merchant of venice short Summary

Merchant of Venice Act 5, Scene 1 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act V Scene I

Modern English Reading
Act V Scene I

LORENZO : The moon shines bright: in such a night as this, when the sweet wind gently kissed the trees, and they made no noise, in such a night, Troilus I think climbed the walls of Troy, and sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents, where Cressida lay that night.

JESSICA : In such a night Thisbe fearfully tripped over the dew, and saw the lion’s shadow before the lion itself, and ran away dismayed.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, and sigh’d his soul toward the Grecian tents, where Cressid lay that night : the characters mentioned here, Troilus and Cressida, were later immortalised by Shakespeare in the drama bearing their names. This refers to a tale of ancient Troy. Troilus was a son of Priam. Cressida, whom he loved, had been taken to the camp of the Greeks, who were besieging Troy. So Troilus is depicted as sadly walking on the walls of Troy, and looking towards the tents of the Greeks, where she is. Shakespeare’s object is to assemble in the minds of the audience several events of romantic beauty from old classical legend, and thus to create the impression that they are now looking on such a night of moonlit beauty as existed in all those images. In such a night, did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew, and saw the lion’s shadow ere himself, and ran dismay’d away : Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers in ancient Babylon. They had made an appointment to meet each other at night, beside a certain tomb. Thisbe arrived first to keep the appointment, and saw a lion waiting there. She fled in terror, leaving her cloak on the ground behind her. The lion took the cloak in his mouth, thereby leaving stains of blood on it. So when Pyramus arrived, he concluded that she had been devoured, and slew himself. Then Thisbe returned and discovered her lover’s dead body, and also committed suicide. Probably it was from Gower that Shakespeare derived this story, though Chaucer also has it. o’ertrip : to trip over, or to run across with light steps. The “dew” signifies “the dew-covered grass”, ere himself: before she saw Pyramus.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LORENZO : In such a night Dido stood with a willow in her hand On the wild banks of the sea, and sent her love to return to Carthage.

JESSICA : In such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs that renewed old Aeson.

LORENZO : In such a night Jessica stole away from the wealthy Jew, and ran from Venice with a poor love as far as Belmont.

JESSICA : In such a night Young Lorenzo swore he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of love,— and never a true one.

LORENZO : In such a night Pretty Jessica, like a little witch, Lied about her love, and he forgave her.

Word Meaning With Annotation

In such a night, stood Dido, with a willow in her hand, upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love to come again to Carthage : the story of the love of Aeneas and Dido is told by Virgil in the Aeneid. Aeneas was the great Trojan warrior who founded the city of Rome. During his voyages, he landed in Carthage, where he gained the love of Queen Dido. After several months of dalliance with her, he sailed away and left her broken – hearted. After a short period of extreme grief, she killed herself. Shakespeare says that it must have been on a beautiful full moon night like the present that Dido walked sadly by the shore of the wild sea, with a willow in the hand, the symbol of deserted love. Vainly she beckoned (wafted) to him to come back to Carthage. In such a night medea gather’d the enchanted herbs that did renew old Aeson : we have heard of the classical hero, Jason, in this play. Medea was his wife and she is said to have experimented in enchantment. She gathered herbs of magical properties by night, and administered them to her aged father-in-law, Aeson, in an effort to restore his youth, steal : steal away. Lorenzo may be referring to the manner in which Jessica had appropriated her father’s property, unthrift : unthrifty; good-for-nothing. Jessica speaks playfully here, stealing her soul : capturing her love, like a little shrew : the shrew is a small field mouse, which is noted for its ferocity and fighting powers. Then the term came to be used to denote a scolding, or abusive woman, as is described in Shakespeare’s play, The Taming of the Shrew. Lorenzo’s words are spoken in affectionate jest, did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew slander her love : did repeat untruths against her lover. Lorenzo is referring to Jessica’s remarks in lines 19-20, where Jessica had playfully accused him of making false promises of love to her.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

JESSICA : I would out-night you, if no one was coming, but, listen, I hear the footsteps of a man.
Enter Messenger [Stephano],

LORENZO : Who comes so quickly in silence of the night?

MESSENGER : A friend.

LORENZO : A friend! What friend? Your name, please, friend?

MESSENGER : Stephano is my name, and I bring word that my mistress will be here at Belmont before the break of day; she wanders about by holy crosses, where she kneels and prays for happy marriage hours.

LORENZO : Who comes with her?

MESSENGER : No one but a holy hermit and her maid. Please, is my master returned yet?

LORENZO : He has not, and we have not heard from him. But let’s go in, please, Jessica, and let’s prepare some welcome for the mistress of the house with strict observance of the formalities.
[Enter Launcelot]

Word Meaning With Annotation

I would out-night you : Jessica says, “I would beat you in this game of making speeches about nights,” or perhaps “I would have the last word though it meant staying here all night.” footing : footsteps; tread, she doth stray about by holy crosses : Portia is spending some time in religious exercises in various sacred places. The cross is the symbol of the Christian religion, and usually marks a sacred place or shrine. One or two editors have adduced this as evidence of Portia’s religious character. But we know that Bassanio is in great haste to return of Belmont at top speed, and yet Portia contrives to arrive before him. So we may accept this information of Stephano’s as a polite fiction to satisfy the curiosity of the servants as to their mistress’s whereabouts, wedlock hours : married life, none, but a holy hermit, and her maid : Portia is bringing a holy man back with her. She has halted by some wayside shrine, and brought back with her the attendant priest. A hermit signifies a solitary holy man, and not one from a religious house where many are assembled, he is not, nor we have not heard from him : this is an example of Shakespeare’s use of the double negative nor not. The custom was that a negative repeated in this manner made the meaning more emphatic, ceremoniously : attentively; with due care.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : Hey, hey! Whoa, ha, hey! Hey, hey!

LORENZO : Who calls?

LAUNCELOT : Hey! Did you see Master Lorenzo? Master Lorenzo! Hey, hey!

LORENZO : Leave hey – ing, man. I’m here!

LAUNCELOT : Hey! Where? where?

LORENZO : Here!

LAUNCELOT : Tell him there’s a letter arrived from my master with his horn full of good news; my master will be here before morning.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Sola : is said to be an imitation of the sound of a posthorn, that is, the horn which a post or messenger blew to let people know he was coming, hollaing : calling out. tell him there’s a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news : a post was a messenger, and he blew his horn to announce his arrival. But there is another well-known phrase “horn of plenty”, because of the good news he brings.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LORENZO : Sweet soul, let’s go in, and wait there for them to come. And yet, it doesn’t matter; why should we go in? My friend Stephano, let them know, please, within the house, that your mistress is at hand, and bring your music outside. How sweet the moonlight sleeps on this bank! We will sit here and let the sounds of music creep into our ears; soft stillness and the night compliment the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica: look how the sky is covered thick with layers of bright gold; even the smallest star that you see sings like an angel as it moves, still singing like a choir to the young-eyed cherubs; such harmony is in immortal souls; but, while this muddy earth of decay buries us, we can’t hear it. Come, hey! And wake the goddess of love with a hymn; Pierce your mistress’ ear with sweetest touches, and bring her home with music.

JESSICA : I am never happy when I hear sweet music

Word Meaning With Annotation

Expect : await, signify : make known the fact. let the sounds- of music : let beautiful music steal gently upon us. soft stillness, and the night, become the touches of sweet harmony : peaceful quietness and night-time are very suitable for the notes of sweet music, there’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st, but in his motion like an angel sings : the ancients had a peculiar conception of the stars and heavenly bodies. They believed that every star and planet produced in its motion a peculiar musical note, and the combination of all composed “the grand harmony of the universe”. The cherubs, or angels, are depicted as listening to this music of the stars, and responding to it. This same conception of the music from the heavenly bodies is referred to elsewhere by Shakespeare, quiring : singing like a choir, or organised body of singers, young eyed : possessing the bright eyes of youth. Such harmony is in immortal souls; But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it : Lorenzo states here that our souls are immortal, and also produce divine music. But as long as the dull human body (muddy vesture of decay) encloses the soul, we are unable to hear this, come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn : Diana was the goddess of the moon. So to sing a hymn, or a solemn song, by night, might be said to awaken her. pierce : penetrate.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LORENZO : The reason is your spirits are observant; because only look at a wild and wanton herd, or race of youthful and unhandled colts, pushing crazy limits, bellowing and neighing loudly which is the hot condition of their blood; if they only hear maybe a trumpet sound, or any air of music touches their ears, you will see them make a mutual stop, their savage eyes turned to a calm gaze by the sweet power of music: so the poet Pretended that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods; only music for the time changes his nature from not so wooden, hard, and full of rage. The man that has no music in him, or is not moved by harmony of sweet sounds, is fit for treason, plots, and stealing; the movement of his spirit is as dull as night, and his affections are as dark as the place between earth and hell. Don’t trust such a man. Listen to the music.
Enter Portia and Nerissa.

PORTIA : That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams! A good deed in a naughty world shines like that.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Race : a particular breed or strain. Here it seems to mean just the same as “herd”, unhandled colts : young horses which have not been “broken” or trained, hot condition of their blood : their own natural wild condition, mutual stand : come to a standstill all together, modest : quiet mild, the poet, did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods : Orpheus was a famed musician of classical tradition. It was said that his skill was so wonderful that trees, stones, and other inanimate objects could be moved from place to place by the power of his music, and streams could be made to change their courses. The particular poet referred to as imagining (feigning) this is probably Ovid, stockish : the phrase “stokes and stones” is usually employed to denote the inanimate things of nature. “Stock” is the same as “stick” or dead wood. The general sense of the world is “unfeeling or devoid of life”, full of rage : savage, with concord of sweet sounds : by the harmonious sounds of sweet music. Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils : “capable of treachery, scheming, and dishonesty.” Treason in Shakespeare’s time meant a political offence involving disloyalty to the State, stratagems : usually means a diplomatic or crafty action; the word is here used with a sense of baseness, which it need not necessarily possess, the motions of his spirit are dull as night : his thoughts and feelings are black as night, and his affections dark as Erebus : “and his likes and dislikes as dark as Hell.” Erebus was an abode of utter darkness, supposed by the classical peoples to exist in the under-world, and corresponding to our conception of Hell, naughty : worthless; wicked.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

NERISSA : When the moon was shining, we did not see the candle.

