [aside] Bassanio! [wishfully] Lord Loveif thy will it be! / Lord of Love, O let it be! 62 63 Exeunt __________________________________________ 1. {it lives there unchecked} / Why news is spreading fast lives: / breeds unchecked: unstopped, uncontradicted 2. {that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading} / that Antonios ship, laden with riches rich lading: rich cargo 3. wrecked: {wrackt}: wracked / strewn about the Goodwin Shoals: {the Goodwins}: the Goodwin Sands, a shoal off the coast of Kent, England flat: sand bar, sand flat, shoal tall: / proud / great / grand 4. be the news: {as they say} 5. {if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word} / If the rumors are true This double-positive could be simplified or emended as follows: if my gossip report be an honest woman / if my gossip report be a woman of word. 6. {without any slips of prolixity} prolixity: wordy, verbose, long-windedtiresome as a result of being too wordy slips: lapses into, indulgence in slips of prolixity: without embellishment, without using too many words (or euphemisms to try and cover up the hoped for truth), etc. 7. crossing the plain highway of talk: deviating from a straight-forward account; beating around the bush. 8. knapped: chewed on ginger: / ginger snaps title good enough: / merit enough 9. / Come to the end already! What is it? / Come, the full stop. And now, what sayest thou? / Come, the full stop by nowwhat sayest thou? 10. The line division in Q1 is amiss. It reads: Salari. Come, the full stop. Solanio. Ha, what sayest thou, why the end is, he hath lost a ship. In this line division, Salanio asks Salarino a question when Salarino is the one seeking information. Hence, Salanios question, Ha, what sayst thou? should be assigned to Salarino. In addition, it is clear what Salarino is saying and so for Salanio to question him is not warranted. In defense of the original line structure, Salanio could be asking the question to himself, and then answering it, but such a construction is cumbersome and inelegant. ACT THREE Scene One 3.1.0 Venice. Enter Salanio and Salarino Salanio Now, what news on the Rialto? Salarino Why yet it lives there unchecked, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the 1 2 3 narrow seasthe Goodwin Shoals I think they call the placea very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried. This be the news if my gossip report be a 4 woman of her word. 5 Salanio I wish she were as lying a gossip as an old maid who ever knapped ginger, +moving her jaw up and down without a word of truth coming out, or like a one who weeps and has her neighbors believing that her husband has just diedfor the third time! But it is true, without any miss matching of words or crossing the plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the honest 6 7 AntonioO that I had a title good enough to keep his name company 8 Salarino Come the full stop anonwhat sayest thou? / by now > already 9 Salanio Why the end is, he hath lost a ship. 10 11. See note 27 for a possible way to rectify this scene. If rectified, Salarino and Salanio would exeunt here, lines 19-50 would be deleted, and Shylock would enter alone and deliver his famous speech, Hath not a Jew eyes? to the audienceand not to the disinterested Salarino and Salanio. 12. {Let me say amen betimes} / Let me say amen while there is still time / before its too late betimes: while there is still time; right now / quickly 13. It seems that Jessicas flight took place a few weeks agothis is in accordance with Tubals return from Genoa, which takes place later in the scene. (Genoa, by road, is some 200+ miles from Venice.) Shylock has seen Antonio many times, and it is likely he would have also seen Salarino and Salanio. Yet, for dramatic consistency, we must assume that this is the first time that Shylock sees Salanio and Salarino since Jessicas flight. 14. A fanciful reference to a tailor who made Jessicas wings; this could also be a reference to the tailor who made the boys clothing that Jessica wore. 15. {she flew withal} 16. {fledge} A fledgling, ready to fly. 17. {leave the dam}: leave the nest. The substitution of nest for dam, which makes the line more understandable, ruins the word association with the next line where Shylock says, she is damned for it. 18. In an earlier embodiment of the play, where Salarino alone existed (and had not yet been split into two identical characters: Salarino and Salanio) all the lines in this scene belonged to Salarino. When Salanio was added, this line (which has congruity as a single line) was split into two, with the first part remaining with Salarino and the second part assigned to Salanio. Salanios superfluous closing line, [73-73], however, was not part of the original embodiment (nor originally assigned to Salarino) but was likely added ex post facto (by someone other than the author) after the final draft was complete. [See Note 41] 19. Here the blame quickly shifts from Salarino and Salanio to Jessica (where it belongs) and then blame changes into his rage against Christians in general and Antonio in particular. Shylocks words hereafter, to the two Salliesalthough he is being mockedis friendly and cordial. He does not attack them in the way they attack him. Salarino I hope it might prove the end of his losses. {would} 11 Salanio Let me say, amen to that, lest the devil cross my prayerfor here he comes in the likeness of 12 a Jew. Enter Shylock How now, Shylockwhat news among the merchants? Shylock You knewnone so well, none so well as youof my daughters flight. 13 Salarino Thats certain. I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings on which she flew away. 14 15 Salanio And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was ready to fly as it is the nature of all +young 16 girls, to leave the nest. nature: {complexion} / disposition 17 18 Shylock She is damned for it! 19 Salarino 20. {Out upon it, old carrion, rebels it at these years.} out upon it: > Probably refers to something like, damn it, to hell with it, throw it out, useless, etc. thus suggesting something that is ruined or ready to be discarded. This negative sense is in line with the negative term for the body, referring to it as old carriondead or rotting meat. A similar term (out upon her) is used by Shylock later in the scene, 113, when referring to his daughter. old carrion: the body which is corporeal, weak, and subject to aging / rebels it at these years: it (the body, specifically, the male sexual organ) rebels (does not follow ones wishes) when it gets to be this age. / Damn this old carrion. It rebels and will no longer rise to the occasion / What to expect from a man of your years? Surely your flesh is wont to rebel and does not rise when prompted 21. This line is added to explain the sexual nature of Salanios previous reference. It could be included as a separate entry by Salarino (as found above) or tagged to the end of Salanios previous line. 22. Salarino talks here in a very familiar tone and he seems to know both Jessica and Shylock well enough to make such a comparison. Yet his words are acerbic. Shylock, however, does not respond to these cutting words, (nor does he seem to take offence) as his mind is occupied with other concerns. Shylock opens the scene with an accusatory tone (against the Sals) but the bulk of his mentality quickly shifts to his daughter and Antonio (with help from the Sals). 23. The contrast between red wine and Rhenish (which is a white German wine) is primarily that between something crude (red wine) and something refined (Rhenish), though there is also the more obvious contrast between the colors of red and white. Without an understanding of Rhenish this contrast would be lost, especially since Rhenish sounds a lot like red. To make this distinction clear, the above line could read: between red wine and white, or between crude red wine and fine white Rhenish. 24. {There I have another bad match} / There I have another thing gone wrong. This reference is unclear, and we are not certain of how Antonios loss at sea represents another bad match. The first bad matchwhich Shylock is unwittingly concurring withis that between Shylock and his daughter, the second bad match is that between Shylock and Antonio. The bad match refers to Antonios inability to paybut we are not clear at to why Shylock is calling it bad. (If Shylock was truly delighted in Antonios loss, he might call it a good match rather than a bad one). 25. {a bankrout} > someone whose funds (bank account) has been routed; someone who is bankrupt 26. {a prodigal} / a wasted man. The term generally refers to one who has carelessly spent or wasted his wealth (by being too liberal in his spending). Antonio, however, is more careful in his ventures, and so the term may refer to Antonios prodigality with respect to his loaning money to Bassanio (and Bassanios wasting of it). Yet, earlier in the scene Shylock Thats certain, if the devil may be her judge. Shylock My own flesh and blood to rebel! Salanio This useless bag of fleshit is sure to rebel for a man of your years. 20 +Salarino You cant expect it to rise on every occasion., / when you want it to 21 Shylock I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood. Salarino There is more difference between thy flesh and hers, than between jet black and ivory; more between your bloods than there is between red wine and white Rhenish. But tell us, do you 22 23 hear whether Antonio has had any loss at sea or no? Shylock There I have another bad match. A bankrupt, a prodigal who dare scarce show his head on 24 25 26 described Antonios ventures as, ventures he hath squandered abroad [1.3.20-21] and so the term might refer to Antonios overly extended ventures. 27. upon the mart: at the Rialto; where the merchants and traders meet 28. According to theory, Salarino and Salanio were not found in the original draft of the play (nor the second draftfor in that draft Salarino alone existed) but the pair came about as part of a third draftwhose main function was to talk about, and give news of, the main characters. Thus, it is likely that Shylocks famous speech was originally a monologue, with Shylock making his plea to the audience, rather than two supporters of Antonio (who would not sympathize with, nor understand, Shylocks position). Several anomalies in the text support this theory (that Salarino and Salanio were added as part of a later draft), including a) The stage direction reads: Solanio and Salarino. rather than Enter Salarino and Solanio. (as is found in 2.8), and there is no line spacing before this entry to signify a new scene; b) Shylocks entry is placed in the position of an character exit, not an entrance and reads, Enter Shylocke as opposed to Enter Shylocke. c) When a man from Antonio enters to signify the exist of Salarino and Salanio, the speech heading for Man is missing, and there is a misplaced line space before the line, d) the stage direction, Enter Tuball, is listed twice (instead of once), e) the stage direction reads Exeunt Gentlemen, as opposed to Exeunt, etc. Thus, in an earlier draft, this may have been a monologue, with Shylock alone. In a later draft, this was likely two scenes, with Salarino and Salanio exiting after line 18 [I would it might prove the end of his losses.] We find support for this in the misplaced and anomalous connecting line [19-20], and also in the superfluous and uninspired dialogue between the Sals and Shylock [21-49], none of which moves the plot, most of which is askew (especially the part where the Sals are comparing Shylock to his daughter), and all of which seems to be a later addition. Hence, a restoration of this scene would be to split the scene into two and delete a portion of the middle section: a) 3.1.13.1.18 [keep], with Exeunt of both Sals after line 18; 3.1.193.1.50 [delete]. Enter Shylock, and begin with line 51: He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million. . . b) Shylock could begin at line 41, and reference his speech to Antonio: Antonio has had another loss at sea: Now he is a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto . . . He was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy: let him look to his bond. And if he forfeit, will I take his flesh? +Whats ask me,whats that good for? To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. . . c) Salarino and Salanio could remain on stage, unnoticed, as Shylock gives his speech. When the speech is over, a Man from Antonio could enter and bid them to leave [3.1.70-72]. Alternatively, Shylock could notice them (when the man enters) and shout out just before they exit: Shy: You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughters flight. Exeunt Shy:[to himself] She is damned for it. (Alternatively: Salarino could make a last retort, saying: Thats certain, if the devil may be her judge.) 29. / To use for baiting fish. / To use for fishing bait. 30. / dishonored / humiliated 31. {hindered me half a million}: a) hindered me again and again, a half a million times, b) caused me a loss of half a million ducats in profit / hindered me a million times 32. {dimensions} / a body frame / bones > which make up a persons height 33. {affections, passions} Affections generally refers to objective desires, things a person likes, things influenced by the senses; passions refer more to subjective feelings, stirred from the heart. the Rialto; a beggar that was used to come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond. 27 He was wont to call me usurerlet him look to his bond. He was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesylet him look to his bond. Salarino Why, I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. Whats that good for? Shylock 28 To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced 29 30 me, and hindered me half a million times. He hath laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, 31 scorned my nation, thwarted my ventures, cooled my friends, heated mine enemiesand whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, arms, legs, 32 senses, affections, desires? +Are we not, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, 33 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 34.{what is his humility?} / what kindness does he show? > said with sarcasm / what does he give (/offer / show) in return? his humility: his humble response; the kindness and benevolence shown by a Christian 35. villainy: / ill-treatment / vulgarity / obscenity. The term Jew was often synonymous with villain, and we see this reference in a line by Launcelet: for I am a Jew [villain] if I serve the Jew any longer. [2.2.108] The villainy that Christians teach Jews, is that they view and treat Jews as villains; hence, that same villainy (and wretched treatment) that Christians impose on Jews, Shylock, a Jew, will now impose on a Christian. 36. {execute} / repay unto you/ give in fair return / repay in fullness / give back to 37.{and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction} / and it shall go hard, for I will give it to you better than you have given it to me / and I will give it hard to you but I will give the better lesson 38. There is a continued reference to Christians, though the object of Shylocks revenge is Antonio. Antonio is the one who has mistreated Shylock, and he (Antonio) has become a symbol for Shylock which represents the Christian mistreatment of Jews. The distortion here is that Shylocks rage is turned against Antonio only after he learns about Jessicas flighteven though Antonio had nothing to do with it nor would Antonio ever condone such a less than honorable action. [See Additional Notes, 3.1.69] 39. to justify: to vindicate / in service of misplaced and misbegotten: / befuddled and befouled 40. / peddles the Jew card 41. Optional line to add: Salarino: Even more vile than this, you hide the evils of your trade behind the sanctity of your +Jewish, tradition. vile: / suspect /telling sanctity: virtue / nobleness / righteousness like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what kindness does he return? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be, by 34 Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will return unto you; yet it 35 36 shall go harder to you than it has come to me. 37 38 ___________________________________________________ [optional added lines] ++ Salanio Your words are full of passion words but fail to impress. You say that Christian and Jew are alikethen you talk of revenge. If we are alike, your plea should be one of forgiveness. Nay, there is neither Jew nor Christian in your wordsthere is naught but your own hatred, misplaced and misbegotten. 39 Salarino Methinks old Shylock peddles his Jewish sufferance better than anyone on the Rialto. 40 Antonio hates the evils of usury, not Jewsand you, kind sir, are a usurer. Salanio Your rage has defeated your judgement.
41 Salanio Ay, this revenge you ply with such zeal is not a thing youve learned by Christian exampletis your own creation. Weve heard Antonio speak against usury but not once 42. Optional additional line: Bear in mind, we speak of good Antonio not about the lesser company he keeps. Adding this line would indicate that Antonio is especially good (and never makes a negative comment about Jews) while suggesting that other Christians, such as Salanio and Salarino, are not so good, and may have made negative comments about Jews. 43. Q1 reads: {Solanio. Here comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot be matched unless the devil himself turn Jew.} As mentioned in previous notes, anti-Semitic additions to the text are often found at the end of a scene or a speech (made as a last remark before a character exits); these always appear misplaced or forced upon the text. These add-ons smack of having been penned in, ex post facto, by someone other than the author. (See notes xx for other examples of this anti-Semitic appendaging.) (Also note, that in this short interaction, a Jew is likened to a devil three times [19, 31, 73] : thus is seems that someone, lacking in all respects, repeated this same reference here, yet again.) Here, again, we find a likely case of unauthorized appendaging where an unnecessary, inconsistent, and misplaced anti-Semitic remark is attached as a final exiting remark. Not only is the content suspect, but the textual anomalies surrounding this entry support the theory that is was added to the text: for instance, there a mistaken speech heading in the preceding line (attributing the line to Saleri not Salari); the stage direction, Enter Tuball, is listed twice; and the stage direction reads Exeunt Gentlemen, as opposed to Exeunt. Saleri. We have been up and down to seek him. Enter Tuball. Solanio. Here comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot be match, unless the devil himself turn Jew. Exuent Gentlemen. Enter Tuball. The original entry (before corrections and additions were made) may have been thus: Salari. We have been up and down to seek him out. Exeunt. Enter Tuball [See Additional Notes, 3.1.73] 44. See previous note: The original entry is likely a corrupted addition to the text and has been deleted. However, a portion of the original line attributed to Salanio could be emended (and added to the text): Salanio: Here comes another of the tribe. Lets quick unto Antonios house. 45. Genoa is 200+ miles from Venice. 46. / but there I could not find her against the Jew or his nation. , 42 __________________________________________________________ Enter a Man from Antonio Man Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both. Salarino We have been up and down to seek him out. 43 44 Exeunt Salarino, Salanio, and Man Enter Tubal Shylock How now, Tubal. What news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter? 45 Tubal I often came where I did hear of her, but could not find her. {cannot} 46 47. Stage direction: [Shylock motions his hands in different directions, as if casually throwing things away, indicating a carefree waste of his jewels and ducats] 48. No curse has fallen upon our nation,the only curse that has fallen is upon Shylock. What pain is Shylock feeling for the first time? All the years of being persecuted as a Jew, by his enemies, he could not feel, it could not penetrate his hardened exterior. But the betrayal of his daughter has penetrated the exteriorbut it is more like a stabbing come from inside his heart which he can now feel. Perhaps it was the combinationthe betrayal of his daughter and the whimsical ruin of his hard-earned moneywhich caused Shylock, for the first time, to feel the curse that fell upon his nation. [See Additional Notes, 3.1.81] 49. {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!} Is Shylock wishing his daughter dead because she has betrayed him or because of the monetary loss she incurred? Here we see Shylocks confusion over valueand between his daughter and his ducats. In the court scene Shylock refuses an offer of 9000 ducats (which was well above the sum stolen by his daughter) so the loss of money is not the whole of his suffering. Here Shylock is wishing his daughter dead so that he could retrieve his jewels and ducats from her dead bodywhich reveals his confusion and misplaced sense of rage. He simply has no way to understand or express what he is feeling. He is not really wishing his daughter dead, even though he twice makes this plea. Yet even in this wish there is a mixed message: he wishes that his daughter be dead, but also that she be at his feet, that she returns to him. 50. Some additional lines could be added to mollify Shylocks previous words and appease his misplaced rage wherein he wishes his daughter dead. (Notice that Shylock speaks frankly about wanting his daughter dead but we never hear him talk with the same directness or sense of entitlement when it comes to Antonio). The added lines would also better situate the question, No news of them? addressing it to Tubal as opposed to Shylock asking the question to himself: Shylock . . . ducats in her coffin. +Shes made me suffer; she has cut me deeper than all mine enemies. They, I know, are set against meand their cruelty I can bearbut she was dearer to me than all the world., +Tubal Those who are closest, oft cut us the deepest. , Shylock No news of them? + Tubal None. , 51. Herein Shylock is using the term thiefand expressing his desire for revengein reference to his own daughter. So, we see that Shylocks response in terms of revengeeven with respect to his own daughteris a flaw of his own unplumbed character, and not something he learned from Christian example (as stated by Shylock in his famous Hath not a Jew eyes? speech). Here wants Jessica deadas that is the action he deems to match her crime. However, Shylocks own words belie his true feelingshe does not actually want Jessica dead, but that is the only thing he can say as to express his sadness and misplaced rage. Perhaps the kind of revenge that Shylock actually seeks is to teach her a lesson, to somehow make Jessica feel the same kind of pain that he feels so that she might come to know (a regret) the pain she has brought on her father. We can also suspect that Shylock wants to teach Antonio the same kind of lesson. Neither of these lessons involve the actually killing of the other person, though that is what Shylock has stated in his rage. According to theory (see note 28), Salarino and Salanio did not appear in the original draft of the play; in such a case, this scene may have opened with the entrance of Shylock and Tubal, at line 75 (and did not include Shylocks famous speech opening with, Hath not a Jew eyes? The idea of Shylock seeking revenge against his daughter is misplaced and, as part of a later embodiment of the playand expanding upon Shylocks human need for revengethis theme of revenge was then expanded to include Shylocks revenge against Antonio but also the more encompassing revenge of the Jew against the Christian. This is also supported in Shylocks reaction to news of Antonios loss later in the scene. (See note 53) 52. {nor no ill luck stirring but what lights a my shoulders, no sighs but a my breathing, no tears but a my shedding.} 53. wish: {would} feet: {foot} That:{Would} / I wish at my foot: / right here spent: / lost / wasted / expended my: / mine own ill luck: / misfortune Shylock Why there, there, there, there! A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort. 47 The curse never fell upon our nation till nowI never felt it till now. Two thousand ducats in 48 that and other precious, precious jewels. I wish my daughter were dead at my feet and the jewels in her ear! That she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin! No news 49 50 of them? Why so? And I know not what is spent in the search. Why, thouloss upon loss. The thief is gone with so much, and so much +spent, 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 51 breathing, no tears but of my shedding. 52 53 54.{What, what, what, ill luck, ill luck.} / What? What? Ill luck for Antonio? This line is anomalous and probably a result of some typesetting correction. This odd repeating of words (which is also found in line 96 and line 99) may have resulted from a portion of original line being unreadable (due to a smudge) and the typesetter, in an attempt to fix it, simply repeated some of the words that were readable. In one possibility, the original manuscript may have appeared as such: ~~~~~what ~~~~~~ ill luck. a) typesetters rectification: What, what, what, ill luck, ill luck. b) present rectification: Tell me what kind of ill luck? / What, what kind of ill luck? All three lines (94, 96, and 99) are suspect, both in content and in their odd repeating of words. One might argue that since the same kind of repetition appeared three times that it must have been part of the original; or, it could be, that the original page was smudged in several places and the typesetter rectified all the lines in the same way (not by omitting words that were smudged but by repeating words from the same line). 55. In this line Shylock seems to hear about Antonios ill-luck with surprise, suggesting that he is hearing the news (and delighting in it) for the first time. Yet earlier in the scene Shylock mentions Antonios loses and how he is a bankrupt and a prodigal. So, there is some obvious repetition. Some commentators believe that this part of the scene (between Shylock and Tubal) formed the whole of the scene; in a later draftintending to show Shylocks vengefully human side, and also explain some of his reasons for wanting to kill Antoniothe author added Shylocks famous speech, Hath not a Jew eyes? 56. Both the quartos and the folios have hear in Genoa {heere in Genowa} which most editors emend as heard in Genoa? They defend this emendation by stating that d and e were easily confused in Elizabethan handwriting, though they have no answer as to how ea, in heard, would have been mis-typeset as ee, in heere. In addition, the term heard is used both before [93] and after [101] this line, without error, which makes such a midstream typo even more unlikely. The line, as it stands in Q1, or as summarily emended, is defective, and we can assume some type errormost likely an error of omission rather than one of typesetting. With the emended phrase, Ha, ha, heard in Genoa? Shylock is made to repeat what Tubal had previously said (Antonio, as I heard in Genoa). Thus, the line would mean: Ha, ha, so that is what you heard (about Antonio) in Genoa? However, Tubals response is about Jessicanot Antoniosuggesting that Shylock is not oddly repeating Tubals phrase but inquiring about his daughter. Thus, Shylocks phrase Hear in Genoa? could be emended as, What else did you hear in Genoa? or What did you hear about my daughter in Genoa? With this emendation (preserving the word hear and not changing it to heard) Shylock is asking for news about his daughter and not repeating Tubals words about Antonios ventures (which is something he already knows). With respect to the anomalous repetitions of lines 94, 96, and 99 (see note 53) portions of the line may have been smudged and the typesetter (trying to rectify the line) took to repeating words from the same line (that were already readable) as opposed to a) omitting the smudged words altogether, or b) trying to fill in the unreadable words with new ones of his own creation. (We thank thee good typesetter for not trying to do this!) In trying to rectify the line, one could, a) leave it as it appears in Q1, b) include the typesetters rectification along with an additional one, or c) rectify the line (without relying upon the typesetters rectification). Thus: a) I thank thee good Tubal. Good news, good news! Ha, ha. Hear in Genoa. (or Heard in Genoa) Tubal Yes, other men have ill luck too. Antonio, as I heard in Genoa Shylock What? What? Tell mewhat kind of ill luck? 54 55 Tubal He hath an argosy, cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shylock I have heard the same. Is it true, is it true? {I thank God, I thank God.} Tubal I spoke with some of the sailors who escaped the wreck. Shylock I thank thee, good Tubal. Good news. What else did you hear in Genoa? 56 b) I thank thee good Tubal. Good news. Good news! Ha, hawhat else did you hear in Genoa? c) I thank thee good Tubal. Good news. What else did you hear in Genoa? c) I thank thee good Tubal. What else did you hear in Genoa? 57. {four score ducats} / eighty / one hundred / two hundred / four hundred The original reads, four score ducats (or eighty ducats) and is here replaced with a more familiar and recognizable amount of eighty ducats. The term four score is not a number readily recognized by the modern audience (and they would have to pause to mentally translate this term into eighty.) In addition, the term is strongly associated with the opening of the Gettysburg Address and would direct most audience members to make that irrelevant association. Eighty ducats does not represent an amount whereby Shylock would feel as if someone had stickst a dagger in him. Perhaps the intent of Shylock lamenting over four score ducatsand repeating the term twice in the following linewas meant to show his miserliness (for in the context of a 2000 ducat ring, and the 3000 ducat bond, such an amount is too small to take up so much attention). One possible emendation would be to up the ante and replace four score ducats with four hundred ducats which is an amount more likely to elicit such a strong reaction. 58. in my company: / traveling with me / along with me 59. several of: {divers of} (> from diverse) / a number of / many of 60. At this point Shylock could direct the conversation back to talk of his daughter as opposed to having Tubal always directing the subject of conversation toward Antonio Hence, Shylock could finish this line by adding, And what of my daughter? or And is there any more news of my daughter? 61. Damn her for it: {Out upon her}: Out of this world with her, to hell with her. 62. {Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal.} This is Shylocks initial response to Tubal. It begins with an attack on Jessica; then addresses Shylocks feelings, and then the ring. The order of the lines could be transposed where Shylocks initial response is about the ring, then Jessica, then himself B) Shylock: That was my turquoise ring. I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a whole jungle of monkeys. Damn her for it. Thou torture me Tubal. 63. {I had it of Leah} / I received it from Lea Shylocks wife, Leah, is mentioned by name. Recall the story from Genesis that Shylock told to Antonio, relating to Jacob attending to Labans sheep. [1.3.74-87]: Jacobs somewhat deceitful actions could have been his way to get even with Laban, his father-in-law, who had previously tricked Jacob into taking Leah (Labans daughter) as his wife and not Rachel (whom Jacob desired). Tubal Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, eighty ducats. 57 Shylock Thou stickst a dagger in me. I shall never see my gold again. Eighty ducats in one sitting! Eighty ducats! Tubal And, in my company to Venice, there came several of Antonios creditors who swear he 58 59 cannot chose but break. break: / go bankrupt / go bust Shylock I am very glad of it. Ill plague him, Ill torture him. I am glad of it. 60 Tubal One of them showed me a ring that he had from your daughterin exchange for a monkey. Shylock Damn her for it. Thou torturest me, Tubal. It was my turquoise. I had it of Leah when I 61 62 63 was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a jungle full of monkeys. whole jungle: {wilderness} / whole jungle 64. Tubal, again, is trying to divert Shylock from his grief (over the loss of his daughter) to something Shylock will be glad ofAntonios losses. 65. {Bespeak him a fortnight before}. > Tell the officer to arrest Antonio in a fortnight (when the bond is due) if Antonio does not pay the full amount due. This securing of an officer in two weeks (when the bond is due) defies the time frame of the play: Bassanio is now in Belmont with plenty of time to win Portia, return to Venice, and pay off the debtas plannedbefore it is due. (Bassanio set sail for Belmont at the end of 2.6). [See: Essays, Time Warp] 66. This line is somewhat out of place. Shylocks plan to kill Antonio, to get him out of the way, no longer makes sense since Antonio is a bankrupt and would no longer have sufficient money to loan out. [See Additional Notes: 3.1.121] 67. {Go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. Go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal.} The likely intention here is to show the Elizabethan audience that Jews use their synagogue as a place to do businesswhich is the very thing that Jesus revolted against. Tubal has just arrived back from a long trip; Shylock had spent a good amount of money to pay for Tubals trip, but he does not know how much the trip cost (And I dont know whats spent in the search. Why, thouloss upon loss! [86-87]). Hence, Shylock must go and meet with Tubal to work out the finances and settle the balance for Tubals trip (and to give Tubal the fee so that he may secure an officer in two weeks time). But why Shylock directs Tubal to meet him at the synagogue is unclear, unless there is an open area in front of the synagogue where it is convenient to meet. Some commentators interpret this meeting at the synagogue to suggest that Shylock needs Tubal to meet with him at the synagogue so that Shylock can take a vow before Goda vow to kill Antonio (if he should forfeit). However, there is no support that Shylock needs Tubal in order to take such a vow, and Shylocks taking a vow before God (which we hear about in 4.1) has no tangible relationship to Shylock meeting with Tubal at the synagogue. [See Additional Notes, 3.1.123] 68. This line marks the end of a series of somewhat odd lines, spoken by Shylock, where he needlessly repeats his words. Such lines include: What, what, what? Ill luck? Ill luck? [94] I thank God, I thank God. Is it true? Is it true? [96] I thank thee good Tubal. Good news, good news! Ha, ha, here in Genoa. [99] Four score ducats at a sitting! Four score ducats! [104] I am glad of it. Ill plague him, Ill torture him. I am glad of it. [109] Go Tubal and meet me at out synagogue. Go, good Tubal, at our synagogue, Tubal. [121] 69. For a discussion of Shylocks emotional state, and how his sadness has been displaced by rage, see Additional Notes, 3.1.124 Tubal But Antonio is certainly undone. 64 Shylock Nay, thats true, thats very true. Go Tubal, get me an officer, and give him a two-week notice. 65 I will have the heart of him if he forfeitfor were he out of Venice I can do what business I will. Go, Tubal, and meet me at the Rialto. Go, good Tubal; at the Rialto Tubal. 66 67 68 69 get me: {fee me} / find me / hire me Exeunt. They go separate ways _________________________________________ 1. The theory that Bassanio received some kind of indirect help from Nerissa, in determining the right casket, is supported by the text. To indicate this to the audience, he and Nerissa could be seen conversing, or conspicuously together, before the scene opens. 2. {Before you hazard, for in choosing wrong } 3. {Theres something tells mebut it is not love | I would not lose you; and you know yourself | Hate counsels not in such a quality.} / Disfavor counsels not in such a manner. > My heart is telling mebut (because I am not allowed to show any favoritism) I cannot say that I am speaking out of love, but (what I want to say) is that I could not bear to lose youand you know yourself, that love, not hate, speaks in such a way. 4. / so hear what is unspoken / so hear what I have not said / so hear what I cannot say / so hear the words unspoken / so hear whats left unsaid 5. / And yet a maidens only voice is thought / A maidens thoughts move but not her tongue > a woman is not allowed to truly speak her mind (but is only allowed to think such thoughts) 6. I am forsworn: I have sworn falsely, I have failed to keep my oath. Forsworn is repeated later in the passage but at no other place in the text. It is interesting to note that a few lines later [53-62] Portia references a story about Hercules from Ovids Metamorphoses wherein, in the English translation (by Golding) the same word forsworne appearsand this is the only place in the 15 books of the Metamorphoses that the word is used. The likely implication is that the author referenced a copy of Goldings Metamorphoses while composing this portion of the text (as opposed to simply recalling the story from a past reading). 7. {That I had been forsworn} 8. {Beshrew your eyes} 9. {They have oerlooked me and divided me} oerlooked: a) bewitched, as in being amazed and charmed, b) bewitched, as in altering ones vision, as in confusion or with eyes looking but not seeing, c) overlooked me, not seen me as I am divided me: divided my attention, confused me, divided my sentiments (for I must keep my vows with respect to my fathers wishes, but I also find myself wanting to break that vow and help you win) This sentence may refer to the effect that Bassanios eyes have on Portia (i.e.,they bewitch and bewilder her) or to what Bassanio sees with his eyes (i.e., he overlooks and divides Portia in his sight). a) When looking into your eyes Im bewitched and confused (as to whom I belong to, for I am lost in your eyes) b) When looking into your eyes I see beyond the narrow scope of my vow, and I am divided (one part is obligated to keep my vow and the other part wants to break it) ACT THREE Scene Two 3.2.0 Belmont. Enter Bassanio, Portia, Gratziano, Nerissa, and attendants. 1 Portia [to Bassanio] I pray you, tarry. Pause a day or two > spend some more time Before you choose, for if your choice is wrong 2 I lose your company. Thus, forbear awhile. / hold back / remain Theres something tells meand I dare not say / Now // cannot Its lovethat I could not endure to lose you / bear And you know that indifference counsels not {hate} / disfavor In such a way +so hear what goes unsaid. , / heed // whats left 3 4 But lest you should not understand me well / fully And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought 5 I would detain you here some month or two / I want to keep Before you venture for me. I could teach you How to choose right, but then I break my oath, {I am forsworn} 6 And that will never beso you may miss me. {That will I} / thus But if you do, youll make me wish a sin, > miss me / choose wrong That I did break my oath. So blame your eyes; / vow 7 8 They have bewitched me and divided me: That // bewildered / confused 9 b) Your eyes have overlooked me and see me as two 10. / Puts barriers tween the owners and their rights / Bars us from claiming what we rightly own. / Has people barred from what they rightly own / Puts walls between an owner and his rights bars: barriers, obstacles; bars, as in the bars of a prison 11. / And so, though yours, not yours. So make your choice 12. / To offer thee no help. If you choose wrong / To give no help. And so, should you choose wrong 13. And so, though yours, still not yours. Prove it so, +By your own choice, that I am truly yours., +In this, I cannot help. Should you choose wrong, / +And should it be you fate to choose the wrong, 14. / My hopes and dreams go to hell but not I. 15. {I speak too long, but tis to peize the time} peize: to weigh down, load, burden; hang weights upon peize the time: add weights to the (pendulum of the) clock so as to make time move more slowly. piece the time: draw out, elongate, add pieces to the time (as in seconds, minutes, hours, etc.) Q1 has peize which means, to weigh down, and may refer to the slowing of the clock, which is accomplished by hanging weights upon the pendulum. It could also refer to the weighing (making more meaningful) the time. (Weigh with deliberation each precious moment. Clarendon). Many editors dismiss this image and take peize to be a misspelling of peise, meaning to piece, augment, or add to. Piece the time would mean to add pieces to it, so as to make the time longer. In both cases the meaning is the same: it relates to slowing, prolonging, or adding to the time. Portia, not confident that Bassanio will choose the right casketwhich would force him to leave at oncewants to enjoy his company for as long as she can. The image of hanging weight upon the clock to slow down the time, could be depicted more literally: / I speak too long; but tis to hang more weight | Upon the clock, in hopes of slowing time, 16. {To ech it and to draw it out in length} / To try and eke it and draw out its length / To draw and eke out every last moment ech (eke): to prolong, extend, protract, augment, increase. Often used with out, as in eke out the time. 17. {For as I am, I live upon the rack} / For I now live as stretched upon the rack upon the rack: refers to the image of a person being painfully stretched upon the rack (a common instrument of torture in Medieval times). This method of torture was commonly used to extract confessions from accused criminals and traitors (those who were accused of treason). The term rack, means to painfully stretch. [Antonio uses this term in 1.1:181-82: Try what my credit can in Venice do; | That shall be racked, even to the utmost.] Bassanio is saying, For as I am (having to wait until I can make my choice) I feel as if I am being stretched upon the rack (and cannot bear to be tortured thus a minute longer). stretched upon the rack as a metaphor to signify his patience being stretched, i.e., his having to wait for Portia. The wait is tortuous and, as such, he cannot wait the additional month or two which Portia suggests, even though it could increase his chances of winning her. He cannot even wait another minute and proceeds directly to the caskets. Bassanios being stretched may also be in terms of his finances which are low and at their breaking point. 