PORTIA : The greater light dims the lesser one like that. A substitute shines as brightly as a king Until a king is back, and then the substitute’s condition drains away, as an inland brook does into the river of waters. Music! Listen!

Word Meaning With Annotation

So doth the greater glory dim the less, a substitute shines brightly as a king, Unto the king be by; and then his state, Empties itself, as doth an inland brook, Into the main of waters. Music! hark! : this, like numerous other passages in the final scene, show the unusual extent to which Shakespeare allows his characters to indulge in general moralising on life. He is carefully constructing the final atmosphere in which the play is to conclude. There is almost an attempt to convey a moral lesson, or point out a meaning to be derived from the incidents of the first four Acts, an intention practically unknown elsewhere in Shakespeare. The lines show Portia’s reflective nature, and give a final conception of her intellectual powers, a substitute : a person who has been acting temporarily in the place of another, his state : the glory and the splendour of the temporary king, inland brook : a stream flowing from the interior of the country.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

NERISSA : It is your music, madam, from the house.

PORTIA : Nothing is good, I see, without respect: I think it sounds much sweeter at night than by day.

NERISSA : Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.

PORTIA : The crow sings as sweetly as the lark when either is waited on, and I think the nightingale, if she sang by day, when every goose is cackling, would be considered no better a musician than the wren. How many things are fit for use by the seasons to their right praise and true perfection! Peace, hey! The moon sleeps with her lover, and does not want to be awakened!

Word Meaning With Annotation

Nothing is good, I see, without respect : nothing is good only because of its own value; it is affected, influenced by and dependent on circumstances and environment, methinks : I think; it seems to me. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, when neither is attended : this is a statement which will be disputed by any observer of English bird life. The crow in England has a harsh unmusical note, not differing greatly from the Indian crow. The lark has a singularly sweet song. The crow lives in flocks, and a flock of crows all “cawing” at once is not musical by any means whereas the lark certainly commands our undivided attention by always singing alone, and at a great height in the air. Shakespeare, however, says that the chief charm of the lark’s song is that it is always heard alone, while crows are not appreciated because they are always heard in flocks. The nightingale, if she should sing by day, when every goose is cackling, would be thought, no better a musician than the wren : this is a repetition of the same thought, but again is an over-statement. The nightingale certainly attracts more attention, since the song of the bird is usually heard all alone in the dusk of evening, when other birds have retired for the night. But the song of the nightingale is singularly musical under any circumstances, while the notes of the wren possess no great charm in themselves. Moreover the nightingale does often sing by day, though Shakespeare does not seem to know this, every goose : every common bird, cackling : uttering harsh notes, by season season’d are : are improved in every way by being performed at a suitable time or place. Such artificial arrangement of words as this we term “epigrammatic.” the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awak’d : this is another reference to an old- classical legend. Endymion was a beautiful youth who was loved by the moon. When he slept at night, the moon kissed him by pouring down her silvery light. So the phrase “the moon sleeps with Endymion” became a poetical expression meaning “it is night and the moon is shining”. But Portia takes “sleeps” in its literal sense, and says, “Silence there! the moon and her beloved Endymion are asleep and she does not wish to be disturbed by your music.”

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LORENZO : That is the voice, or I am much mistaken, of Portia.

PORTIA : He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo, by my bad voice. .

LORENZO : Dear lady, welcome home.

PORTIA : We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, which are moving along quickly, we hope, the better for our words. Have they returned?

LORENZO : Madam, not yet; but there is come a messenger ahead of them, to show that they are coming.

PORTIA : Go in, Nerissa: give orders to my servants that they take no notice at all of our being absent from here; nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.

LORENZO : Your husband is near; I hear his trumpet. We are no tattle tales, madam; don’t be afraid of us.

PORTIA : I think this night is only sick daylight; It looks a little paler; it’s a day Like a cloudy day.
Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their followers.

Word Meaning With Annotation

He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo, By the bad voice : Portia’s humour. The cuckoo in England has an unmistakable note; even a blind man could not confuse it with any other bird, which speed, we hope, the better for our words : “Whom, we hope, will be benefited by our prayer.” The word speed is from the Old English verb spedan, which meant “to prosper” or “to benefit by”. The meaning has now come to denote fastness or quickness, but the old meaning will be found in such a phrase as “God speed you !” or, “May God make you prosperous!”, that they take no note at all : that they appear to know nothing at all of. tucket : a series of notes on a trumpet, tell-tales : informers; people who tell tales of each other. this night, methinks, is but the daylight sick : it is such a clear night that Portia says it is rather like a dim or sickly kind of daylight than the darkness we expect at night time.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : We should hold day with the direct opposite, if you would walk in absence of the sun.

PORTIA : Let me give light, but let me not be light, because a light wife makes a heavy husband, and never let Bassanio be heavy for me: But God bless all! Welcome home, my lord.

BASSANIO : I thank you, madam; give welcome to my friend: This is the man, this is Antonio, to whom I am so infinitely indebted.

PORTIA : You should be much indebted to him in all senses, because, as I hear, he was much indebted for you.

ANTONIO : No more than I am well released from.

PORTIA : Sir, you are very welcome to our house. That welcome must appear in other ways than words, since this breathy courtesy is so inadequate.

Word Meaning With Annotation

We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun : this is an example of the fantastic and extravagant compliments of gallantry which were popular among the Elizabethans. The Antipodes denote the point on the earth’s surface which is exactly opposite to where we happen to be for the time being. Thus England has Australia for its Antipodes, since the two countries are at opposite points of the earth. When the sun is shining in Australia, it must be dark in England. But Bassanio says that Portia herself diffuses such brightness as to replace the sun, so that it is possible for them to enjoy daylight at the same time as the Antipodes. It is his elaborate and courtly way of explaining the brightness of the night, on which Portia herself has just been commenting, let me give light, but let me not be light : again the favourite play upon words Portia puns on the double meaning of light, (i) bright, (ii) immoral. A woman of doubtful virtue is very often called “a light woman.” for a light wife doth make a heavy husband : for an unchaste wife makes a sad husband, you should in all sense be much bound to him. for, as I hear, he was much bound for you : “you have every reason to be under great obligations of friendship to him, for I hear that he accepted great responsibilities on your behalf.” acquitted of : now free from, therefore, I scant this breathing courtesy : so I shall cease expressing it in mere polite words.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : By moon up there, I swear you insult me; believe me, I gave it to the judge’s clerk. I wish he were castrated that has it, for my part, since you take it, love, so much to heart.

PORTIA : A quarrel, hey, already! What’s the matter ?

GRATIANO : About a hoop of gold, a worthless ring that she gave me, whose inscription was, For all the world, like knife maker’s poem on a knife, “Love me and leave me not.”

NERISSA : Why do you talk of the inscription or the value? You swore to me, when I gave it you, that you would wear it until the hour of your death, and that it would go with you to your grave; you should have respected and have kept it though not for me, but for your intense oaths. Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge, the clerk will never grow a beard that took it.

GRATIANO : He will, if he lives to be a man.

NERISSA : Yes, if a woman lives to be a man.

GRATIANO : N o w, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, a kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy no taller than you, the judge’s clerk; a chattering boy that asked for it as a fee; I could not, for my heart, deny him the ring.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Hoop : circle; ring, posy : this word was used by the Elizabethans to denote the proverb or inscription which was often written on the inside of a ring, like cutler’s poetry : it was also customary to have inscriptions on the blades of knives. They would perhaps not be so poetical in tone, for Gratiano says with contempt that the motto in the ring which Nerissa had given him was more like the inscription one: would expect to find on a knife. But we can hardly see that this is just, when applied to “Love me and leave me not.” It seems quite appropriate and suitable for a lover’s gift, and Gratiano’s sneer is poor, you should have been respective : you should have had respect for it. the clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it : the clerk you claim to have given in to will never wear a beard (i.e. because it was to a woman that you gave it), by this hand : another Elizabethan oath, scrubbed : scrubby; small-sized. prating : over-talkative, begg’d it as a fee : asked for it as his payment.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : You are to blame,—I must be plain with you,—to part so quickly with your wife’s first gift, a thing stuck on your finger with oaths, and so nailed with faith to your flesh with faith. I gave my love a ring, and made him swear never to part with it, and here he stands, I would dare to swear for him that he would not leave it nor pluck it from his finger for all the wealth in the world. Now, truly, Gratiano, you give your wife a cause for grief that is very unkind; if it was given to me, I should be angry about it.

BASSANIO : Why, it would be better if I cut my left hand off, and swear I lost the ring defending it.

GRATIANO : My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away to the judge that asked for it, and indeed deserved it too; and then the boy, his clerk, that took some pains in writing, he asked for mine; and neither man nor master would take anything else but the two rings.