18. Option: add a line here for clarification: +Like one whos been stretched to the breaking point., One half of me is yours, the other half yours Mine own I would saybut if mine, then yours, And so all yours. O, these wicked times {naughty} / woeful / awful Put bars between the owners and their rights. / walls 10 And so, though yours, still not yours. Make your choice 11 And prove +that I am yours. In this, Ive sworn To give no help. And so, should you choose wrong , 12 13 Let fortune go to hell for it, not I. / My fortune goes 14 I speak too long; but tis to slow the time, {pieze / piece} / weigh 15 To eke it and to draw it out in length, {ech / etch} 16 To stay you from your choice. / To hold you {election} Bassanio Nay, let me choose, For as I am, I live upon the rack. / Im stretched 17 18 Portia Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess 19. Portia is using this light banterthis accusation of treasonto test Bassanio, and to have him confess what is true. Her real question is: Is your love trueis what you show (outwardly) a true reflection of what you feel? (Are your motivations based on love for me or personal gain?) Is there some aspect of yourself that goes against, that belies (i.e., is treasonous to) your show of love? In other words, do your outer actions of apparent love go against what your truly feel inside? Are you putting on the outer show of loving me yet do not truly love me? 20. {None but that ugly treason of mistrust | Which makes me fear thenjoying of my love} What does Bassanio mistrust? And how does such treason make him fearful of the future and uncertain (mistrusting) whether there will come a time when he can enjoy the fruits and expression of his love (for Portia). A) Bassanios treason could be his mistrust the wisdom of Portias father and the lottery he devisedwhich was supposed to determine one who truly loves Portia. Bassanio truly loves Portia, and wants to enjoy the fullness of that love (the same way that Portia wants to enjoy it)and he mistrusts whether the lottery (which is supposed to determine one who truly loves Portia) will, in fact, do so. B) Perhaps Bassanio does not trust himself. His love is true, his love is certain, but his own doubts whether he will be able to rise to the occasion (and choose the right chest) are in doubt. C) Previously Portia accuses Bassanio of treason (of putting on an outward show of loving her but not truly loving in his heart). Bassanios reply could then be a reference to Portias mistrust (of Bassanios true motivations) but this is unlikely, since such a mistrust would not make Bassanio fear the enjoying of his love. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.29] 21. / None but the dark heresy of mistrust / None but the heresy found in mistrust 22. / +Where I am certain about my loves truth, 23. / But not about my fortune to enjoy it / Yet still unsure if Ill enjoy its fruit 24. {Which makes me fear thenjoying of my love} 25. Bas: Tween snow and fire as there is between treason And my love. Portia: Yet, you speak upon the rack 26. {There may as well be amity and life | Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love} There is as much kinship and similarity between snow and fire (which are opposites) as there is between treason and my love. In other words, there is no treason mixed with my loveit is pure and singular. There is doubt as to whether I will ever enjoy that love (because there is some lack of certainty in the outcome of the lottery) but no doubt as to my love. 27. / Where men compelled do confess anything Again Portia is teasingly testing Bassanio, saying that his admission of love may not be sincere since he is like someone who is upon the rack and will make a confession (and say anything) just so he can get off the rack. Such a confession, forcibly induced, therefore, cannot be trusted and taken as true. 28. promise me life: > promise me that I will have you; promise me that you will end this torture (of being apart from you). It is unclear what Bassanio is asking of Portia, since she cannot, by her own wits or power, deliver Bassanio to freedom (i.e. from the torturous death of being separate from her). What treason there is mingled with your love? / What heresy 19 Bassanio None but that ugly treason of mistrust, / unrest 20 21 +Where I am sure about my love for you , / the love I hold 22 Yet still in doubt if Ill ever enjoy it. / unsure //I am to 23 24 There is more kinship and affinity / and likeness of kind Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love. > as there is between 25 26 Portia Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, Where men enforcd do speak anything. / will say 27 Bassanio Promise me life and Ill confess the truth. 28 Portia 29. confess and live: an inversion of the proverb, Confess and be hanged (die). 30. . Q1 reads: {Confesse and loue | had beene the very sum of my confession:} This playful response to Portias previous line may be punctuated as: a) Confess and love (Q1), b) Confess and love, or c) Confess and love. The passage is sufficiently vague such that neither form of punctuation is decisive. Putting the entire phrase in quotes links this line to the previous line of confess and live, whereas quoting each word separately (confess and live) suggests that each word carries an individual meaning and capacity. It seems that Bassanio is being vague by design, and his words are not meant to be fully understood; he is, perhaps, making a veiled confession which is not meant to be recognized. [See Note 32] [See Additional Notes, 3.2.38] 31. / Are yet the only words that I need speak: / Is the sum totaling of my confession 32. To fill-out or modify the previous line, an additional line could be added: +For all I have to confess is my love, / +For all I have are confessions of love, 33. {O happy torment, when my torturer | Doth teach me answers for deliverance:} / Doth teach me answers that lead to my freedom / lead me to freedom for deliverance: a) that enables me to get free (of the torture of not having you) by choosing the right casket; b) that enables me to get free of the rack, of this torturous delay. Bassanios reply to Portias Confess and live might have also been confess and give which would clearly suggest the lead casket. However, in both cases, Bassanio does not know the inscriptions found on the caskets, and therefore would not appreciate any clue found in the word confess or give. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.38] [See Essays: The Lottery] 34. The exact meaning of this passage is confusing. Clearly, at some point, Bassanio comes to feel that he has the key or the answer to his deliverance (to winning Portia) but it remains uncertain how (or from whom) he received this sense. We might first look to something Portia said which offered Bassanio some kind hint, but we see nothing in her wordsnor anything to give Bassanio this sense of certainty (to having obtained the key). One might fish and hold that Portias admonition to confess might be linked to giving and direct Bassanio toward the lead casket (which prompts the suitor to hazard all). Yet any such clue relating to the inscription found on the lead casket would be lost on Bassanio since he has not yet seen the inscriptions. Another place to look for the key would be to Nerissa (with her being the torturer not Portia). As previously stated, our theory is that the key or answer to winning the lottery lies with Nerissa: if Bassanio can win Portias love, then Nerissa will give him a hint as to which casket to choose. (Thus, in this context, Bassanios confess and love may mean that if Portia loves him Nerissa will confess the casket to choose; of if Portia confesses her love to him, then Nerissa will help him to win his love. Thus, Portias confession of her love is the key which delivers Bassanio from torture.) In terms of a production, Bassanio could get a knowing nod from Nerissa towards the end of Portias opening speech indicating that he had fulfilled the terms (that Portia loves him) and that he will get help from Nerissa. (Bassanio may have been told at a previous time that a) he would get some indication from Nerissa that he had fulfilled his end of the agreement, and b) that he should listen very carefully to the song for a hint. If Bassanio did not fulfill the terms, and proceeded to make a choice without an OK from Nerissa, then she would not have the musicians play a song.) Thus Bassanios statement, O happy torment, when my torturer | Doth teach me answers for my deliverance may apply to Nerissa, who has now given him the go ahead and will teach him the answerthrough the words of the songthat will release him of this torturous wait and enable him to win Portia. Portias opening speech is, in no uncertain terms, an admission of her love. As part of the staging, after every few lines, Bassanio could look over toward Nerissa, asking with his eyes, Is this enough? or Does this not indicate that she loves me? erstwhile hoping to get the nod of approval. Bassanio may want the nod forthwith, while Nerissa wants to be a little more certain, and thus makes Bassanio wait a little longer. Thus, after getting the nod, Bassanio moves to make his choice as quickly as possible, feeling the tortured by every second more he must wait. 35. {But let me to my fortune and the caskets} my fortune: a) my fate, what befalls me (which will be determined by my choice), b) my treasure The original does not end with a rhyming couplet. a) / Doth teach me answers where I am set free | Now to the caskets where my fortune be / Now to the caskets and my destiny / Now let me to my fortune that awaits me / Now to my choice and my fortune to be b) / Is but the sum of all I have to say | Now to my fortune and the chests, I pray. / Now to the caskets and my fortune, away! c) / Tis but the sum of all I do confess | Now to the caskets and my happiness Well then, confess and live. 29 Bassanio Confess and love 30 Is but the very sum of my confession. {Had been} 31 32 O happy torment when my torturer Doth teach me answers where I am set free / give // wherein Im 33 34 Now to my choice and my fortune to be. {the caskets} 35 d) A possible triplicate rhyme scheme: / Doth teach me answers where I am set free | +Like a kind jailor who throws me the key, | Now to my choice and my fortune to be 36. If you do love me: The lottery was designed to find Portia a man who would truly love her. Portia has (so far) been resisting the wisdom of her fathers lottery, uncertain that such a device will find one who truly loves herand also, uncertain, that it would find one whom she truly loves. But now, not able to intervene or prolong, Portia surrenders to the fated dispensation of her fathers lottery. Her words, If you do love me, you will find me out are more likely a hopeful prayer rather than a sanction or confirmation of the efficacy of her fathers lottery. find me out: find the casket that hold my picture 37. / give him some room / make room, stand back 38. Portia makes a specific mention of Nerissa to stand aloof, which indicates that she is in proximity to Bassanio (which would have to be the case if she were to give him a subtle yes-nod). 39. This is not a directive to the musicians to play while Bassanio makes his choice but a poetic device. (No music is actually played while Bassanio makes his choice). The musicians are instructed to play while Bassanio is contemplating his choice, not while he is actually deliberating on it. 40. {Then if he lose he makes a swan-like end} / Then if he loses, hell die like a swan / Then if he lose hell play a dying swan a swan-like end: swans were associated with music and were believed to sing a song (a swan-song) before they died. This belief was also found in Plato, Euripedes, and Aristotle, and commonly held as true during Shakespeares time: It is said of the learned, that the swan, a little before her death, sings most pleasantly, as prophesied by a secret instinct her near destiny. Shepherds Calendar (1597). The use of the term swan song which is based on this supposition that a swan sings shortly before its deathnow refers to the last great thing a person does before dying or the final work of a persons life. The term swan song comes from the English translation of the German word schwanengesang. Here, the image of a swan singing before it dies is replaced by the tragic image of swan sinking to a watery death while sad music plays in the background. 41. / Whose lullaby attends its sad demise / Which sings while sinking to a watery grave / Which sings a song to mark its tragic end 42. Let music sound . . . / Let music play while he doth make his choice. Then, should he lose, he will be like a swan, Who sinks into a watery demise As the musicians play their final strain 43. / That the comparison may stand more proper, Mine eyes shall offer a river of tears To thus provide for his watery death-bed. 44. / A joyous flourish of the bright cornets 45. / And call him sweetly to wed / And call him church-wise for his wedding day. / And call him toward church on his wedding day Portia Away then! I am locked in one of them: If you do love me, you will find me out. 36 Nerissa and the rest, stand all aback. {aloof} 37 38 Let music sound while he doth make his choice. / play 39 Then if he lose hell make a swan-like end, / die just like a swan 40 +Which sings a song upon its final breath,, /has // to mark its hapless end 41 And fades in music. That the metaphor {Fading in music. That the comparison} 42 May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream / May be more apt / true // river And watry death-bed for him. He may win / Should he win 43 And what is music then? Then music is The teeming flourish of joyous cornets / fanfare // sparkling 44 That play to honor a new-crownd monarch; Or like the dulcet sounds at break of day / ambrosial That creep into the dreaming bridegrooms ear / fall upon And summon him to marriage. Now he goes, / beckon 45 46. / With no less dignity, but much more love 47. {Than young Alcides when he did redeem} 48. Refers to Herculess rescue of the virgin princess Hesione. [For the complete story from Ovids Metamorphoses, see Additional Notes, 3.2.56] with much more love: Hercules did not rescue Hesione out of love but for payment. Portia is bringing up this story, but then saying that Bassanio (coming with the same grandeur and dignity as Hercules) is coming with much more love, and trying to win her not as a mercenary, for some material gain, but out of love (something which Hercules did not have for the virgin princess he set forth to rescue). Herculess agreed-upon reward for saving Hesione was not her hand in marriage but her fathers magical horses. 49. {The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy} howling: crying out, lamenting, suffering. Only after the virgin princess was offered as a sacrifice to the sea- monster would the ravages and floods afflicting Troy be appeased. I stand for: I am, I represent 50. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.58] 51. stand for: represent 52. {The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives} / The rest aback are the women of Troy 53. / To the sea-monster by the lamenting People of Troy. And now, tis I who stand As sacrifice. And all those around me, Aghast in wonder, are the Trojan wives / horror / marvel 54. with bleard visages: / with teary visages / with teary faces all / tears upon their cheeks 55. / Who come with bleard eyes and staind cheeks / Who now come forth with tears upon their cheeks 56. {With bleard visages come forth to view | The issue of thexploit. Go Hercules.} 57. {Live thou, I live} The sense is that if Hercules livesand does not die in his attempt to rescue Hesionethen she will live 9be rescued). Thus, if Bassanio wins (lives), then Portia will be rescued (and live the life she wants.) 58. / Yet I do view this battle more with fright, | Than you who be in ithe who doth fight. / Yet now I look with greater fear in me, | Then you who fight the monster othe sea. 59. The original stage direction, reads: {A song whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself.} 60. In this stage direction Nerissa bids the musicians to play. This action is in support of the theory that Nerissa has come to assist Bassanio with the lottery (because Portia fall in love with him). Many commentators hold that Bassanio receives help (on which casket to choose) from the rhyme scheme of the song (where the first three lines of the song rhyme with lead) and also by the lyrics of the song (which suggest the lead casketif one is listening intently for such a clue). However, without Bassanio being tipped off to listen carefully to the song, such a hint would be lost on him. It is likely that Bassanio was instructed beforehand to listen carefully to the words of the song. To make it clear that Nerissa is giving Bassanio some kind of hintand not actually telling him which casket to chooseshe could be made to whisper a clue to Bassanio, such as: With care, my lord, do listen to the song or Pay special heed to the words of the song. Some productions, supporting the view that Bassanio was tipped off by the words of the song, put special emphasis on all the words in the song that rhyme with lead. xxx See Note 60. With no less grandeurbut with much more love {presence} / dignity 46 Than youthful Hercules when he did rescue / who goes to rescue 47 The virgin princess, paid in sacrifice / given as a tribute 48 By suffring Troy to placate Poseidons {howling} 49 Sea monster. I am now the sacrifice. {I stand for sacrifice} 50 51 The rest around me are the Trojan wives, / wives of Troy 52 53 Who now approach with bleard visages / here // have come 54 To view the outcome of this grand exploit. {issue} / heroic / awesome venture 55 Go Hercules! If thou live, I will live: 56 57 But here I view with much, much more dismay / this fight with more dismay Then thou, the hero, who doth makst the fray. / greater 58 Nerissa instructs the musicians to play a song. A song is played while Bassanio mulls over the caskets 59 60 61. {Tell me where is fancy bred,} / Tell me where does loving start, {Or in the heart, or in the head?} / In the head or in the heart? {How begot, how nourishd?} / Does it bind or rend apart? The three lines of the original verse all end in words that rhyme with lead. This is often cited to support the argument that Bassanio was directed, by the rhyme-scheme of this song, to choose the lead casket. The words of the following verses may also provide clues in their warning against the fancy of the eyes, i.e., the gold and silver casketssuggesting the choice of lead. As mentioned in the previous note, Bassanio would need a more obvious clue (such as a clear directive as to where to look for a clue) to then make the connection between the rhyme-scheme and the lead casket. Nerissa telling Bassanio to listen carefully to the song would be a hint regarding the location of the hint; Bassanio, intent on the casketwithout the hint on where to look for a hintmight miss the song and its lyrics completely. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.65] [See: Essays, The Lottery, for evidence suggesting that Bassanio received help with the lottery]. 62. {It is engendered in the eyes,} {With gazing fed, and fancy dies:} / With gazing fed, all fancy dies, {In the cradle where it lies.} 63. {Let us all ring fancys knell.} Making the song too obvious would give away its hidden hint and so the song must be subtle in its direction to the lead casketand subtle enough to be picked up only by someone who had been instructed to listen with care. One example of lyrics which might make the hint too obviousleading one to give so to getwould be as follows: Let the sun of fancy set, | Ill beginand you beget, | Ay you will, but not quit yet Chorus: What you give is what you get. 64. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.72, for facsimile of Q1 original] Singer Tell me where is fancy bred, In the heart or in the head? {Or in} > Either in How tis born and how tis fed? {How begot, how nourishd?} 61 Chorus Tell me, tell me. {Reply, reply} Singer It is engendered in the eyes, / Dull and heavy in the eyes With gazing fed all fancy dies / With more gazing, come more lies In the cradle, where it lies. / is where it lies / tis there it dies. 62 Let us all ring fancys knell: 63 [spoken] I will begin: [sung] Ding, dong, bell. Chorus Ding, dong, bell, + Ding, dong, bell. , 64 65. The soliloquy found in the original is somewhat amiss as it does not resemble the speech of a true romantic hero nor does it fulfill the comic heroism called for by the scene. Misaligned with the speeches of Morocco and Arragon, it is filled with discordant images, and does not reflect love, pure-heartedness, or innocence. There is not one mention of Portia or her attributes. In a prior draft, this passage was replaced with words and images more fitting of a romantic hero; for even though Bassanio does not fully embody the virtues of a romantic hero (and often acts quite the opposite) he has the potential to become such a hero (if not permanently, at least for this one moment). He could be made to rise to the occasion. In a later draft, the original was preserved, yet emended with some final words which might reflect the true heart a hero. Bassanios speech, which cascades with images about scandal, cowardice, hypocrisy, criticalnessand vacant of any hint of lovemay reflect a subconscious sense of his own duplicity. His speech in front of the caskets is somewhat out of step with the other speeches delivered by Bassanio in the sceneespecially the one coming after he opens the casket and sees Portias picture [115-130]. Thus all his speeches, except for this one, bear the imprint of a romantic hero; during this treasured first encounter between Bassanio and Portia (which takes place earlier in the scene), the audience happily suspends all judgement with respect to Bassanios wastefulness and duplicity and enjoys a moment of sublime love between lover and his beloved, between the romantic hero and his princess. [For a version of this speech, consistent with the heart-set of a romantic hero, see Additional Notes, 3.2.73] 66. Orson Wells suggested that Bassanio could have played the parts of both Morocco and Arragon; and after two wrong choices (the gold and silver caskets), he would then become sure of the contents of the lead casket. Such a staging, of course, would change the entire nature of Bassanios character and put him squarely in the camp of a cheat and an enterprising money-getter. 67. / Those who are least, display themselves the most / So are the outward shows eer least themselves / It is the outward shows be least themselves / So they are least who glisten themselves most; 68. {The world is still deceived with ornament} still: always, ever; has always been ornament: lavish outer display: / appearance / its own beauty / empty dazzle 69. {so simple but assumes} > Too singular and not able to assume (be interpreted as) some mark of virtue 70. {And these assume but valours excrement} / And these but display the shows of valor / These cowards but assume valours plumage valours excrement: excrement refers to an outgrowth of hair (as hair was seen as a waste product, something excreted by the body). This likely refers to outgrowth of hair on the face (i.e., beards) usually associated with men of valour, mentioned in line 85. It could also refer to the long hair of heros, but this is not supported in the given =================================================================== [NOTE: The text (and meter) after this point is uncorrected and in rough draft] Bassanio [to the gold casket] 65 66 So may the outward shows be least themselves. / Those who show most without are least within. 67 The world is eer deceived by ornament. / ever duped // grand dislpay / outer show 68 In law, a plea thats tainted and corrupt But, being seasoned with a gracious voice, Obscures the show of evil. In religion, / sum / heart What damnd act does not become a blessing, / damning {error} When some dry scholar approve it with text, {sober brow} // scripture Hiding gross error with fair ornament? / Gilding {Hiding the grossness} There is no vice too simple to assume / single // not able to 69 Some mark of virtue on its outward parts. How many cowards, whose hearts would crumble / are as false / are as flimsy Like walls of sand, do wear upon their chin {stayers} / stairs The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, / fearless Who, inward searched, have livers white as milk? / searched within And they assume but valours outer show / the outer shows of valor 70 context. 71. {To entrap the wisest. Therefore, then, thou gaudy gold} {Hard food for Midas, Ill none of thee} The first line, as found in Q1 has 13 syllables, and anomalies in the meter; thus most editions rectify the extra syllable by eliminating then. Then, to keep the line in verse, the first two syllables and the fifth and sixth are elided (combined into one syllable). Hence, the most common rectification would read as follows: Ten trap the wisest. Tfore thou gaudy gold. Hard food for Midas: Refers to the legend of King Midas who was granted the wish that everything he touch turn to goldwhich included his food and drink. Thus, gold, which in normal circumstance would have great value, was in this instance was the hard food (and therefore worthless) which Midas could not eat. 72. / To trap the wisest. Thus, thou gaudy gold, Youre as worthless to me as hardened food That none, not even Midas, could hope to eat. 73. / You are none but the stuff of common coin, | Eer passed between the drudging hand of men. 74. The original ends in a two-line rhyme schema: {Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence:} / Thy plainness moves me more than regal lies, {And here chose I. May joy be the consequence!} / And here I choosemay heaven be my prize! The last line of the original [And here chose I. May joy be the consequence!] is herein expanded into five lines which further explains Bassanios reasoning, and heart-set, which lead him to chose the lead casket. Simply stated: a heart that loves seeks only to give (as demanded by lead) and not to gain or get which would be the motivation prompting one to chose the gold or silver casket. This stance of love and selfless giving is that of a true romantic herowhich Bassanio is notbut which he, in this instance, has the potential to be. If Bassanios speech truly and wholly reflected that of a romantic hero (or a flawed hero who, in this moment, rose to the occasion as assumed the virtue of a hero) it would certainly contain more generous and auspicious images (rather than the harsh and critical constructions found in the original). For one version of a possible speech, worthy of a romantic hero, (and which could replace the speech found in the original) see Additional Notes, 3.2.7XX. 75. / as is sanctioned / as sanctiond / as betokened / as warranted To render themselves fearful. Look on beauty {them redoubted}/ them afeard And you shall see tis purchased by the weight, This cream, when plied upon the face works wonders > makeup / paste / balm Making them fairest who wear most of it. So are those crispd, flowing, golden locks, {snaky} Which make such wanton gambols with the wind; But such pretense of beauty, as we know, / one can see Is wig-made hair, taen from anothers head, / Comes from a wig, hair from anothers head The skull of which now lies in some lost grave. Thus, outer show is but the guiled shore / tempting / charming To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf / threatening / imperilled That veils a queens wretched face; in a word: / a darkened visage The seeming truth which cunning times put on To trap the wise. Therefore, thou gaudy gold / To but entrap the wisest. Therefore, then Youre as worthless to me as hardened food / golden Which greedy Midas could not hope to eat 71 72 I will have none of thee. [to the silver casket] Nor of thee, silver; Thou art the pale drudge of common coin, / Thou art none but the stuff Passed in exchange between the hands of men. / greed 73 But thou, thou meager lead, which rather threatens, / worthless / barren / herein And gives no promise of profit or gain: / Than give a Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence. / finery / regal lies 74 +Thus, I seek not to gain, as shown by gold,, /told / proffed / lured +Nor then to get, as offered by silver,, / vaunted / proffered / promised +But eer to give, as demanded by lead., / Only // required / mandated 75 76. / Here, here I choose, when all is finishd 77. / He who giveth all can neer be misled / The heart that gives can never be misled / A heart that giveth can neer be misled 78. Here, here I choose: when all is said and done | A heart that gives all has already won 79. / O heart be mild, allay this love in me. 80. Alt: Replace this line with three lines: I fear this loves made a fool-sop of me. / pansy / milksop O heart be sparing, temper this delight, O ration joy, dont give it such a might. 81. raine: rain down, dole out, give out. in measure: in limited and controlled amounts, as not to flood or overwhelm. Here there is the play of oppositions, where Portia is calling for rain, which is associated with abundance, but herein asking that it be given in measure. Rain will also be heard as rein, which would mean control, hold back, rein in. 82. / In measure rein thy joy, scant this delight! Thy blessings overflowappease their might. / take back / I feel too much thy blessingsease their might. 83. / How all my passions do fleet into air: First gone is doubt, then rash-embraced despair; This fear and monstrous jealousy are gone / jealsy have left me. // are done O love, be kinddont turn more pleasure on / be moderate, tame thy ecstacy; // thy pleasure shun In measure rein thy joy, tame this excess; I feel too much thy blessingsmake it less! / I feel thy blessings too great 84. This verse fully ensconces Portia in the comical quality of the play, as now, for the first time, her love is fully expressed and over the topmore resembling the fanciful excess of love than anything in real life. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.113] 85. {For fear I surfeit} The original line is orphaned, does not follow the rhyme-scheme nor meter of the lines which precede it, and simply repeats the theme mentioned previously. Thus it weakens and flattens the impact of Portias rhyming verse. To fully embody this appendage, this truncated line is emended with a full pair of rhyming lines. Alternatively, the partial line could simply be deleted. / O in the waves of loves ocean Im lost: | Beyond all hopes, and ignoring all cost. / O, in the heat of loves fire Im sweltring | Lost in the blessedness of mine own melting. 86. { What find I here? Fair Portias counterfeit. What demi-god Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes Or whither riding on the balls of mine Seem they in motion?} +Here, here chose I: when all is done and said,, / everything is said / all is finishd 76 +A heart that giveth all is neer misled., / A heart that gives all can neer be misled 77 78
Portia [aside] How all the other passions fleet to air, My doubtful thoughts and rash-embraced despair; {As} > Such as / These And shuddring fear, and green-eyed jealousy / dreaded O love be sparing, ease thy ecstacy. / heart {allay} 79 80 In measure rein thy joy; scant this excess! {raine} / rain / hold // block / stint 81 Thy blessings overflowplease make it less. {I feel too much thy blessings} 82 83 +I fear this fortune is too much for me Im lost in watersB of an endless sea., / I drown // oceans {For fear I surfeit.} 84 85 Bassanio [opening the leaden casket] What find I here? A portrait of fair Portia. What demigod hath come so near creation To make this image ride upon my eyes Such that it seems to move and yet moves not? 86 87 88 In the original, Bassanios two iamb line (What find I here?) completes Portias previous three iamb line (For fear I surfeit.) Due to the anomalous nature of Portias two iamb line (see previous note) it has herein been emended to fulfill the standard iambic meter, which leaves Bassanios two iamb line somewhat truncated. To accommodate this, one possibility would be to add a pause before or after Bassanios words: a) __ __ __ __ __ __ What find I here? b) What find I here? __ __ __ __ __ __ 87. What artist, wielding the skill of a god, Hath come so near creation? O these eyes Do these eyes move or do they ride upon The balls of mine own eyes and seem to move? {seem they in motion} 88. What find I here? . . . Fair Portias portrait! What +artist, possessed Of all the powers of a , demigod What +artist, possessing / wielding The spectral powers of a , demigod Hath come so near creation? What is this? What demigod hath fashioned such a picture So near to Gods own creation? And now 89. { . . . Here are severed lips | Parted with sugar breath. So sweet a bar | Should sunder such sweet friends.} / Here find her lips, parted by sugar breath; | So sweet a breath could sunder such sweet friends. 90. faster than: a) more quickly than, b) more securely than (as in bind fast) 91. undone: {unfurnished} / unfinished a) without finishing the portrait, b) without being able to furnish the second eye 92.{Doth limp behind the substance} The metaphor of limping behind the substance refers to something which falls short of the real thing (substance), and specifically to a lifeless shadow which follows, or limps behind, the form of a real person. Limp, moreover, implies a defective or imperfect kind of following which is not found in the term walk behind or follow behind. Bassanio is here invoking the Neo-platonic theme of opposites highlighted by the contrasting concepts of substance and shadow. Hence, Bassanio is saying that the substance of my praise (i.e., my words) does wrong this shadow (this portrait) in underprizing it (failing to capture its beauty)just as this shadow (picture) falls short of (limps behind) the substance (the real Portia); i.e.,, his words (as eloquent as they are) do no justice (fall short) in describing the beauty of this portrait, just as this portrait (as wondrous as it is) does no justice in capturing Portias true beauty. 93. continent: contents, container. Continent can also be an oblique reference to the fullness, totality, or grandeur of my fortune (as in the size of a continent). 94. {Doth limp behind the substance. Heres the scroll, | The continent and summary of my fortune} / Doth limp behind the living form of Portia / Falls hopelessly short of the real Portia. / lifelessly / dreadfully / Heres the scroll, the summry (/summate) of my fortune: [See Additional Notes, 3.2.129] And here, her gentle lips lay slightly open / muted / dreamy Parted with sugar breath. So sweet an air {a bar} / breath / wisp Should sunder such sweet friends. And in her hair 89 The painter plays the spider and hath woven A golden mesh tentrap the hearts of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs. But her eyes 90 How could he see to do them? Having made one, Methinks its power should steal both his eyes And leave the work undone. Yet look how far {itself} // unfinished 91 The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow / fullness // copy In underprizing it, just as this copy {so far this shadow} Doth limp behind her true form. Heres the scroll, {the substance} 92 The continent and summry of my fortune: 93 94 Thou who choose not by the view, / You that Chance as fair and choose as true. / Take fair chance and chose quite true Since this fortune falls to you, Be content, and seek no new. 95. It is not clear as to whenif everBassanio claims Portia with a loving kiss. Some productions, concurring with Rowe (a foremost commentator of the early18 century), have Bassanio claim Portia (with a loving kiss) at the th end of this line (I come by note, to give and to receive) after handing her the note. This timing is doubtful since (later in the same passage) Bassanio tells of his confusion, his unsureness, and so he would not be in a position to claim Portia. Others have the loving kiss come after line 148 (Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you)which is still somewhat early. The kiss can also come after Portias line [167], Myself and what is mine to you and yours | Is now converted. It can also occur after Portia gives him the ring, in line 174 (And be my vantage to exclaim on you). In the original there is no stage direction for the kiss, nor any clear pause or indication as to when such a kiss would be planted. We cannot say for sure that one is even given. We see throughout the play that Bassanio is never able to claim Portia; she is always in charge and never acts as the docile princess eager to be claimed by her gallant princesave for a few sentimental lines [108-113] which she is eager to dismiss (Scant this excessmake it less) or a few stray lines wherein she fully gives herself to Bassanio [149-175] which, however, end with a condition ( Let it presage the ruin of your love | And be my vantage to exclaim on you.) [See Additional Notes, 3.2.138] 96. To coincide with the words, I come by note, Bassanio could offer Portia the scroll. 97. {Like one of two contending in a prize} / Like one who fights and comes to win the prize 98. / Who thinks hes done well in the peoples eyes, {That} 99. / Amidst a great applause and thundrous shout 100. What confirmation does Bassanio seek?that he has won the lottery (which is apparent) or that he has won the true fortune of the lottery, i.e., Portias love. Bassanio is doubtful (unsure) about the truth of what he sees; he sees Portia smiling at him (and seemingly pleased with the outcome) but he wants assurance, he wants her to affirm not only that he has won the lottery (which is apparent) but also that he has indeed won her heart and the fullness of her love (which is not, in his mind, assured by the lottery). [See Additional Notes, 3.2.148] 101. Bassanio talks only of his confusionwhen, in fact, there really should be no confusion at all. In the first soliloquy, after opening the casket, he describes the picture of Portia (but not her) with glowing words; after reading the scroll, he talks of his uncertainty; after his uncertainty is pacified, he talks about his joyful bodily confusionbut not once does he actually speak of Portia, nor her beauty, nor his love for her, nor his assumed state of joy. All his talk is indirect, metaphorical, speaking of a picture, of winning a fight, of buzzing cheersbut never once of Portia. Not once, in all his talk, does he even mention her name. Is this the way a true hero would approach it?winning without even recognizing it? Being confused and unsure? Or would a hero take hold of this triumphant moment and use it as a glorified opportunity to now give full expression to his (previously bridled) love? 102. / I am content and would not dare to wish | That I, myself, be better, yet for you If you be well-pleased with this, / pleasd Hold your fortune for your bliss, / with Turn ye toward your loving miss {Turn you where your lady is} And claim her with a loving kiss. 95 A gentle scroll! Fair lady, by your leave, / kindly I come by note, to give and to receive. 96 Just like a fighter who obtains the prize, 97 Who seems triumphant in the peoples eyes, 98 Hearing applause and the echoing shout {universal} 99 Giddy in spirit, yet gazing in doubt, / lingring Whether those clamring cheers be his or no, {peals of praise} // not So, thrice-fair lady, I stand even so, / on the spot As doubtful whether what I see be true, / Still doubting Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you. 100 101 Portia You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am. Though, for myself alone, / when it comes to me I would not be so daring in my wish {ambitious} To wish myself much better, yet for you 102 103. {I would be trebled twenty times myself} / I would have myself tripled twenty times 104. / And friendship might stand high in your account. 105. {A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times} {More rich, that only to stand high in your account} The latter line contains two extra syllables (six iambs instead of five). Some editors correct the verse by shifting the extra iamb from the beginning of the second line to the end of the first line. Thus: A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich | That only to stand high in your account. (Such an emendation is made in the editions by Oxford, Arden, Norton, Longman, Kittredge, etc. but not in Cambridge, Folger, Bevington, etc.) The transfer of this extra iamb improves the the meter of the second line at the expense of the first line (which now contains an extra iamb). Moreover, the meter of the second line is not fully restored as this transfer provides the line with a weak fourth syllable. I suspect the error lies around the term that only to, which is awkward and which does not meaningfully place the line within the context of the sentence. The word account is also suspect as this same word, and its same meaning, appears twiceboth here and at the end of the sentence (which ends on line 155). [See Additional Notes, 3.2.155] 106. An alternative punctuation would yield this rendering: / More richto stand but high in your account I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends / I hope that I, in virtue, beauty, friends Exceed account. 107. { . . . But the full summe of me | Is sume of something: which, to term in gross} some (or sum): Q1 has sume which can be read as sum or some. Both reading, though differing in nuance, are essentially the same, both diminutive and somewhat self-deprecating: Sum of something: implies that the full sum of Portia is only the sum (totality) of something (and not everything); that her full self is incomplete (i.e., that of an unlessoned girl who still has much to learn) Some of something: refers to a portion of a portionagain something which suggests a lack that Bassanio, as her new lord, could fill and make whole. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.158] 108. / +Thats yet to reach its fullness., Thus, in sum, / +Has not yet ripened., Thus, to state it fully / Hence, to put it bluntly / +Thats yet to be completed., Termed more fully 109. {to term in gross} : in sum, to say in full, to tell you the whole story, to tell you (the whole) truth. Gross might also refer to blunt honesty, and frankness, and could be akin to such an expression as to say in all honesty. / But the full sum of me is but a part | Of something, which, to tell you the whole truth 110. / Im as a school-girluntrained, unpracticed I would be tripled twenty times myself; {trebled} / better 103 A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times More rich, that I, in beauty, dignity, Comfort, and virtue might exceed account. {livings} / friendship 104 105 106 But the full sum of me is some of something / part +Thats yet to be complete., To term more fully: / Advised more fully 107 108 109 Im an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpracticed; {Is} / unfinished 110 Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn; and happier than this, She is not bred so dull that she can learn; / and may learn quickly; Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit Commits itself to yours, to be directed As from her lord, her governor, her king. / master, and her king Myself and what is mine, to you and yours, / I give to you, I now impart. But now I was the lord {Is now converted} / I hereby transfer Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, / of this estate Queen oer myself; and even now, yet now, This house, these servants, and my very self, {and this same myself} Are yours, my lord. I give them with this ring {my lords} She holds up ring 111. {Which when you part from, lose, or give away,} when: implies an inevitability or an outcome which is expected to happen, whereas if does not imply such inevitability. 112. {Let it presage the ruin of your love} 113. {And be my vantage to exclaim on you.} / And give me cause to berate you all day. vantage: just cause, give me cause, advantage (as in having a good reason); my chance, my opportunity. exclaim: yell, rail, fume, scream, denounce, etc. (ex-claim: give up your claim on me.) 114. [See Additional Note, 3.2.174] 115. / Madam, your words have (but) rendered me speechless / Madam, you have but stolen all my words. 116. {Only my blood speaks to you in my veins} / And now what speaks is the blood in my veins / Only the blood in my veins doth now speak; 117. {And there is such confusion in my powers} powers: a) power of speech; ability to speak or articulate; b) power of intellect and will; ability to match what is in the mind with the words / As great confusion besieges my words / And great confusion sieges all my words / And great confusion hems my power of speech / As great confusion besieges all my words / As all my powers of speech are confused. 118. {As after some oration fairly spoke | By a beloved prince there doth appear} / As after hearing some well-spoken words (/fine oration) | By a beloved prince who doth appear / Like buzzing cheers, come from the rousd masses | When hearing words from their beloved prince / Like ecstatic (/rapturous) applause of the masses / Like buzzing cheers among the multitudes / arising from the masses / that come from pleasd crowds / Tis like the buzzing cheers of pleasd masses, 119. / The rousd masses after their beloved | Prince doth appears and give some fine oration. 120. {Where every something being blent together} 121. {Turns to a wild of nothing save of joy} / Turns to a wilderness of unfied joy / mingled 122. something: sound, noise, voice, all the cheers nothing: silence. Where every voice (something) blends together in a barren land (wild) of silence (nothing). wasteland: {wild}; wilderness, desert, barren region, empty plain 123. {Expressed and not expressed: . . .} This obscure reference generally means that all the cries (of the multitudes) are expressed as one cry: thus every cry is expressed (as one voice) and unexpressed or unheard (as a singular voice). [See Additional Notes, 3.2.183] Which, when you part from, lose, or give away, 111 Twill mark the ruin of your love, I say, / be // I daresay 112 And give me reason to regret the day. / good reason to rue 113 114 She places ring on Bassanios finger Bassanio Madam, you have bereft me of all words. / but stolen all my words 115 All that can speak is the blood in my veins; / but speaks / speaks now 116 As there is such confusion in my powers / speech / words / breath 117 Much like the buzzing cheers that issue from {As} The rousd masses after they have heard {pleasd} Some fine oration by their sovereign prince, / honored / beloved 118 119 Where every sounding, fully blent together, 120 Turns to a wild of nothing save of joy. / nothing but joy 121 122 +And now in me, each voice is lost, each cry, / one Expressed yet not expressed. When this ring parts 123 124. {But when this ring | Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence} / But when this ring | Parts from this finger, then parts life instead / When this ring parts | My finger, then I find an earthen bed My finger, then . . . / be sure my life has fled / ever my lifes been shed / my life does part instead / my life has surely fled 125. Previously, when Bassanio is unsure whether he has truly won Portia [141-45], he uses imagery of an crowd cheering for its champion. Here, when it is confirmed that he has doubtless won his prize, he again invokes the imagery of a cheering, buzzing crowd, where all the voices can be heard (rather the joy of the voices) rather than any individual voice. These images are akin and both refer to the impersonal cheering of a crowdfor its champion or its princebut none evoke the personal images of love. Why is it, however, that Bassanio cannot speak? Is he overwhelmed with joy? Why is there such confusion in his powers, in his ability to articulate how he feels? All these impersonal images may come to sound like a rouse, where Bassanio is insinuating that he loves Portia, that he is speechless with joybut where he may be speechless because he cannot truly tell Portia that he loves her. Never once in all these words does he confirm his love for Portia (as he asks her to do); rather he only intimates and suggests his love by way of his dazed state. He talks about the buzzing cheers of the multitudes (where no single voice can be heard) and never do we hear our hero give words to any singular expression of love. (Again, it is cleverly suggestedand one might leave with the impression that he loves Portiabut his words never blossom into a true and unmistakably expression of love. His final words relate to the image of his own deathand something which may take place in the distant futurebut never to his living heart, now. Are these the words of someone in love?or someone not in love and trying to give the impression (without actually lying) that he is in love? 126. {O then be bold to say, Bassanios dead.} 127. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.185] 1. {I wish you all the joy that you can wish | For I am sure you can wish none from me.} > I wish that you obtain all the joy that you wish for yourselvesand in your wishing, I am sure that you need not include me (and wish something for me) since I have already obtained the fullness of what I (or anyone else) might wish for me. 2. / Falls short of what I already possess / Is but a thing that I already have / I now possess in the fullest of measure. / Is short of what I already possess 3. / When your honored selves are ready to take | The vows that seal your faith, I beseech you 4. {Even at that time} / That at such time / Een at that time 5. {I may be married too} My finger, know that life does part my stead / instead 124 125 O, then be bold to say, Bassanios dead. / Then be so bold 126 127 Nerissa My lord and lady, it is now our time; We have stood by and seen our wishes prosper, Now we cry, Joy, good joy, my lord and lady! {To cry Good joy} Gratziano My lord Bassanio and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that one can wish, {you}/ I And I am sure, whateer youd wish for me {For} 1 +Would fall quite short of what I now possess. , / Is but a thing I already possess. 2 And when your honours mean to seal with vows {solemnize} / celebrate The pledging of your faith, I do beseech you {bargain}/ contract 3 Still at that time, I may be wed as well. / Een / That / Please 4 5 Bassanio With all my heartif thou canst get a wife. Gratziano I thank your lordship, you have got me one. 6. {for intermission}: taking a break (from action); inactivity; a rest period (wherein one does not pursue the object of his love) You loved; I loved . . . / and to postpone that love / and bearing such delays / to stay the fruits thereof / You loved the one and I loved the other | And neither one could bear the long delay. / You loved the one, and I the otherneither | Could you nor I, endure the long delay. 7. {And so did mine too, as the matter falls} / And like as well, as fate would fall, did mine. 8. / You loved the one, and I did love the other; | And neither you, my lord, nor I, could bear | A long delay. Your fortune stood upon | Your choice, so too, as fate would fall, did mine. 9. / And swore with oaths of love until my roof / And swore until my very roof went dry, Went dry, until at lastif promise last With oaths of love, until at lastassuming I got the promise from this fair one here Her promise lastI got this fair ones promise 10. / To have her love, provided twas your fate | To win her mistress. / To have her love, if so your fortune be | To win her mistress. / To have her love, provided that your fortune | Did win her mistress 11. Gratziano must abide by Nerissas fateful terms, which are: only if Bassanio chooses the right casket (and wins Portia) will Gratziano and Nerissa be able to be together. (Gratziano would never impose such absurd terms upon his own love). Why were such terms imposed by Nerissa? What meaning did they have? Nerissa must have been sure that Bassanio would win Portiasure enough to stake her own happiness upon it. And how did she become so sure of such a fate? [See Additional Note, 3.2.196] Taking Nerissas hand My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: / These / Mine // move You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; You loved, I lovedand lengthy postponements / long-drawn / undue 6 No more pertain to you, my lord, than me. Your fortune stood upon the caskets there, And, as the matter falls, so too did mine. 7 8 For I did woo until I ran with sweat, / I poured / beads fell And swore until my very roof went dry With oaths of love, until at lastif promise Doth lastI got the promise of this fair one, 9 To have her love, provided twas your fate {that your fortune} To win her mistress. {Achieved} / Brought you 10 11 Portia Is this true, Nerissa? Nerissa Madam, it is, if you stand pleased with it. {withal} Bassanio And do you, Gratziano, speak in truth? {mean good faith} / speak in faith Gratziano In truth, my lord. {Yes, faith} / Yes, truth / In faith Bassanio Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage. Gratziano [to Nerissa] 12. / Well play with them a thousand ducat wager 13. stake down: to lay down money (on a table) to cover a bet. The term is similarly used in staking ones claim. 14. {No, we shall neer win at that sport and stake down} / No, we shall neer win that bet with my stake down! stake down: In the first instance (as used by Nerissa) stake down mean to secure or place down money to cover a wager; in the second instance, used here, the phrase refers to a male stake, or erection. Gratziano is saying that they can never win the wager (to have the first boy) with his stake down (as opposed to up). Some productions have Gratziano play out this bawdy imagery by holding a stick or a stretched piece of fabric in the position of an erection and then lowering it when he mentions that he cannot win the bet with his stake down. 15. Salerio needs to be introduced here by name and by reference (Venetian) because this is the first time the audience sees the character. Some editors, for the sake of economy (though in error) combine the two minor characters of Salerio and Salarino, into a single character (Salerio). However, nothing in the textnor anywhere elsesupports this kind of compaction. Had Gratzianos good friend, Salarino, arrived here (as opposed to Salerio, a messenger) Gratziano would have greeted him more personally, with something like, my good friend Salarino, as opposed to the rather reserved and distant, my old Venetian friend Salerio. Neither would Gratziano have located Salarino as being from Venice, since the audience already knows that Salarino is from Venice, having seen him several times before. [See Essays: The Sallies: Salarino, Salanio, and Salerio] 16. Salerio, who makes his entrance for the first time, needs an introductionand so he is identified as a messenger from Venice in the stage direction. 17. / With your permission, my sweet and fair Portia, | I bid my friends welcome. / dulcet / cherubic 18. { . . . By your leave, | I bid my very friends and countrymen, | Sweet Portia, welcome.} 19. / My intention was not to see you here 20. Where along the way could they have met?the way in question is the 20-mile stretch of land that lies between Venice and Belmont. Well place a wager for a thousand ducats {play with them} 12 That the first boy be ours. Nerissa What, and stake down? 13 Gratziano We will not win that wager with stake down! 14 But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel? What, and my old Venetian friend Salerio? 15 Enter Lorenzo and Jessica, with Salerio, a messenger from Venice 16 Bassanio Lorenzo and Salerio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new intrest here Doth grant me power to bid you welcome. [Portia nods] [to Portia] Sweet Portia, by your leave I bid, my friends 17 And fellows, welcome. 18 Portia So do I, my lord. You are entirely welcome. {They} Lorenzo [to Bassanio] I thank your honour. For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here, / intent 19 But having met Salerio on the way {But meeting with} // road 20 He did entreat me past all saying nay 21. At this point, Bassanio is unaware that Lorenzo (and Jessica) stole away with Shylocks money (and have since been on the run). Portia knows nothing about Lorenzo, Jessica, nor anything of the events that have taken place in Venice. For the sake of drama, we must compress the inevitable time gap: Jessica and Lorenzo stole Shylocks money on the night that Bassanio left for Belmont; Bassanio forgoing the offer to tarry a day or two immediately proceeded to his choice. This indicates that Bassanio left Venice no more than about two days ago, while several weeks of action have passed since Lorenzo and Jessica left Venice. For instance, Tubal went out in search of them in Genoa (which is some 200 miles distance from Venice). [See: Essays: Time Warp] 22. {And I have reason for it} Salerio does not offer any reason for it (for bringing along Lorenzo) since he could have delivered the message without any help; in addition, we know why he entreated Lorenzo to come with him to Belmont past all saying nay. But what reasons might he have? It could be that Lorenzo was Bassanios good and that Saleriowho was not such a friend, but only a messengerwas about to deliver some devastating news. Hence, Salerio thought is would be helpful if Lorenzo, Bassanios good friend, were there to help comfort him. Understanding the gravity of the matter, Salerio may have insisted that Lorenzo come because of Jessica, and because he thought that she might be able to provide some help or shed some light on the situation (but this might be crediting Salerio with deep insight into the matter). As it turns out, Jessicas presence (not Lorenzos) proves crucially important to the situation (and in Portias decision ot intervene). 23. {And I have reason for it: Signor Antonio | Commends him to you} / Sends you a message. commends him to you: A familiar greeting, akin to Sends his regards or Asks that you remember him. The passage would support Salerios previous claim to having a reason, if it had more import, such as: Signor Antonio | Sends you an urgent message. This import could be imparted by adding the word urgent. These extra syllables could be accommodated by deleting the two previoussomewhat superfluous syllables, for it, or truncating Bassanios response (from five syllables to three). / And I have cause for it: Antonio sends | And urgent message. / And I have reason: for an urgent message | Comes from Antonio. Sal.: / . . . | Sends you an urgent message. Bas: Ah, but first, 24. For dramatic purposes (and perhaps blinded by love) Bassanio is completely forgetful of the date that the bond expires: he is asking about how Antonio is doing {how my good friend doth} rather than the fate of the bond. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.231] 25. {Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; | Nor well, unless in mind.} Salerios response is vague and elusive at best; Antonio is clearly in a desperate state and Salerio does not want to be the one to report such bad news. His vague answer means something like: he is not sick in terms of body, but sick if we are speaking about the state of his mind (i.e., he is worried, distraught, fearful, etc.); he is not well unless in mind (unless he imagines it to be so; or, unless he is deranged enough to imagine himself to be well). Clearly he is not well. The wordplay is on the word mind, which in the first instance refers to his mental condition or state of mind and in the second refers to his imagination or use of mind. Some commentors, unable to make real sense out of this passage, interpret {unless in mind} to mean: unless his fortitude allows him to suffer his misfortune (Kittredge); unless he is comforted by fortitude (Brown) 26. Due to the vagueness of this unimportant passage it has herein been condensed into one line. If one desired to bring clarity to this response, the lines could be expanded: / Not sick, unless we speak about his mind; / Not sick, my lord, in terms of his body; / Nor well, unless he imagine it so. / Nor well, if speaking of his mental state. 27. / His note will show the state of his affairs. To come along with him. 21 Salerio I did, my lord, And with good reason: Antonio sends / good cause: Signor Antonio sends 22 An urgent message. 23 He gives Bassanio a letter Bassanio Ere I ope his letter / But before I read it I pray you, tell me, how fairs my good friend? {how my good friend doth?} 24 Salerio Not sick, my lord, but neither is he well. 25 26 His letter there will show you his condition. {show you his estate} 27 28. {cheer yon stranger} Jessica, who was previously called infidel is here referred to as strangermeaning an outsider, i.e., non-Christian. Thus Gratziano wants to make a special effort to welcome her. 29. hand: > the note or news you carry in your hand 30. that royal merchant: This address is somewhat aloof. Had Salerio been a friend of Antonio (as is Salarino and Salanio), Gratziano might have said, How is our good friend, Antonio? Royal, in this context, is a superlative meaning, princely, grand, great, etc. 31. {We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.} 32. Fleece is a pun on fleets: I wish you had won the fleece [fleets] that he has lost, i.e., Antonio has lost all his fleets, and I wish the fleets that you had won could make up for his losses. 33. / Im loathe to say it: all his ships are gone Grat: We are the Jasons: both of us have won / We are the Argonauts, and we have won The golden fleece. Sal: O had you won the fleece / I wish youd won That he hath lost: jfor all his ships are gone.k / Alas, his ships are gone. 34. {There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper} / It seems yon paper holds some cursd content / carries cursd news / carries news afoul shrewd: often interpreted to mean, evil, cursed, unfortunate, harmful, grievous etc. but the term is more likely taken at face value, to mean, clever, or crafty (or sharp) in that the words are able to steal away (by some clever or tricky means) the color from Bassanios face. We often see the word Beshrew which is mild scold or swear. 35. / Could turn with such resolve / Could move with such extent / Could so completely turn 36. {Could turn so much the constitution} / Could turn with such precision, the nature / dreadfulness / Could so fully reverse the disposition / alter 37. constant man: steady, unwavering, self-controlled Portia is describing Bassanio as a constant, steadfast, reliable, and steady man. Clearly she is not aware of Bassanios true characteras a irresponsible spendthrift and risk-taker. (But this is something she is going to soon learn about). Here she is judging him on her idealized and imagined version of him. 38. / Of such a self-controlled man. What, and worse? Bassanio opens the letter and reads it. Gratziano Nerissa cheer our guest, [Jessica] entreat her welcome. {bid} / beseech 28 Your note, Salerio. What news from Venice? {hand} 29 How is that royal merchant, good Antonio? {doth} / does / goes 30 I know he will be glad of our success: Like Jason, we have won the golden fleece. 31 Salerio I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost. 32 jI loathe to say, but all his ships are gone.k / I tell you now 33 Portia [seeing Bassanio] Yon paper must display some cursd content / dispatch // evil / baleful 34 To steal the color from Bassanios cheek. / roses Some dear friend dead?else nothing in the world Could turn to such extent the disposition / full // steady nature 35 36 Of so constant a man. {Of any constant man} 37 Bassanio looks worse than before What, worse and worse? 38 With leave Bassanio, I am half yourself, / O please And I must freely have the half of all {anything} / whateer 39. blotted: marred. Blotted in this context may also suggest words that are also tear-blottedsmeared or blotted by tears (either Antonios or Bassanios). 40. { . . . all the wealth I had} {Ran in my veins: I was a gentleman.} / Ran in my veins, that I had nothing but | The social status of a gentleman. / no more than / Came from the favored status (/social standing) of my birth, | From my position as a gentleman. / Came from the societal benefits of birth / Came from my favorable status of birth 41. In the brief time that they spent together, Bassanio told Portia that the only wealth he had ran in his veins (i.e. was due to his social standing as a gentleman). yet, in the context of Bassanios appearing to have substantial wealth, Portia would not have taken this humble claim literally. Such a comment would have conveyed the sense that Bassanio held his true wealth (and thing of most value) to be his bloodline and opposed to outer wealth. (It could also meanthough unlikelythat the only wealth Bassanio had ran in his veins, i.e., that the only wealth he considered of value was the love he held for Portia. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.254] 42. / I am indebted much to a dear friend / I borrowed money from my dearest friend / I have indebted myself to a dear friend 43. / To borrow funds from his dearest enemy. 44. {I have engaged myself to a dear friend, | Engaged my friend to his mere enemy} mere: worst, fullest; stark, singular, unconditioned 45. A shift of lines could yield the following: . . . for indeed To feed my means, jso as to make this journey,k I bound myself in debt to a dear friend Who bound himself to a dear enemy. Here is the letter, lady; the paper Is but the lifeless body of my friend, 46. A rude and awakening image (of death) in stark contrast to the pristine and anew surroundings of Belmont. 47. Bassanio, having left Venice two days ago, was well aware of the status of Antonios ships at that time, and he was aware that some of Antonios ventures had failed and that none of his ships (as of two days ago) had come home to port. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.265] That this same paper brings you. Bassanio O sweet Portia, Here are a few of the most dreadful words, {unpleasantst} / dreaded That ever blotted paper. Gentle lady, / tarnished / stained / ruined 39 When I did first impart my love to you, I freely told you all the wealth I had Came from my bloodline, from my favored status Of having so been born a gentleman. 40 And what I spoke was true. And yet, dear lady, {And then I told you true} 41 Rating myself at nothing, you shall see, / as worthless How much I was a braggart. When I said / overstated {told you} My state was nothing, I should then have said {told you} That I was less than nothing, for indeed {worse} I have indebted myself toa dear friend {engaged myself to a dear friend} 42 +And out of love for me, he was enforced, / generosity for me To debt himself to a dear enemy. / bind 43 44 What have I done? Here is the letter, lady, {To feed my means} / It was for me The paper is the body of my friend 45 And every word in it a gaping wound Issuing life-blood. But it is true, Salerio, 46 Hath all his ventures failed? What, not one hit? / With // Not one return 47 From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England, 48. {doth impeach} / doth rebuke / reprimands > calls into question 49. {have all persuaded with him} > have all tried to dissuade him, have all argued with him 50. Portia may suspect that Jessica is Jewish from her appearance and from Gratzianos former greeting But who comes here? Lorenzo and his infidel? [216]yet she has no way of knowing that she is daughter of the Jew whom Salerio is so loathsomely describing. From this reference, however, it may become clear to that Jessica is related to the Jew in question. 51. {When I was with him I have heard him swear | To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen} This is an unlikely statement since Shylock began swearing and making oaths to have his bond (and go hard on Antonio) only after Jessica betrayed him. Thus, she was no longer with him to hear him make such an oath. The original line clearly states that Shylocks intention, from the very beginning (before he became enraged by Jessicas betrayal) was to have his bond from Antonio (i.e. to kill Antonio). His making a statement to his fellow Jews confirms that it was said in truth. In this rendition, Shylock does not actually intend to kill Antonio, and his professions about having taken an oath is a rouse which belies his intended actions. It could also be that Shylock may not be clear as to what he intends to do (even though he tells others that he is clearand he may be telling others as a way to try and convince himself). [See Additional Notes, 3.2.283] From Lisbon, Africa, and India {Barbary} And not one vessel scape the dreadful touch / scaped > escaped Of merchant-marring rocks? Salerio Not one, my lord. Besides, it doth appear that if he had / should / should he have The present money to discharge the Jew / full amount // pay off He would not take it. Never did I know / have I known A creature that did bear the shape of man So keen and wolfish to destroy a man. {confound} He plies the Duke at morning and at night / spurs And calls in doubt the freedom of the state 48 If they deny him justice. Twenty merchants, The Duke himself, and the magnificoes Of greatest port have all tried to dissuade him / persuade 49 But none can drive him from the savage plea {envious} / spiteful / malice Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond. Jessica 50 Before I heard from friends, that he did swear {When I was with him} 51 To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonios flesh Then twenty times the value of the sum That he did owe him; and I know, my lord, If law, the duke, and power stay him not {If law, authority, and power deny not} It will go hard with poor Antonio. / on Portia [to Bassanio] Is it your dear friend who is thus in trouble? Bassanio The dearest friend to me; the kindest man, 52. {The best-conditioned and unwearied spirit} best-conditioned: 53. / Embodies more of ancient Roman honor 54. / Than any who draws breath in Italy. 55. To preserve the meter, the verse could be rectified as follows: Portia: What sum owes he the Jew? Bass: Three thousand ducats. Portia: A mere three thousand ducatsand no more? 56. / I would double the six and triple that | Before . . . Portia is offering to resolve the issue with a generous show of more and more money. At this point she is still unaware of, or unconvinced of, Shylocks resolve to take Antonios flesh even after hearing from Salerio [3.2.270-2] and Jessica [3.2.284-85] that no amount of money would cause the Jew to deface the bond. 57. / of such kindness and worth / so endearing and true 58. This directive is to prompt the distracted Bassanio (who is, in his heart, already in Venice) to the temple to take his wedding vows, before he rushes off. Clearly Bassanios concern for Antonio has eclipsed all the joy found in his newly won love and wealth. (There is no indication that rings were ever exchanged as part of this wedding ceremony.) 59. Portia is saying: I will not let you lay by my side with an unquiet soul (a restless and disturbed mind); I will only let you lay by my side when you can give yourself to me fully, when you can be with me whole-heartedlywithout such concerns, or thoughts, distracting you. She could also be implying thus: You will never be able to lay by my side with a quiet soul until you settle this matterso go off to Venice and take care of this. 60. Again, Portia is not fully convinced or aware of Shylocks true intention, nor aware that the bond cannot be cured with wealth, even 20 times the wealth, as this is the specific number that Jessica previously mentions, saying, That he would rather have Antonios flesh | Than twenty time the value of the sum | That he did owe him. [3.2.284- 86] The most benevlent and unwearied spirit / tireless / giving 52 In serving others; and one in whom {in doing courtesies} The ancient Roman honour more appears 53 Than any man who draws breath in Italia. 54 Portia What sum owes he the Jew? Bassanio For me, three thousand ducats. Portia Whatno more? 55 Pay him six thousand and deface the bond. / delete / annul Double six thousand and then triple that {treble} 56 Before a friend of this description 57 Shall lose a hair through Bassanios fault. / Should // through my First go with me to church, and call me wife, / and take your vows And then away to Venice, to your friend. 58 For never shall you lie by Portias side With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold 59 To pay the petty debt twenty times over. 60 When it is paid, bring your friend home with you. Meantime, my good Nerissa and myself {My maid Nerissa and myself, meantime} Shall live as maids and widows. Come, away, / virgins > as if unmarried 61. / To wed me now and leave upon the day! 62. / Well live as widows. Come, no more delay | Youll marry me now and leave the same day! 63. In Q1, the rhyming couplet is as follows: {Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer,} {Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.} Many commentators are troubled by the closing line feeling that it shows Portia as indelicate and insensitive. There are several possible interpretations, the foremost being somewhat negative: Portia having paid dearly for Bassanio (in terms of a high price and hardship) will now love him dearly (i.e. painfully). The wordplay on dear would also have a positive meaning: the high price she paid for Bassanio was well worth it: as much as she paid for him (in terms of wealth and sacrifice) that is how much she shall willingly love him: Since you are dear bought (paid for with a high price, after much sacrifice) I will love you dear (with the same sacrifice, i.e., I will bear this pain of waiting for you). The dear price was Portias having to subject herself (and risk her future happiness) to the uncertain lottery set up by her father. Thus, having paid such a high price (the risk of her happiness) she will wait for Bassanio again, to finish up the task at hand an return. Said another way, I have waited so long for love, that I am willing to wait a little longer. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.311] 64. / Since you have come at such a heavy price, {were bought} / were found // tearful / dearly / Since I have paid and paid so dear a price / a heavy price / Ill long await your love not once but twice / Ill dearly wait for you, not once but twice / Since I have sufferd so dear a price / sacrificed / forfeited / fully paid / paid and paid / Since you have come at oh so dear a price / very / much too / Ill thus await your love not once but twice. / I will / Youre worth the suffring wait not once but twice / Youre worth the long delay not once but twice / Ill bear 65. {Portia: But let me hear the letter of your friend.} / But let us hear what Antonio has written / But let us hear the good Antonios letter Due to Portias double-rhyming couplet (which typically signifies the end of sceneand could fittingly end this scene) many editors believe that her previous lines originally marked the end of the scene. The following lines, including Bassanios reading of Antonios letter, were probable later additions. In support of this, Q1 contains no speech heading for Bassanio (signifying him to read Antonios letter) and several anomalous line spaces have found their way into the text (before and after Antonios letter, and after Bassanios closing lines). In standard copy, no such line spaces would appear. (The additional lines were added, in a later draft, to indicate the urgent nature of the crisis and give cause for Portias intervention.) Hence, to preserve some of the conclusiveness of Portias rhyming couplet, this generic request to hear Antonios letter is given to Gratzianowho has, up to this point, remained curiously silent. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.312] 66. been lost: {miscarried} 67. {use your pleasure} / do as your heart now bids you. For you shall hence upon your wedding day. / leave > go forth hence 61 62 Since you were bought at O so dear a price / at such a heavy price Ill bear the wait for love not once but twice. / the weight of love 63 64 Gratziano But let us hear the letter from Antonio. / But waitlets hear 65 Bassanio [reads] Dear Bassanio, my ships have all been lost, my creditors grow cruel, my estate is very low, 66 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 Iif I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, do as you please. If your love does not persuade you to come, let not my letter. 67 Portia O love, dispatch all business and be gone! / betake your vows and then be gone Bassanio Since I have your good leave to go away 68. / And now that I have your good leave to part | I will make haste but Ill make a sad start; / Now that I have your good leave to depart / And as I have your permission to part / I go in haste, yet with a saddened heart; 69. / Eer bed that beckons, that bed I will spurn / All beds that call, I will solemnly spurn 70. {Since I have your good leave to go away, I will make haste, but till I come again, No bed shall eer be guilty of my stay, Nor rest be interposed twixt us twain.} Here Bassanio makes the customary vow of the romantic herowhich is that he will not sleep until the task is completed and he returns to his beloved. This passage remains a vestige of the fairy tale qualities of a romantic hero and not a vow one would take at face value. [See Additional Notes, 3.2.324] 71. A comical stage direction could be as follows: Bassanio rushes to make a hasty exit, stage righttoward Venicebut is caught by the elbow, and swung do-see-do, to stage left by Portiatoward the church. I will make haste, but I go in dismay 68 All beds that beckon, Ill solemnly spurn, / Eer bed that beckons 69 And slumber neer a wink, til I return. / And shall not sleep // ere my 70 Exeunt 71 _________________________________________ 1. The stage direction of Q1 reads Enter the Jew and all speech headings read Jew. (The actually reading is Enter the Iew, as I was often replaced J. ) 2. The stage direction of Q1 reads: Enter the Iew, and Salerio, and Anthonio, and the Iaylor. The name Salerio in the stage heading (instead of Salarino or Salanio) is likely an error made by the compositor (or print house editor). The original stage heading may have read: Enter the Iew, Anthonio, and otherswhere the others was meant to indicate Salarino and Salanio and the Jailor, but not Salerio. (Another anomaly in this stage direction is that the name of a minor character, Salerio, appears before Anthonio.) Salerio, as we know, is in Belmont delivering a message to Bassanio and could not be present in this scene (which takes place in Venice). Most editors rectify this error in the stage heading, by replacing Salerio with Salanio (or Salanio), assuming that there is a one- to-one correspondence between Salerio and on of the two other Sals . (Q2 replaces Salerio with Salarino, while F1 has Solanio). Thus, this scene is almost always played with Salanio (alone) or in some cases with Salarino (alone) but not with both characters present, which is the most likely scenario. In sum, the name of Salerio in the stage direction is clearly an error but the singular replacement of Salerio with either Salanio or Salarino is not certain; it is most likely that both Salarino and Salanio appear, and were intended to appear, in this scene [See Additional Notes, 3.3.0a] 3. In this scene Shylock is dwelling in the newfound sense of power he has over Antonio by not letting Antonio speak. [See Additional Notes, 3.3.0] 4. good: reference is made to the double meaning of this word: good in the sene of being righteous, and good in the sense of being sound and firm. A similar play on the word good was made in 1.3.12-17 when Shylock says to Bassanio, Antonio is a good mannot meaning that he is a man who is good (i.e., who has a good character) but a man who is sufficient (good to cover the loan). 5. Why, and for what purpose, does Shylock tell Antonio that he has sworn an oath? What does this accomplish for Shylock? [See Additional Notes, 3.3.5] 6. shall: > a) must, b) will 7. {Thou naughty jailer, thou that art so fond | To come abroad with him at his request.} naughty: unfit, no good, corrupt, foolish to come abroad: to walk outside the jail, in the street [See Additional Notes, 3.3.10] ACT THREE - Scene Three 3.3 A street outside Shylocks house. Enter Shylock, Antonio, jSalarino, Salanio, and a Jailer. k 1 2 Shylock 3 Jailor, keep your watch. Tell not me of mercy. {Jailor look to him} / Keep watch on him This is the fool who lends out money gratis. {that lent} {F1: that lends} / who loans Jailor, keep your watch. {look to him} Antonio Hear me yet, good Shylock. Shylock Now I am good? I say, my bond is good! / Methinks 4 Ill have my bond. Speak not against my bond. / And Ill have it Ive sworn an oath that I will have my bond. 5 You calldst 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, / but 6 Thou wicked jailor, why art thou so foolish {naughty} / corrupt {fond} / stupid To let him walk about at his request. / To let the captive walk around like this 7 8. dull-eyed fool: one who cannot see clearly; one who has the wool pulled over his eyes; one who is hoodwinked; one who is easily deceived 9. {To Christian intercessors. Follow not} / To interfering Christians. Follow not. The term interfering resonates with God-fearing. 