Word Meaning With Annotation

To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift : to let such a slight cause make you part with your wife’s first present to you. a thing stuck on with oaths upon your Finger : the ring had been placed on his finger to the accompaniment of solemn promises, which should have made it remain there, and so riveted with faith unto your flesh : a rivet is a type of steel nail, used to fasten metal plates together. Portia tells Gratiano that his solemn faith and honour should have been as strong as steel rivets in preventing the ring from leaving his finger. I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it : Portia is deliberately making the situation uncomfortable for Bassanio, and increasing the irony for the enjoyment of the audience. She says that she is so sure of Bassanio that she would take an oath that he has not parted with her ring, “leave if’ is equivalent to “part with it” or “lose it”, masters : possesses; owns, you give your wife too unkind a cause of grief : you have inflicted too cruel an injury on your wife. An ‘twere to me, I should be mad at it : if this had been done to me, I should be angered by it. I were best to : my best course would be to, etc. Man nor master : “man” in this sense is often used to denote “servant”, i.e. the clerk, while “master” is of course, Portia in her capacity as judge.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : If I could add a lie to a fault, I would deny it; but you see my finger Hasn’t got the ring on it; it is gone.

PORTIA : Your false heart of truth is even so “gone,” by heaven, I’ll never sleep with you until I see the ring.

NERISSA : And neither will I until I see mine again.

BASSANIO : Sweet Portia, If you knew to whom I gave the ring, if you knew for whom I gave the ring, and would think about for what I gave the ring, and how unwillingly I let the ring go, when nothing would be accepted but the ring, you would decrease the strength of your anger.

PORTIA : If you had known the virtue of the ring, or half the worthiness of her who gave the ring, or your own honor to hold the ring, you wouldn’t have parted then with the ring. What man is there so very unreasonable, that, if you had bothered to defend it with any terms of earnestness, lacked the modesty to encourage the thing be held as a ceremony? Nerissa teaches me what to believe: I’ll die for it, but some woman took the ring.

Word Meaning With Annotation

If I could add a lie unto a fault, I would deny it : if my conscience would allow me to conceal my offence by a lie, I would deny having done so. even so void is your false heart of truth : similarly your false heart lacks truth, void, empty of. Sweet Portia, if you did know to whom I gave the ring : this device of ending a number of lines with the same word is found seldom in Shakespeare, though, cases do occur. If you did know for whom I gave the ring : Bassanio means that it was for the sake of his friend, Antonio, that he gave the ring away, left : “parted with”, abate : lessen. If you had known the virtue of the ring : “virtue” is often used in this manner to denote “goodness”. But it is more probable that Portia hints that the ring had a mystic or luck-bringing property, which would be lost by parting with it. or your own honour to contain the ring : If you had realised what a sacred obligation it was on your part to preserve the ring, what man is there so much unreasonable : the use of “much” In this adverbial sense is strange to our ideas of the word; read “so very unreasonable”. If you had pleas’d to have defended it : if you had cared to make an effort to retain possession of it. with any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty, to urge the thing held as a ceremony : the sense is simple: “if you had defended it true zeal, what man would have been so lacking in good manners (modesty) as to press you for the ring, which you wore as a sacred thing?” I’ll die for’t, but some woman had the ring : I will wager my very life that you gave the ring to some woman.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

BASSANLO : No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, no woman took it, but a civil doctor, which refused three thousand dollars of me, and begged for the ring, which I denied him, and let him go away displeased, even he that had delayed the very life of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet-lady ? I forced to send the ring after him;! was overcome with shame and courtesy; my honor would not let ingratitude wo much offend it. Pardon me, good lady; because, by these blessed candles of the night, if you had been there, I think you would have begged the ring from me to give the worthy doctor.

PORTIA : Don’t let that doctor ever come near my house; since he has gotten the jewel that I loved, and which you swore to keep for me, I’ll become as free as you; I won’t deny him anything I have, no, not my body, nor my husband’s bed. I shall know him, I am well sure of it. Don’t sleep a night from home; watch me with one hundred eyes; if you don’t, if ! am left alone, now, by my virginity which is still my own, I’ll have that doctor for my lover.

NERISSA : And I his clerk; so be well advised how you leave me to my own protection.

GRATIANO : WelI, do so : don’t let me take him then ; because, if I do, I’ll break the young clerk’s pen.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Civil doctor : a lawyer; a doctor of civil law. had up : saved; preserved. I was enforc’d to send it after him : I felt myself compelled (morally) to send the ring after him. I was beset with shame and courtesy : I was filled with shame at having refused him, and also prompted by natural courtesy to give it to him. besmear : stain; disgrace, blessed candles of the night : the stars, which are still visible. Shakespeare wishes the audience to think of this as taking place in the dim light of dawn, with stars still visible. He continues the impression of scenery by numerous little allusions of this nature.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

ANTONIO : I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels.

PORTIA : Sir, don’t grieve; you are welcome never the less.

BASSANIO : Portia, forgive me this forced wrong; and in the hearing of these many friends, I swear to you, even by your own beautiful eyes, that I see myself in,—

PORTIA : Listen, only that!In both my eyes, he doubly sees himself, one in each eye; swear by your double self, and there’s an oath to believe.

BASSANIO : No, but listen to me: Pardon this fault, and, by my soul, I swear I will never again break an oath made to you.

ANTONIO : I once lent my body for his wealth, Which would have been fatal, except for him that took your husband’s ring. I would dare to be indebted again, lose my soul as the penalty, that your lord will never more break an oath intentionally.

PORTIA : Then you shall be his insurance. Give him this, and tell him keep it better than the other one.

Word Meaning With Annotation

I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels : I am unfortunate enough to be the cause of this quarrel, enforced wrong : this wrong which I was forced to inflict on you. thine own fair eyes, wherein I see myself : Bassanio may mean that he actually sees his own physical reflection in Portia’s bright eyes. But it may also be read: “Wherein I see the reflection of a soul, similar to my own.” There is no one clear meaning, for Shakespeare purposely constructs such lines with an ambiguous form in order to enable the other party to the conversation to quibble on the double meaning. So here Portia at once takes his words up in the former sense. She says, “If you see yourself reflected in my eyes you must see two images, one in each eye. If there are two images of you, that shows you to be a double (deceitful) person. So when you swear by your own deceitful self, that is not an oath which one can believe.” I once did lend my body for his wealth : I once pledged my body on purpose for his welfare, had quite miscarried : would have been completely lost, which refers to body. I dare be bound again : yet I would risk entering myself as security for him once more, pledging my soul rather than my body, advisedly : intentionally; deliberately, surety : sponsor; security.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

ANTONIO : Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.

BASSANIO : By heaven! It’s the same one I gave the doctor!

PORTIA : I got it from him: pardon me, Bassanio, Because, by this ring, the doctor slept with me.

NERISSA : And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, because that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, instead of this, slept with me last night.

GRATIANO : Why, this is like the mending of high ways in summer, where the ways are fair enough. What! Are we betrayed before we have deserved it?

PORTIA : Don’t speak so indecently. You are all amazed: Here is a letter; read it at your leisure; it comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, Nerissa there, her clerk: Lorenzo here shall witness that I set out as soon as you left, and even just now returned; I have not yet entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome; and I have better news in store for you than you expect: unseal this letter right away; there you shall find three of your merchant ships have richly come into harbor suddenly. You will not know by what strange accident I happened to get this letter.

ANTONIO : I am speechless.

BASSANIO : You were the doctor, and I didn’t know you?

GRATIANO : You were you the clerk that is to betray me?

NERISSA : Yes, but the clerk that never means to do it, unless he lives until he is a man.

BASSANIO : Sweet doctor, you shall be my lover: when I am absent, then you can lie with my wife.

ANTONIO : Sweet lady, you have given me life and living, because here I read for certain that my ships have safely come home.

PORTIA : How is it now, Lorenzo! My clerk has some good comforts for you, too.

NERISSA : Yes, and I’ll give them to him without a fee. There I give to you and Jessica, from the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, that after his death, to have everything he dies possessed of.

LORENZO : Beautiful ladies, you drop holy bread in the way of starved people.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Sweet lady, you have given me life, and living : “You saved my life at the trial, and now you restore my means of livelihood,” This is the same thought as expressed by Shylock in the trial scene, road : a road, in the sea-faring sense, is a sheltered bay or harbour where ships can lie in safety. A special deed of gift : that which Shylock had been compelled to draw up in the court. We know that Portia possessed this, but we are left quite without information as to where she procured the letter telling Antonio of the safe arrival of his ships, manna : in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Jews are described as wandering in the desert on a long journey, without any means of support. So God sent divine food from heaven to them, called “manna”, and this they found lying on the ground.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : It is almost morning, and I am still sure you are not totally satisfied about these events full. Let’s go in; and ask us all your questions, and we’ll answer everything truthfully.

GRATIANO : Let it be so: the first question that my Nerissa shall be sworn on is, whether she would rather wait until the next night, or come to bed now, being two hours until day: but if the day was here, I would wish it to be dark, until I was sleeping with the doctor’s clerk. Well, while I live, I’ll fear no other thing so much as keeping Nerissa’s ring safe.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

And charge us there upon inter’gatories : “and put as many questions to us as you like.” This phrase has been quoted in support of the argument that Shakespeare may have served in a law office at some time or other, so accurate and full is his knowledge of legal terms.

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Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 2 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act IV Scene II

Modern English Reading
Act IV Scene II

PORTIA : Find the Jew’s house, give him this deed, and let him sign it; we’ll leave tonight, and be a day ahead of our husbands coming home. This deed will be very welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter Gratiano

GRATIANO : Good sir, you are well caught. My Lord Bassanio, listening to more advice, has sent you this ring here, and asks your company at dinner.

PORTIA : I can’t do that: I accept his ring most thankfully; and please tell him so; further more, please show my youth to old Shylock’s house.

GRATIANO : That I will do.

NERISSA : Sir, I wish to speak with you. I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, which I made him swear to keep forever.

PORTIA : You may, I guarantee it. We shall have old swearing that they gave the rings away to men; but we’ll confront them, and out swear them too. Away! Hurry: you know where I’ll wait for you.

NERISSA : Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Upon more advice : on second thoughts; after reconsideration. Thou may’st, i warrant : you will be able to, I am sure, old swearing “a great amount of swearing and protesting from them.” The word old is used colloquially to denote almost anything whatever, but we’ll outface them, and outswear them too : but we will put a bolder face on the matter than they do; and we shall protest louder still that, etc.