10. In this short scene, Shylock bids Antonio to speak not four times; and he speaks the words, my bond, six times. 11. The characters of Salanio and Salarino are virtually the same, like two voices of one characters; as such, their lines are virtually interchangeable. On closer examination, however, we see that Salanio is often given lines which are more forceful and philosophical in nature than those of Salarino: in 1.1 he waxes philosophical, in 2.4 he disagrees with the plan to steal Jessica, and here he expresses outright loathing. Salarino and Salanio come as a pair and often play the role of dual sounding-boards which allow the central characters to express their thoughts. In this line Salanio is uncharacteristically forceful (and expressive of a definite opinion). His words resemble those spoken by Salerio in the previous scene: Never did I know | A creature that did bear the shape of a man | So keen and greedy to confound a man. [3.2.272-74] 12. That ever kept with men: a) that every kept the company of men, b) that ever appeared as a man 13. {Ill follow him no more with these bootless prayers.} bootless: lit. without boots; unable to run, i.e., ineffectual, hopeless, unavailing, feckless, going nowhere, etc. / Ill follow not with prayers that go nowhere / Ill follow not with such meaningless pleas / Ill follow not with stale and feckless prayers 14. / I know the reason why he seeks my life 15. / And I would loan them funds, without interest 16. / Which delivered them from his forfeitures 17.The original passage (now replaced by six lines) reads as follows: {I oft delivered from his forfeitures | Many that have at times made moan to me} 18. A more introspective Antonio might have added: Moreover, I have oft-times cursed the man | Railing his presence at the Rialto, | Spitting upon his face each time I passed. Antonio I pray thee, hear me speak. Shylock Ill have my bondI will not hear thee speak. Ill have my bondand therefore speak no more. / and not your pleading words Ill not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, 8 To shake my head, relent, and sigh, and yield / so meekly, // moan To Christian meddlers. Stay there, follow not. {intercessors} 9 Ill have no speakingI will have my bond. 10 Exit Shylock Salanio 11 It is the most impenetrable dog {cur} That ever kept with men. / stayed 12 Antonio Let him alone. Ill follow him no more with feckless prayers. {bootless} / useless 13 He seeks my life; his reason well I know: / I know well / I well know 14 +Many a time he would make loans of money / Many a time he would make loans to men To those who could not pay the sums on time; / Who could not then repay the debt on time And thus, as forfeit, would lose all their goods ., / And theyd be forced to forfeit all their goods Such men would come to me and moan their fate, / bemoaning their fate And I, compelled, would loan them money, gratis, / funds, sans intrest 15 Which freed them from his brutal forfeitures. / crushing / grievous / scathing 16 17 18 [See Additional Notes, 3.3.23] 19. Antonio is telling of the many times that men would borrow money from Shylock, under a contract (which they likely did not understandand which served as a kind of entrapment) which contained the condition that if they could not pay off the debt on such and such a day, then they were required to pay a stiff penalty or forfeiturewhich oft times was more costly than the loan itself, and a penalty which amounted to the loss of their goods and property. Thus, when men were caught in this predicament they would come and bemoan their fate to Antoniowho, out of Christian charity, would loan them money, gratis, so that they could pay off the loan and avoid the ruinous forfeiture. Thus Antonios practice of loaning out money in this way robbed Shylock of all the extra profit he was eager to extract from his victims. [See Additional Note, 3.3.24] 20. / Will cast fair doubt on our good claim to justice / Will strip the state of all its claim to justice 21. A singularly weak argument in defense of Venetian law (which is also used by Portia). Venetian law was unlikely to be so rigid and edicts could be bent (in specific instances) without endangering the fair trade of Venice nor setting some kind of precedence which would cause irreparable harmespecially in regards to an alien. As stated in the court scene, the word of the Duke, in this instance, was sufficient to dismiss could this case and spare Antonios life (and the Duke was under no edict to follow the letter of the law in such a bizarre case.) Such adherence to the strict code of Venetian law, however, must be made in order to support the dramatic tension of the play. 22. bated: abated, reduced, diminished, enfeebled; implying a lose of weight. 23. {These griefs and losses have so baited me | That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh | Tomorrow to my bloody creditor.} 24. / Yet one more time before I pay his debt. 25. These two lines found in the originalwhich contain a death-defying plea to see Bassanio one more timeseem misplaced and over-the-top but consistent with Antonios obsession with Bassanio. Here, his desire to see Bassanio surpasses even his concern for life. This sentiment, being overweening, tends to weaken Antonios character and even suggests some kind of compulsive pathology. This act of giving of ones life for ones friendherein demonstrated by Antonioreflects the greatest love and highest Christian ideal, for as Jesus said: No one has greater love than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends. (John 15:13) Therefore he hates me. / Thats why / Tis why 19 Salarino I am sure the Duke Will never grant this forfeiture to hold. / not allow Antonio The Duke cannot deny the course of law. / refuse / force > forward movement For the commercial rights that traders have {commodity} {strangers} With us in Venice if it be denied / if tis not upheld Will much impeach the justice of the state, / impugn / impair 20 And such will harm the city, which is port Of trade to every nation. Therefore, go. 21 These griefs and losses have so bated me / weakened 22 That when my bloody bondsman calls tomorrow {creditor} Ill barely have a pound of flesh to spare. / I will not have 23 Well Jailer, on. Pray God Bassanio come / I pray / Pray good To see me pay his debt, and then I care not. / Im content 24 25 Exeunt _________________________________________ 1. At this point Portia has decided to go to Venice and intervene on Antonios behalfnow believing that such an intervention is necessary (because neither the justice system of Venice, nor the ducats she has armed Bassanio with, are sufficient to save Antonio). But upon what information has she come to make this decision? Initially she thought that her tens of thousands of ducats would be enough to save Antoniodespite Jessicas statement, That he would rather have Antonios flesh | Than twenty times the value of the sum. [3.2.284-85] However, something has since changed her mind, and now she believes that neither her money nor the justice system of Venice would be sufficient to save Antonioand she concludes that she must go to Venice and intervene. Thus, this change in Portias opinion (which resulted in her changing her course of action) could only have come about as a result of her continued (and more informed) conversation with Jessica. We are not clear on how Portia came to conclude that only her legal intervention could help Antonio, especially since she had no legal training and was not familiar with the specifics of the case. We are also not clear as to how she knew that her cousin, Bellario, had been summoned by the Duke to rule on the caseand was too sick to do sounless she had received a prior communication from Bellario telling her of these matters.) Thus, it is clear that Portia had a change of heart due to her continued conversation with Jessica, who was intimately knowledgeable about the matter. To indicate this ongoing conversation (which began in 3.2) the two could be seen entering the scene together (ahead of the others), in conversationeven where Portia could appear to be asking questions with Jessica answering. [See Additional Notes, 3.4.0] 2. A line to clarify Lorenzos reticence has been added here: a) The sense may be that it is impolite to praise a person in his/her own presenceas this might cause embarrassment (to those who would be modest) or self-aggrandizement (to those inclined in this direction), or b) that words spoken in ones presence are likely to be embellishments (toward positive praise) and therefore may not reflect the total truth (whereas words spoken when the subject is absent, are more likely to be truthful). In this instance, it could be that Lorenzo is reiterating that, although his words are spoken in her presence, they are not said lightly, as hollow praise, but truly reflect his opinion. a) / +And loathe to offer such excessive praise, b) / +And you may doubt the truth of what I say, 3. {Madam, although I speak it in your presence | You have a noble and true conceit} although: even though / Although I pause to speak it in your presence | Madam, you have a noble understanding / Madam, I pause to say it is your presence, | And yet, you show a noble understanding / I hope its not too bold of me to say, | Madam, and yet I think you have a true sense 4. {But if you knew to whom you show this honor} / But if you knew the one whom you thus honor 5. {How dear a lover of my lord your husband} / How dear hes placd in your husbands heart 6. / Youd be more honored by this virtuous work / kindly act / generous deed 7. / Than from the customry displays of kindness 8. / Your genrous nature moves you to perform / Than your good heart obliges you to enact 9.{Than customary bounty can enforce you} / Than from obligd acts of charity customary: ususal, regular, standard bounty: goodness, benevolence, generosity, overflowing kindness, etc. ACT THREE Scene 4 3.4 1 Belmont. Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthazar, Portias servant Lorenzo Madam, although I speak it in your presence, +And hesitate to volunteer such praise,, / am not wont // offer you 2 You have a true and noble understanding 3 Of godlike friendship, which appears most strongly {amity} // so fully In bearing, thus, the absence of your lord. But if you knew the one to whom you honor, / favor 4 How true a gentleman you deem to help, {send relief} How dear hes held within thine husbands heart / placd in / placed within 5 I know you would be prouder of this work 6 Than from the customary acts of kindness / usual / common {works} / deeds 7 That your good nature moves you to perform. // Your godly nature / prompts 8 9 enforce you: prompt, impel, incline you; make you feel Herein, the original line has been expanded into two. The sense here is that the act of kindness Portia is performing (in helping Antonio) would be more pleasing to her than from the usual and regular acts of kindness that she, out of the goodness of her heart, is wont to perform. This action goes above and beyond the normal generosity (the customary bounty) of her usual charitable acts. Various editors interpret this line as follows: Than your wonted generosity make you feel (Cam); Than ordinary acts of kindness allow you to feel (Appl);Than ordinary kindness can make you. (Pelican); Than ordinary acts of kindness can incline you to be (Ar); Than your usual acts of benevolence make you perform (Ox); Then the usual acts of kindness you are prompted (by your good nature) to perform. 10. {I never did repent for doing good} / regret / seek praise / I neer did pride myself for doing good 11. / Whose souls unite by the same yoke of love 12. {There must be needs a like proportion} / There must be needs a likeness of manner / Must share an inclination of like manner 13. / . . . a like proportion of | Characteristics, manner, and of spirit, / . . . a like proportion | Of character, sentiment, and of sprit / Must share a like proportion of manner | Of character, sentiment, and of spirit 14. / Being my lords most true and dearest friend / Being the dearest-most friend of my lord 15. / How little is the price I pay to save | One, so like one, with whom I share a soul 16. {This comes too near the praising of myself} / This comes too near to mine own self-endorsement! / This near approaches self-praise and conceit 17. / The running and management of my house / The management and care of my estate 18. Here Portia is saying she has made a vow to heaven, when clearly she has not. This white lie gives her an unsuspecting reason to leave the estate for a few days. 19. a monastery two miles off: This suggests that Belmont is an island, which is close enough to the mainland to be connected by a bridge, or that it is a peninsula which appears to be an island as one approaches it from the sea. Lines 3.4.81-84 (where Portia indicates a 20 miles journey by coach, to Padua) and the arrival of other characters, by Portia I never praised myself for doing good, {did repent} 10 And shall not now; for in such fond companions {Nor} {for in companions} Who do converse and pass their time together, {waste} / spend Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love / are joined by the same 11 There must be needs a like proportion 12 Of character, of manners, and of spirit, {lineaments} 13 Which makes me think that this Antonio, Being the dearest comradeof my lord, {bosom lover} 14 Must needs be like my lord. If it be so, How little is the cost I have bestowed / put forth / tendered In rescuing the semblance of my soul {purchasing} / saving now / likeness 15 From out the state of hellish cruelty. / From this affront This comes too near the praising of myself / This near approaches 16 Therefore, no more of it. Hear other things: / Now Lorenzo, I commit into your hands, / transfer unto The oversight and manage of my house {husbandry} 17 Until my lords return. For mine own part, I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow To live in prayer and contemplation, 18 Attended only by Nerissa here, {Only attended} Until her husband and my lord return. {lords} There is a monastery two miles off, 19 foot, also suggests that Belmont is connected to the mainland. 20. {Not to deny this imposition} / Not to deny this imposing request To fulfill the meter, imposition, would be pronounced as: IMpoZIseeOWN 21. Portias farewell is directed to Jessica alone. The most likely scenario is that Portia is closer to Jessica, and perhaps face-to-face with Jessica, holding her at elbows length, and mentions her name to indicate a more personal farewell. Some productions, feeling the need to have Portia and Jessica alone on stage, have Jessica suddenly running back (as she and Lorenzo are exiting) to bid Portia farewell. Such a staging, however, draws too much attention to itself and is not necessary. 22. Portia uses the name of her servant, Balthazar, when she comes into court dressed as a man 23. {And use thou all thendeavour of a man} / And use the fullest of thy manly prowess / And use thou all thy gaind skill and power / And use thou all your manly skill and power 24. Portias self-made plan to have Bellario provide her with all the books and garments she needs, as well as a glowing letter of recommendation to appear in Bellarios stead is contingent upon: a) her knowing that Bellario had since been requested, by the Duke, to oversee this very matter in Venice, b) that Bellario was too ill to comply, and c) her confidence in her ability to school herself in all matters of Venician law so as to credibly rule over the matter. (And, if she did not live up the heights of Bellarios recommendation, it would seriously impair Bellarios hard-won reputation. So, in her letter, she would have to have convinced Bellario to stake his reputation upon her And there we will abide. I do desire you, / ask of / request Not to deny this sudden imposition, / curt / rude / brusque 20 The which my love and some necessity / more pressing needs Now lays upon you. Lorenzo Madam, with all my heart I shall obey you in all fair commands. / you request Portia My people do already know my wish {mind} And will acknowledge you and Jessica / recognize / accept both In place of Lord Bassanio and myself. So fare you well till we shall meet again. Lorenzo Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! / happiness all be with you! Jessica [turning back toward Portia] I wish your ladyship all hearts content. / you, dear lady, all / your lady every Portia I thank you for your wish, and am well-pleased To wish the same for you. Fare you well, Jessica. {it back on you} 21 Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo Now, Balthazar, 22 As I have ever found thee plain and true, {honest true} / true and honest So let me find thee still: Take this same letter, And use thou all thy acumen and skill {the endeavor of a man} 23 In speed to Padua. See thou render this / haste / giveth Into the hands of my cousin, Bellario, 24 ability to preside over the matter in his stead). A more likely plan would have been for Portia to visit Bellario, where they could study the case together, and where she could receive expert legal advice, and where she could convince him to write the necessary letter to the Duke. Portia making such a journey to Padua would have taken the same amount of travel time as Balthazar, who was instructed to go to Padua, find Bellario, get the items, and then meet Portia at the ferry landing (on the mainland) where the ferry leaves for Venice. The best plan (though lacking the necessary dramatic element) would have been for Portia to go to Padua, tell Bellario of the urgency and personal nature of the matter, and convince him to intervene, as was originally requested by the Duke.) [See Additional Notes, 3.4.55] 25. A man of gravid legal acumen / One of Italias greatest legal minds / Who commands crucial legal acumen / Who wields considerable legal skill / Who doth possess the greatest legal mind 26. These emended lines introduce a new scenario whereby Portia intends to visit Bellario, and where they will pour over the books, and where she will furnished with his legal opinion with regards to the case. (Such a scenario would be consistent with logic, efficiency, and with Bellarios letter to the Duke, where he says: We turned oer many books together, and He is furnished with my opinion. [4.1.154-55]) In terms of a production, realism at this point is not crucial and the audience can be relied upon to forgive the gaps in Portias plan. Thus, the original lines could be preserved without any appreciable loss. In the original, no meeting takes place: Balthazar is instructed to pick up various books and garments from Bellario (and a letter of recommendation) and then meet Portia at the ferry port (traject) where the ferry travels back and forth (trades) between the mainland and Venice. The original reads as follows: And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, / take Bring them, I pray, with all imagined speed Unto the traject, to the common ferry / Unto the landing where the Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words / Departs to Venice But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee. 27. before they think of us: a) before they think about us (being so busy with their own affairs), b) before the think of seeing us, before they think they will be going to see us (i.e., upon their return to Belmont) 28. / were suitably equipped / we are fully equipped / we are but well-endowed 29. / Ill bet any amount / Ill bet thee any sum 30. prettier: more pleasing, more gallant, more manly +Who is a most learnd doctor of law. 25 He must prepare the books, review the case, And then instruct me on how to proceed. Well meet this evening., Waste no time in words, But get thee gone. I shall be there anon. 26 Bathazar Madam, I go with all availing speed. {convenient} / available / possible Exit Portia Come on, Nerissa. I have work in hand That you have yet to know. Well see our husbands {That you yet know not of} Before they think of us. 27 Nerissa Shall they see us? Portia They shall, Nerissa, but in such a manner {habit} / garb / in such apparel That they shall think we are but well-equipped {accomplishd} 28 With what we lack. Ill hold thee any wager {that} // make / stake 29 That when were both accoutered like young men / attired / in raiments of Ill prove the more convincing of the two, {prettier fellow} / bolder fellow 30 31. The brave wearing of ones dagger (or sword) can be seen as a phallic symbol, and a symbol of ones manhood. 32. {And speak between the change of man and boy | With a reed voice} Xxx / And speak a piping voice that comes between | The change from boy to man; and turn two mincing | Steps to a manly stride. 33. / They fell to sickness and died of heartbreak 34. And show the piping voice of some younker / fair youth Not yet a man; and turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride; and speak of brawls Like a fine, bragging youth; and tell quaint lies How noble ladies sought my manly love Which, I denying, they fell sick and died. / Which, when denied, they soon 35. {I could not do withal} I could not do anything about it; I could not help it. Pun on the word doI could not do (make love with) them all, thus suggesting that the woman he could not (or would not) make love with, fell sick and died of heartbreak. 36. {And wish for all that, that I had not killed them} / And wish my darling had not killed them so. / mantrap / beauty / charming for all that: for having refused them / for all the actions which were beyond my control / in spite of that that I could not prevent their dying. (Kit) 37. {And twenty of these puny lies Ill tell} 38. {Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind} / More than a year ago. I have in mind above a twelvemonth: a) after one year, b) more than a year ago, above a year 39. These lines uttered by Portia show a total embrace of her assumed role as a man. It is clear that Portia is not going to carry out any of the manly behavior she brags about, nor would she have any need, nor reason, nor time to carry out such acts, despite (I have within my mind | A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks | Which I will practice. [3.4.76-78]) Her staid legal garb, and its corresponding manner, are going to show her more like a seasoned mansomewhat reserved and asexualrather than the rowdy youth she is describing. What we see here is Portias willingness to embrace this male role (and come full out of her docile romantic princess mode), which is a metaphor for her leaving the fairy-tale world of Belmont and coming into the thick of the Venetian world. In this description, as in 1.2, we see her mocking men and their ways. Portias ready acceptance of her male role (even more so than is required) is in full contrast to Jessicas embarrassment and shame at having to simply dress up as a boyand make a clandestine escape. 40. turn to men: Nerissa surmises that as part of the plan that they will turn into men (disguise themselves as men); Portia then plays upon another possible meaning, suggesting that (if she interpreted Nerissas meaning ina lewd way) she might think Nerissa is suggesting that they turn to, or approach, men for sexual satisfaction. And wear my dagger with the braver grace, / bolder sway 31 And speak a vocal pitch that comes between / reed-like voice / piping voice The change from boy to man; and I will turn 32 Two mincing steps into a manly stride, / dainty And speak of brawls like a fine, bragging youth; {frays} / fights And tell concocted lies, how noble ladies {quaint} / fantastic / ingenious / far-fetchd Did seek my love which, upon my denial, / when it was denied Led them to grave illness and death by heartbreak 33 34 I could not do them all. Then Ill repent {do withal} / help it / do otherwise 35 And wish for all that my charm had not killed them. 36 And Ill tell twenty of these puny lies, / empty / brainless 37 That men shall swear I had dropped out of school {have discontinued} Aft but one year. I have within my mind {Above a twelvemonth} 38 A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks boys / youths Which I will use. {practice} / put to use 39 Nerissa Why, shall we turn to men? 40
Portia Fie, what a question that is! +Shall we turn / lewd question! 41. / To men to satisfy our needs? Fie, fie! 42. {Fie, what a questions that? | If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!} / Fie, what a questions that? | We shall not turn to men for carnal favors! / Fie, what a questions that? +We turn to men | For carnal pleasures?no, I thinketh not., / Fie, what a lewd question is that! +We turn | To men for carnal pleasuresI think not!, / Fie, what a questions that? | If thou resembled a lewd interpreter | +Methinks you say we turn to men for pleasures!, [See Additional Notes, 3.4.80] 43. park gate: the gate leading beyond the grounds, beyond the estate surrounding the mansion To men for carnal pleasures?I think not! , / satisfaction 41 42 But come, Ill tell thee all of my good plan {my whole device} When we are in my coach, which stays for us / waits At the main gate; and therefore haste away, {park} 43 For we must journey twenty miles today. {measure}/ travel Exeunt ____________________________________________________ 1. Act 3, Scene 5, as found in the original, is a filler scene which provides a light-hearted distraction and some psychological time which allows the main characters to reach Venice. Nothing is advanced in the scene. (As it now stands, the dynamic court scene is sandwiched between two, more playful scenes, involving the two lovers and the fool.) The quality of this scene (especially the first half), moreover, is tiresome and lacking. At the onset of the scene, Launcelet is oddly confronting and harsh; it is unlikely that he would address Jessica in such a cruel manner (as they were friends and allies during his term with Shylock) though some have argued that Jessica, now a Christian, is fair game for Launcelets foolery. Moreover, Launcelets fluency with Homers The Odyssey is questionable; his banter with Lorenzo is dull; and the later conversation between Lorenzo and Jessica is uninspired. Due to the weakness of the scene, some scholars have doubted its authenticity and most productions simply delete it. In sum, the scene is lacking and anomalous though a scene is needed here to provide time for the main characters to reach Venice. Thus, the original 3.5 should be included with trepidation, deleted altogether, or wholly replaced with another scene. In this emendation, 3.5 is replaced with one involving Shylock. One way to keep a short scene here would be to import the early portions the 5.1 involving Lorenzo and Jessica. (Specifically, 5.1.1-21 and 5.1.54-109, or some portion thereof, could be included). This importation would help to reduce the length of Act Five and accomplish the aim of bringing the story to a swift conclusion after its crescendo at the end of the trial scene. As it now stands, the concluding Act Five is much too long and most productions seek ways to reduce it. It was a common practice, before 1800, to simply omit Act Five altogether, rather than tax the audience with the tie up of loose ends after the dramatic close of the court scene. However, such convenient editing is wholly unacceptable. The filler scene provided herewhich replaces the originalcan be staged in one of three ways: a) Shylock appears alone, without any spoken lines, b) Shylock appears alone, then Tubal enters, then a short dialogue between the twoone which does not reveal Shylocks motivation, or c) Shylock appears alone, then Tubal enters, then a dialogue between the twoone which reveals Shylocks motivation (which is that he does not intend to actually kill Antonio but to teach him a lesson, to psychologically torture him). Explicitly revealing Shylocks motivation (i.e., not to kill Antonio) tenuously redeems his character: as such, he is not solely motivated by misplaced hatred and self- defeating rage but by a more skillful and elevated stratagemthat of teaching Antonio a lesson. Revealing such a motivation (which is contrary to the assumed motivation found in the original) holds the risk of changing the vector (and tension) of the court scene. In the original, the audience is led to believe that Shylock fully intends to kill Antonio (if he gets the chance). With the introduction of Shylocks motivation, the audience may not feel any real threat to Antonio life (which Antonio and everyone else in the play is made to feel it). In addition, when Shylock is finally defeated, he is defeated before he has a chance to make known his true motivations, and everyone is left with the false impression that he truly intended to kill Antonio (and would have done it if he were not stopped by Portias wit). This, then, would add another dimension to the defeat of Shylocks characterhis never being able to redeem himself in the eyes of others. In this scenario, Shylock could not come back and claim he had no intention of killing Antonio, for in such a position of defeat, no one would believe him. [See Additional Notes, 3.5.0] 2. Previously, when there was an object for its expression, we see Shylock able to express his anger and rage; here, in isolation, only sadness penetrates, and, for the first time, he feels a deep and alien sense of loss: The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now. 3. To include an element of black humor, Shylock could be made to test the sharpness of his blade on a tomato (which may or may not be a symbol for the heart). In his first try, he finds the blade to be hopelessly dull and ACT THREE - Scene Five 1 _______________________________________ [Optional Scenereplaces 3.5 in the original] Venice. Shylocks House. Shylock is alone in his house, feeling an oppressive emptiness from his daughters flight and betrayal. He also feels isolated (from the merchant and Jewish communities) due to his strange course of action against Antonio (one which is going to bode badly for every Jew in Venice). Here he is getting ready for the trial; and with no object upon which to express his anger (such as the presence of Antonio), he is starkly confronted by his own sadness. He picks up the bond 2 and safely places it his breast pocket, perhaps knowing too well that exacting the cruel terms of his bond will do little to appease this own emptiness. He readies his bag, selecting it with some reluctance. This is one of the bags he uses to transport money. He goes to the scale, takes it apart, and places it into the bag. He picks up a one-pound weight, gauges its weight by lifting it up and down in his hand, and places it in the bag. He goes to his knife collection and ponders which knife to use; he selects the most ominous-looking one, which is thick and pointed. He places the knife in his bag. 3 4 squashes the tomato instead of cleanly cutting it. In frustration, he discards the knife and tries another, with equal lack of success. After a few failures (perhaps the knives are dull because Launcelet is no longer there to sharpen them) he picks up the first knife again, wipes the knife with a towel, and puts it into his bag. (He will sharpen the blade on the sole of his shoe at a later time). One could also add a symbolic element here and have Shylock mistakenly cut himself with one of the knives as he is distractedly testing it. This notion reflects a line from the ancient Chinese text, the Tao Te Ching, which states: He who kills is like he who cuts with the blade of the Great Wood-Carver. Truly, whoever cuts with the blade of the Great Wood-Carver is likely cut himself. (Verse 74) 4. The scene could end here (without any words spoken and without the entrance of Tubal). Ending the scene here would accentuate Shylocks sense of aloneness. This speechless added scene could be used in a production which stays true to the original textsuch trueness allows for additional staging (and deletions of text) but does not tolerate the addition of any new dialogue. The general rule allows for some archaic words to be modernized and for a character to say the name of another characters, even if that name does not appear in the text. (For example, some productions have Shylock call out Jessica, Jessica upon his return from Bassanios dinner, even though her nameand this direction to call out her namedoes not appear in the original text.) 5. add: this act of cutting out Antonios heart before the Duke and magistrates? 6. A few lines of explanatory dialogue, relating to the oath that Shylock made, could be inserted here. [See Additional Notes, 3.5.02] 7. The scene couldand possibly shouldend here. The addition of further dialogue reveals Shylocks motivationwhich is not to kill Antonio but only to psychologically torture him. Without this motive explicated, the audience would assume that Shylock is motivated by blind hatred and revenge and that he fully intends to kill Antonio when he enters the court. [See Additional Notes, 3.5.01] Enter Tubal Tubal Shylock, do you intend to go through with this heinous act? 5 Shylock Until the very end. Tubal But you have nothing to gain and all to lose. Hes already broken. He cannot interfere with your business. And such an act would destroy us in the eyes of Venice; they would have cause to treat us Jews as a cruel and faithless people. Shylock And do they not already treat us that way? 6 Tubal But why go through with this? Just take the principalor doubleand be done with it. Shylock Why does Antonio spit on me? Why do Christians despise us? We are different. We are not like themthus, they cannot see us. They choose not to see us. But now they will see. Now they must look upon the Jew and hear him. I will play this hand til the very end. 7 Tubal What end is that? 8. Optional lines which include a reference to Antonio, could be added: +And I will not allow Antonio to speak. And how will that make a man feel?, 9. The last sentence could be deleted if the intent is to make Shylocks motivation purely righteous, with no financial scheming, though the financial intentcoming as an afterthought, and keeping Shylock in the character of a businessdoes not undermine his so-called righteous intention. 10. This addition of dialogue reveals Shylocks true motivation: which is to revel in his new position of power, to psychologically torture Antonio (leading Antonio to believe, until the last moment, that he is going to die), to get back three times what he is owed, and then to let Antonio go free. Without Shylock revealing his exact motivation, one could surmise one of the following: One: Shylock, deranged by hatredand the sadness of his daughters betrayalfully intends to take his revenge upon Antonio and kill him, without moral ambivalence, as is allowed by the bond (even thought Antonio had nothing to do with Jessicas flight). Here Shylock is psychopathically certain about his rights, which he mistakenly views as being lawful and defensible. (As the play now stands, this is the hateful and depraved course of action which the audience believes Shylock intends to take. With his loathsome and indefensible intention so apparent, Shylocks character cannot be redeemed. Despite the numerous and well- intentioned attempts, made in various productions, to place Shylock in the role of victim, such a depraved intention insures that Shylock remains a heartless villain, beyond the reach of redemption or pity. Two: Shylock is conflicted and is unsure about what he is going to do, but he is siding with the intention to kill Antonio. One part of him wants to kill Antonio (the fiend at his elbow) and the other part knows that such an actionthough legally within his rightsis wrong (his conscience). He is enmeshed in a conflict similar to the one played out by his servant Launcelet in 2.2. In the context of this conflictwhere Shylock knows that his conscience may eventually win out over his fiendhe ups the ante and goes past the point of return by making a vow his holy Saboath (God of Hosts) that (his fiend will prevail) and that he will kill Antonio. Thus, he enters the court conflicted but with the irreversible intention (and added motivation, imparted by his vow) to kill Antonio. He might have also needed the added strength imparted by his vow to overshadow his own conscience when faced with the brutal reality of the actual deed. Three: Shylock intends to carrying out this strange course of action, to the last minute, to teach Antonio a hard lessonand, as surmised by the Duketo then let Antonio go. Shylock I will torment him as he has tormented me. I will make him feel as he has made me feel. I will teach him something he will not soon forget. Perhaps he will have reason to pause next time he thinks to spit on me +I who held his life in my hands,. They have pleaded with me. They have asked me to alter my course. It is now I who cannot hear them. I turn a deaf ear to all their pleas. Antonio, the Duke, and all the magnificoes have pleaded with me, yet I will not hear 8 them. I need not hear them. Tubal Your deeds will handicap the freedom that every Jew affords in Venice. Methinks you carry this too far. Shylock No, no, not far enough. Ill make him suffer. Ill hold him in my grip till the last momentand when I see the desperate fear in his eyes, a man made to feel utterly powerlessthen I will let him go and take thrice the principle. Tis my right. Tis a right I have dearly boughtand not with ducats but with the years I have suffered under his hand. Tis my right. Ill have my day. Ill have Antonio suffer. Ill have my ducats three times over. 9 10 Exeunt ______________________________________________________________ 1. The first three lines of the original play have six iambs (twelve syllables) as opposed to the standard iambic pentameter (ten syllables) 2. void: > a) heartless, b) without Christian grace 3. / taken great measures to curb / utmost pains 4. {Out of} 5. {My patience to his fury, and am armed} / His fury with my patience; I am braced patience: Patience, as used in this context, is somewhat synonymous with forbearance, and suggests to the Renaissance virtue which is advocated as the best way to meet adversity. [Lear 1.4.240, 2.2. 445]. More deeply, it refers to faith in God and the short-term corporeal suffering which is often needed to bring about long-term and divine gain. The ability to bear misfortune with confidence in the ultimate justice and goodness of God. This is a Christian notion not to be confused with classical Stoicism. (Kit). 6. {The very tyranny and rage of his.} / The very brunt and tyranny of his rage. / The very tyranny of this mans rage / The very brunt and onslaught of his rage / The very despotism of his rage 7. The stage heading in Q1 reads, Enter Shylocke, yet the speech headings shiftwith no real significancebetween Jew and Shy. Iewe (or Iew): [34 I have possessed your grace,64, 66,68,84,88,121,126,138,173] ACT FOUR Scene One Venice. A court of justice. Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, Gratziano, and others. Duke What, is Antonio here? / Well Antonio Ready, so please your grace. / I am 1 Duke I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer / Youve // Youve come against A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Incapable of pityvoid, and empty / and lacking / without 2 From any hint of mercy. {dram} Antonio I have heard Your grace hath taen great pains to modify / borne {qualify} / mollify 3 His savage course, but since he stands unshaken {rigorous} {obdurate} / unmovd And, as no lawful means can carry me {that} / since // render / deliver Beyond his envys reach, I do oppose / now / doth // pit against 4 My patience to his fury, and am armed / braced / ready 5 To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his. / he portions / he levies 6 Duke Go one, and call the Jew into the court. > Someone go, Salerio Hes ready at the door. He comes, my lord. / standing by Enter Shylock 7 Shy: [180 On what compulsion must I?,203, 220, 223, 225, 232,243] Iew (or Jew): [247Tis very true, O wise and upright judge, 249, 253, 256, 259, 292, 298, 301] Shy: [311 Is that the law?] Iew: [315 I take this offer then, pay the bond thrice] Shy: [332 Give me my principal and let me go, 338, 341, 370, 389, 391, 394] Note: the speech heading of line 394In christening shalt thou have two Godfathersattributes the line to Shylock {Shy.} which is clearly in errorthe line belongs to Gratziano. 8. > have him stand in such a way that we can clearly see him 9. Though the Duke is partial to Antonios plight (as evidenced in the opening lines of the scene) here he is showing deference to Shylock (and giving him the opportunity to change his position) by asking others to make room for him and by calling him by his name. 10. {Thoult show thy mercy and remorse more strange} / This ill-conceived course is even more strange / And yet this course conceived is een more strange / Yet this recourse is even more bizarre / Yet such an ill-bred action is een more queer / That thou wilt show thy mercy and remorse; | Yet such a course is even more bizarre 11. {Than is thy strange apparent cruelty} apparent: a) obvious, visible, b) show of, what appears to be 12. / Thoult show thy mercy; yet such course is stranger | Than is the strangeness of thy apparent | / Yet this conceived course is even more strange | Then is the strangeness of thy apparent | / Cruelty. And where you now demand the forfeit, 13. / And looking on his losses with some pity 14. {Enough to press a royal merchant down} / And now do burden a royal merchant It is odd that the Duke is calling for Shylock to take pity on Antonio and forgive some portion of the principal (in light of Shylocks overtly merciless intentions). Having the Duke call on Shylock to forgive the forfeiture (and then have Antonio pay him back when he was able) would be more likely an appeal. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.28] 15. {And pluck commiseration of his state} / Such loss would pluck a strain of pathos, een / a requiem of pity / a dirge of remorse > And bring about some pity (in your heart) as a result of his (unfortunate) condition 16. {From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained | To offices of tender courtesy} Turks: generally classed with Jews, infidels, and hereticsi.e., those in need of redemption Tartars: the brutal and bellicose warriors who made up the hordes of Ghengis Khan 17. {From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained | To offices of tender courtesy} / From stubborn brutes and vicious fighters neer | Trained in demeanor that were soft or tender Duke Make room, and let him stand before our face. . . . 8 Shylock, the world thinksand I think so too 9 That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice / lead / forward To the last hour of act and then, tis thought, / Until the final hour Thoult show thy mercy and remorse; and yet This ill-conceived action is eer more strange / ill-advisd / queer / baffling 10 Than is the strangeness of thy feignd cruelty. {apparent} / open / obvious 11 And where thou now exactst the penalty, / demand / exact 12 Which is a pound of this poor merchants flesh, Thou wilt not only lose the forfeiture / pardon all the fees But, touched with human gentleness and love, {humane} // kindness and compassion Forgive a portion of the principal, {moiety} And glance an eye of pity on his losses {Glancing} / Showing // Shedding a tear 13 That have, of late, so huddled on his back Enough to press a royal merchant down. / burden a royal merchant 14 And such a loss should pluck a strain of pathos / A loss so great 15 From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn brutes and warriors never trained / faithless {Turks and Tartars} 16 In such demeanor that were soft or tender. 17 18. / And by Gods holy army have I sworn / And by our trust in Gods holy army, / righteous 19. {And by our holy Sabaoth have I sworn} Many commentators have transposed the term found in Q1, Sabaothwhich is a reference to Yahweh Sabaoth, God of Hosts or Gods armiesinto Sabbath (the holy seventh day). Thus, with this change, Shylock is made to say: And by our holy Sabbath I have sworn. Such a statement makes little sense in this context. It becomes even more problematic, as Shylock swears upon our holy Sabbath (and the commandment of God which demands that a Jew keep the Sabbath holy) in order to break another of Gods commandments: thou shall not kill. Hence, Shylock has swore himself into a predicament. What this shows, moreover, is Shylocks imperfect brand of Judaism and his foul understanding of his own tradition. Here he making an oath to the God of the Jews as a device to further his own personal and ungodly aims and defy the commandments of his own God. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.35] 20. {To have the due and forfeit of my bond}. The contract that usurers entered into usually had two parts: a) the amount due, which is the principle of the bond, the amount actually loaned out (plus any interest which accrued), plus b) the forfeit or forfeiture, which is the penalty that must be paid if the amount due is not paid back on time. Usually the forfeit was a persons land or other great expense. Here the forfeit is one pound of flesh. Present usury laws in most countries render such contracts illegal (especially between individuals). These include loan contracts which carry too high an interest rate and/or contracts which contain some kind of penalty. For instance, the usury rate in New York is 18%, which means that a loan between individuals cannot carry an interest rate higher than 18%. In New Jersey, the rate is 30%. Hence, contracts that charge a interest rate above a states usury rate is illegal. In most states, the loaning party would lose all rights to collect interest on such a loan; in New York, such a contract being illegal, would be null and void and the borrowing party would not be required to pay back any of the money borrowed 21. / If you deny it, let the consequence | Befall your charter and your citys freedom / defame / debase / debauch / besmirch / destroy / If you deny it, let all doubt alight | Upon the charter that grants your city | Its renown freedom of commerce and trade. / Its reputation of fair trade and commerce. 22. {But say it is my humour; it is answered?} my humour: my particular, inborn disposition or nature. This refers to the unchanging bent of ones character or disposition which is determined by the balance of the four main humours or fluids of the bodyi.e., blood, phlegm, clear or yellow bile [choler], and dark bile. Blood is associated with the liver (and a lack thereof produces cowardice); phlegm with the lungs / brain; yellow bile with the spleen (producing anger or one who is choleric or splenetic); and dark bile with the gall bladder (producing one who has a gall or choler). [See 3.5.58, for Launcelots use of the term]. Shylocks point is that a person cannot give reason as to why he has a particular dominance of humour (and why he acts in a particular way), as that is simply the way he was bornit is his unchangeable nature. Thus, again, with imperfect logic, Shylock is saying that he is really not responsible for his actions, that he cannot change them, that he is prompted by his nature. (This goes against the central Jewish doctrine of mans free choice). Shylock then goes on to describewith limited successthe various actions of persons who are inclined toward one particular humour or the other: those who are sad, fearful, sluggish, etc. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.42] The term humour can also refer to ones whim, ones wish, ones likingand this is the way that most people would hear this line: why do you want the pound of flesh? Shylock is askedand he replies: it is my humour, it is my whim, it pleases me (and that is the reason). We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. Shylock I have informed your grace of my intention, {possessed} {of what I purpose} And by our holy God of Hosts Ive sworn {Sabaoth} 18 19 To have the due and forfeit of my bond. / debt > the amount owed 20 If you deny it, let disaster fall {the danger light} / the doubt be cast Upon your charter and your citys freedom. / fall pon / alight 21 Youll ask me why I rather choose to have A pound of carrion flesh than to receive {weight} // lifeless Three thousand ducats? Ill not answer that But say it is my bent +The way my nature {humour} 22 Has come to fashion me., Now is it answered? What if my house be troubled with a rat / by And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats To have it banned? Well, are you answered yet? / killed {What}/ Now 23. / Even before a feast of gaping pig. / A meal so served upon a gaping pig. / When seeing plates of food and stuffed pig meat. 24. {Some men there are love not a gaping pig} / Some men there are dislike to see a pig, | +Its mouth agape and served upon a platter., Refers to someone who is not moved to eat, even when sitting at a feast, where such grand items as a gaping piga pig with its mouth held open by an appleare served Shylock may be making an oblique reference to himself: he would not eat (i.e., loves not) the feast of the pork which Christians find so desirable 25. {Some that are mad if they behold a cat} The reference is unclear, but suggests the humor of black bile, which commonly refers to melancholy but also to one beset by haunting dreams and vain imaginations. Thus, the image of a cat, in this instance, may refer to a person who is mad in terms of false imaginings and superstitionwhich is the kind of misplaced fear and superstition he may attribute to harmless alley cats. 26. {And others when the bag-pipes sings ithnose | Cannot contain their urine;} sings ithnose: sings in the nose: a) sings its sad song through its nose (horn), b) sings with a nasal type voice or sound Bagpipes were known to play mournful tunes. Crying tears (from the eyes) would be the natural response of most men, whereas peeing in ones own pants would not. Here, according to ones humour, Shylock is describing someone overtaken by fear (so much so that he would pee in his pants out of fright) as opposed to someone besieged by sadness. Perhaps the confusion is intentional on the part of the playwright, suggesting that Shylock knows the basic theory of the humours but is confused as to their correct application. This confusion could be rectified (and Shylock made to appear more apt) by associating the bagpipe with melancholy, rather that fright; thus, by replacing urine with weeping, the reference would be to a person besieged by sadness (and tears) rather than by fright (and urine). Thus, a more cogent reference to the humours would be: And others when the bagpipe sings ith nose | Cannot contain their weeping. 27. {For affection} affection: a) ones affect; ones disposition, inherent temperament, or inborn nature; b) affections, such as likes and desires. [See 3.1.55: Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;] 28. it: ones emotions, feelings, passions, etc. 29. {Masters of passion, sways it to the mood} passion: emotions, feelings, sentiments. Generally refers to the full range of emotional responses a person can have, including but not limited to, passion. The sense here is that ones nature (ones humour or inherent disposition), rules over all his emotions, and sways it (ones emotions) to the mood (mold, color, structure) of how ones nature is so inclined (i.e., to what it likes or loathes). [See Additional Notes, 4.1.49] Masters of passion: That which rules over our emotions and feelings (passion). Masters could also be seen as a reference to young men, young counterparts of emotionsbut this is an unwarranted stretch. Likewise, Masters of passion is often emended to read, Mistress of passion (Oxford, Norton, Applause, Bevington, Kittredge), suggesting that affection (interpreted as desires) is the cohort of (the mistress of) our emotions (passion). Interpreting affection to mean desire (as opposed to ones natural inclination or disposition) is problematic since such and interpretation makes no meaningful connection to the whole of the passage, which is about mans unchanging nature (or humour). Thus, affection should relate to ones humour or inherent nature, as opposed to the more tenuous interpretation as desires. The phrase, as it appears in Q1, Maisters of passion, is problematic and some editors emending it as, Masters oft passion (Cambridge), or Masters joft k passion (Folger)neither of which illumine or clarify. (These emendations, though lacking, are still superior to the mishandled, Mistress of passion). It is likely that the intended passage was simply: Masters our passion which is in keeping with the general idea that our inherent nature or disposition (affection) rules over (masters) our various feelings and emotions (passion). 30. / . . . Tis ones own nature | That rules oer feeling and doth sway our mood | To what it likes or loathes / . . . For our own nature, | Ruler of passion, ever sways our mood | To what it likes or loathes. / . . . and sways it to move | By what it likes or loathes / . . . and affects our mood | To what it likes or loathes Some men are dull and not inclined to eat / sluggish, Even when served a feast of gaping pig. 23 24 Some men go mad if they behold a cat; / that 25 And others, when the bagpipe sings a note, {sings ithnose} / plays a tune Do wet their pants in fright. And thus ones nature {For affection} 26 27 Rules over feeling and sways it tthe mood / Rules our emotion // bent / temper 28 29 Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer: it > our nature 30 As there is no firm reason to be rendered / Just as theres no / given 31. {Why he cannot abide a gaping pig} / cannot endure / cannot stomach abide: tolerate, bear, be unaffected by, stand the sight of 32. / Why he is superstitious of a cat See Note 18 xx. 33. {Why he a harmless, necessary cat} necessary: useful, needed to perform the function of catching mice harmless: refers to an ordinary house cat, as opposed to a harmful cat, as might be employed by a witch 34. {Must yield to such inevitable shame | As to offend, himself being offended,} / Is forced to bear the shame of wetting his | Own pants, offending others as himself. 35. / There is a long-standing hate and loathing 36. {More than a lodged hatred and a certain loathing | I bear Antonio, that I follow thus | A losing suit against him. Are you answered?} losing suit: an unprofitable action where Shylock gains a worthless pound of flesh as as opposed to the usual monetary gain. 37. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.62] 38. / To excuse thy overflowing cruelty / over-bounding / But mere excuse for thy vengeful cruelty / boundless / flooding / avid / ardent 39. {Hates any man the thing he would not kill?} / Every man kills the thing that would kill him. / he does hate. 40. {Every offence is not a hate at first} / How can there be such hatred from one offence? Why one cannot endure a gaping pig {he} {abide} / partake 31 Why one is crazed to see a harmless cat, {he} / fearful of 32 33 Why one who hears the playing of a bagpipe {he} /song / strains / notes Must yield to shame by wetting his own pants, 34 So can I give no reason, more than to say, / but {nor I will not} There is a lodged hate and a certain loathing {More than} // staunch / long 35 I bear Antonio, that I follow thus / pursue // this A losing suit against him. Are you answered? / A gainless // Profitless 36 37 Bassanio This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty. / To thus // oerflow 38 Shylock I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Bassanio Do all men kill the things they do not love? Shylock Do men not want to kill the things they hate? 39 Bassanio A first offense cannot bestow such hatred. / amass / afford / abring 40 Shylock What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Antonio 41. {I pray you think, you question with the Jew} the Jew: refers specifically to Shylock, and not to Jews in general, else Antonio would have said, you question with a Jew. 42. You may as well: Antonio repeats this phrase four times. 43. / And bid the tide to lower its usual height / And bid the high tide not rise with the moon. / And bid the tide abate its rising waters. 44. {Why he hath made the ewe bleake for the lamb} bleat: cry loudly. Q1 has bleake, which is likely an error for bleat (or bleat). 45. {As seel to soften thatthan which whats harder?} / To try and soften that which is hardest / To try and soften the hardest thing of all 46. {His Jewish heart.} / His vacant heart / vacuous heart / faithless heart. / His merciless heart. Thus This line is somewhat out of place for Antonio, as his contention with Shylock has been over usury, yet here is a direct attack against Shylocks Jewishness. Under the circumstances, where Antonio is about to be killed by this unforgiving enemy, such a slur is not out of place, and may reveal what Antonio believes to the thick-necked and unflinching aspect of Shylocks character. An normal usurer, having been offered three times the principle owed, would have taken the offer. Thus, there is something more than mere usurious greed which is entrenching Shylock in the unprofitable course. Antonio, unable to fathom Shylocks alien course of action, is here linking it to his Jewishness, since Antonio can find nothing else. 47. / His unforgiving heart. Thus, I beseech you 48. {But with all brief and plain conveniency} / But with all plain and efficient dispatch 49. Shylock is saying that he would refuse an offer of 36,000 ducats. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.86] I pray you, think, you argue with a stone. / Remind yourself {the Jew} / a block 41 You may as well go stand upon the beach 42 And bid the high tide bate its usual height; {main flood} 43 You may as well use question with the wolf / long argue Why he hath killed the lamb and made the ewe cry. 44 You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; / a gust of wind You may as well do anything most hard As seek to soften that which none is harder / To try an soften 45 His godless heart. Therefore, I do beseech you, / faithless / vengeful 46 47 Make no more offers, use no further means, But with all brief and plain efficiency / speed {conveniency} / propriety Let me have judgement and the Jew his will. 48 Bassanio [to Shylock] For thy three thousand ducats, here is six. Shylock If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them. I would have my bond. / take 49 Duke How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendring none? / giving Shylock 50. / What fate should I dread, having done no wrong? / For what mercy should I hope, doing no wrong? / Why hope for mercy, having done no wrong? Here is the blunder of Shylocks positionhe is doing a great wrong. He is holding to the letter of the law to justify his doing something he knows (by his own conscience and the laws of Judaism) to be wrong. Hence, it is Shylocks own feeble consciousness (or greed-infested anger) which does not allow him to understand the truth of the lawand this is his undoing. His position is untruthful in every respect and violates the spirit of every law: thus he tries to empower himself by cleaving to the strict letter of the Venetian lawfor his own selfish gainas opposed to upholding the law of human righteousness. Thus, by his own lack of truth, he is undone. 51. / Many among you have a purchased slave, 52. / You burden with despised and slavish means 53. / Be seasoned with the same viands. Your answer Shall be: The slaves belong to us; +we have Purchased them., So, I answer you the same: 54. / There is no power in the laws of Venice. 55. {Upon my power I may dismiss this court} upon my power: by virtue of my power, in accord with my power (as Duke) I may dismiss: a) dismiss the case entirely, b) adjourn the case until such time as Bellario appears. The legal proceedings of the play corresponds to neither Venetian nor English law of the time. The Duke states that he has the power to dismiss this case, contrary to the assertions made that the Duke does not have that power, and must follow the strict letter of the law (and thereby honor the contract) [Antonio: 3.4.26-31; Portia: 4.1.215-219] . One of the earliest cases in US law involved individual rights, and it was ruled that the state could not nullify a contract made between individualsif it did have that power the ( as stated in Chief Justice Marshalls opinion) the very institution and fabric of the economic livelihood of the country would be undermined. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.103] 56. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.105] 57. There is a causality implied here: I, the Duke, have the power to dismiss this case, unless Bellario comes to determine it. Hence, if Bellario does not come, the Duke may dismiss the case (due to its unusual nature). Hence, Portias arrival on behalf of Bellarioand with Bellarios glowing recommendationis the very thing that stalls the Duke and prevents him from dismissing the case. Thus, Portias arrival has unwittingly put Antonios life in new jeopardy. As such, it becomes increasingly clear that Portia was fully versed in the law and was well aware that she could save Antonio before she dared such a bold intervention. What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong? 50 You have acquired many a purchased slave {among you} 51 Which, like your donkeys and your dogs and mules, {asses} You use in abject and in slavish roles / lowly {parts} / tasks/ chores / functions 52 Because you bought them. Shall I say to you: Let them be free. Marry them to your heirs. Why sweat them under burdens? Let their beds {burthens} Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates / mouths / meals Be seasoned with your spices. You will answer: {viands} The slaves are ours. So do I answer you: 53 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! There is no force in the decrees of Venice. 54 I stand for judgement. Answershall I have it? / wait // justice Duke Upon my power I may dismiss this court, / case 55 Unless Bellario, a learnd judge, {a learned doctor} / a doctor of law Whom I have sent for to determine this, 56 Come here today. 57 58. / My Lord, theres waiting outside / My Lord, remains outside 59. / Hold fast man, have courage! 60. wether: weak or castrated ram. From bellwether: a ram with a bell hung round its neck 61. {You cannot be better employed, Bassanio, | Than to live still and write mine epitaph.} 62. sole: Shylock whets his knife on the sole of his shoe or boot Salerio My lord, there waits without {stays} 58 A messenger with letters from the judge, {doctor} New come from Padua. / Just Duke Bring us the letters! Call the messenger! / me Exit Salerio Bassanio Good cheer, Antonio! What man, courage yet. 59 The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
Antonio I am a tainted servant of the flock, {tainted wether} / feeble creature 60 Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit / Most fit Drops earliest to the groundand so let me. Now then, Bassanio, you are best employed To live, that you may write my epitaph. / To stay alive and write 61 Enter Salerio with Nerissa, dressed as a lawyers clerk Duke Come you from Padua, from Bellario? Nerissa From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. She hands him a letter Shylock sharpens his knife on the sole of his shoe Bassanio [to Shylock] Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly? > sharpen Shylock To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. {bankrout} Gratziano Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, 62 63. / Thou makest keen thy knife. No metal can 64. hangmans axe: executioners axe. Here the term hangmans is begrudgingly emended with hoodmans or hooded mans, to clarify the reference to an executioner (who is usually hooded) and who employs a sharp axe, rather than to a hangman, who is more likely to be associated with a rope rather than an axe. In an alternative rendering the more precise term, executionerthough long-windedcould be used: No, not the excutioners sharpest axe | Bear half the keenness of thy sharp envy. | Can nothing get through? Can no prayer piece thee? / Not even that of a head-choppers axe / Not even the fell axe of a hoodman 65. {To hold the opinion with Pythagoras} / To hold a common tenet with the Greeks / To share the same belief as ancient Greeks. Gratziano is referring to the Pythagorean doctrine regarding reincarnation and the transmigration of souls (where an animal soul could incarnate in a human body), which is heresy to Christians. 66. {Governed a wolf, who hanged for human slaughter} 67. {did his fell soul fleet} fell: deadly, cruel, savage fleet: pass on, leave (flee) the body 68. / Inhabited a wolf who was but hanged For human slaughter. Then, from the gallows, His deadly soul did flee and thus infused Itself in thee whilst thou lay in thy mothers Vile and unholy womb; for thy desires / Unhallowed womb; for all thy desires Are wolvish, blood-thirsty, and ravenous. 69. [See Additional Notes: 4.1.137] 70. repair: use to good end, put to good use, rectify, set in order Thou makst thy knife keen. But no metal can 63 No, not the hoodmans axebear half the keenness {hangmans axe} 64 Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? / reach Shylock No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. Gratziano O, be thou damned, thou ever-cursd dog! {inexecrable} And for thy life let justice be accused! Thou almost makst me waver in my faith, / sight And hold the same opinion as the Greeks {To} > And to 65 That souls of animals infuse themselves / instill / install Into the trunks of men. Thy beastly spirit {currish}/ brutal Lived in a wolf who hanged for killing humans; {Governed} / whos 66 Then from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, {Even}/ Thus / its 67 And whilst thou lay in thy unhallowed womb, {dam} Infused itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, blood-thirsty, and ravenous. {bloody, starved} 68 69 Shylock Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond > remove Thou but offendst thy lungs to speak so loud. / only harm // with all thy shouting Repair thy wit, young man, or it will fall {good youth} 70 To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. / hopeless Duke This letter from Ballario doth commend > recommend 71. {He attendeth here hard by} / He doth eagerly await / He is eagerly awaiting 72. / With courteous intent, go bring him here. 73. Q1 offers no stage direction here; and since no character is designated to read the letter, most productions simply have the Duke read it. However, it is more likely (and dramatically apt) that a court official read the letter (which could be Salerio). Had the Duke said, Meantime, I will read Bellarios letter the direction for him to read would be clear. The reference, however, to the court hearing Bellarios letter, suggests that it be read by a court official and not by the Duke. 74. {in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthazar} In the original, no visitation was made between Portia and Bellario: Portias servant was sent to Bellario, who fetched clothes and books, and who then gave them to Portia at the port where the ferry traveled to Venice. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.151] 75. This indicates that Bellario reviewed the matter and furnished Portia with his opinionas opposed to simply supplying her with the books. 76. [See Additional Note, 4.1.159] 77. {I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.} 78. I was very ill: {I am very sick} arrived: {came} the case: {the cause} / matter whose conduct: {whose trial} / evidence of his judgement / your test of him disclose: {publish} / make known / reveal worthiness: {commendation} A young and learnd scholar to our court. {doctor} / lawyer Where is he? Nerissa He is waiting here, nearby / outside 71 To know your answer, whether youll admit him. / receive Duke With all my heart. Some three or four of you, Go give him courteous escort to this place. {conduct} / passage 72 Exeunt three or four Meanwhile, the court shall hear Bellarios letter: {Meantime} > In the meantime The Duke hands the letter to an officer of the court, who reads: 73 Your Grace shall understand, that at the receipt of your letter I was very ill, but at the instant that your messenger arrived, a young doctor of law from Rome, named Balthazar, was paying me a kindly visit. I acquainted him with the case in controversy between the Jew and Antonio, 74 the merchant. We turned oer many books together. He is furnished with my opinion, which is 75 bettered with his own learningthe greatness of which I cannot enough commend. In response to your graces request, I have importuned him to rule on this matter in my stead. I beseech you, 76 let not his lack of years bring a lack in your revered estimation of him, for Ive never known so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose conduct shall, better than my words, disclose his worthiness. 77 78 Enter Portia as Balthazar, Doctor of Law, with others You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes? And here, I take it, is the doctor come. / comes the young doctor 79. / That occupies the question now in court? 80. Portia, being well-informed as to the present matter (and the law governing it), suggests that she met with Bellario, rather that thoroughly educating herself in all nuance of Venetian law. Yet, such a meeting is not indicated in the original. Two possibilities thus exist: a) that Balthazar reviewed the matter and took the time to write out an opinion for Portia, along with his letter of recommendation to the Duke, or b) Portia changed her plans midstream and decided it would be best to visit Balthazar in person, in Padua. 81. This action demonstrates Portias impartialityrather than being a ploy, a rouse, or some kind of indulgence. Though Portia is likely to know which is Antonio and which is Shylockthrough a difference in appearance and dresswith this opening question she demonstrates the true impartial qualities of a judge and makes it known that she is entering into the case without any assumptions, prejudices, or preconceptions. Questioning even that which is most obvious testifies to her impartiality. In some productions, the courtroom is crowded, and she has reason to ask this question. In other productions the difference in appearance between Antonio and Shylock is not so obvious and, thus, she is prompted to ask this question. In other cases the difference is obvious and apparent, and Portia already knows the answer to her question before she asks. 82. It is possible, that this could be read as part of a stage direction, rather than a directive from the Duke. 83. / Yet, in such rule, the Venetian edicts 84. / Cannot oppose the course you choose to follow In terms of reason (and the reason as to why Portia intervened in the first place) what possible interest could Portia have in preserving Venetian law over the life of her husbands dear friend? Why did she intervene in the first place?to uphold Venetian law or bend the law to save Antonio? Surely, at this point, her best course would be to seek to have the case dismissed, or call on the Duke to dismiss it (as he stated he had the power to do). Her continued defense of the Venetian lawwhich bodes against Antonios positionapart from purely dramatic reasonsmust be seen as part of her overall stratagem. Rather than trying to deliver Antonio, she is also setting up a test for Shylock and Bassanio. For Portia to play this card (which goes against her intended position) we must assume that she is in total control of the case (and its outcome) from the onset. In other words, she is well aware that she can stop Shylock (at any time), if he does not willingly drop the case against Antonio. Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? Portia I did, my lord. / I do / I have Duke Youre welcome. Take your place. Are you acquainted with the grave dispute {difference} / disagreement That holds this present question in the court? / matter / issue 79 Portia I am informed thoroughly of the case. / informed with respect to the cause 80 Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? 81 Duke Antonio and old Shylock, both step forward. {stand forth}. 82 Portia Is your name Shylock? Shylock Shylock is my name. Portia Of a strange nature is the suit you follow Yet in such ruling, the Venetian law / matters 83 Cannot impugn you as you do proceed. / oppose / oerturn / dissuade 84 [to Antonio] 85. within his danger: within his power to harm you; within the reaches of his bond and the danger of its consequence; within harms way. 86. strained: forced, compelled. By the reference to rain, it implies that mercy cannot be squeezed out of a person. / The quality of our mercy is such | That it can not be forced. It drops as heavens | Gentle rain, falling pon the earth below. | Thus, it is twice blessed. 87. {It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.} / him who gives and who receives that takes: the imagery of him that takes is somewhat inferior to that him who receives, as the former suggest a willful action rather than a passive reception. Taking thus implies the acquisition of some benefit which comes from personal action (without the need of a giver), whereas receiving implies a benefit bestowed by a giver. One need not take rain, it falls from the sky freelyall one need do is receive it. 88. / Tis mightiest in the mighty, when rendered 89. Much of Shylocks action relates to power (or lack thereof): his power before the court (backed by the laws of Venice), his power over Antonio (whose life he holds in his hands), as well as the previous sense of powerless that he felt in regard to Antonios oppression. Here Portia is telling Shylock that mercy is mightiest in the mightiesta lesson which is irrelevant to Shylock station as a dehumanized Jew, but something she hopes will resonate with Shylocks legally assigned position of power (which is the power he seemingly has to grant or to take away Antonios life). 90. / +To those found helpless and weak., A monarch / +To those whore powerless and weak., A king 91. {It becomes | the throned monarch better than his crown.} The image is that a kingdom is better ruled by mercy than by power; that (a disposition of) mercy makes a king better fit to rule than the authority vested in him by his crown. 92. temporal: worldly, material, assigned; temporary and passing Portia is suggesting that the kings power is temporal, whereas the quality of mercy, which reflects Gods attributes, is ever-lastingit is above this sceptered sway. By the greatest fate a powerful king may rule the earth for a hundred years; but through the power of love, he may rule the earth forever. (Adopted from the Tao Te Ching) You stand within his danger, do you not? 85 Antonio Ay, so he says. Portia Do you confess the bond? Antonio I do. Portia Then the Jew must be merciful. Shylock On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. Portia The quality of mercy is not strained / forced 86 It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the earth below. It is twice blessed: {the place beneath} It blesseth him who gives and him who gets. / one {takes} 87 Tis mightiest when rendered by the mighty / given 88 89 +Upon the weak and hopeless., Thus, a monarch / To those whore // For a king 90 It makes more worthy of a kingdoms rule / to rule a kingdom Than all the power vested by his crown. 91 His scepter shows the force of temporal power, 92 93. {The attribute to awe and majesty} attribute to: a) the claim or entitlement to; b) having the attributes, quality, or character of / The given claim to awe and majesty, / The sanctioned rights / That which confers to him reverence and awe / 94. / Wherein he rules the state with fear and dread / Whereby the people are governed by fear 95. {And earthly power doth then show likest Gods} 96. / And earthly power holds (/shows) the most kinship With Gods, when justice is balanced (/seasoned) with mercy. 97. {And earthly power doth then show likest Gods | When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,} The use of the term Jew, in this instance, is somewhat amissalong with the entire appeal, which involves sentiments relating to kingly power, awe, and majesty rather than a Jew who only feels oppression (at the hands of more powerful Christians). Portia, however, is addressing the position of power which Shylock now hold over Antonio (likening it to the power which a king has over his subjects) and, at the same time, she is revealing the poverty of that power (which a king gets by virtue of his crown and which Shylock has obtained through the legal backing of his bond) when compared to a position in kinship with God, a position of mercy. 98. This is an oblique reference to the doctrine of original sin and the notion that it is impossible to attain salvation through ones work alone (i.e. without the grace of God). 99. We in this regard refers to Christians (who recite the Lords Prayer) and not to Jews. Though her words are directed to Shylock, the heart of her appeal resonates with her Christian audience and the sentiments to which they can relate. Since she has no knowledge of Jews, she must assume that they are like Christians in both manner, sentiment, and religious bent. 100. {And that same prayer} This is an overt reference to the Lords Prayer. In the previous line Portia says, we do pray for mercy but the we refers to those Christians who recite the Lords Prayernot Jews. Again, Portias plea is made from the vantage of her own world and not from that of Shylocks. Thus, by citing her all-inclusive Christian stance she is unwittingly dismissing the value and relevance of Shylock and his non-Christian worldview. 101. The Lords Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed by thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. 102. Some commentators have claimed that Portias plea also has a Hebrew resonance and that some likeness can be found in Psalm 143.2 and Ecclus. 28.2 (Forgive thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done thee, so shall thy sins be forgiven thee also, when thou pray.) This, however, is an ex post facto stretch. Neither of these passages refer to prayers that are known or recited by Jews. Shylock, moreover, holds himself to be sinless (and not in need of forgiveness) and so neither passage would register with him. In addition, most Hebrew interpretationsincluding that of the very famous passage, love thy neighbor as thyselfhold the term neighbor to mean ones Jewish neighbor. Thus the edict to forgive thy neighbor would not apply to Antonio, a Christian. 103. / staunch appeal / stern appeal 104. {To mitigate the justice of thy plea} 105. strict: bound, inflexible, rigid (in that it is bound to follow the letter of the law) That which commands both awe and majesty, / evokes 93 And brings about the dread and fear of kings; {Wherein doth sit} 94 But mercy is above this sceptered sway. It is enthrond in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute of God himself. {to} And earthly power shares kinship with God / is akin to God 95 When mercy tempers justice. Therefore, Jew, {seasons} placates 96 97 Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us Would seek salvation. We do pray for mercy, {Should} {see} / find 98 99 And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 100 The deeds of mercy. I have spoken thus 101 102 To mitigate thy rigrous plea for justice, / froward / steadfast / headstrong / wilful 103 104 Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice 105 Must needs give sentence gainst the merchant there. / rule against 106. My deeds upon my head!: Let my own deeds be upon my head; let me bear the consequence (or divine retribution) of my own deeds (which are blameless). Shylock is saying: I will take responsibility for my own actions (since my actions are blameless and will not bring about retribution). He mistakenly believes himself and his actions to be sinless; thus he need not fear retribution nor seek mercy (which pertains to someone who has sinned). Portia says that mercy falls like gentle rain from heaven: here Shylock is dismissing her plea and says, I dont care about heavens mercy falling upon me like rain (since I dont need it)let my own deeds fall upon my head. Shylock, blinded by hatred, and strictly devoted to the letter of the written law, is unable to see the divine discord of his own actions. Rather than craving that which God desires, Shylock craves the law which will grant him the unjust penalty and forfeit of his bond. 107. the penalty and forfeit of my bond > that part of the bond (above and beyond the principal and interest) which is due if the full sums borrowed are not paid back in time. In this case, the penalty Shylock is demandingwhich is owed according to the terms of the bond is a pound of Antonios flesh. 108. / Let my own deeds now fall upon my head! | I crave the law, the forfeit of my bond. 109. Additional lines (A): Shy: Here, now, we see the face of good Antonio, Showing his virtue like a stained-glass window; But I have only felt the broken glass Of his abuse, whose shards did rip upon My humanness and rend my Jewish honor. Additional lines (B): Shy: How is a man to feel when he is treated With cruelty and contempt? With years of insult? With spitting, cursing, torment, and abuse As this man, lacking goodness, treated me?, Is there no law in your book against that? Por: [looking in book] Not in this book. Shy: Then where is it written? In the same place where one can find your mercy. 110. Later in the scene [224, 231] Portia states that an offer of thrice the sum has been made, whereas here, in Q1 [207] Bassanio only offers twice the sum. Either Portia is mistaken in her recall, she intentionally ups the offer, or Bassanio offered thrice the sum (and twice is a typo). The discrepancy is rectified by having Bassanio offer thrice the sum and Portia referring to this same amount. 