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Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act IV Scene I

Modern English Reading
Act IV Scene I

DUKE : What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO : Ready, if it pleases your Grace.

DUKE : I am sorry for you; you are here to answer a rock-like opponent, an in human wretch, inncapable of pity, void and empty of any ounce of mercy.

ANTONIO : I have heard Your Grace has taken great pains to modify his stubborn course; but since he stands solid, and that no lawful means can carry me out of his envy’s reach, I confront his fury with my patience, and I am ready to suffer the very tyranny and rage of his with a quiet spirit.

DUKE : Go, one of you, and call the Jew into the court.

SALERIO : He is ready at the door; he comes, my lord.
Enter Shylock

Word Meaning With Annotation

What : is used to indicate that a question is being asked, and without grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence, uncapable of pity : without the power of feeling pity, from any dram : of the smallest amount, your grace : a title of respect applied to a Duke, qualify : make less severe, obdurate : very hard: unyielding, very : utmost : greatest possible.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

DUKE : Make room, and let him stand before us. Shylock. the world thinks, and I think so too, that you only carry this kind of malice to the very last hour of action; and then, it’s thought, You’ll show your mercy and remorse, more strangely than your strange apparent cruelty is; and where you now exact the penalty, which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, you will not only loose the default, but, touched with human gentleness and love, forgive half of the borrowed amount, Glancing with an eye of pity on his losses, that have been so heaped on his back lately, enough to press’a royal merchant down, and get sympathy for his state trom brassy bosoms and rough hearts of stone, trom stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained to uses of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Word Meaning With Annotation

hat thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice, to the last hour of act : that you only continue this cruel course up the last moment, strange apparent cruelty : this strange cruelty of yours, which I think only apparent or assumed . where : whereas, loose the forfeiture : excuse payment of the penalty, forgive a moiety : let him off from paying a certain part of the principal sum. huddled : accumulated; pressed upon, royal merchant : a very great merchant; a prince among merchants, from brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint : from hearts as pitiless as brass and as rough as stone. Turks and Tartars : in the vague and imperfect knowledge of Asiatic races which the Elizabethans possess, such people were looked upon as types of barbarians, offices of tender courtesy : obligations imposed by courtesy and kindness.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : I have told your Grace of what I: purpose, and, by our holy Sabbath, I have sworn to have the due and penalty of my promise to pay.If you deny it, let the danger light on your city charter and your city’s freedom.You ask me why I would rather choose to have a weight of dead flesh than to receive three thousand dollars. I won’t answer that, only to say I feel like it: have I answered you? What if a rat troubles my house, and I am happy to give ten thousand dollars to have it captured? What, aren’t you answered yet? There are some men that don’t love a dead pig; some that are crazy if they see a cat; and others, when they hear the song of the bagpipe, cannot hold their urine, because sympathy, Mistress of passion, persuades passion to the mood of what it likes or hates. Now, for your answer: As there is no firm reason to be given, Why he can’t stand a dead pig; Why he is afraid of a harmless, necessary cat; Why he wets himself when he hears a wailing bagpipe, only that he must yield by force to such inevitable shame as to offend, himself being offended; So I can give no reason, nor will I, More than I bear Antonio a deep- rooted hate and a certain intense dislike, that I follow a losing suit against him like this. Are you answered?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Posses’ d : informed; told, holy Sabbath : Sunday; the sacred day of the week, let the danger light, Upon your charter, and your city’s freedom : this is a threat to the Duke that some higher power may punish the city, if justice is refused to Shylock. carrion : repulsive and unfit for food; dead, ban’d : poisoned, gaping pig : sometimes a pig was prepared whole for the table, and set on a large dish with a lemon in its mouth, and other, when the bagpipe sings i’ the nose : many people with sensitive ears, do not like the wild notes of the bagpipe, a woollen bagpipe : the bag is usually covered with woollen cloth, to protect the leather from which it is made, lodg’d hate : a hate which has lodged or become rooted in him. a losing suit : a suit in which Shylock suffers financial loss, by refusing to accept his money rather than the pound of flesh.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : This is no answer, you unfeeling man, to excuse the flowing of your cruelty.

SHYLOCK : I am not required to please you with my answer.

BASSANIO : Do all men kill the things they don’t love?

SHYLOCK : Does any man hate the thing he wouldn’t kill?

BASSANIO : Every wrong is not a hate at first.

SHYLOCK : What! Would you have a serpent sting you twice?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Current of the cruelty : cruel course of action.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

ANTONIO : Please, if you think you question the Jew: You may as well go stand on the beach, and ask the main ocean to decrease his usual height; you may as well use questions with the wolf, why he has made the mother sheep cry for the lamb; you may as well forbid the mountain pines to wag their high tops and to make no noise when they are blown by the gusts of wind from the sky; you may as well d° anything almost as hard as to seek to soften that—than what’s harder?— His Jewish heart: so, I beg you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, but with all brief and plain convenience. Let me have judgment, and let the Jew have his default.

BASSANIO : For your three thousand dollars, here are six.

SHYLOCK : If every ducats in six thousand ducats were in six parts, and every part a ducats, I would not take them; I want my promise to pay.

DUKE : How shall you hope for mercy, giving none?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Think you question with the Jew : Do you think you can argue with the Jew? fretten : “agitated by.” but, with all brief and plain conveniency : but briefly and without ceremony, as is there convenient, etc.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : What judgment shall I dread, if I; have done no wrong? You have many purchased slaves among you, which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, you use in low and in slavish ways, because you bought them; shall I say to you” Let them be free, damn them to your heirs?” Why do they sweat under burdens? Let their beds be made as soft as yours, and let their palates be seasoned with such rich meats? You will answer” the slaves are ours.” So I answer you: the pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought; it’s mine, and I will have it. If you deny me, damn your law! There is no backbone in the laws of Venice. I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?

Word Meaning With Annotation

You have among you many a purchas’d slave, which like your asses, and your dogs and mules You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them. Shall I say to you, Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why sweat they under burthens? Let their beds, Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates, Be seasoned with such viands? You will answer, “The slaves are ours” : Shylock argues that it is a common practice to keep slaves, and many in the court do so. The slaves are regarded as the property of the owner, and may be treated in any manner. Similarly this pound of flesh is his own property, and he may do what he likes with it without being brought to account. This passage shows well the unyielding and determined nature of Shylock, as well as the cruelty of his nature, parts : duties, stand for : claim; demand as my right.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

DUKE : I may dismiss this court by my power, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, whom I have sent for to determine this, comes here today.

SALERIO : My lord, there is a messenger waiting outside with letters from the doctor, just now arrived from Padua.

DUKE : Bring us the letters; call the messenger.

BASSANIO : Cheer up, Antonio! What, man, have courage still! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and everything, before you shall lose one drop of blood for me.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Upon my power : by virtue of the authority I possess, unless Bellario, a learned doctor, whom I have sent for to determine this, come here to-day : It is strange that Portia should think at once of Bellario, and then the Duke conveniently sends for him and makes it possible for Portia to come as his representative. The possibility of the Duke sending for some other learned lawyer makes us wonder how Portia would then have gained admission to the court. But it is futile to approach the drama as if we were speaking of actual life and human characters, and we must accept that this is what happened. It is possible that the messenger who brought the news to Belmont may have mentioned there that the Duke had sent for Bellario. determine : arrive at a decision, this come : just arrived.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

ANTONIO : I am a poisoned, castrated ram of the flock, most ready for death; the weakest kind of fruit drops first to the ground, and so let me. You cannot be better employed, Bassanio, than to live on, and write my epitaph.
Enter Nerissa.

DUKE : Did you come from Padua, from Bellario?

NERISSA : From both, my lord. Bellario send greetings to your Grace.

BASSANIO : Why do you sharpen your knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK : To cut the default from that bankrupt there.

GRATIANO : You make your knife sharp, not on the sole of your shoe, but on your soul, harsh Jew, but no metal can, no, not the hangman’s axe, be sharpened to half the sharpness of your sharp hate. Can any prayers get through to you?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Tainted wether : an old and infirm sheep, why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly : the actor who plays the part of Shylock bends down and proceeds to sharpen the edge of his knife upon the leather sole of his shoe, forfeiture : that which has been forfeited, or the flesh. Not on the sole: but on thy soul harsh Jew, Thou mak’st thy knife keen : the Old English word for soul was sawol. While the spelling had changed by the time of Shakespeare it is possible that it was pronounced rather like “sowl”, to rhyme with “howl.” No, not the hangman’s axe : the official who executed condemned men was called the “hangman”. Low bom criminals or men charged with ordinary offences were executed by hanging. But noble or political prisoners would be beheaded with an axe, manipulated by the same hangman.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : No, none that you have sense enough to make.

GRATIANO : Oh, damn you, stubborn dog! And, for your life, let justice be blamed. You almost make me change my mind, about agreeing with Pythagoras that the souls of animals send themselves into the bodies of men. Your dog-like spirit that must have been ruled by a wolf hanged for killing a human, his evil soul falling quickly even from the gallows, and, while you lay in your unholy mother, sent itself into you, because your desires are wolfish, bloody, starved, and hungry.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Inexecrable : ‘inexecrable’ “too bad for execration.” and for thy life let justice be accus’d : and we must accuse the spirit of Justice for allowing you to live, thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves, Into the trunks of men : Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher who believed that souls of men or animals appeared several times on the earth, assuming sometimes higher and sometimes lower forms of life, a Wolf, who hang’d for human slaughter : In the olden days it was not uncommon for animals to be formally executed like criminals, fell : fierce; cruel, unhallowed : wicked; vile. Infus’d itself in thee : poured itself into the body.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : Until you can scream the seal from off my promise to pay, you only insult your lungs to speak so loud; fix your brain, good youth, or it will fall to cure less ruin. I stand here for law.