111. {malice bears down truth} Malice oppresses honesty (Johnson) bears down: overwhelms, overthrows, oppresses, defeats; weighs more than, is more important than truth: reason, honesty, righteousness, rule of equity, etc. 112. / That malice overthrows truth. I beseech you / vanquishes / overwhelms / overturns Shylock My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, / seek // demand justice 106 The penalty and forfeit of my bond. 107 108 _______________________________ (optional dialogue) 109 Portia Is he not able to discharge the money? Bassanio Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; / have / offer Yea, thrice the sum. If that will not suffice, {twice} 110 I will be bound to pay it ten times over, / more And put as bond my hands, my head, my heart. {On forfeit of} If this will not suffice, it must appear / be such That malice outweighs truth. And I beseech you, {bears down} / conquers, 111 112 Bend once the law to your authority. {Wrest} / Sway To do a great right, do a little wrong, 113. / And curb this devil of his hellish will 114. / This time alone, by your authority, | Wrest once the reigns of law: for a great right | Do but a little wrong, and curb this devil | From the cruel execution of his will. 115. {Can alter a decree establishd} 116. Such a defense of Venetian lawover the direct concerns of her husband, and also over what is morally right, merciful, and fairare amiss. Why is Portia (who took so many measures to impersonate a doctor of law and intervene on behalf of Antonio) now taking pains to preserve precedent in Venetian law? What is she offering here that a normal Venetian judge could not offer? if not a straight-forward reading of the law. We must assume, by this strange course, that Portia is playing this hand to the end, and that even before entering the court she was aware of holding a trump card, and being able to stopping Shylock at any time. See footnote for line 176. [See Additional Note, 4.1.219] 117. Shylock: Portia is still calling him by first name. 118. thrice: In Q1, Bassanio offers twice the sum [207]. This amount was emended to read thrice the sum, in order to align it with Portias statement: Shylock, theres thrice thy money offered thee. [224] If Bassanio only offered twice the sum then here, it seems, that Portia is upping the ante, as Shylock has already refused twice the sum. If she offered the same sum, already refused, it would not be as effective a plea as offering a higher amount. It is possible, as some have speculated, that either Shakespeare (or Portia) forgot that twice was offered, and herein stated thrice, in error (with no objection from Bassanio). More likely, the error slipped in as a result of a copyists error. 119. To remind the audience that Shylocks oath refers to exacting the forfeit of his bonda reminder which no mature audience would needthe following line, could be added: +I swore to have the forfeit of my bond., And curb this cruel devil of his will. / thwart / bar 113 114 Portia It must not be. There is no power in Venice / cannot That can reverse an established decree. {alter} / turn back / oerturn 115 Twill then be counted as a precedent, {Twill be recorded for} And many an error, by the same example, / many errors // as herein applied Will rush into the state. It cannot be. / must not 116 Shylock A Daniel come to judgement, yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee! Portia I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shylock [eagerly handing it over] Here tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. Portia [accepting the document but not yet reading it] Shylock, theres thrice the money offered thee. 117 118 Shylock An oath, an oath. I have an oath in heaven! / Ive made 119 Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. Portia [looking over the bond] Yes, this bond is forfeit, {Why} And lawfully, by this, the Jew may claim 120. // your good interpreting / your interpretation 121. There is a break in rhythm here, (as well as between lines 301-02) which could suggest some type of staged intervention in the ongoing dialogue. In the exchange between Portia and Shylock, the next three lines [244-46] are essentially vacuous and a bland recap of what weve already heard, which suggests a break in the action, or that Portia is thinking about something else (perhaps what had just been discussed with the Duke). A deletion of these repetitive lines I snot needed but it might render the exchange more concise and powerful. As a stage direction, the Duke could call Portia over after Shylock delivers line 243. The staged conversation between Portia and the Duke could reveal that the Duke is not convinced about her course of action; we could see Portia assuring the Duke (perhaps with a subtle hand motion) that she has no intention of letting Shylock carry out the deed, as he intends, and that everything will be OK. Thus, after the silent aside, Portia returns and repeats what has already been said, with lines 244-46, as a way to regain her bearings and continue the conversation where she left off. (Portias silent aside with the Duke would command our full attention as these are the two most powerful players on the stage, either of whom can determine Antonios fate.) A similar aside between the Duke and Portia could also take place again, after line 310, where Shylock says, Come, prepare! Here the Duke could call Portia again, feeling that this has gone far enough, and now he wants closure. Thus, after this second aside, Portia is ready for her coupe de grace, and utters the lines, Tarry a little. 122. As stated in the previous note, the following five lines are repetitive and could be deleted. 123. / Fully supports the given penalty / Gives full upholding to the penalty / Deems to fulfill the terms of penalty A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchants heart. [to Shylock] Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. Shylock When it is paid according to the tenor. {tenure} / terms It doth appear you are a worthy judge; You know the law, your most learnd opinion {exposition} 120 Has been most sound. I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, / Of which // unwavering / unfaltering Proceed to judgement. By my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me. I stay here on my bond. / stand fast to Antonio Most heartily, do I beseech the court To give the judgement. Portia Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shylock O noble judge! O excellent young man! +The Duke bids Portia to approach him; they talk aside., 121 Portia 122 For the intent and purpose of the law Gives full enforcement of the penalty / Holds / Bears {Hath full relation to} 123 Which here appeareth due upon the bond. Shylock 124. The calling of Shylock by his name, as opposed to Jew, at this stage in the game is somewhat telling. Portia is still appealing to him on a personal level, giving him yet another opportunity to veer from his intended course and show mercythough at this point, by all accounts, she is now disgusted with Shylocks intransigent and unmerciful position. 125. {Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge.} have by: have you come by; have you hired / And have you, Shylock, paid for a surgeon / And have you, Shylock, here employed a surgeon? / Have you employed a surgeon, on your charge / Have you a surgeon, hired at your expense? 126. / Is that condition listed in the bond? / Is that mentioned in the terms of the bond? / Is that specified in the written bond? 127. / It is an act of charity and goodness. / It is a righteous action of compassion. 128. Portia, seeing the futility of trying to reason with Shylockand his showing not one iota of compassion or mercynow shifts her position and seeks to actuate her course of action against Shylock. She has given him every chance to be merciful and charitableactions that are in line with higher principlesall of which he refused. 129. Here there is a shift in Portias attitude towards Shylock; rather than continuing to address him (and continuing to argue with him) she shifts her attention and focus away from him. Perhaps her sensitivity now gives in to disgust at what appears to a singular lack of charity and humanitya sentiment rather alien and abhorrent to Portia. See previous note. Tis very true, O wise and righteous judge! {upright} How much more elder art thou than thy looks! Portia [to Antonio] Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shylock Ah, his breast. So says the bond; doth it not, noble judge? Nearest his heartthose are the very words. Portia Tis so. Are scales here to weigh the flesh? {balance} Shylock [opening a bag to reveal them] I have them ready. +They are in my bag., Portia Have you a surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, / Is there // hired / paid for by you 124 125 To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death? Shylock [looks at the bond] Is it so nominated in the bond? / specified within 126 Portia It is not so expressed, but what of that? / it Twere good you do so much out of compassion {for charity} 127 128 Shylock [handing back the bond] I cannot find it; tis not in the bond. 129 Portia 130. Portia calls Shylock by name on many occasions, but herein does not refer to Antonio impersonally as, you, merchant. After the turning point [259]when Portia gives up hope to try and dissuade Shylock from his inhumane courseshe never again refers to him by name, but as the Jew. During the trial, Portia refers to Antonio as the merchant, [260, 296]; after Shylock is thwarted, she calls him by his proper name [369, 374]. 131. / I am, by Fortunes kindness, now released. / I am, by her sweet kindness so delivered. 132. To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow . . . {An age of povertyfrom which lingring penance | Of such misery doth she cut me off.} a) / An age of povertyand now she saves | Me from the lingring penance of such misery. b) / Long years of aging pain and poverty | The misery from which I am now released. c) / Long years of poverty, the lingring penance | Of which she now so kindly cuts from me. d) / His final years of pain and poverty: | Tis from the misery of this lingering | Penance, which I am so kindly released. (/delivered). 133. {Commend me to you honourable wife} 134. {Whether Bassanio had not once a love} love: a dear friend, friend who loved him / Whether Bassanio was not truly loved. / Whether or not Bassanio had been loved. 135. / Have one regret / Hold one regret / Regret alone 136. with all my heart: wholeheartedly; with total embrace; implies something done with total love and willingness. Here Antonio is saying, Ill pay your debts most willingly, without regret, with love, and wholeheartedly. / I will most willingly give up my life / I willwith all my heartgive up my life 137. {Are not with me esteemed above thy life} / Are not with me more dear than is thy life. / Are not so dear to me as is thy life / I do not hold more dearly You, merchant, have you anything to say? 130 Antonio But little. I am braced and well-prepared. {armed} / ready Give me your hand Bassanio, fare you well. Grieve not that I am falln to this for you, For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom: it is eer her way / ever {still her use} To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, / deslate To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow / sunken His final years of pain and poverty / painful But from the misery of this lingring penance Doth she, +with bitter kindness,, now release me. / loving 131 132 Speak well of me unto your honored wife. 133 Tell her the story of Antonios end. {process} / events Say how I loved you, even at my death. {speak me fair in death} And when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once been loved. {a love} / a friend 134 Regret but you that you shall lose your friend; {Repent} // Regret one thing 135 And he regrets not that he pays your debt: {repents} For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, Ill pay it instantly with all my heart. / willingly 136 Bassanio Antonio, I am married to a wife Who is as dear to me as life itself; {Which} But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me more dear than is thy life. {esteemed above} 137 than thy life 138. Gratzianos plea is a comic reliefhis friendly love for Antonio would not give him cause to sacrifice his wife on Antonios behalf. His comment serves to support the theme of his pairing with Bassanio, a theme that was seen earlier (in the mutual wedding) and which we will see later (with the misplacement of rings). Gratzianos plea, though misplaced, also gives Shylock some fodder upon which to comment. 139. {The wish would make else an unquiet house} unquiet: a) noisyfrom all the screaming; b) restless, anxious, troubled / Else the wish twould make an unquiet house. / Else the wish would bring yelling in the house 140. Shylock still claims that he has a daughter. He has not disowned her, nor stated, she is dead to me which would usually be the case where a daughter married a Christian (and betrayed her father in doing so). 141. Barrabas: a thief chosen to be released over Jesus. Shylock (after seeing the way that Christians treat their wives) is saying that he would rather have the lowest of all Jews (a thief) marry his daughter rather than a) a Christian (even the highest among Christians), or b) a Christian thief such as Lorenzo. 142. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.294] 143. / I pray, proceed to sentence I would give all, Id sacrifice them all, {lose} / ay, Here, to this devil, to deliver you. Portia [aside] Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by to hear you make the offer. / Were she nearby Gratziano I have a wife whom, I declare, I love. {protest} I wish she were in heaven, so she could {would} Entreat some power to change this dogged Jew. {currish} 138 Nerissa [aside] Tis well you offer it behind her back, For such a wish would make a troubled house. / Else {unquiet} / noisy 139 Shylock These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter 140 Id prefer any kin of Barrabas / rather {stock} 141 Had been her husband, rather than a Christian. / Would be / To be 142 We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. / squander / play with 143 Portia A pound of that same merchants flesh is thine, The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shylock Most rightful judge! / righteous > correct in judgement Portia And you must cut this flesh from off his breast, The law allows it, and the court awards it. 144. This line is somewhat haunting in that Shylock is addressing Antonio right before he is about to kill him. A more haunting line would be one where Shylock calls Antonio by name, in a familiar tone, such as: A learnd judge. Come, Antonio, prepare. 145. No stage direction follows this line in Q1. It reads: Jew. Most learned Iudge, a sentence, come prepare. Por. Tarry a little, there is some thing else, this bond doth give thee heere no iote of blood, the words expresly are a pound of flesh: Most productions add staging (for dramatic effect) after Shylocks says, come prepare. We typically see Shylock take out his knife and approach Antonio, about to cut off his flesh, when Portia suddenly shouts out Tarry a little!which brings a halt to Shylocks immanent action. It is unlikely that the words, tarry a little, were intended to stop an action, as they are far too casual and lack the urgency. In Q1 these lingering words are a continuation of the verbal repartee and are not intended to halt any immanent action. The charge of stop or wait might be more apt a command to stop or stay an immanent action, if this were the authors intent. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.301a] 146. Here is an alternative stage direction, which fulfills the premise that Shylock had no intention to kill Antonio, but only to teach him a hard lesson: Shylock circles around Antonio, menacingly, inspecting his breast. After tormenting Antonio in this way, prolonging the moment of his power, Shylock turns away, drops his sharpened knife onto a table and (with his back to the court) walks toward the chest of ducats that is sitting on the floor, ready to take his 900 ducats and depart [See Additional Notes, 4.1.301b] 147. For the possible insertion of some added lines, see: Additional Notes, 4.1.300 148. There is an energetic break between lines 301 (Most learnd judge) and 302 (Tarry a little)as well as between 242 and 243which suggests a pause and makes way for some staged action. One staging could be that Portia is summoned over to confer with the Duke (after 301) though such a displacement of the audiences attention would slow the action and cripple the tension. More apt, Portia could watch Shylocks action with a knowing smileknowing that she has the power to stop Shylock whenever she deems it so. 149. / Tarry a little moretheres something else tarry a little: hold on, wait a moment, stick around a little more This casual, lingering line could suggest a) that Portia has just found something in the books, such as a new way to read the letter of the lawwhich is very unlikely, or b) that, at this seemingly final moment, she has decided to play her trump card and bring up a legal argument which would thwart Shylocks intended course. She could have brought up this legal argument at any time butfor the sake of Shylock and to test Bassanioshe played her course to the very end. Such a casual line would come at a moment of pause and not shouted out as a way to urgently stop some impending action. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.302] Shylock Most learnd judge! A sentence! [To Antonio] Come, prepare! 144 145 Antonio is strapped to a chair. Shylock prepares his blade. +Shylock approaches Antonio., 146 147 148 Portia Tarry a little there is something else. / more 149 This bond doth gives thee here no drop of blood: {jot} The words expressly are, a pound of flesh. / say 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, forfeited {confiscate} / assignd / hereby sent Unto the state of Venice. Gratziano O upright judge! 150. {O upright Judge | Mark Jew, O learned Judge.} This is the first of Gratzianos mocking repetitions of Shylock and his praise of the judge. Gratziano repeats his counter-attack on the Jew in a mantra-like fashion: O upright judge! Mark, Jew. O learnd judge! [310]; O learnd judge! Mark, Jewa learnd judge! [314]; O Jew! An upright judge, a learnd judge! [319]; A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! [329]; A Daniel, still I say, a second Daniel! | I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. [336] 151. In the original two iambs are missingwhich could suggest a pause. Some editions place the pause after Portias last line [Unto the state of Venice]which is clearly not indicated in Q1. Other editions place the pause after Portias line [Thyself shall see the act], which is possible, but unlikely. Por: Unto the State of Venice [pause] Gra: O upright judge! Mark Jew! O learnd judge. Por: Unto the State of Venice. Gra: O upright judge! Mark Jew. O learnd judge! Shy: Is that the law Por: Thyself shall see the act. [pause] There is unlikely to be a pause after Portia renders her judgement, because Gratziano, in jubilation, would call out at once. Nor would there be a pause after Portias words, Thyself shall see the act, because it comes in the middle of a thought. Most likely the place for a pause would come after Gratzianos line, Mark Jew. O learnd judge!, where a stunned Shylock must collect his thoughtsin the span of two iambsbefore giving a reply. 152. This line is fitting, and would be said with surprise, in the case where Shylocks intention (to kill Antonio) is thwarted by Portia. In the case where Shylock intentionally spares Antonio (and stops on his own accord), this line might appear astray. A more likely line would be: Here, I take the offer. 153. thou shalt have justice: This refers to the same kind of justice previously demanded by Shylockjustice without mercy, justice according to the strict letter of the law. Herein Portia turns Shylocks own merciless literalism against him and out-literalizing him. She repeats this same charge for justice a few lines later, saying: The Jew shall have all justice [317]; He shall have merely justice and the bond. [335]. Ironically, Portia is now embodying the exact position (justice without mercy) that she had previously argued against. Her position now reflects a decidedly partial position: since Shylock did not grant mercy he does not deserve to receive it. Such a stance, again, is contrary to Gods all-embracing (non judgmental) mercy which is dispensed without consideration of a persons deservedness, earned worthiness, or past actions. 154. Bassanio is freely offering his (and Portias) money, even though the case has already turned against Shylock. Either Bassanio is ignorant and naive (unaware that he can save himself 3000 ducats), impatient and aloof (having no concern about the 3000 ducats, only that Antonio be delivered without another moments delay), or equitable (feeling that Shylock deserves, at least, the return of his principle; after all, Shylocks money did help Bassanio a great deal). Is Portia being cruel or prudent? Is she seeking to harm Shylock in retribution for his inhumane actions against Antonio? Or is she refusing to have Bassanio pay the bond (even though he is eager and willing to pay it) as Hear Jew. O learnd judge! {Mark} 150 151 Shylock Is that the law? 152 Portia Thyself shall see the act. +Tis your own deeds that fall upon your head., / Now your own deeds but fall For as thou urgest justice, be assured, Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirst. / demanded / requested 153 Gratziano O learnd judge! Hear, Jewa learnd judge! {Mark} > mark my words Shylock I take this offer, then. Pay thrice the bond {Pay the bond thrice} And let the Christian go. Bassanio Here is the money. 154 part of her own financial motivation? Her purpose to save Antonio has already been accomplished; her destruction of Shylock is something she herselfbeyond the call of duty and purposehas brought to bear. 155. soft, no haste: dont rush things, there is no need to take any rash actionshold back and let the matter follow its course. 156. {Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste.} / Soft, for the Jew shall have only justice / The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste! The line, as it appears in Q1 and F [Soft, the Jew shall have all justice, soft no haste] is problematic in that it contains 11 syllables and does not conform to the standard meter, where the 4 syllable is emphatic. To correct this th problem, most editions break the line into two, with one word [Soft!] on the first line, the additional ten syllables on the second line: Por: Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste.
157. / As that which makes it high or low in weight | By the 158. a scruple: a very small weight, equal to 1/24 oz. 159. {But in the estimation of a hair} / But in the measure equal to a hair / Upon the measured difference of a hair / By but the distance (/measure) of a single hair estimation: refers to some measure or value, either a) the distance that the indicator of the scale moves (if the balance indicator of the scales move by a distance of a hair, in either direction) or b) the weight of one hair (if one side weighs a hair more than the other). 160. / Of but one twentieth part of an ounce | Nay, if the scales do tip upon the weight | Of but a single hair, then thou will die | And all thy goods will go unto the state. 161. {A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew} 162. on the hip: Refers to a wrestling term where one opponent has the other by the hip, and thus commands a position of advantage. It could also be stated: Now I have the better of you, Now I have the advantage or, more literally, Now Ive got hold of you or Now Ive got a grip on you. The same expression was used by Shylock when first referring to Antonio [1.3.43-44] : If I can catch him once upon the hip | I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.If I can, but once, grab hold of him . . . Portia [raising her hand] Soft, he shall have all justice. Soft, no haste / Wait / No 155 156 He shall have nothing but the penalty. Gratziano O Jew! An upright judge, a learnd judge! Portia 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 takst more / But a just Or less than a just pound, be it by so much {but} As makes it light or heavy by the weight {in the substance} 157 Or the division of a twentieth part Of one poor scruplenay, if the scales do turn / gram / ounce // tip / move 158 But in the measure of a single hair, / Upon // distance / burden 159 Thou diest, and all thy goods will be taken. / Youll die {are confiscate} / are forfeited 160 Gratziano A second Daniel. Here, O Jew, a Daniel! 161 Now, infidel, I have thee in my grip. {on the hip} 162 Portia 163. {I have it ready for thee. Here it is}. Bassanio offers Shylock the moneyand again Portia denies this offer. For Bassanio the matter is over, the fate of the 3000 ducats is unimportant (in light of Antonio being saved). Bassanio is not at all focused on Shylock nor interested in his fate, nor in Venetian justice, nor is he concerned with some legal maneuver to get out of paying Shylockhis only interest is Antonio [See Additional Notes, 4.1.333] 164. Portia is addressing Bassanios offer, not Shylock. And, despite her husbands wishes, she is over-riding his generous and merciful offer. She, on the other hand is now protracting the case; it seems she has a new agendato destroy Shylock as opposed to simply saving Antonio (who is already saved). [See Additional Notes, 4.1.335] 165. Shylock likened Portias judgement (when it sided with him) to that of Daniel. Here, when the tables have turned against him, Gratziano uses that same praise, calling Portia a Daniel. Daniel, like Portia, was a youth with the wisdom of an elder. He was so renowned for wisdom and knowledge that his name became a proverb among the Babylonians, As wise as Daniel [Ezek. 28.3]. In the Book of Daniel [2.26], Daniel is named Baltassar (Hebrew: Belshazzar). Portia enters the court under the name Balthasar (or Balthazar). 166. When Shylock is thwarted from getting the penalty of the bond (which is a pound of flesh), he accepts the prior offer of thrice the principal. When this seems unlikely, he accepts defeat, and is ready to be done with the matter: thus, asking for the minimum amount he can expect, which is the return of his principle, the money he loaned out. Yet Portia refuses even this, and Shylock replies in disbelief. 167. / Which thou must take at thine own peril, Jew. 168. After Portia provides her superior position, Shylock markedly retreats. Rather than being defiant he gives no defense at all (and later we seem he as being even more sheepish when he, without protest or an appeal, meekly voices the words, I am content, after being stripped of his faith and his wealth. To appease the abrupt reversal of his demeanor, the following lines could be added: +And who works now to do the devils bidding? Tis not a thief who comes by cover of night But one who walks in the full light of day, And hides beneath the ripe pretense of justice., / Beneath the cozen pretenses of justice. 169. {Why then, the devil give him good of it!} > Why then, the devil has made good of ithas done some good work here. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Shylock Give me my principle, and let me go. / the sum Im owed Bassanio I have it ready for theehere it is. 163 Portia [to Bassanio] He hath refused it in the open court. > publicly He shall have only justice and his bond. {merely} 164 Gratziano A Daniel! Still say I, a second Daniel! 165 I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Shylock Shall I not have even my principle? {have barely} 166 Portia Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. 167 Shylock 168 Well then, the devil has made good of it! / has found his defender / cohort 169 / Why then, the devils work has well been done! / Well then, to hell with you and all your justice! / Why then, Im doneand to hell with it all! 170. {Ill stay no longer question} question: to argue, to debate the case. Here Shylock gives up, accepts defeat, and accepts the lost his principleand now, in a position of weakness, he is trying to make a quick exit (before some other surprise emerges.) But alas, he again hears the ominous words, Tarry, Jew. 171. The Authorship Question revolves around the question, Who wrote the plays attributed to William Shakespeare? There is a question with respect to authorship since there is no evidence that William Shakespeare, the actor, actually wrote the playsand much to suggest that he did notother than the fact that his name (or some embodiment of it) appears upon most of the plays contained in the canon. The basis of the argument that William Shakespeare, the actor, did not (or could) write the plays that bear his name (and that the name William Shakespeare was a pen name for someone elseperhaps someone of high standing who did not want his or her name associated with the playsis as follows: a) Shakespeare, the actor, did no have the means nor the wherewithal to write the plays, b) there is no evidence of any manuscript, nor any portion thereof, written in the hand of Shakespeare (nor anyone else for that matter), c) that he lacked a university education, and moreover was without access to the source material used for most of the plays (which could only have been secured through a university library), and d) that he could not read Italianas many of his playss source materials, including the major source for this play, were written in Italian and not available in English during Shakespeares time. I bring up the Authorship Question here, because in my mind, the change in the original text, by the author, in this very place, may offer a clue as to the true author. In the source novella, (Il Perecone) upon which the story of The Merchant of Venice is based, the Jewish usurer is defeated by the wits of the female judge, the merchant is saved, and the Jew leaves the court with nothing, not even his principal. Here, the author radically departs from the source story, and adds additional proceedings, whereby the Jew is not only defeated but destroyedboth in terms of his wealth and his Judaism. The forced conversion of Shylock was something not found in the source story, and something added by the author. This resolution may offer some fodder in terms of the Authorship Question. For mine own part, I am of the opinewhich comes after much review and my own insightsthat Mary Sidney Herbert was the true author of the plays, and that William Shakespeare (an actor in the company of Lord Chamberlain, and known to Mary Sidney) loaned his name to the canon of plays that she did not want her high- standing name associated with. Such anonymity would also give her more freedom to truly express herself and her ideasmost of which were in support of the superiority of women. Even in this play, all the men need the help of a woman, who can only accomplish her task (and be taken seriously) when in the guise of a man. [See Additional Note, 4.1.342] 172. Shylock is held to be an alien, and not a citizen. 173. alien: refers to foreigners and non-Venetians. Jews, at the time, were not allowed to own property in Venice and were therefore held as aliens. 174. / The party gainst whom he hath so contrived 175. {Of the Duke only gainst all other voice} / So granted by the Duke, whose word is final / Of the good Duke, who has the final word / Of the Dukeand his words above all others / Of the Dukes favor, bove all other voices / And the offenders life lies in what mercy | Is bestowed by the Duke Ill stay to argue no more. {Ill stay no longer question} 170 Portia Tarry, Jew, The law hath yet another hold on you. 171 It is enacted in the laws of Venice, / here written If it be proved against a foreigner, {an alien} 172 173 That by direct, or indirect, attempts, He seek the life of any citizen, The party gainst the which he doth conspire {contrive} /thus has plotted 174 Shall seize one half his goods; the other half / get // come by half Comes to the private coffer of the state, / Goes {privy} // treasury And the offenders life lies in the mercy So granted by the Duke, whose word is final. 175 And now you stand in this predicament. / very position 176. / For it appears, as all those here have witnessed 177. {In which predicament I say thou standst; | For it appears by manifest proceeding} / And this predicament is one in which Thou stand. For it appears, by these proceedings / by your own actions / all weve witnessed / And this predicament, I say, is one | In which thou stand. As everyone has witnessed / And this, I say, is the predicament | In which thou stand. For it has so appeared, | By the proceedings, witnessed here by all 178. {The danger formerly by me rehearsed} / The penalty that I have erstwhile stated / The punishment of which I have just stated 179. Again, we see that Portias actionsaiming to harm Shylockgo beyond the call of what was needed to free Antonio. We can only surmise that her intention changed midstream after she encountered Shylock, a person whose demeanor, vengefulness, and complete lack of mercy was alien and offensive to Portias human sentiments. As such, she found herself newly motivatedafter she had delivered Antonioto now try and destroy or diminish this abhorrent person. 180. As part of the staging, Gratziano could run over to help Shylock get down on his knees. 181. For some dialogue which could be included here, see Additional Notes: 4.1.363 182. / Lest humbleness reduce it to a fine. 183. / Ay, only the portion the state is owed / that for which 184. Here Portia is revealing her position. Why is Portia making sure that Antonio be given half of Shylocks money? What is her agenda in assuring this outcome? Why not have the Duke forgive the whole amountboth the states and Antoniosor simply drive both unto a fine? Why is Portia laboring to get Antonio half of Shylocks money? [See Additional Notes, 4.1.335] 4.1.369 ??? 185. Original passagewhich is replaced hereinreads: 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 For it appears, by all that has transpired, / occurred / thats taken place 176 177 That indirectly, and directly, too, / That both directly, and indirectly Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred / this same merchant The penalty, by me, formerly stated. / erstwhile described 178 Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. 179 Gratziano 180 Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself! And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not sums enough to buy the rope. {not left the value of the cord} Therefore, thou must be hanged at the states charge. 181 Duke That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealthit is Antonios; / As for thy wealth, one half goes to Antonio. The other half comes to the general state, / goes Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. / lesson to 182 Portia Ay, for the state, and for what it is owed, {Ay, for the state, not for Antonio} 183 184 +Still half the Jews wealth goes unto Antonio., / the merchant Shylock 185 When you do take the means whereby I live. house: in the first instance, it is used in the biblical sense of ones ancestral lineage or the the house of Abraham; in the second instance it refers to Shylocks house (or symbolically, his life) and the wealth (prop) which sustains or supports it. 186. / And kill me now, right where I stand. 187. The emended passage was derived from Marlows, The Jew of Malta, and echos the sentiment found in Shakespeares original. It is possible that Shakespeare fashioned Shylocks lines after those of Marlows Barabas, who uttered these lines after losing all his money: Bar: Why I esteem the injury far less, To take the lives of miserable men, Than be the causers of their misery; You have my wealth, the labor of my life, The comfort of mine age, my childrens hope; And there neer distinguish of the wrong. 188. This plea is somewhat imprecise since all of Shylocks wealth had not been takenonly half. (In Marlows play, Barabas makes such a plea after all his wealth is taken). Shylock is still a rich man and able to sustain his house. What kind of mercy is Antonio being asked to show? Shylock has already managed to retain half his wealth (less a small fine). Is Antonio being asked to forgive his deserved half or a portion thereof? If so, will Shylock pay nothing for his crime of attempted murder? In all fairness, he needs to suffer some loss, to pay in some way for his crimeand perhaps the loss he suffers (as in all previous versions of the story) is the loss of his principle, which in this case is the large sum of 3000 ducats. In the end, Antonios show of mercy, called upon by the Duke, delivers Shylock to a much worse position than he was in before Antonio was called on to show his mercy. Before, Shylock lost his principle and half his wealth; after, Shylock lost his principle, half his money was put into a trust, and he was forced to convert to Christianitywhich deprived him of his faith, his lifestyle, his livelihood, (usury), and the support of his fellow Jews. 189. Shylocks plea may have softened Portia, who a few moments before was quick to make certain that the Dukes forgiveness only extended so far as the state, and not Antonio. Here, her very questioning of Antonio for mercy, prompts a merciful response; she just as easily could have held to her previous position, assigned half the wealth to Antonio (without asking him for mercyas the Dukes forgiveness of half the penalty was merciful enough), and dismiss the court. As it turns out, this request of Antonio to show mercywherein his brand of mercy was Shylocks forced conversion to Christianity (as found in the original play)was a grave punishment for Shylock. Thus, it would have been better for Shylock had no such request of Antonio been madeand had he not made such a heartened plea to the court. (As mentioned, only half his wealth had been taken, but he was his plea seemed as though all his wealth had been taken). 190. For additional lines, see Additional Notes, 4.1.379 191. Antonio is content and agrees with the Dukes show of mercy, that the state forgives the fine for one half of Shylocks wealthunder the condition that Antonio gets the other have to use in trust. +Tis more esteemed that you take a mans life / preferred / fitting Than cast him into hellish poverty. You take my wealth, the labor of my life, / have The comfort of mine age, my childrens hope Nay, rather show your Christian charity, / Rather show me And kill me now. , / Nay, show your Christian mercykill me now! 186 187 188 Portia What mercy can you render him, Antonio? 189 Gratziano A noose, for freeand nothing else, for Gods sake! {A halter, gratis.} 190 Antonio So please my lord, the Duke, to hear the state {and all the court} Forgive the fine for one half of his goods. {To quit} / to drop I am content with that, so long as he 191 Will let me use the other half in trust 192. {I am content, so he will let me have | The other half in use, to render it | Upon his death, unto the gentleman} / I am content with that, so long as I | Can use the other half in trust, and give it | Upon his death . . . / The other half I am hereby content | To use in trust, and then to render it | Upon his death . . . 193. {That lately stole his daughter} The original line is short, containing three iambs as opposed to five. / That, as of late, did steal away his daughter. 194. Antonio has provided a meager favour to Shylock: instead of taking half his wealth he is going to have the money put into a trust (which Antonio manages). This arrangement is set up by Antonio to preserve the principal, so that Lorenzo (and Jessica) will have some assured wealth when Shylock dies. The benefit afforded to Shylock with this arrangementwhich is unclearwould be if Shylock were the beneficiary of any profit gained from the management of the trust. Hence, the most favorable arrangement set up by Antonio would be as follows: Shylock would put up half his money in trust, Antonio would manage the money, Shylock would gain whatever profit was made, and Lorenzo and Jessica would receive the principal upon Shylocks death. 195. The original line reads: He presently become a Christian. This forced conversion of Shylock is the most controversial and problematic line in the play. Such a conversion was not found in any of the source stories used by Shakespeare (such as the plays major source, Il Perecone). In those versions the Jewish money-lender is foiled, the bond is forfeit, the merchant is saved, and the Jew loses his principaland he storms out of court in defeat. The conversion of Shylock is wholly Shakespeares additionand rather than the Jew storming out of court, he leaves an enfeebled and broken man. Some productions use this destructive ending to further present Shylock as a victim, while some productions chose to delete this controversial line altogether. The primary reason I have deleted itand replaced it with a sanction barring Shylock from the practice of usuryis that the line as it now stands is unnecessary, confusing, and diminishes the character of both Antonio and Shylock. This forced conversion would likely be interpretedcertainly from a Jewish point of viewas a brutal and vengeful act by Antonio, which was probably the opposite of his charitable, yet partial, intention. All of Antonios actions, thus far, have been identifiably noble and generousand displays of Christian charity: this line, however, is not likely to be interpreted as such. The line also diminishes Shylock who does not argue with such a directive; rather he leaves the stage broken and stripped of all dignity. Some productions, wishing to show Shylock as a character more sinned against than sinning, may use this conversion as a way to bring pity to the plight of Shylock and thus try to appease the anti- Semitic sentiment of the play. Such a course does not allow us the reveal the vengeful and self-defeating psyche of Shylocks characterwhich has nothing whatsoever to do with his Jewishness. In this rectification, I have made it clear that the whole of Antonios dispute with Shylock is founded upon his usury, not his Jewishness. Thus, Antonios forcing Shylock to convert to Christianity obscures and displaces the real issue, as it is now presented as a difference between Christianity and Judaism (rather than Antonios Christian ideal verses the morally bereft practice of usury). One could assume that Shylocks obsession with revenge, and the self-destruction which follows, came about by his usurious mindset (one of greed, deception, and other virtue-less qualities), or perhaps a character flawor an exaggerated reaction to his own feelings of oppressionrather than anything involving his Jewishness. In fact, he labors to entertains these notionswhich defy his inherent Jewish sense of righteousnessdespite his Jewishness, in defiance of his Jewish nature. (In other words, his Jewish soul causes him to know that his actions are wrong, but his flawed understanding of Judaism, and his injured soul, causes him to go against his own faith and what he knows to be right. So conflicted is he, that he must resort to extreme measures in order to keep his illicit course, such as swearing to God that he will kill Antonio.) In the end, Antonios intention with this conversion may be mercifuland may be intended to show his mercyat least to a Christian audience. He may be trying to save Shylocks hell-bound Jewish soul, for Shylocks own goodeven if he has to do this by force. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.383] [For further discussion on Shylocks forced conversion see Appendix. 196. A production that preserves Shylocks conversion, could have him voice a few lines of protest rather than the presentingas in the originala stark implosion of his character and an uncharacteristically sheepish acceptance of his fate. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.382] 197. {Here in the court, of all he dies possessed} / Here in the court, which leaves all owned at death / In court, that all he owns at death will go / Here in the court, all he owns at his death, To give, upon his death, unto the Christian Xxx 192 Who, as of late, did steal away his daughter. / recently 193 And two conditions more: that for this favour {Two things provided more} / kindness 194 He presently forswear all acts of usury. / renounce {become a Christian} 195 196 +That he may garner a more Christian kindness., / cultivate a Christian kindness The other, that he do record a gift, Which leaves, upon his death, all his possession, 197 Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter. Duke 198. Portia is still calling Shylock Jew. Though, in the original, where he must convert to Christianity, we see that the conversion is merely a glossing over; Shylock will, at heart and in secretand in the eyes of all Christiansremain a Jew. Even his daughter, who married a Christian, and willingly converted to Christianity, is still regarded by her fellow Christians as an infidel [3.2.216]a Jew masquerading as a Christian. 199. At this point, Shylock is portrayed as a broken manhaving been stripped of half his wealth and forced (without a fight) to convert to Christianity. Here he utters a feckless and feeble, I am content, simply mouthing back Portias own words, without any hint of protest. It may be that Shylocks quick acceptance may be a result of calculation rather than total defeat: he may be wanting to protect the money he has left and avoid opening himself up to, yet unknown, further harm. His words, I am content, surely belies his true positionhe is not content. He might be thinking: I am content to say I am content. But as for the Christian duplicitycheating me of my earned wealth, I am very far from being content. 200. In productions where Shylock is a broken man, he is not welland because he is not well, and feeling sicklyhe desires to leave the court. In productions where Shylock is still intact, this is clearly a rouse to get himself out of the court and removed from harms way. I am not feeling well is decidedly a clich excuse, which cannot be taken at face value. Like the mouthed words, I am content, Shylocks I am not well is not likely to express his true state. 201. In the original, where Shylock is converted to Christianity, Gratziano refers to the mercy of Shylocks upcoming baptism: {In christning shalt thou have two godfathers. Had I been the judge, thou shouldst have had ten more To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.} An emended version of this passage might read as follows: / In christening shalt thou have two godfathers. / baptism Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more To make a jury which, finding you guilty, Twould bring thee to the gallows, not the font. Gratziano is saying: Besides the two godfathers (who will accompany you at baptism) I, being judge, would have rather asked for ten more men, to make up a jury of twelve men, who would then find you guilty of the charge and bring you to the gallows (to be hanged) instead of to the font (to be baptized). He shall do this or else I do recant / withdraw / retract The pardon that I just pronouncd here. {late} // The pardon I of late Portia Art thou contented Jew? What dost thou say? 198 Shylock I am content. 199 Portia [to Nerissa] Clerk, write a deed of gift. {draw} > draw up / write up Shylock I pray you, give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, 200 And I will sign it. Duke Get thee gone, but do it. / You may go Gratziano [to Shylock] Had I been judge, thou would not walk from court: I would have found twelve men to make a jury Who, upon finding you guilty, would drag You by the feet straightway unto the gallows. / a-straight / away / direct 201 202. Shylocks exit determines the amount of sympathy the audience has for him. He could glumly walk out of the court, leaving behind his bag. He could be jeered at as he walks out. Or, more brutally, Gratziano could literally grab Shylock by the hip, wrestle him to the ground, and then (along with several helpers) drag him out of court by his feet. (When tackled to the ground, Shylock drops his bag. It could be empted and mockingly placed over his head. Then the faceless Shylock is dragged out of court.). 203. / Antonio, give your fullest gratitude | To this man; thinks me youre much in his debt. 204. / Have, by the wisdom youve shown us this day, | Been spared of grievous penalties; in lieu / Whereof, three thousand ducats owed the Jew, 205. {We freely cope your courteous pains withal} / We freely offer you for all your pains. / We freely give to you for all your pains. cope: match, give in exchange for 206. / Oer and above, in both love and in service / Far and beyond 207. / We stand forever indebted to you / We stand here now forever in your debt 208. {And stand indebted, over and above | In love and service to you evermore.} Exit Shylock 202 Duke [to Portia] Sir, I entreat you with me home for dinner. Portia I humbly do request your grace of pardon. {desire} / graceful I must away this night toward Padua, And it is best I presently set forth. {meet} / fitting I set forth at once Duke I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, fully thank this gentleman {gratify} // thank wholeheartedly this man For, in my mind, you are much in his debt. {much bound to him} 203 Exeunt Duke and his attendants Bassanio [to Portia] Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have, by your wisdom, been this day delivered {acquitted} / relieved From grievous penalties, in lieu whereof, Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew, 204 We freely give for all your courteous pains. / We give to you // gracious 205 Antonio Yet, over and above, in love and service, 206 We stand forevermore within your debt. / indebted to you evermore 207 208 Portia [refusing] He is well-paid who is well-satisfied, {that} And I, in helping you, am satisfied, {delivering you} And therein do account myself well-paid. 209. {My mind was never yet more mercenary} / My mind was never bent on compensation / hope of payment / on recompense 210. know me: a) recognize me, b) make love with me. This word is found in a biblical context, as in Adam knew Eve. Portia is saying, I pray (hope) you know me in a different way (as husband and wife) when we meet again. She might also be saying: I pray (hope) you make love with me when we meet againas you failed to do so on our wedding night. 211. Some productions have Bassanio run after Portia, and these lines are delivered without Antonio being immediately present. Other productions have the dialogue continues with Antonio present. 212. / Dear sir, please wait, I must insist again 213. {Not to deny me, and to pardon me.} 214. Many editions add the stage direction, jto Antoniok , indicating that Antonio is present and that Portia is requesting of him his gloves. This is possible, however, it is likely that Portia requests the gloves from Bassanio, as Antonio may not be sporting a pair of gloves at this time. If Bassanio is wearing gloves, then Portias request would be apt, because the removal of Bassanios gloves would then reveal his ring. This is the real intention of why Portia would ask for Bassanios glovesso she can see, and then ask for, his ring. [See Additional Notes, 4.1.422] 215. for your love: A customary politeness, which, in the usual sense would mean, as a token of your love, or as a sign of your affection and/or gratitude. take this ring: A more forceful position than, Ill accept this ring. Take is used here in contrast to give: Portias initial statement, which placed the ring on Bassanios fingerand the giving of herself and all she owned to himwas I give them with this ring. [3.2.171]. She is here playing the one who gives and the one who takesas opposed to the more docile figure who would receive. 216. Ill take no more: Here she light-heartedly suggests to Bassanio that he need not be afraid, she will not take his hand, just the ring. Ironically, Bassanio later thinks to cut off his own hand (and say he lost the ring in a fight) in order to avert Portias rage at him for giving away the ring. [5.1.177-78]. 217. in love: in kindness. It could mean, you, in the name of love. This statement carries an ironic overtone, for Bassanio in giving away the ring in love to the doctor, is symbolically giving away his love for Portia (who gave him the ring). 218. / This ring good sir?Alas it is a trifle. It neer did cross my mind to ask for payment. / never crossed 209 [to Bassanio] I pray you know me when we meet again. 210 I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bassanio 211 Dear sir, perforce I must beseech you further { of force} {attempt} / now urge 212 Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: Not to deny me this kind-hearted offer / a sincere and kind And here to pardon me for such insistence. / persistence // being so bold 213 Portia You press me far, and therefore I will yield: / hard / deep Give me your gloves, Ill wear them for your sake. / to oblige you 214 And for your love, Ill take this ring from you. 215 [he draws back his hand] Do not draw back your handIll take no more. 216 And you, in love, shall not deny me this! 217 Bassanio This ring, good sir, alas it is a trifle. / is but 218 I will not shame myself to give you this. Portia 219. This ring has more upon it than its value / This ring holds something more than outer value 220. {And find it out by proclamation} / And find it through a public advertisement / And go in search of it both near and far Bassanio offers to find the most valuable ring in Venice by way of proclamation (making an announcement or distributing a printed advertisement). This offer suggests the great lengths that Bassanio is willing to go through in order to find another ring (a much more valuable ring), even to suggest the image of Bassanio standing in a public square, yelling out (by proclamation) that he seeks to buy the most valuable ring in Venice. 221. > You are liberal (only) in what you offer but not in what you actually give (once the offer is accepted). 222. / You answer me now as you would a beggar 223. / By that excuse, a man may save his gift. 224. / And if your wife be not wrought with madness / tinged / struck 225. / Should she know how well I deserved this ring 226. {She would not hold out enemy for ever} hold out enemy: hold you as an enemy; hate you; be angry with you / She would not be your enemy forever / Shed not be angry at you forever / She would not hold a long grudge against you 227. My Lord: a formal term which appeals to Bassanios newfound statusand refers to his being lord over his house and his wife. A more likely expression may have been, My dear Bassanio. I will have nothing else, but only this; And now, methinks, I have a wish for it. {I have a mind to it} / I am quite fond of it Bassanio Theres more depends on this than on the value. 219 The dearest ring in Venice will I give you; > most expensive And find it out by searching through the city. {by a public announcement} 220 Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Portia I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. / generous 221 You taught me first to beg and now methinks / urged You teach me how a beggar should be answered. / must 222 Bassanio Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife. And when she put it on she made me vow That I would neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. {should} / never Portia That scuse serves many men to save their gifts. / ploy // helps 223 And if your wife be not a madwoman, 224 And know how well I have deserved this ring, 225 She would not bear you enmity forever {hold out enemy}/ hold her angriness 226 For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
Exeunt Portia and Nerissa Antonio My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. 227 228. {Be valued gainst your wifes commandment} / Be weighed against the vow you made your wife / the promise made to your wife 229. Oftentimes a rhyming couplet is used to mark the close of a scene. However, in this most significant scene, the original provides no such couplet. To emphasize closure of the scene, a rhyming couplet has been added. Q1 reads as follows:{Come, you and I will go thither presently. And in the morning, early, we will both Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. } 230. / And in the morning, early we will go And fly to Belmont. Come, Antonio. / Flying / Away / Onward / When morning comes, to Belmont we will fly, Without a care, together, you and I. 231. / Come my Antonio, all the world is right; / all is now set right / everythings alright Now let us cheer with friends into the night. And in the morning, early, will we go Flying to Belmont, bereft of all woe. / with no care to show. / Come, you and I have finishd this plight, / are over with / are finished with Now let us cheer with friends into the night. / all through Unto your house, lets go, without delay And fly to Belmont pon the break of day. Let his deservings and my love for you {withal} / in all Be valued gainst the vow made to your wife. / weighed against 228 Bassanio [gives the ring to Gratziano] Go, Gratziano, run and overtake him. Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, / and bid him dine with us Unto Antonios house. Away! Make haste! Exit Gratziano Come now dear friend, it seems the world is right, / my dearest one Tis time we cheer and laugh into night; / Now let us // all through the night When morning comes, to Belmont we will go, / And when dawn breaks In bliss and freedomcome Antonio. / In blessed freedom 229 230 231 Exeunt _______________________________________________ 1. Of course, Portia, who was called in to settle the matter between Shylock and Antonio, would not be involved in the tedious administration of drafting the deed of gifts nor would she be sent to Shylocks house to have it signed by himespecially not after she brought him to ruin. In addition, the fact that Portia has no legal experience would be revealed had she anything to do with the drafting of Shylocks deed of gift. All the more unlikely that Portia would be involved with the drafting and execution of the deed of gift, since she was not of Venice and she was keen on returning to Padua. Yet, despite the unlikelihood of the scene, it is needed to allow time for Nerissa to obtain her ring from Gratziano, and also allow her time to get hold of the deed of gift to give to Lorenzo. 2. / Inquire directions unto the Jews house / Have someone show you the way to the Jews house 3. {Inquire the Jews house out, give him the deed | And let him sign it. Well away tonight.} 4. {Fair sir, you are well oertaen} oertaen: overtaken. Q1: ore-tane Some editors feel that this line was truncated so that Gratziano had a chance to regain his breath, after a chase. The pause, however, is not warranted, and the shortened line (along with the awkward contraction, oertaen, may be a result of an unreadable portion of text. Since this truncated line add no appreciable meaning to the iambic pentameter has been restored. / Fair sir, I have at last, caught up with you. / Fair sir, Ive come upon you at last. Hence, 5. The subject of Portias negation (that cannot be) is unclear: it could refer to her disbelief that Bassanio gave up his ring and/or to the impossibility of her joining Bassanio for dinner (though, if this be her intent, then the response I cannot would bring more clarity. (The Duke had already entreated her to join him for dinnerwhich she humbly pardoned herself [397-400] so there would be no way for her accept Bassanios invitation. Obviously Bassanio did not near the Dukes prior invitation nor Portias reply). The most likely playing of this line is for Portia to speak the words in disbelief (to others or bemuseingly to herself)it referring to Bassanio having given up his ring. But then she catches herself, pauses, and qualifies her previous line as a reference to her not being able to meet Bassanio for dinner. In the original, the reference of that cannot be is uncertain, though it later seems to refer to the dinner invitation. In the rectification, a clarifying line has been added to make her intent more explicit and to support the staging which is suggested above. ACT FOUR - Scene 2 A street in Venice. Enter Portia and Nerissa, still in disguise 1 Portia Inquire the way unto the Jews abode, / Find out 2 And have him sign the deed. Well then away / Well leave tonight 3 And be at home a day before our husbands. This deed will be a blessing to Lorenzo. {well welcome} Enter Gratziano Gratziano Fair sir, at last, I have ovrtaken you. / I have caught up with you 4 My Lord Bassanio, upon more advice, / reflection > consideration Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat / request Your company at dinner. Portia That cannot be . . . 5 +For we must leave for Padua tonight., / at once But I accept his ring most thankfully, {His ring I do accept} And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, / thus I pray you show my youth old Shylocks house. Gratziano That I will do. Nerissa [to Portia] Sir, I would speak with you? / may I [aside] Ill see if I can get my husbands ring, Which I did make him swear to keep forever. Portia [to Nerissa] Thou mayst, Im sure. And then well have much swearing / You shall {old} / all That they did give the rings away to men. But well outstare them and outswear them too. {outface} Away! Make haste! Thou knowst where I will tarry. / wait / be Exit Nerissa [to Gratziano] Come, good sir, will you show me to this house? Exeunt __________________________________________ 1. As it stands, Act Five is much too long, and most productions seek ways to reduce it.. (Before 1900 (xxx) it was common practice to simply delete the whole of Act Fivean overly-aggressive maneuver which leaves too much of the play hanging. This, however, was favored to leaving the audience burdened and dissipated by an overly protracted Act Five.) One way to reduce the length of Act Five is to export the whole of Lorenzos and Jessicas dialogue, and have it replace 3.5. (Specifically, 5.1.1-21 and 5.1.54-110, could be exported). As such, the scene would open at 5.1.88 with the entrance of Portia and Nerissa. To further shorten Act Five, the scene could open at 5.1.110, with the entrance of Lorenzo and Jessica, from one side, and Portia and Nerissa from the other: Lor: Is that dear Portia? Lady, welcome home! Por: We have been praying for our husbands welfare Which speed we hope the better for our words. Has my husband returned? Lor: Madam, not yet: But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming. Por: Lorenzo, Jessicaquickly go in Give order to my servants that they take No note at all of our being absent hence. In this reduction of Act Five Lorenzo and Jessica would exit after line 122 [Lor: We are no telltales, madam, fear not] and re-enter after 288 [Por: How now Lorenzo?]. The action of having Lorenzo and Jessica exit (to inform the servants) accomplishes two things: a) it resolves the anomaly of line 117 where Portia instructs Nerissa to give order to the servants but, because Nerissa is involved in the following action, she cannot leave the stage to accomplish this task; and b) it allows Lorenzo and Jessica to leave the stage and not dissipate the action by their presence (for none of the following dialogue, over 150 lines of it, [123-287] involve Lorenzo and Jessica. The pairs later re-entrance (a few minutes later) could come after 288, as Portia ask, How now Lorenzo? which is a perfect greeting for a characters entrance upon the stage. In addition, the resolution involving the misgiven rings contains repetitions, and could be reduced: a) delete 32 lines: 192-217 and 229-233 and 235, or b) delete 11 lines: 207-217. 2. / Methinks the Trojan prince Troilus did mount The city walls, and sighed his soul toward The Grecian tents below, where his beloved Cressida lay that night. 3. Every verse in this night game begins with In such a night rather than On such a night. ACT FIVE - Scene One 1 Portias house in Belmont. A garden. Moonlight. Lorenzo The moon shines bright. On such a night as this, {In} When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees / soft And they did make no noise. On such a night Did young prince Troilus mount the Trojan walls / climb And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night. / Where his beloved lay / Where his Cressida lay 2 Jessica On such a night, {In} 3 Did Thisbe go to meet with Pyramus; / her beloved But saw the lions shadow ere his frame {himself} And ran away in fright. {And ran away dismayed} Lorenzo On such a night, Queen Dido stood upon the wild shore {wild sea banks} 4. {Stood Dido with a willow in her hand | Upon the wild sea banks and waft her love | To come again to Carthage} / Stood the forsaken queen Dido upon | The wild shore wafting her love to return, / Stood queen Dido, with willow in her hand, | Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love / Upon the banks of a billowing sea | Stood the forsaken queen Dido, wafting | Her beloved to return. 5. An additional line, concerning the legend, could be added: + But alas, | Aeneus neer returned., 6. An additional line could be added: +Yet Jason still left her for Creons daughter., 7. It is revealing that the lovers, shown together for the first time, only cite stories and legends which tell of betrayal, abandonment, and tragedyall ending in death. Thus, the outer appearance of harmony belies the underlying turmoil of the two lovers. Perhaps the author has used this game of free-association as a way to reveal some of this unspoken, yet looming, inner conflict. It is interesting to note that the portions of the legends recalled by these two lovers tell only of the romanticized aspectssuch as the images of the legends that take place under the full moon. Yet, when the full scope of these stories are revealed, we see that they all end in tragedy. Outwardly, Lorenzo and Jessica are surrounded by the lush gardens of Belmont, christened by the moonlightwhich allows them the luxury of a borrowed moment. Soon they must give up this moon lite world and face the harsh reality of their situation. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.13] [See Appendix: Night Game for summaries of the four legends]. 8. unthrift love: a) a poor or wasteful lover, or love, (such as Lorenzo) or b) a wasteful, carefree (or extravagant) kind of love that is unconcerned with wealth; a love with spends now and is not concerned with the future. 9. {and he forgave it her} 10. out-night: outplay you (in mention of all these things that the night reminds us of) 11. / I would outplay you at this night gamebut | Listen, I hear the stepping of a man. With a willow in hand, wafting her love / Holding a willow, and 4 To come again to Carthage. 5 Jessica On such a night, Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That renewed life to Jasons dying father. / did bring 6 7
Lorenzo On such a night, Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with a poor lover, did run from Venice {an unthrift love} / wasteful love 8 As far as Belmont. {As far as Belmont} Jessica Yes, on such a night, Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And not a one was true. {And neer a true one} Lorenzo On such a night, Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her loveand he forgave her for it. / but then she was forgiven. 9 Jessica I would outplay you did nobody come, {out-night} 10 But hark, I hear the stepping of a man. {footing} / footsteps 11 Enter Stephano, a messenger 12. This line has five iambs which, when combined with the next line (of one iamb), creates a line of six iambs. To rectify this, one iamb could be removed. Hence: / Who comes in silence of the night? / Who comes to break the nights silence? / Who comes so fast to break the silence? 13. The original seems to have a stray iamb, which suggests that the phrase, a friend, was mistakenly repeated by Lorenzo. Q1 reads as follows: Mess: A friend! Lor: A friend, what friend? Your name I pray you friend? Rectified: Mess: A friend! Lor: What friend? Your name I pray you friend? 14. {She doth stray about | By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays} 15. {Sola! Wo ha, ho! Sola, sola!} Some commentators hold that this is an imitation of a post horn and that Launcelet is mouthing this tune to announce the arrival of himself, as a postman or courier (a post), who has come to deliver a message. Sola is used as a hunting cry in Loves Labor Lost and Launcelet could be imitating this cry or bleating out the sound of a hunting horn. Wo ha, ho is used as a falconers call. What we have here, then, is another case of Launcelets mis-mashing. Consistent with the fools with mocking and irreverent tonefound amply in 3.5, and also in the next few lines it Lorenzo Who comes so fast in silence of the night? 12 Stephano A friend.
Lorenzo What friend? Your name, I pray you, friend? 13 Stephano Stephano is my name, and I bring word: My mistress will, before the break of day, Be here at Belmont. She doth pause nearby {stray about} / stop beside The holy crosses where she kneels and prays / Each holy cross, and there 14 For happy wedlock hours. Lorenzo Who comes with her? Stephano None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet returned? Lorenzo He is not, and we have not heard from him. But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica / But lets go in And, with respect and love, let us prepare {ceremoniously} / with good graciousness Some welcome for the mistress of the house. Trumpet sound, made by Launcelet, is heard offstage. Enter Launcelet Launcelet Da-doo! Da-doo! Wo ha ho! Do-ta-da-do-ta-da-doooo! 15 may be that Launcelet is parodying a tucket, which is a distinct trumpet signature played to announce the arrival of royalty or a very important person. Indeed, later in the scene we find Bassaniowho is hardly royaltybeing announced with a tucket [5.1.122] and perhaps Launcelet, knowing about Bassanios newfangled tucket (which may be see as a pretentious self-assignment of status), is here mocking it (and all like him) with his own, self-styled tucket. It could also be that he is using this new tucket to mockingly announce Lorenzo, who is temporarily acting in stead of Bassanio, as master of the house. In this rectification, Launcelet mouths a more familiar tone, which most people would recognize as a trumpet melody which announces someones arrival. More effective than mouthing the entry found in the original (sola!) or in this rectification (da-doo!) would be for Launcelet to form a mouthpiece with his fingers and actually blow out the sound of a mock trumpetplaying da-doo and speaking wa ha ho. 16. {Sola, did you see M. Lorenzo, & M. Lorenzo sola, sola} Q1 Most editions treat the ampersand as a misprint for question mark, which is suspectsince there is also a commabut a justifiable reading since this line is in the form of a question. M. is also an abbreviation for Master (or Mistress) and most editions fill out the M. Lorenzo to read Master Lorenzo. Various forms of punctuation are: Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo? Master Lorenzo, sola, sola. (Oxford, Cambridge, Arden, Folger); Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo? [Calls.] Master Lorenzo! Sola! Sola! (Arden); Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo and Mistress Lorenzo? Sola, sola! (Norton, Signet) 17. {Leave hollowing man, here.} hollering (Oxford, Applause); holloaing (Cambridge, Kittredge Norton, Pelican, Signet); holloing (Bevington) leave hollowing: a) leave holleringstop hollering, b) leave halloaingstop making hunting calls 18. {Sola! Where, where?} In the previous line, a second iamb was added (instead of here it reads, here I am); thus, in this line, one iamb has been removed 45(sola) to preserve the meter. 19. Launcelet continues with his mocking: he clearly knows the whereabouts of Lorenzo but continues to ignore him. This could be a metaphor for Lorenzos low status and wealth (which no one can see). Launcelets mockery continues in the next line when he is delivering a message to Lorenzo yet referring to him in the third person, as though he were not there: Tell him theres a post come from my master. 20. Q1 reads, {My master will be here ere morning, sweet soul.} Most editions transpose the last iamb (sweet soul) which is decidedly out of place here, to Lorenzos next line, which not only fits the context, but completes the meter. Lorenzo Who calls? Launcelet Da-doo! Did you see Master Lorenzo? [calling] Master Lorenzo! Da-doo, Da- doo! 16 Lorenzo Leave hollering man: I am here! /Stop {halloaing} 17 Launcelet Where? Where? 18 19 Lorenzo Here! Launcelet Tell him theres a messenger come from my master, with his mouth full of good news. My master will be here before the morning. messenger: {post} mouth: {horn} 20 Exit Lorenzo Sweet soul, lets in and there await their coming. {expect} And yet no matterwhy should we go in? My friend Stephano, please announce, I pray you, {signify}/ please tell them Within the house, their mistress is at hand, / soon approaches / is nearby 21. / And have the players fill the air with music. 22. touches: notes produced by the fingers touching the strings of an instrument, especially a harp 23. patens: small dishes or plates, often made of gold, used in Holy Communion. F2 emends patens with patterns, which is in keeping with the imagery of harmonyespecially since constellations were thought to reflect the patterns of human lifebut less precise. Herein pattern is used, not because it is more apt, but because it is more readily understood than patens. 24. / There, in his motion, sings as would an angel / Sings in his motion like a blessed angel / There, in his motion, like an angel sings / His motion plays like the song of an angel / His motion sings with the voice of an angel / His motion sounds as does an angel sing 25. {Theres not the smallest orb which thouh beholdst | But in his motion like an angel sings} / Theres not the smallest orb which thou beholdst | That, in his motion, sings not like an angel 26. {Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins} Q1: still quiring still choiring: eternally singing, always singing in perfect harmony. cherubins: This is an irregular plural form, which, along with cherubims, was used up til the mid seventeenth century. (The common plural for cherub is cherubim). Young-eyed cherubins refers to their sight being ever- youngeternally clear-sighted, but also it could refer to a childs sight which is ever-innocent, accepting, and non- judgmental. Being young-eyed could also refer to cherubim who appear as young-eyed, as beautiful children (with wings), which is the way they were often represented in Renaissance art. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.62] 27. Even the motion of the smallest orb, Is part of a grand symphony, his motion Plays a song which none but an angel sings, / Plays notes which only an angel could sing. In a choir of heavenly voices. 28. Lorenzo is saying that we cannot hear the music of the sphereswhich resonates with our immortal soul because our soul is entombed in this gross body which, through its senses, is not keen or refined enough to hear the divine music. 29. This philosophical (and lovely) exposition is impersonal and neither speaks of nor reflects any feelings of love he might have for Jessica. Such a discourse does not compare in sentiment to the single line: If music be the food of love, play on. 30. Diana is the goddess of the moon. Lorenzo is asking the musicians to play so as to coax out Diana (the moon) and have her come out from behind a cloud. 31. An additional line could be added to clarify the reference to Diana, as goddess of the moon: +And let her shining face alight the sky, / + Let her illumine the sky with her face. , And bring musicians forth into the air. {your music} / some music 21 Exit Stephano How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon the bank. Here we will sit and let the sounds of music / strains Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night / Let Become the touches of sweet harmony. 22 Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven / vault // the nighted sky Is thick inlaid with patterns of bright gold. {patens} 23 In but the smallest orb which thou beholdst / Even // star / light There sounds the heavenly voice of an angel / plays / shines 24 25 In the eerlasting choir of cherubim. / eternal / unending 26 27 Such harmony is in immortal souls, But whilst this earthly body of decay {muddy vesture} Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. / cover it 28 29 Enter musicians [to the musicians] Come ho, and wake Diana with a hymn; / the moonlight 30 31 32. touches: / strains / chords > notes played by the fingers touching, or plucking, a string 33. mistress ear: Q1 does not use an apostrophe to imply the possessive form (i.e., mistresss) since it is understood to be possessive, and since the extra syllable would corrupt the meter. 34. sweet: soft, gentle, pleasing, soothing, melodious, etc. 35. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.69] 36. Jessica says that she is never merry when hearing sweet music, which suggests that even the most sublime and beautiful exterior circumstances cannot bring joy to Jessica (whose mind is occupied and besieged with turmoil). We might interpret her use of the term never however, to mean lately, thus indicating that something is now disturbing her, so much so, that even sweet music cannot allay it. Similar to the mix-matched response that Antonio receives in regard to his inner sadness (Your mind is tossing on the ocean) Jessica receives the same kind of reply from Lorenzo: (For do but note a wild and wanton herd | Or race of youthful and unhandled colts | Fetching mad bounds). Lorenzos winded exposition (that follows this line) is lost on Jessicaneither music nor Lorenzos reply about the calming effect of music, has any calming or joyful effect on her. 37. {The reason is, your spirits are attentive} 38. / cannot delight | In all the beauty that embraces you. 39. {The reason is your spirits are attentive} / The reason is youre too concerned with every / involved with / engrossed in Thought and emotion. Sweet, just let them be; spirits: mindstuff, awareness, consciousness; the senses, faculties of perception, the mind and its thoughts/emotions. Hence, Lorenzo is saying that Jessicas spirits (thoughts) are attentive to her inner state (i.e., distress) and therefore cannot hear the outer music. In other words, she is too pre-occupied with her own thoughts and state of mind to enjoy and appreciate the beauty around her. Her spirit (awareness, attention) too focused upon, occupied by (attentive to) her thoughts, concerns, troubles, etc. 40. The whole of Lorenzos discourse is filled with discordant and accusative imagesironic when speaking about the beauty of music and far less harmonious than his prior words. After Jessicas statement that she is never merry when she hears sweet music, Lorenzo does not inquire as to the reason why she feels this way, nor tries to comfort her, but continues with his philosophical waxing. In response to Lorenzo, we hear no reply from Jessica, nor do we ever hear her speak again (except as part of a group command given by Portia [119-121]). Thus, the last entry regarding Lorenzo and Jessica remains one of stark division, with Jessicas last words being: I am never merry when I hear sweat music. We see that Shylocks last line in the original is equally as feeble [I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; | I am not well. send the deed after me, |And I will sign it.]. In deference to brevity and aesthetics, the whole of Lorenzos passage (or major portions thereof) could be deleted. The close of the scene between the two lovers might have an ominous sense if it simply ended with Jessicas last line, I am never merry when I hear sweet music [69]. In this rectification, the dialogue is made to end on a softer tone with four, somewhat appeasing, lines offered by Lorenzo. The original text (of 18 lines) most of which are harsh, accusatory, and ill-rubbing have been deleted from this version. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.71, for Lorenzos full discourse]. With sweetest touches reach your mistress ear, {pierce} 32 33 And draw her home with music. / guide Music plays Jessica Im never merry when I hear sweet music. {I am} 34 35 36 Lorenzo The reason is your mind is too engrossed / distracted 37 +With all your thoughts and it cannot enjoy / every The peace and beauty that embraces you. , / The wonderment that now 38 39 +All you need do is listen with your heart. , ________________________________________________ [Lines Deleted] 40 Enter Portia and Nerissa, approaching 41. {Nothing is good, I see, without respect} respect: a) context, comparison to something else, b) appreciation Portia is saying: Things are made good by context; one can appreciate the goodness of a things when they are set in the right context. Hence, the music sounds better in the context of night (which is still) as opposed to day (which is filled with noise and activity). [See Additional Note, 5.1.99] 42. {How many things by season seasoned are} / How many things by season are delivered / inspired / uplifted Portia [looking toward the house] That light we see is burning in my hall How far that little candle throws its beams! {his} So shines a good deed in a wicked world. {naughty} / darkened Nerissa When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. / could Portia So doth the greater glory dim the lesser. {less} A substitute shines brightly as a king Until the king arrives and then his status {be by} / returns // state / rank Empties itself, as doth an inland brook, Into the vaster ocean. Music. Listen! {main of waters}/ endless ocean {hark} Music plays. Nerissa It is your music, madam, from the house. Portia Nothing is good without a proper context: / setting 41 Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. / in the night Nerissa Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. Portia The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, When neither one is heard; and yet, I think, {attended} The nightingale, if she should sing by day When every goose is cackling would be thought {honking} / bird is crowing No better a musician than the wren. How many things, by proper setting, rise / set are lifted 42 43. / All things, by right occasion, realize / come upon / discover Their highest place and find their true perfection. / How many things by their appointed season Are thus delivered to their true perfection. / All things, by season, are delivered to / setting / context Their rightful place and to their true perfection. 44. {To their right praise and true perfection.} / To their right place and to their true perfection! 