DUKE : This letter from Bellario recommends a young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?

NERISSA : He waits very nearby, to know your answer, whether you’ll admit him.

DUKE : With all my heart: some three or four of you go, give him courteous conduct to this place. In the meantime, the court shall hear Bellario’s letter.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Offend’st thy lungs : injure your lungs; put them to useless labour, go give him courteous conduct: Go and conduct him on a friendly visit.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

CLERK : “Your Grace shall understand that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick; but, just as your messenger came, a young doctor from Rome was visiting with me; his name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause of the controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant; we looked over many books together; he is furnished with my opinion which, made better with his own learning,—the greatness of which I can not recommend enough, comes to fulfill your Grace’s request in my place because of my illness. Please don’t let his youth be animpediment to giving him the utmost respect, because I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose testing shall better prove his abilities.”
Enter Portia. [Dressed like a doctor of laws]

DUKE : You hear what the learned Bellario has written; and here, I take it, is the doctor coming. Give me your hand; do you come from old Bellario?

PORTIA : I did, my lord.

DUKE : You are welcome; take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference of opinion that is the present question before the court?

PORTIA : I am thoroughly informed about the case. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? 1

DUKE : Antonio and old Shylock, both come forward.

PORTIA : Is your name Shylock?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Which, bettered with his own learning : and this opinion I have given him, strengthened by his own learning etc. to let him lack a reverend estimation : in depriving him of your respectful opinions, and here, I take it, is the doctor come : the word “doctor” was the title of respect paid to a distinguished teacher or lawyer.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : Shylock is my name.

PORTIA : You pursue a suit of a strange nature, still, in such rule of law, that the Venetian law cannot fight against you as you proceed. You stand in his danger, don’t you?

ANTONIO : Yes, so he says.

PORTIA : Do you confess the promise to pay?

ANTONIO : I do.

PORTIA : Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK : On what compulsion must I ? Tell me that.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law cannot impugn you as you do proceed : “Yet it is in accordance with the rules, and the Law of Venice cannot attack you for bringing the case”. I do not think it has been pointed out by anyone that Portia later reverses this opinion, for her final decision which makes Shylock into the accused instead of the accuser, is that the very nature of the suit constitutes a conspiracy against the life of a citizen, you stand within his danger, do you not : You admit having incurred this dangerous liability, do you not? then must the Jew be merciful : by “must” Portia means, “according to the ordinary laws of humanity and kindness, you must.” But Shylock takes it up as meaning legal compulsion, and asks her to explain why he must do so.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : The quality of mercy is not restricted; It drops as the gentle rain from heaven on the place beneath the clouds. It is twice blessed: It blesses him that gives mercy and him that takes mercy. It’s most powerful in the most powerful people; it suits the throned king better than his crown; his royal wand shows the force of earthly power, the quality to amaze and rule, where the dread and fear of kings sits; but mercy is above the wave of this wand, it sits on a throne in the hearts of kings, it is a quality of God himself; and earthly power then shows itself like God’s when mercy goes with justice. So, Jew, though justice is your plea, consider this, that if we all got justice, none of us would see salvation; we pray for mercy, and that same prayer teaches us all to do the deeds of mercy. I have spoken this much to soften the justice of your plea, which if you follow, this strict court of Venice must give a ruling against the merchant there.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Strain’d : forced; compelled, becomes : adorns; renders beautiful, his sceptre shows the force of temporal power : his sceptre is the emblem of worldly power, temporal means, in this sense, “worldly” as opposed to “heavenly.” sceptred sway : the worldly rule which is symbolised by the sceptre, it is an attribute to God himself : it is a divine quality, and one which God Himself possesses, when mercy seasons justice : when mercy lessens the severity of justice, though justice be thy plea, consider this, That in the course of justice, none of us, Should see salvation : this is a statement of the Christian doctrine that we are all sinners, and therefore must throw ourselves on God’s mercy. If we were judged with strict justice, not one of us would deserve heavenly happiness, to mitigate the justice of thy plea : to persuade you to put forward a milder demand than that for strict justice.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : My deeds on my head! I want the law, the penalty, and penalty of my promise to pay.

PORTIA : Is he unable to repay the money?

BASSANIO : Yes; here I brought it for him into the court; Yes, twice the sum; if that is not enough, I’ll swear to pay it ten times over on penalty of the loss of my hands, my head, my heart; If this is not enough, it must seem that evil wins over truth. And, I beg you, twist the law once to your authority; to do a great right, do a little wrong, and deprive this cruel devil of his will.

Word Meaning With Annotation

My deeds upon my head : may the consequences of my acts fall on my head. Wrest once the Law to your authority : for one occasion, use your authority to change the course of the law.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : It must not be; there is no power in Venice that can change an established law; it will set a precedent, and many errors by the same example will rush into the state. It cannot be.

SHYLOCK : A prophet from the Bible come to judgment! Yes, a prophet! Oh, wise young judge, how I honor you!

PORTIA : Please, let me look on the promise to pay.

SHYLOCK : Here it’s, most reverend doctor; here it is.

PORTIA : Shylock, there’s three times your money offered to you.

SHYLOCK : An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury on my soul? No, not for Venice.

PORTIA : Why, this promise to pay is penalty; and lawfully the Jew may claim a pound of flesh by this, to be by him cut off nearest the merchant’s heart. Be merciful. Take three times your money; ask me to tear up the promise to pay.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Decree established : a law which is fixed and on the statute book, precedent : an example which might be followed by other judges, will rush into the state : will speedily appear in the business of the State. A Daniel come to judgement, yea a Daniel : Daniel, one of the great Jewish characters of the Old Testament, was a man famed for wisdom and sound judgment. Shylock takes his name here as a representative or type of the perfect judge. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No not for Venice : Shylock gives us an additional reason that he has sworn a sacred oath (in the Jewish synagogue) not to be dissuaded from exacting what is due under the bond. This oath he cannot break, without committing a serious sin against his religion.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : When it is paid according to the terms. It appears you are a worthy judge; you know the law; your explanation has been most sound; I charge you by the law, of which you are a well-deserving upholder, proceed to judgment. By my soul, I swear there is no power in the voice of man to change my mind. I wait here on my promise to pay.

ANTONIO : Most heartily I beg the court to give the judgment.

PORTIA : Why then, it is like this: You must prepare your chest for his knife.

SHYLOCK : Oh, noble judge! Oh, excellent young man!

PORTIA : Because the intent and purpose of the law has full relation to the penalty, which appeared here due on the promise to pay.

Word Meaning With Annotation

According to the tenour : according to the strict wording and meaning, a well deserving pillar : “a worthy representative.” Shylock says that Portia is an equally strong supporter of the structure of the law. i stay here on my bond : I base my claim strictly on my bond, for the intent and purpose of the law, hath full relation to the penalty, which here appeareth due upon the bond : for the object and working of this particular law is quite applicable to the special penalty which is set forth here.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : It’s very true. Oh, wise and upright judge, how much more older are you than your looks!

PORTIA : So, bare your chest.

SHYLOCK : Yes, “his breast:” So says the promise to pay:— does it not, noble judge?—” Nearest his heart:” those are the very words.

PORTIA : It is true. Are there scales here to weigh The flesh?

SHYLOCK : I have them ready.

Word Meaning With Annotation

How much more elder art thou than thy looks : Shakespeare frequently uses a double comparative or superlative form of the adjective, often for emphasis. We should take elder here as meaning “wise”, i.e. you show more wisdom than would be expected from your youthful appearance.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : Have some surgeon nearby, Shylock, on your responsibility, to stop his wounds, so that he won’t bleed to death.

SHYLOCK : Is it so stated in the promise to pay?

PORTIA : It is not expressly stated; but so what? It would be good for you to do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK : I cannot find it; it’s not in the promise to pay.

PORTIA : You, merchant, have you anything to say?

Word Meaning With Annotation

On your charge : at your expense. Is it so nominated in the bond : this line is effective in destroying sympathy for Shylock, and was probably designed by Shakespeare to have that effect. Not only is Shylock determined to have Antonio’s life, but he wishes to do so in as cruel a manner as possible, and will not spare him any of the pain accompanying the penalty. Twere good you do so much for charity : again Portia attempts to make Shylock think of the law of human kindness, and not only of the law of the court. But he refuses to show any sign of compassion, and will not accept the opportunities of relenting which Portia gives him.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

ANTONIO : Only little: I am ready and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio: goodbye! Don’t grieve that I am doing this for you, because here fortune shows herself more kind than is her habit: it is still her habit to let the wretched man out live his wealth, to view an age of poverty with hollow eye and wrinkled brow; she cuts me off from the lingering repentance of such misery. Commend me to your honorable wife: Tell her the story of Antonio’s end; Say how I loved you; speak fairly about me in death; and, when the tale is told, ask her to be the judge of whether Bassanio didn’t once have a love. Only be sorry that you shall lose your friend, and he is not sorry that he pays your debt; because if the Jew only cuts deep enough, I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart

BASSANIO : Antonio, I am married to a wife who is as dear to me as life itself; but life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not worth more to me than your life; I would lose everything, yes, sacrifice them all here to this devil, to save you.

PORTIA : Your wife would give you little thanks for that, if she were here to listen to such an offer.

Word Meaning With Annotation

It is still her use, to let the wretched man out-live his wealth : fortune often ruins a man, and allows him to live on in miserable poverty after his wealth has gone, but she is more kind to Antonio in mercifully allowing him to die at the same time, an age of poverty : the prospect of spending his old age in poverty. lingering penance : prolonged suffering, speak me fair in death : speak well of me to her after I am dead, a love : a friend who felt deep love. I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart : even in the moment of tragedy, Shakespeare makes Antonio speak with grim humour, using the double meaning which characterised the wit of the day. “With all my heart” means in the first place, “With the utmost willingness.” But there is the literal meaning that the Jew would cut out the whole of Antonio’s heart as part of the pound of flesh. This is a tense moment, but it is relieved by this humorous remark. The courageous character of Antonio and his frank manliness make a sharp contrast with the malice of the Jew. to this devil : from this devil.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : I have a wife whom, I protest, I love; I wish she were in heaven, so she could beg some power to change this currish Jew.

NERISSA : lt’s well you offer it behind her back; the wish would other make a noisy house.

Word Meaning With Annotation

I would she were in heaven : I wish that she were dead, so that her soul in Heaven might intercede with the Divine Powers to change the conduct of the vile Jew.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : These are the Christian husbands! I have a daughter; would any of the stock of Barabbas the thief had been her husband, rather than a Christian! We are wasting time; Please, enforce sentence.

PORTIA : A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is yours. The court awards it and the law gives it.

SHYLOCK : Most rightful judge!

PORTIA : And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK : Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, get ready.

PORTIA : Wait a minute; there is something else.This promise to pay does not give you here a jot of blood; the words expressly are “a pound of flesh:” Then take your promise to pay, take your pound of flesh; but, in the cutting it, if you shed one drop of Christian blood, your lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, seized by the state of Venice.

GRATIANO : Oh, upright judge! Mark, Jew: Oh, learned judge!

Word Meaning With Annotation

These be the Christian husbands : to Shylock, the words of Bassanio and Gratiano appear unnatural, and he infers “That shows how little Christian husbands think of their wives.” would any of the stock of Barrabas, Had been her husband, rather than a Christian : Barabbas was a murderer in the Bible, and murder is a crime which is particularly rare and greatly abhorred among the Jews. Yet Shylock says that he would have preferred to see Jessica married to a descendant of Barabbas, rather than a Christian. I pray thee pursue sentence : Carry out the sentence, please! Tarry a little—there is something else, this bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; the words expressly are, a pound of flesh; take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; but, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate unto the state of Venice : the turning point in the events of the trial scene, it is introduced without a moment’s warning. Just when Antonio’s case seems hopeless, Portia changes the aspect of the situation completely by the restriction which she places upon Shylock. Tragedy is averted; the audience is shown at once that the tension is over, and all breathe freely again. The atmosphere almost becomes that of comedy for an Elizabethan audience. But a modem audience would not find comedy in the crushing humiliation of Shylock. jot : tiny particle.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : Is that the law?

PORTIA : You yourself shall see the law; because, as you insist on justice, be assured you shall have justice, more than you desire.

GRATIANO : Oh, learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

SHYLOCK : I take this offer then: pay the promise to pay three times, and let the Christian go.

BASSANIO : Here is the money.

PORTIA : Wait! The Jew shall have all justice; wait! ‘Don’t hurry:—He shall have nothing but the penalty.

GRATIANO : Oh, Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

PORTIA : So, get ready to cut off the flesh. Don’t shed any blood; or cut less nor more, exactly just a pound of flesh: if you take more, or less, than a just pound, whether it is only so much that makes it light or heavy in the substance, or the division of the twentieth part of one poor scruple; no, if the scale turns only by a hair, you die, and all your goods are seized.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Is that the law : Shylock speaks in utter bewildennent, and appears a comic, hesitating figure on the stage, with all his arrogance and confidence gone, see the act : see it put into execution, for, as thou urgest justice, be assur’d thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest : the sense is “You have been insisting on the literal reading of the law. Well, you shall have the same kind of law yourself, as much_as you can possibly desire.” he shall have nothing but the penalty : having led Shylock into the trap, Portia is determined not to let him offlightly. He was afforded numerous opportunities of withdrawing with a profit before this; now the tables are completely turned, and he who would show no mercy to Antonio is to have none himself, as makes it light or heavy in the substance : “As will make the amount of it light or heavy.” or the division of the twentieth part of one poor scruple : the word “or” seems to connect this with the previous line as an alternative. It is a repetition of the previous line, and the general sense is “ or if it varies from an exact pound by the twentieth part of a scruple.” A scruple was a very small unit of weight, if the scale do turn but in the estimation of a hair : “if it is estimated that one side of the scale varies from the other by as much as a hair’s breadth.” confiscate : an old past participle, equal to “confiscated”

Original Text

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you at a disadvantage.

PORTIA : Why does the Jew wait? Take your penalty.

SHYLOCK : Give me my principal, and let me go.

BASSANIO : i have it ready for you; here it is.

PORTIA : He has refused it in the open court; He shall merely have justice, and his promise to pay.

GRATIANO : A Daniel still say I; a second Daniel! I thank you, Jew, for teaching me that word.

SHYLOCK : Shall I not have just my principal?

PORTIA : You shall have nothing but the penalty to be so taken at your own risk, Jew.

SHYLOCK : Why, then the devil give him good of it! I’ll wait no longer.

Word Meaning With Annotation

On the hip : this phrase is taken from wrestling. To have a man “on the hip” meant to secure such a hold on him that he was helpless, and could be easily thrown by his opponent, he hath refus’d it in the open court; he shall have merely justice and his bond : Shylock is willing to receive back his three thousand ducats and depart. Many would think that his defeat is sufficiently great, and that his humiliation need not be increased. Shakespeare evidently thought otherwise, and prepared a much heavier punishment for the Jew. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word : Gratiano exultingly quotes Shylock’s own words, and says “I thank you, Shylock, for supplying me witlvsuch an appropriate illustration.” The atmosphere of this law court seems free and easy, and the freedom of speech afforded the spectators surprises us. Barely my principal : my principal alone without any interest. I’ll stay no longer question : I shall not remain here for any further talk.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : Wait, Jew. The law has yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, that, if it is proved against an alien that by direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen, the party against whom he schemes shall seize one half his goods; the other half comes to the public treasury of the state; and the offender’s life lies at the mercy of the Duke only, above all others. In which predicament, I say, you stand; because it appears by this obvious proceeding that indirectly, and directly too, you have schemed against the very life of the defendant; and you have incurred the danger that I just read to you. So, kneel down, and beg mercy of the Duke.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Tarry Jew : on the stage, Shylock is shown as startled by those words, wondering what fresh development is to come, alien : person not a native of Venice, citizen : a native of Venice, the party ‘gainst the which he doth contrive : this is in imitation of the language of the law. Portia may be supposed to quote from the exact words of this particular law, “against the which” is particularly typical of the affected working of legal documents. It is thought that Shakespeare served at one time of his life in a lawyer’s office, and it is his accurate knowledge of legal terms which lends some show of probability to the ; theory, contrive : conspire; plot, seize : “take possession of’ or “become entitled to.” privy coffer : the state treasury, ‘gainst all other voice : no other person except the Duke has power to decide whether the offender shall live or die. predicament : difficult situation; position, the danger formerly by me rehears’d : the penalties which I have just stated.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : Beg that you may have permission to hang yourself; and still, your wealth being the penalty to pay the state, you haven’t got the value of a string left; So you must be hanged at the state’s expense.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself; and yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, thou hast not left the value of a cord; therefore thou must be hang’d at the state’s charge : Gratiano is openly exulting at the humiliation of Shylock. He evidently does not believe in the modem English principle of not hitting a man who is “down and out”, but jeers at the Jew with full enjoyment.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

DUKE : So that you shall see the difference between our beliefs, I give you your life before you ask for it. Because half your wealth is Antonio’s, the other half comes to the general treasury, which your humbleness may bring to an end.

PORTIA : Yes, for the state; not for Antonio.

SHYLOCK : No, take my life and everything, don’t pardon that: you take my house when you take the prop that holds my house up; you take my life when you take the means by which I live.

PORTIA : What mercy can you give him, Antonio?

GRATIANO : A free rope with a nooses; nothing else, for God’s sake!

ANTONIO : So if it pleases my lord, the Duke, and all the court to set the fine for one half of his goods, I am content, as long as he will let me have the other half to use, to give it, on his death, to the gentleman that lately stole his daughter: Two things more, that, for this favor, he presently becomes a Christian; the other, that he records a gift, here in the court, of everything he has when he dies to his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Which humbleness may drive unto a fine : “but a humble attitude on your part may induce the state to accept a fine, instead of taking the full half of your wealth.” This line sets forth the tremendous difference in the fortunes of Shylock. A few minutes ago he was preparing to cut off his pound of flesh; now he is told to go humbly on his knees and beg that his life and a small proportion of his money may be spared. The tables are indeed turned. In no play of Shakespeare’s do we get such a sudden and complete reversal of fortune. Ay, for the state : Portia reminds them that the Duke has power to allow Shylock to keep some of the half which is due to the State, but he has no power to do so in the case of Antonio’s share. Portia thinks that, since Antonio is bankrupt, it is just that he .should receive the Jew’s money” The bitterness of such a decision to Shylock may well be imagined, a halter gratis : a rope free of charge, to hang himself, quit : remit; excuse, so he will : on condition that he will, become a Christian : would be the cruellest blow of all for Shylock, for his adherence to tire Jewish faith has seemed the only point in his nature which redeemed him from being purely mercenary, record a gift : “draw up a legal document for the assignment of property.” Such a’document was called a “deed of gift”.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

DUKE : He shall do this, or else I take back the pardon that I just pronounced here.

PORTIA : Are you content, Jew? What do you say?

SHYLOCK : ! am content.

PORTIA : Clerk, draw up a deed of gift.

SHYLOCK : Please, let me go from here; I am not well; send the deed after me and I’ll sign it.

DUKE : Go, but do it.

GRATIANO : In your christening, you shall have two godfathers; If I had been the judge, you should have had ten more, to bring you to the gallows, not to the baptismal font.
Exit [Shylock]

DUKE : Sir, I beg you to come home with me to dinner.