45. {Peace, how the moon sleeps with Endymion} / Peace, how the moon sleeps behind a dark cloud / Peace, how the moon sleeps with her youthful shepherd Q1 reads: {Peace, how the moone sleepes with Endimion}. Many editions (such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bevingto, etc.) punctuate the verse as: Peace ho! The moon sleeps with Endymion. Peace, ho! would indicate a surprise (such as Oh look! or Wait now!). The scene can be staged in two ways: a) Portia makes a reference to the moon in the sky, saying, Peace, the moon is still behind a cloud or b) Portia makes a reference to Lorenzo and Jessica (who are asleep) likening the two to Diana (the moon) and Endymion (who, according to myth, sleep together). The later staging, is adopted by many editionsso much so that an extra stage direction, indicating that Portia sees Lorenzo and Jessica, is sometimes added to the text. (It could also be that two are not asleep, but resting in each others arms). This staging, though clever, is unlikely since Lorenzo and Jessica are eagerly awaiting the near arrival of Portia and would not fall asleep at this time (nor would Portia refer to them as sleeping if they were merely resting together). The more likely staging is that Portia is referring to the moon, still behind a cloudperhaps indicating an uneasy darkness as she arrives back homeand Lorenzo (attentively awaiting her arrival) overhears her comments. Most editions indicate that the music ceases when Portia arrives home. The Oxford Edition (Halio) emends Portias lines as follows: To their right place and true perfection! jShe sees Lorenzo and Jessicak Peace ho! jMusic ceasesk The moos sleeps with Endymion And would not be awakened. In Greek legend, Endymion was a young shepherd who lived on Mount Latmos. Enamored by his beauty, Selene (Diana), the goddess of the moon, put him to sleep forever, in a cave, so she could visit him whenever it pleased her. Portia is saying that moonnow hidden behind a cloudhas gone into a cave to sleep with Endymion. [See Additional Note, 5.1.109] 46. {Which speed, we hope, the better for our words.} / That their endeavor may be quick and prosperous which speed: a) who succeed, who prosper, b) who quickly come to a beneficial result Unto their rightful praise and true perfection. / To their right 43 44 Peacehow the moon sleeps with her secret love / in a darkened cave 45 And would not be awakened. Light fades as the moon passes behind a cloud Music stops Lorenzo That is the voice Of Portia, else I am much deceivd. / mistaken Portia He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo By the bad voice. Lorenzo Dear lady, welcome home! Portia We have been praying for our husbands, who Prosper, we hope, the better for our words. 46 47 we hope, the better for our words: whose success, we hope, has been supported by our prayers 47. / We have been praying for our husbands welfare | And hope they prosper the more by our words. / We have been praying for our husbands welfare | That they have quick and prosperous results | Which, we do hope, has been aided by our words. / bettered / helped 48. {Give order to my servants that they take | No note at all of our being absent hence} 49. A tucket is a distinctive signature tune played on a trumpet to announce the arrival of those of high or royal standing. The tucket we hear is to signify the arrival of Bassanio. It is not likely that any of the parties have yet heard this tucket but, by inference, and by knowing of Bassanios immanent arrival, they surmise that it is Bassanios tucket. 50. {We are no tell-tales, madam, fear you not} 51. {Tis a day | Such as the day is when the sun is hed}. 52. It is telling that after hearing Bassanios tucket the only words Portia stateswhich serve as her announcement of himis a reference to the night, which looks like daylight sick, as pale as a day when the sun is hid. Perhaps the metaphor is in reference to herself, as the sun, and to her own shining, which (upon her new masters return) will be obscured, like a dull cloud obscuring the bright sun. (In the next line, Bassanio unwittingly extends this analogy by likening Portia to the sun). One could interpret Portias talk about the weather in a more innocuous way: she abruptly changes the subject to talk about something banal, chit-chat as it were, as a way to hide her expectancy and appear somewhat coy and nonchalant about Bassanios immanent arrival. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.126] 53. {We should hold day with the Antipodes} Antipodes: (lit. opposite feet); those who walk on the opposite side of the globe. Have they returned? {Are} Lorenzo Madam, they are not yet. But there has come a messenger, before, To tell of their arrival. {to signify their coming} Portia Go, Nerissa, Give order to my servants to say nothing, To take no note of our being absent hence, / To speak no word // our recent absence 48 Nor you LorenzoJessica, nor you. A tucket sounds 49 Lorenzo Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet. Fear not, madam, we will not say a thing. / our hearts and mouths are sealed 50 The cloud passes and the moon shines again Portia This night methinks is but the daylight sick. / a sickly day It looks a little paler, like a day Wherein the sun is hidden by a cloud. / darkened 51 52 Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratziano, and their followers Bassanio [overhearing Portia] Our night would share the day with all who tread / walk / stand / live Upon the other side of the planet 53 / We should hold day with those who live in China | If you d walk round in absence of the sun. 54. {If you would walk in absence of the sun} / If you would walk when sunlight was not shining walk: A metaphor for the suns apparent journey, or walk, through the sky, which brings about night and day. Herein Portia is likened to the brightness of the sun and her walking to the suns movement. Thus, she brings illumination, or daylight, even when the sun is absent (i.e. during the night). Notice the complete opposite sentiment in Portias first comments about Bassanioas daylight sickand Bassanio comments about Portia, as the light- giving sun. If you would always walk in the night, it would be day with us, as it now is on the other side of the globe. (Malone) 55. / We should hold day with those who live upon | The other side of the planet, if you | Would walk around in placement of the sun // Our day would be the same with those who live | Upon the globes other side, should you walk | Around in placement of the brilliant sun. // Our night would share the day with all who tread | Upon the other side of the globe, should | You walk around like the luminous sun 56. be light: be unchaste; be unfaithful in the keeping of ones vows. Light in this context is in contrast to heavy. In terms of weight, light implies free, whereas heavy implies a physical weight, or a heavy chain, which keeps a women in place. Light (meaning a happy and carefree disposition) is in contrast to heavy (meaning sad and depressed). Here, be light refers to Portia being unfaithful which would cause Bassanio to be heavy (sad). The implication is that Bassanio should not do anything to make Portia light, unchaste. 57. / For when a wife is light in keeping vows | She makes herself a heavy-hearted husband. 58. {For a light wife doth make a heavy husband} This terse linewhich contains both opposing wordsis more poetic than the two-line rendering above, yet may not sufficiently convey the intended contract between light and heavy, which in normal instance refers to opposite measures of weight but herein refers to human statesa light wife (unfaithful) and a heavy (husband) ones whose is burdened or weighed down with grief. 59. {But God sort all} God works everything out according to His plan; God will work it all out, put everything in order, make things right. Portia is adding this ex post facto caveatan escape clausewhich commands the power to contradict her previous statement about her never making Bassanio a heavy husbanda husband who is sad over her being unfaithful to him. She is saying:, I will never be unfaithful but . . . Herein she is setting the stage for the next confrontation, where she claims to have slept with the doctor in order to get back the ring which Bassanio gave away. 60. This is an impersonal and distant welcome. We notice that Portia never truly welcomes Bassanio, nor does she even address him, except when she is exclaiming on him for having given away her ring. Her last words spoken to Bassanio are: I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, | For this ring the doctor lay with me. [258-259]. Even when there is a perfect cue for her to speakand respond to Bassanios question [280] to confirm her loyalty (just as Nerrisa responds to Gratziano)she says nothing. 61. {You should, in all sense, be much bound to him} / You should, in every sense, be bound to him in all sense: in every sense, in every way, in all respects, with good reason Should you walk round in lieu oth shining sun. / If youd 54 55 Portia Let me give light but let me not be light: 56 For when a wife is light in keeping vows / Because a wife whos light . . . Doth It makest for a heavy-hearted husband / brings about / a husbands heavy-heart 57 58 And never shall Bassanio be for me. / my lord be so for me But God wills all! You are welcome home, my lord. {sort} > orders, ordains 59 60 Bassanio I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. Gratziano and Nerissa converse on their own Portia You should, in all sense, be much bound to him / good sense / reason 61 62. In Bassanios previous line, bound is used to mean indebted. Bound, as used here can mean: a) bound in debt, b) bound in word or pledge, c) physically bound or imprisoned, or d) bound in friendship. 63. {No more than I am well acquitted of} / And from such bounds I have been fully freed 64. {Sir, you are very welcome to our house.} 65. {Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy} / Thus, I need not waste breath on courtesies / Thus Ill skip over this long-winded welcome / Thus Ill make short of / Therefore Ill spare you / Therefore Ill shorten 66. Gratziano swears by yonder moon, which is fickle and inconsistent, and which, at this point in the play, has been obscured by clouds. 67. / Since you, my love, take it so much to heart 68. {Would he were gelt that had it, for my part | Since you do take it love, so much to heart} gelt: gelded or castrated; also a play on gelt, money. / Would he who has the ring have his endowment | Cut off, for all I caresince you, my love, | Are so upset over this little thing. // Would he who has the ring have but his manly | Portions lopped off, for all I care, since you, | My love, are taking this so much to heart. // Would he who has the ring be castrated | +For all I careand that is what I say,,| Since you do take it, love, so much to heart. 69. / That she gave me, whose trite inscription was, 70. {For all the world like cutlers poetry | Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not.} / By all account, like a butchers attempt | At poetry, with dull words that be scribbled | Upon a knifeLove me and leave me not. / By all accounts, like a knife-makers poem | Some posy scribbled upon a cheap knife | With the fine words: Love me, and leave me not. / Naught but a cutlers try at poetry, | With fetching words, as: Love me, dont leave me. / sapless / tired It was common for a trite motto to be inscribed on knife blades, and such a motto, or posy, was put on the blade by the cutler or knife-maker (not a poet). Gratziano is here trying to lessen the value of Nerissas ring by saying its inscription was trite and written with the same skill as that of an knife-makerlike the kind of clich For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. 62 Antonio The bounds of which Im well-acquitted of. 63 Portia We are most honored, sir, to have you here. 64 Yet it must show in other ways than words; {It must appear} Thus Ill make short of this long-winded welcome. {Therefore Ill scant} {breathing courtesy} 65 Gratziano [to Nerissa] By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong. 66 In faith, I gave it to the judges clerk / In truth And I would have his manly parts cut off Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. 67 68 Portia A quarrel, ho, already! What about? {Whats the matter?} Gratziano About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring / band // petty That she did give me, whose lettring was, {posey} / motto 69 For all to see, like cutlers poetry, {for all the world} / by all accounts +The kind of words that one would find scribbled , Upon a knife: Love me and leave me not. 70 inscriptions he would on his knife. The irony is that Gratzianos words, which are often crude and unpoetic, is now placing some kind of value on poetry. 71. Q1: No, Gods my judge F: But well I know 72. {Gave it a judges clerk! No, Gods my judge, | The clerk will neer wear hair ons face that had it} 73. {You were to blame, I must be plain with you} 74. {That the world masters. Now in faith, Gratziano} 75. / Your callous act does bring your wife much grief / Your blundring act is cause for all her grief. 76. {And twere to me I should be mad at it} twere to me: if it were up to me (to react in the same situation); if this were done to me Nerissa Why talk you of the wording or the value? {poesy} / motto You swore to me when I gave it to you / I presented it That you would wear it till the hour of death, / thy And that it should lie with you in your grave. / would Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, > on my account You should have been more careful and have keep it. {been respective} / had more reverence You gave it to a judges clerk? A man? But well I know that clerk is yet a woman / No, Gods my judge 71 And she will neer grow hair upon her face. 72 Gratziano He will, an if he live to be a man. Nerissa Ay, if a woman live to be a man. Gratziano Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy, a little scrubbd boy, / scrub-brushed little boy No higher than thyself, the judges clerk, / taller A prating boy, who begged it as a fee. I could not, for my heart, deny it him. / hold him from it / stay his request Portia I must be plain with you: you are to blame, / frank 73 To part so slightly with your wifes first gift / easly / lightly A thing placed on with oaths upon your finger, {stuck} And so riveted, with faith, unto your flesh. I gave my love a ring and made him swear Never to part with itand here he stands. I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it, Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth That all the world could muster. Gratziano, / could give. Now Gratziano 74 You give your wife too unkind a cause for grief. 75 An twere to me, I would be fuming mad. / If it were me 76 / Had you done this to me, Id be fuming / And were it me, I would be fuming mad. / If this were done to me Id be incensed (/indignant / outraged) / If you did this to me, Id be incensed 77./ Yet your man, too, did give away his ring 78. / Who was deserving of it; then his clerk, 79. / And man nor master would take nothing else 80. / And ever gone is the truth from your heart / And eer so void of all truth is your false heart / And so your heart, too, is bereft of truth 81. / By heaven, I swear, Ill neer lay with you / bed / sleep 82. /And gone from your false heart, is all semblance Of truth! I swear, Ill neer come to your bed Until I see the ring! 83. Most modern editions set the previous two lines in the standard iambic pentameter, which suggests no significant pause in the dialogue. Q1 sets the verse as four half lines (6-4-6-4 syllables) whereas F1 sets it with two half lines and one full line. (6-10-4 syllables). Q1 could be read with our without a pause in the dialogue, whereas the F1 setting demands two pauses: Q1 Until I see the ring! F1 Until I see the Ring. Ner. Nor I in yours Ner. Nor I in yours, til I again see mine. Till I again see mine! Bas. Sweet Portia, Bass. Sweet Portia If you did know . . . If you did know . . . Bassanio [aside] Why, I were best to sunder my left hand, / cut off {cut my left hand off} And swear I lost the ring defending it. Gratziano My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away 77 Unto the judge who begged it, and indeed Deserved it too; and then the boy, his clerk 78 Who took some pains in writing, he begged mine {That} And neither man nor master would take aught 79 But the two rings. Portia What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you received from me. Bassanio If I could add a lie unto a fault, I would deny it, but you see my finger Hath not the ring upon itit is gone. Portia Even so void is your false heart of truth 80 By heaven, I will neer come to your bed {in} 81 Until I see the ring! 82 Nerissa Nor I in yours Till I again see mine. Bassanio Sweet Portia, 83 84. / When nothing would be had except the ring 85. {What man is there so unreasonable If you had pleased to have defended it if you had any desire to defend it (hold onto it) With any terms of zealwanted the modesty lacked the modesty To urge the thing held as a ceremony?} insist on having something > with but ceremonial value 86. What man is there so lacking in reason / bereft of all reason Had you been pleased in so defending it / If you had only desired (/wished) to defend it With any kind of zealwould so insist On the thing with such sentimental value? [See Additional Notes, 5.1.206] 87. /I keep on hearing praise of this good judge 88.{Nerissa teaches me what to believe:} / Nerissa, teaches me the right lesson: 89. {Ill die fort, but some woman had the ring!} 90. In a production where Shylock willingly puts down the knife (and it is made clear to the audience that he never intended to kill Antonio) one might say that the civil doctor did not actually save Antonios lifebut this is not what Bassanio believes: he believes that the doctors intervention, and his long words used to try and dissuade Shylock, is what convinced Shylock to forgive Antonio in the end. Thus, by this account, the doctor did save his friends life. If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And would realize for what I gave the ring, {conceive} // And think upon And how unwillingly I left the ring, When naught would be accepted but the ring, 84 You would abate the strength of your displeasure. / appease // brunt Portia If you had known the virtue of the ring, / value Or half her worthiness who gave the ring, Or your own honor to keep safe the ring, {contain} You would not then have parted with the ring And it appears, you were not even pleased / willing / bent / clined / prompted To defend it with any kind of zeal. {terms} / show What man is there so lacking in all reason, {so much unreasonable} So wont of modesty, as to demand / so as to urge A thing made sacred by a ceremony? 85 86 +I hear the praises of this worthy judge / much praise 87 But now methinks there is no judge at all!, / But seems the case Nerissa, teaches me the right idea: {what to believe} 88 Ill bet my life, some woman has the ring. {had} > was given 89 Bassanio No, by mine honor, madam, by my soul, No woman has it, but a civil lawyer {had} > was given {doctor} Who did refuse three thousand ducats from me, And begged the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffered him to go away displeased Even he who had saved the very life {held up} / upheld Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? 90 I was enforced to send it after him. 91. / I was oertaken by shame, feeling that 92. {I was beset with shame and courtesy} / I was oertaken by a deepened shame / I was beset with guilt and obligation / I was beset with disgrace and decorum / I was beset with feelings of disgrace | +And a deep sense that I should give the ring, shame: a sense of dishonor, disgrace courtesy: a sense of moral obligation, feeling that giving the ring was the right thing to do. 93. / And I could not let such ingratitude | Besmear my honor. Pardon me, good lady, 94. Giving away Portias ring, at the request of Antonio, shows Bassanios loyalty to Antonio above Portia. Moreover, it reveals Bassanios weakness of character, and his inability to keep his own word nor honor his own vows (which is consistent with his irresponsible and care-free character) He says he broke the vow to Portia to uphold his honor and show his gratitude (and because he was enforced)thus showing that he holds these self- concerned promptings greater than Portia and the vow he made to her. How is Portia to feel about such an act? What does it tell her about her new lord and master? 95. {For by these blessed candles of the night} / For by these stars, whose light doth bless the heavens This oathto the stars of the night skycarries with it the same irony as Gratzianos swearing by yonder moon: both the light of the moon, and the stars (on this night) are inconsistent, being regularly covered up by the clouds. The stars, as well, are soon to fade as morning is swift approaching. 96. / That I give the ring to the worthy doctor. 97. he: Portia now accepts Bassanios statement that he gave the ring to a man, but here she shifts her game, saying that she, too, will give herself to this man. 98. know him: have sexual relations with him. Compare Portias parting words to Bassanio in the previous scene [4.1.415]: I pray you, know me when we meet again. 99. Argus: Argus Panoptes, the all-seeing, hundred-eyed giant who was set to guard Io, daughter of the river god, Inachus. (Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.622-77). Also compare the India myth of Malini, whose beauty was so great that Lord Shiva sprouted eyes on every side of his head so he could look at her even when she walked around him. 100. Lie not a night away from home. Like Argus, | +With all his hundred eyes, you watch oer me., 101. by mine honor, which is yet mine own: a) by my chastity (virginity) which is still intact, still unbroken, still mine own (having not been taken by anyone as of yet). b) by my vows, which have not been broken. This is in contrast to Bassanios honor which is not his own, as he has given it away when he broke his vow to keep the ring. Portias reference to honour, is a continuation of Bassanios previous claim: No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, | No woman had it, but a civil doctor. [209]) I was beset by shame, and felt moreover / besieged 91 To give the ring was the right thing to do. 92 My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady, 93 94 For by these blessd candles of the night / stars that stud the night 95 Had you been there I think you would have begged The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. / from 96 Portia Let not that doctor eer come near my house. Since he hath got the jewel that I do love, {that I loved} 97 And that which you did swear to keep for me. / The one I will become as generous as you. {liberal} / giving, as were you Ill not deny him anything I have / hold back anything he desires No, not my body, nor my husbands bed. / marital Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. / quite // I shall in every way 98 Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus, > away from 99 +Who guarded Io with a hundred eyes., 100 If you do not, if I be left alone, Now, by mine honour, which is still mine own, {yet} // intact / unbroken 101 102. / Ill share a bed with that worthy doctor. 103. / Sir, grieve notyou are not the cause of this. 104. {Sir, grieve not you, you are welcome notwithstanding} / Sir, grieve not youyoure welcome nonetheless. / Grieve not dear sir 105. / And with these many friend as faithful witness, 106. {Mark you but that!} 107. {In both my eyes he doubly sees himself} / In mine two eyes he sees himself as double / He sees himself but doubly (/as two-faced), one in each eye 108. / Each eye reflects but one of two positions / Each eye reflects his double-facedness 109. / In one eye, swears he, by his first of self; | In the second eye, swears he, by the second // In each one eye a self he swears upon | He breaks the first and now he makes a second 110. {In each eye one. Swear by your double self} swear: and now you swear (upon the reliability of your two-faced self) 111. {And theres an oath of credit} This line is spoken with sarcasm. Portia is saying that Bassanio oath is not something she can rely on. of credit: a) that which can be believed; something credible, something of value, something which has backing, something that can be relied uponsaid with sarcasm to imply the opposite. b) something which lacks value, which is not there, such as credit on a loan. Thus: Now theres an oath of credit, not an oath that has actual valueand oath that appears credible but which has no real backing. This may also refer to Bassanios previous show (when he came to Belmont) as a rich manwhich was due to his having borrowing money on credit rather than having the actual wealth he was outwardly showing. (Such previous actions suggests the two-faced nature of Bassanio, where he presented himself with one face yet had another.) Ill have the doctor for my bedfellow. / lawyer 102 Nerissa And I his clerk. Therefore, be well-advisd / So take this as fair warning If you do leave me to mine own protection. {How} Gratziano Do as you will. Let not me catch him, then, {Well, do you so} For if I do, Ill break the young clerks pen. {mar} / ruin Antonio I am thunhappy subject of these quarrels. / the bitter // cause of this contention Portia Sir, grieve notnone of this is caused by you. / brought by / over 103 104 Bassanio Portia, forgive me this enforcd wrong; And in the witness of these many friends {hearing} 105 I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Wherein I see myself Portia Hear you but that? / Take heed of that! / Amen to that! 106 In both my eyes he doubly sees himself ! / In mine two 107 In each eye one version of self is seen / Each eye reflects but one of two pretenses 108 And then he swears upon his double self / And so his swearing be but two-faced 109 110 Now theres an oath to count on! {And} // bank on 111 112. Portia does not hear Bassanio. Later, she does not even answer his direct questions [280]. This not hearing is a clear sign of having power over that person, who you are not required to hear, listen to, nor even respond to. Shylock expressed this same kind of power (which he had over Antonio) by not hearing him, by not responding to him. Antonio says, Hear me yet, good Shylock [3.3.3] and I pray thee, hear me speak [3.3.11], yet Shylocks only reply is: I will not hear thee speak [3.3.12], Ill have no speaking. [3.3.17]. Portia, of course, cannot say I will not hear you speakall she can do to express her power is not respond. 113. { . . . that your lord | Will never more break faith advisedly} / That he will neer wittingly break his vow / That, with intention, he will neer break his vow / That wittingly he will neer break his vow / That he will never wittingly break faith 114. / And were it not for he who has the ring, My life withal, would have be lost. And now I dare be bound again, my soul upon The forfeit, that your good husband, Bassanio, Will never wittingly break faith with you. / Will neer wittingly break the vow hes made 115. Here Portia is testing Bassanioand playing him like a fiddle. As with Shylock, she plays from the position of advantage, of being one up, i.e., knowing the outcome before she even begins. Here (as in the trial scene) she escalates the confrontation: First she accuses Bassanio of giving the ring to a woman; then she accepts that he gave the ring to a man (the doctor); then she says that she will be as liberal (and giving of herself) to the doctor as was Bassanio (for no other reason other than that he hath got the jewel that I loved); and finally (in the next passage) she says that she already gave herself to the doctora tormenting lie that must have made Bassanios heart sink. The significant outcome of her orchestration is in securing Antonio as surety for Bassanios vow to her. (Remember that he broke his vow to her in favor of Antonios request). Now, with Antonio as his bondsman, Bassanio cannot break his vow to Portia over anything involving Antonio. Further, this could be seen as a kind of second wedding, where Antonio is symbolically giving away Bassanio, as a father might give away a dear son to his new bride. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.255] Bassanio Nay, but hear me. 112 Pardon this fault and, by my soul I swear, I never more will break an oath with thee. Antonio I once did lend my body for his welfare / loan {thy wealth} Which, but for him who won your husbands ring, {that had} / has / got > received My life withal, would have be lost. I dare / I would have paid for with my life Be bound again, my soul upon the forfeit, That he will never knowingly breath faith. / wittingly 113 114 Portia Then you shall be his bondsman. {surety} She takes the ring from her finger Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other. / first 115 Antonio [giving the ring to Bassanio] Here, Lord Bassanioswear to keep this ring. Bassanio By heaven it is the same I gave the doctor! / tis Portia 116. {I had it of him. Pardon Bassanio} Portia is echoing Bassanio and using his words against him. In 247-48 Bassanio asks for Portias pardon in regards to his giving away the ring, saying: Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear | I never more will break an oath with thee. Here she uses the same plea and asks him to pardon her for laying with the doctor (in order to get back the ring that he gave away). It seems that Portia assigns a similar value to Bassanios vow (to keep the ring) as she does to her own vow of chastity. 117. / But for this ring, I made love with the doctor Portia telling Bassanio that she lay with the doctor is a somewhat brutal claimand perhaps, in her mind, deservedly so. (This is mitigated by the fact that she only lets him squirm for a few seconds.) However, the affront of this line could be assuaged by bringing in less certain image (which would then be dispelled before it was realized). Hence, Porta could say: Yes, that same doctor was with me last night, or Yes, that same doctor visited me last night. Nerissas echo reply (instead of, In lieu of this last night did lie with me) could be: Was here last night and visited with me. 118. {Why this is like the mending of highways | In summer where the ways are fair enough} / In summer, when the roads need no such fixing The insinuation with this metaphorcomparing Nerissa to a roadis that the road is being (or has been) dug up and is therefore ruined in the sense that it cannot be traveled upon. Nerissa has been ruined by her sleeping with the clerk and now Gratziano cannot travel upon that road (because it is unfit for use). 119./ And thus, the highway is not fit for use / Which makes the highway ruined for good use / And it but the highway for use / And, in the meantime, are ruined for use / And theyre then ruined for fair travel and use 120. The following two lines, which could be added, help clarify Gratzianos previous metaphor: +Why the best fruit has been given away | Before we even had the chance to eat it!, 121. {What, we are cuckolds ere we have deserved it?} / We are betrayed before our wedding night! / Why we got shafted fore our wedding night! // The fruits gone rancid ere it could be eaten / The fruits gone rancid before we could eat it! / The fruits been plucked and no longer worth eating. 122. {Speak not so grossly. You are all amazed} 123. These two lines replace the following lines found in the original [268-69]: {Here is a letter. Read it at your leisure. | It comes from Padua, from Bellario.} The line, And here is a letter which explains it all is emended to Portias speech a few lines later. This would then indicate that Portia wrote the letter, not Bellario. There seems to be no reason as to why (or when, or for whom, or for what purpose) Bellario would write such a letterand no reason as to why Portia would need to produce it. Portias simple telling of the story, and how she was the doctor, would clear up all doubt, and she neednt producenor go to the trouble of producingany supportive documentation. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.267] I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, / I got it from him 116 But for this ring, the doctor lay with me. / I lay with the young doctor. 117 Nerissa And pardon me, my gentle Gratziano, For that same scrubbd boy, the doctors clerk, In lieu of this [showing the ring] last night did lie with me. / In change for / In hock for
Gratziano Why this is like the mending of highways In summer, when no such repair is needed 118 +Which makes the road all rough and ruined for use., / spoiled 119 120 You have cheated us, ere we have deserved it! {What, we are cuckolds} 121 Portia Speak not so grossly there is much confusion: / crudely 122 +We were with you in Venice the whole time; There never was a doctor nor his clerk., 123 Thus you shall find that I was the doctor, 124. As mentioned in the previous note, the production of any explanatory letter, by Portia, is not needed. To preserve the triplicate delivery of letters, however, this delivery could be included. If one prefers a more likely scenariowhere Portia simply explains everything in person, rather than deliver a letterthen this line could be replaced with the following: +And soon I will explain | The whole thing to you,. 125. {. . . Unseal this letter soon. | There you shall find three of your argosies | Are richly come to harbor suddenly.} 126. Portia coming upon the news of Antonios argosies coming to port before Antonio stands out as an anomaly. She must have come upon this news while on the road from Venice to Belmont. [See Additional Notes, 5.1.277] 127. {You shall not know by what strange accident} / You shall not know by what coincidence you shall not know: you would not believe, youd never guess strange accident: coincidence, unlikely circumstance 128. Replace last three lines with two: / Have richly come to port. You shall not know / youd never guess How strange it was I chanced upon this letter. 129. Portia never answers this question. When Gratziano asks the same question of Nerissa, she immediately reassures him with a positive response. 130. In 280, Bassanio asks Portia a direct question; in 281, Gratziano asks Nerissa a direct question; in 282-283, Nerrisa responds to Gratzianos question; here Portia could answer, to complete the symmetry, but does not. It is Bassanio who offers his own reassuring reply. In all, Portia does not give one reassuring word to Bassanio upon his arrival in Belmont. Nerissa there my clerk. Lorenzo here Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you, And have just now returned. I have not yet / even Entered my house. +And here is a letter [takes out a letter] Explaining it all., Antonio, for you 124 I have much better news than you expect: [takes out a letter] Unseal this letter soon, there you shall find That suddenly, three of your argosies Have come to port, their hulls amassed with riches. / with / replete / abound with 125 126 Youd not believe the circumstance by which / You wont 127 I chanced upon this letter {I chancd on} 128 Antonio [reading the letter] I am speechless! {dumb} Bassanio [to Portia] Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? 129 Gratziano [to Nerissa] Were you the clerk who came and cheated on me? {that is to make me cuckold} Nerissa Ay, but the clerk who never means to do it / whod neer do such a thing Unless, through life, he turns into a man. {Unless he live until he be a man} Bassanio 130 Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow. When I am absent, then lie with my wife. Antonio Sweet lady, you have given me life and living, 131. {Are safely come to road} come to road: found a safe harbor, come to dry land 132. One might expect that an address made in front of Jessica would be: from Jessicas father or from old Shylock rather than from the rich Jew. (Shylock has converted to Christianity but is still consideredas is Jessicaa Jew.) 133. {After his death, of all he dies possessed of} /Who grants you all his possessions pon death / Whom, upon death, bequeaths you all he owns. / doth leaves 134. manna: heavenly food which was dropped upon the Israelites in the desert and which sustained them. The notion of a sudden and unexpected gift from heaven is implied in the term. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (KJV, Exodus 16:14-15) 135. / You drop a heavnly manna in the way / You drop gifts from heaven in the way of | Starvd people / You drop heavenly manna to people | Starving below. 136. The reference to manna is not exact, since the deed of gift gives Lorenzo and Jessica nothing to sustain them. It is a deed of gift when Shylock dies, which could be 20+ years in the future. So, Lorenzo and Jessica receive but a promise for something which does not relieve their present now. (They are starved because they have wasted all the money that they stole from Shylock. Even now, there is no mention, nor one word of protest spoken from a Christian, regarding the wasteful and morally bankrupt actions of Jessica and Lorenzo.) 137. It is almost morning The fairy tale is about to end. No sunsetnone but a gloomy sunrise. Here also the roles of prince and princess are reversed: the prince is now shown to be anything but a prince; and the princes, showing her strong, independent spirit, and superiority over her lord, is hardly a princess in need of rescue. The couples do not ride off into the sunset, to a future of everlasting peace and bliss; they enter into the morning, with the pairs somewhat distant and estranged. 138. {With these events at full} 139. / So you can probe us with all your questions / And charge us there with your cross-examining For here I read for certain that my ships Have safely come to port. 131 Portia And now, Lorenzo! {How} {?} My clerk hath some good comforts, too, for you. Nerissa Ay, and Ill give them him without a fee. [she hands him the will] Here do I give to you and Jessica {There} A special deed of gift, from the good Jew, {rich} 132 Who wills you all he owns upon his death. 133 Lorenzo Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way 134 Of starving people. 135 136 Portia [looking at the sky] It is almost morning, 137 And yet I am sure you are not satisfied With an account so brief. Let us go in / scarce 138 And charge us there with cross-examination, / probe {upon intergatories} 139 And we will answer all things faithfully. / truthfully Gratziano Let it be so. The first line of questioning {the first intergatories} 140. {Whether till the next night she had rather stay {Or go to bed now, being two hours to day 141. {But were the day come, I should wish it night {Till I were couching with the doctors clerk 142. This bawdy punning is commonly found at the end of a romantic comedies. Herein the term ring is usually taken as a reference to vulva and Gratzianos sore keeping of itwell we need not comment on that! That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is: Would you prefer on the next night to lay Or go to bed now, with two hours till day? 140 But were the day come, I should wish it night Till I were laying in my clerks delight. {couching} / rolling 141 And while I live, Ill fear no other thing So sore as keeping safe Nerissas ring. / But the sore keeping of 142 Exeunt. Couples first, then Antonio ___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ [Optional Added Scene] ACT SIX - Scene One Venice, in front of Shylocks House. Enter Shylock and Tubal, then Messenger from opposite direction Tubal We still have time to make another trade. Shylock Yes, one more trade. [to Messenger] How now, what be the news? Messenger I bring a letter from your only daughter. Shylock Jessica? Messenger Yes, from Jessica your daughter. Shylock She is my daughter but am I her father? Messenger That is the name she called you by. She said: Would you please give this letter to my father? Shylock Her father? That is what she said? What else? Messenger I think youll find the answer in her letter. Messenger hands Shylock the letter and exits Shylock A ship come home to port. What does she say? He tries to open the letter but his hands are too shaky. He hands it to Tubal, who opens the letter and glances over it. Tubal [glancing at letter] Shes here in Venice and she wants to see you. Tis but good news my friend, tis all good news. Surely, methinks, before ol Shylock dies, 143. In a prior draft, Jessicas letter was read aloud by Tubal. The contemplated letter read as follows: Dear father, I hope it is in your heart to forgive me. I know my brash and uncaring actions have brought you countless tears and grief. You are the one who has given me lifehow can I now ask for more? But ask I do. I ask that you forgive meand forgive me you must. Accept me, you must. Love me as I am, you must. This is the vow a father makes to his daughter the first time he looks into her eyes. And this is a vow you have made, and have kept, and which I now ask you to keep again. When I am in Venice again, I hope to see you. I hope that you will accept me; that you have it in your heart to greet me as my father; as I hope, once again, to greet you as your daughter. The night is now upon me, the stars begin to shine, and I must go. Love Jessica. Hell find a smile in his daughters eyes. 143 Tubal lifts up Shylocks turquoise ring and returns it to him with the letter Shylock [holding the ring, glancing off] When comes the end, our treasures are but dust Fortunes do give but they take as they must; My life, my deeds, and my ducats suffice, / are lost Ive gained some comfort, at too high a price. / cost And now my friend, I must bid you good-bye, Tis not a sight to see ol Shylock cry. / a scene / so good // an old man Tubal exits; Shylock exits to his house END. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________