PORTIA : I humbly desire your Grace’s pardon;I must go away tonight toward Padua, and it is proper that I leave right away.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Reacant : “to deny one’s faith” or to deny previous expressions of belief. The best sense here is “withdraw”. In christening, shalt thou have two god-fathers; had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, to bring thee to the gallows, not the font : Gratiano again gives vent to his brutal wit. He alludes to the fact that when a man is christened, or admitted to the Christian faith by baptism with water, it is necessary for him to have two godfathers, responsible men who will be Iris sponsors, and see that he grows up a good Christian. Shylock has been compelled to accept the Christian faith and so will have two godfathers, but Gratiano says that if he had been judge, he would have sent Shylock before a jury of the usual twelve, who would have condemned him to be hanged. The “font” is a bowl on a raised platform or pedestal, containing holy water for the, ceremony of baptism. It is the same word as “fountain”. The custom of having twelve members of a jury was, of course, purely English. Meet : necessary.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

DUKE : I am sorry that you cannot stay. Antonio, thank this gentleman, because, in my opinion, you owe him a lot.
Exit Duke and his train.

BASSANIO : Most worthy gentleman, my friend and I Have been acquitted today of grievous penalties by your wisdom; instead of three thousand ducats, due to the Jew, we will freely pay for your courteous pains.

ANTONIO : And stand indebted, over and above, in love and service to you forever.

PORTIA : He is well paid that is well satisfied; and I am satisfied in delivering you, and therefore, I consider myself well paid : my mind never wanted anything else in payment. Please, recognize me when we meet again: I wish you well, and so I say goodbye.

BASSANIO : Dear sir, I must attempt to pay you more forcefully; take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, not as fee. Grant me two things, please: Don’t say no to me and pardon me.

Word Meaning With Annotation

I am sorry that your leisure serves you not : I am sorry that you do not have the leisure time to come, gratify this gentleman : “reward this gentleman”, much bound to him : under a deep obligation to him.” In lieu whereof : “in requital of your services.” we freely cope your pains withal : “we freely remunerate you for your kindly labours.” he is well paid that is well satisfied : this is an example of Shakespeare’s felicity of phrasing, and his power of expressing universal truths in a condensed and epigrammatic manner, my mind was never yet more mercenary : my mind was never desirous of any greater reward than this.” I pray you, know me, when we meet again : “Please do not forget me, if ever we should chance to meet again.” But the words have a deeper significance for the audience than for Bassanio, since they know that the lawyer is Portia, while he does not. So this is another of the numerous instances of skilful dramatic irony in which this play abounds.” take some remembrance of us, as a tribute : “Take some souvenir from us as a token of our esteem.” Bassanio asks Portia to accept some trifling present, in token of remembrance of their gratitude. This leads up to the final episode of the play, which provides a considerable amount of humour, namely, Portia’s success in persuading her husband to part with the ring she had given him. The last shade of tragedy has now left the play, and all the subsequent action is light-hearted and joyous,

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : You push me far, and so I’ll give in. Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them for your sake. And, for your friendship, I’ll take this ring from you. Don’t draw back your hand; I’ll take no more; and you shall not deny me this in friendship.

BASSANIO : This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle; I won’t embarrass myself to give you this.

PORTIA : I’ÌI have nothing else except this only; And now, I think, I have a mind to have it.

BASSANIO : There’s more that depends on this ring than its value. I will give you the most expensive in Venice, and find out where it is by proclamation: only for this ring, please, excuse me.

PORTIA : I see, sir, you are free in making offers; you taught me to beg first, and now I think you teach me how to answer a beggar.

BASSANIO : Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; and, when she put it on, she made me vow that I should not sell, or give, or lose it.

Word Meaning With Annotation

For your love : as a souvenir of your friendship, and now, methinks, I have a mind to it : Portia mischievously proceeds to make her request more pointed and difficult to refuse, by saying that it is not merely an accidental choice that made her hit upon the ring, but the fact that she really has a strong desire to have it. There’s more depends on this than on the value : “This ring is of sentimental, rather than intrinsic value.” and find it but by proclamation : he will cause it to be proclaimed in Venice that he wishes to buy an expensive ring, so that he may receive specimens from the various jewellers and select the best one. only for this I pray you pardon me : but excuse me from giving this one thing, you teach me how a beggar should be answer’d : and now you refuse me, as one usally does a beggar.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : That’s the excuse many men use to save their gifts. And, if your wife is not a mad woman, and knows how much I have deserved this ring, she would not hold out in being your enemy forever for giving it to me. Well, goodbye!
Exeunt [Portia and Nerissa]

ANTONIO : My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: Let what he deserves, and with my friendship, be measured against your wife’s commandment.

BASSANIO : Go, Gratiano, run and catch him; Give him the ring, and bring him, if you can, to Antonio’s house. Away! Hurry up. Come, you and I’ll will leave presently; and early in the morning, we will both fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Scuse : a contracted fonn of “excuse.” she would not hold out enemy for ever for giving it to me : “she might be angry on first hearing of it, but she would not retain her anger for long when she had heard Bassanio’s explanation.” Portia’s reasons are skilful and sound, and make Bassanio appear very mean in refusing such a simple request. She goes away in a mood of hurt and offended dignity, yet full of quiet courtesy, and makes Bassanio look even more discourteous, let his deservings, and my love withal, be valued ‘gainst your wife’s commandment : “let his great services to us, combined with your love for me, be stronger that the command which your wife gave you.” will thither presently : will go there at once.

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Original Text
Act III Scene V

Modern English Reading
Act III Scene V

LAUNCELOT : Yes, honestly ; because, look, the sins of the father are tobe laid on the children; so, I promise you, I’m afraid you. I was always honest with you, and so now, I speak my annoyance over the matter; so be cheerful, because I honestly think you are dammed. There is only one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is only a kind of bastard hope.

JESSICA : And what hope is that, please?

LAUNCELOT : Damn it, you may partly hope that your father had not fathered you, that you are not the Jew’s daughter.

Word Meaning With Annotation

The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children : this is a reference to one of the teachings of the Christian religion, which says that “the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children.” Punishment for a man’s sins may fall upon his family, fear you : I fear on your behalf, be of good chee; for, truly, I think you are damned : it seems a strange combination of ideas to tell Jessica to be cheerful because she is condemned to the punishment of Hell because of her sins. But we can never analyse Launcelot’s remarks as if they were the words of an ordinary person; it may be an attempt at grim humour, or he may only mean be careful! What he says is so very often different from what he intends to say.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

JESSICA : That’s a kind of bastard hope indeed; so the sins of my mother should be laid on me.

LAUNCELOT : Honestly, then I’m afraid you are dammed both by father and mother; when I keep away from the Sea Monster, your father, I fall into an equal evil, your mother; well, you are gone both ways.

JESSICA : I shall be saved by my husband; he has made me a Christian.

LAUNCELOT : Honestly, he’s all the more to blame; we were Christians enough before, even as many as could well live one by another. This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we won’t shortly have a slice of bacon on the coals for money.
[Enter Lorenzo.]

JESSICA : I’ll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say; here he comes.

LORENZO : I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus get my wife into comers.

JESSICA : No, you don’t need to fear us, Lorenzo; Launcelot and I are arguing; he tells me flatly there’s no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew’s daughter; and he says you are no good member of the community, because in converting Jews to Christians, youraise the price of pork.

LORENZO : I shall answer that better to the community than you can explain the swelling of the negro’s belly; the Moor is pregnant by you, Launcelot.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Rasher : the name applied to a slice of bacon or pork, on the coals : placed on the fire to cook. Launcelot and I are out : “Launcelot and I have quarrelled.” flatly : plainly; without; any softening of the news.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : It is important that the Moor should be more than reason; but if she is less than an honest woman, she is indeed more than I took her for.

LORENZO : How every fool can play on the word! I think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence, and conversation grow commendable in no one except parrots. Go in, servant; bid them prepare for dinner.

LAUNCELOT : That is done, sir; they have all stomachs.

LORENZO : Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! Then bid them prepare dinner.

LAUNCELOT : That is done too, sir, only ‘cover’ is the word.

LORENZO : Will you cover, then, sir?

LAUNCELOT : Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty.

LORENZO : Yet more quarrelling with purpose! Will you show the whole wealth of your wit al at once? Please understand a plain man in his plain meaning: let your fellows come on, bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we’ll come in to dinner.

Word Meaning With Annotation

How every fool can play upon the word : Lorenzo alludes to Launcelot’s habit of quibbling upon double meanings of words, the best grace of wit : “The most dignified wit will soon be to etc.” They have all stomachs : they are all ready for their dinner. This is Launcelot’s idea of humour, that a man prepares for dinner when he is ready to eat it. Lorenzo had meant that the servants should prepare dinner for himself .and Jessica. Bid them prepare dinner : Lorenzo says, “What a witty man you are! Well, tell them to prepare our dinner.” But Launcelot again takes a different sense for the word “prepare.” Lorenzo had meant “Place it ready on the table”, but Launcelot takes it to mean “cook,” and says, “The dinner has been cooked; what you mean now is ‘cover the table’. But when Launcelot says, “All right, you may cover”, Launcelot at once flies off to another meaning of cover, to remain with the head covered, and says, “No sir, I know my duty to my master too well to remain covered (wearing my hat) in his presence.” quarrelling with occasion : “disputing as to whether the word is exactly suitable to the particular occasion.”

Original Text

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as sense and meaning shall determine.
Exit Clown.

LORENZO : Oh, dear judgment, how his words are suited! The fool has planted in his memory an army of good words; and I know many fools that stand in a better place, dressed like him, except that a tricky word defies definition. How are you, Jessica? And now, good sweetheart, tell me your opinion, how do you like Lord Bassanio’s wife?

Word Meaning With Annotation

For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, sir, it shall be covered : Launcelot becomes mixed in expression, and changes the words “served” and “covered”. He means to say “The table shall be covered and the meat served etc.” humours and conceits : the word “humour” was applied by writers of the time to characteristic temperaments or moods of men, mostly odd and uncommon, o dear discretion, how his words are suited : O, Spirit of discretion, how strangely unsuitable his words are! a many : it was customary at one time to use this expression, stand in better place : are of higher social rank, garnish’d like him : supplied as he is, with words, tricksy word : a word which enables a trick to be played with meaning; a word capable of double meaning, defy the matter : “ignore what is the obvious and intended meaning.” Or pretend to think a word means something different from the speaker’s obvious sense, how cheer’st thou : “How are you?” Literally, “Of what face or mood are you?”

Original Text

Modern English Reading

JESSICA : So much I can’t express it. It is very proper the Lord Bassanio live an upright life, because, having such a blessing in his lady, he finds the joys of heaven here on earth; and if he doesn’t merit it on earth, it stands to reason he should never enter heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match, and place a bet on two earthly women, and Portia is one of them, there must be something else to bet on with the other, because the poor rude world does not have her equal.

LORENZO : You have such a husband in me as she is for a wife.

JESSICA : No, but ask my opinion too about that.

LORENZO : I’ll ask later; first let’s go in to dinner.

JESSICA : No, let me praise you while I want to.

LORENZO : No, please, let it serve for dinner conversation; then, no matter what you say, I shall digest it with the other things I’m eating up.

JESSICA : Well, I’ll point you in the right direction.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

And, if on earth he do not mean it, then : this depends on the sense given to the word “mean.” If we take it as “intend” then we must understand, “if Bassanio is really sincere in his upright life.” Then we might take the sense to be, “If on earth, he does not follow the mean or middle-way in conduct,” taking the sense of “mean” as “the average.” Again the sense of “mean” might be “to demean himself or keep himself humble,” and this gives us, “If he does not humble himself on this earth, he need never expect heaven, if he has already enjoyed, heavenly happiness on earth.” heavenly match : a competition between heavenly or divine beings, pawn’d : put up as a stake; wagered by the other of the two competitors, fellow : equal or match. Anon : in a moment; at once, while I have a stomach : again a double meaning, (i) while I have the desire to do so, and (ii) while I have an appetite for dinner, table-talk : talk over the dinner table, then, howso’er thou speak’st, ‘mong other things, I shall digest it : then, no matter how you speak, I shall be able to digest your words along with dinner, set you forth : set forth your praises.

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Original Text
Act III Scene IV

Modern English Reading
Act III Scene IV

LORENZO : Madam, although I’m saying it in front of you, you have a noble and a true understanding of god like friendship, which appears most strongly in your behaving like this in the absence of your lord. But if you knew to whom you give this friendship, how true a gentleman you send in relief, how dear a friend of my lord is your husband, I know you show more pride in the work than accustomed behavior can make you show.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Conceit of god-like amity : conception of friendship which is truly divine, how dear a lover : “lover” often means “friend”, you would be prouder of the work, than customary bounty can enforce : you would be more proud of this act than of any ordinary act of kindness.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : I never did regret doing good, and I won’t now; because in companions that talk and waste the time together, whose souls bear an equal burden of love, there must be a sharing of things like proportion of limbs, manners, and spirit, which makes me think that this Antonio, being the closest friend of my lord, must be like my lord. If it’s true, how little is the cost I have paid in purchasing the image of my soul from out of the state of hellish cruelty! This sounds as if I am praising of myself; So, no more about it; listen to other things. Lorenzo, I am putting the farming and management of my house into your hands until my lord’s return; as for me, I have taken a secret vow to heaven to live in prayer and contemplation, only attended by Nerissa here, until her husband and my lord’s return. There is a monastery two miles off, and we’ll stay there. I don’t want you to deny this imposition, which my love and some necessity now lays on you.

LORENZO : Madam, I shall obey you in all fair commands. With all my heart

PORTIA : My staff already know my mind, And will report to you and Jessica in place of Lord Bassanio and myself. So goodbye until we shall meet again.

LORENZO : Beautiful thoughts and happy hours attend on you!

JESSICA : I wish your ladyship all my heart’s content.

Word Meaning With Annotation

That do converse and waste the time together : who live and pass their time together, whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love : whose sources are united in a common bond of love. The “yoke” is a common enough sight in India, and may be described as the cross piece of wood against which a bullock pushes when pulling a cart hence Antonio and Bassanio are like two bullocks yoked to the same cart, there must be needs a like proportion, of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit : there must be a similarity between them in countenance, in manners and in disposition, bosom Lover : dear friend. In purchasing the semblance of my soul : in saving by my money one who is the very double of Bassanio, my soul’s love, husbandry and manage : administration and management, monastery : religious house or convent, not to deny this imposition : not to refuse this task I place upon you.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : I thank you for your wish, and I’m happy to wish it back on you. Goodbye, Jessica. Now, Balthasar, as I have always found you to be honest and true, So let me find you the same! Take this letter, and use all the power of a man to speed to Padua; see that you put this into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario; and look what notes and garments he gives you, bring them, please, with imagined speed to the bridge, to the common ferry which sails to Venice. Don’t waste time in words, but get going; I’ll be there before you.

BALTHASAR : Madam, I go with all convenient speed.

PORTIA : Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand that you don’t know about yet; we’ll see our husbands before they think about us.

NERISSA : Shall they see us?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Doctor Bellario : he is a doctor of law. This, might not denote the holder of an actual degree, as it would at the present day, but perhaps a celebrated teacher a man renowned for his knowledge of the law. Padua was noted as a centre of law studies, with imagined speed : with all conceivable speed.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

PORTIA : They shall, Nerissa; but in such a costume that they’ll think we are finished with that we don’t have. I’ll bet you any amount, when we are both dressed like young men, I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two, and wear my dagger with the braver grace, and speak with a reed voice, that’s between the change of man and boy; and turn two delicate steps into a manly stride; and speak about fights like a fine bragging youth; and tell quaint lies, how honorable ladies have looked for my love, who fell sick and died when I told them, “No”;I couldn’t do everything. Then I’ll be sorry, and wish that, for all of that, I had not killed them. And I’ll tell twenty of these flimsy lies so well, that men shall swear I have been out of school about a year. I have thousand raw tricks for these bragging Jacks within my mind, which I’ll practice.

NERISSA : Why, shall we turn into men?

PORTIA : Nonsense, what kind of a question is that, If you were near a nasty interpreter ! But come, I’ll tell you all about my whole plan when I am in my coach, which waits for us at the park gate; and so hurry, because we must travel twenty miles today.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Habit : dress. In the same sense we still speak of a lady’s “riding-habit.” accoutred : equipped, prettier : which is now only applied to feminine beauty, was formerly used in this manner to denote manly qualities. And speak, between the change of man and boy : She is speaking of the period when a change comes in a boy’s shrill voice, but it has not yet become the deep voice of a man. reed voice : a thin sharp voice, mincing steps : the short quick steps that ladies take when walking, quaint lies : “fanciful lies.” I could not do withal : “I could not help it.” raw : childish. Jacks : fellows; young men.

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Merchant of Venice Act 3, Scene 3 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act III Scene III

Modern English Reading
Act III Scene III

SHYLOCK : Jailer, look to him. Don’t tell me about mercy; This is the fool that lent out money for free: Jailer, look to him.

ANTONIO : But, listen to me, good Shylock.

SHYLOCK : I’ll have my promise to pay; don’t speak against my promise to pay. I have sworn an oath that I’ll have my promise to pay. You called me dog before you had a cause, but, since I am a dog, beware my fangs; The Duke shall grant me justice. I am curious, You naughty jailer, that you are so eager to come out with him at his request.

ANTONIO : Please listen to me speak.

Word Meaning With Annotation

I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond : we saw in a previous scene that Shylock was preparing to go to the synagogue, the Jewish church. It was evidently for the purpose of swearing an oath that he would exact full vengeance from Antonio, fond : “foolish”.

Original Text

Modern English Reading

SHYLOCK : I’ll have my promise to pay. I won’t listen to you speak; I’ll have my promise to pay; so speak no more. I won’t be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, to shake my head, give in, and sigh, and surrender to Christian intercessors. Don’t follow; I won’t put up with your speaking; I’ll have my promise to pay.
Exit Jew.

SOLANIO : It is the most difficult to understand dog that ever stayed with men.

ANTONIO : Let him alone l won’t follow him any more with useless prayers. He wants my life; I know his reasons well: Often I saved many who have, at times, complained to me, from defaulting on his loans. So he hates me.

SOLANIO : I am sure the Duke Will never enforce this default.

ANTONIO : The Duke cannot deny the course of law, Because of the benefits that strangers have with us in Venice, if it is denied, it will reflect very badly on the justice of the state, because the trade and profit of the city is from all nations. So, go; These griefs and losses have so upset me that I shall hardly have a pound of flesh tomorrow give to my bloody creditor. Well, jailer, let’s go on; I pray good Bassanio comes to see me pay his’debt, and then I won’t care.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Dull – eyed : stupid; foolish in look. Impenetrable : not to be penetrated or moved by any appeals, kept with men : lived among men. bootless : fruitless; vain, from his forfeitures : out of his clutches, into which they had fallen by borrowing money, made moan : told their sad story, will never grant this forfeiture to hold : will never allow this penalty to be exacted, for the commodity that strangers have, with us in Venice, if it be denied, will much impeach the justice of the state, Since that the trade and profit of the city, Consisteth of all nations : because to refuse Shylock the privilege, at present enjoyed by all aliens, of having the same rights in law as the citizens of Venice, would injure the reputation of the state for impartial justice, bated : abated red: lessened in bodily weight.

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