Braunmuller A. R. - The Merchant of Venice

* The Jew of Malta is quoted from N. W. Bawcutts Revels Plays edition (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1978); the other plays mentioned here are quoted from the original quartos, slightly modernized. curtsy bow, dip (i.e., while moving on the waves) Diana goddess of chastity Sirrah (form of address to servants) I.3 Venice ducats gold coins (3,000 ducats was a very large sum; later a diamond is valued at 2,000 ducats: see III.1.7778) 12426 Ifwive me i.e., if his inner nature ( condition ) is saintly and his outer appearance ( complexion ) devilish, Id want him to hear my confession ( shrive me ) rather than marry me (but note the implicit racism, since Elizabethans often regarded Moroccans as black, supposedly the devils skin color) bound responsible, as a surety stead accommodate good reliable in business dealings sufficient good as a guarantor; in supposition uncertain Rialto area of the Venetian Exchange (i.e., stock exchange or bourse) roads anchorages squandered scattered (but with a hint of foolish financial speculation) habitation body 3233 Nazariteinto (reference to Jesus [ the Nazarite ] casting of evil spirits into a herd of swine; see Luke 8:2633, Mark 5:113, Matthew 8:2832) 3536 WhatRialto (Shylock changes the subject) publican tax collector (see Luke 18:914, where the humble publican is contrasted with the arrogant Phariseethe allusion works against Shylocks hostility) for because usance interest catchhip i.e., get him in a weak position (figure of speech from wrestling) store wealth gross full amount ague fit of trembling excess interest ripe immediate 6162 possessedwould informed of how much you want but hear you (equivalent to wait a minute) Methoughts it seemed to me Jacob (see Genesis 27 and 30:2543) third possessor i.e., of the birthright descending from his grandfather Abraham compromised agreed eanlings lambs; pied spotted hire share, recompense; rank in heat Andrew (name of ship) peeled me peeled ( me is Shylocks colloquial way of asserting the storys importance to him); wands branches, shoots 8185 peeledparti-colored (Jacobs success depends on the now outmoded theory of prenatal influence: here the variegated wands induce variegated lambs ) kind nature fulsome lustful (?) eaning lambing Fall drop, give birth to thrift (etymologically derived from thrive ) 8889 venturepass i.e., a commercial venture of some uncertainty insertedgood brought in to justify charging interest goldrams (a main Elizabethan argument against usury was that it blasphemously caused inanimate metal to multiply as living creatures did at Gods command; see Genesis 8:17 and 9:1) Vailing bowing; high top topmast beholding in debt rated railed at, reviled suff rance forbearance, endurance; badge distinctive mark (the word can specifically mean a metal or cloth emblem worn to indicate ones masters family or, in Renaissance Venice, ones Judaism) gaberdine cloak Go to (exclamation of impatience, like Come, come!) rheum spittle Afriend (see note to l. 92, above) break goes bankrupt doit coin of very small value kind I offer i.e., a kindly offer (with a suggestion of natural dealing; Antonio has called usury unnatural) spices (a common cargo from Asia to Venice) single without other security; insport i.e., as a jesting penalty (but flesh is kind, natural, which Shylock said he offered) nominated named, prescribed; equal exact dwellnecessity i.e., remain in need break his day fail to pay on the due date Yesbond (Antonio does not respond to Shylocks preceding line) purse procure, gather fearful (1) timorous, (2) to be feared (hence suspected) unthrifty careless, extravagant gentle (with pun on gentile?) II.1 Portias house, Belmont s.d. 5255] of the classical masks of comedy and tragedy, one smiling, one sad, or vinegar ) Be by; sonties saints (?), sanctities (?) Master (title applied to young gentlemen) raise the waters i.e., start something (raise tears?) well to live well-to-do ergo therefore (Latin) 5859 Sisters Three the three Fates hovel post timber supporting a shack 7172 wisechild (proverb that recalls old Gobbos dishonest reputation, ll. 1417) beard (apparently Gobbo has placed his hand on the back of Lancelots head) fill horse cart horse * See The Theology of The Jew of Malta (1964) in G. K. K.

Hunter, Dramatic Identities and Cultural Tradition (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1978), pp. 6470. Nestor old and solemn character in the Iliad setrest i.e., determined very complete, entire (an intensive) halter hangmans noose tell count liveries costumes for servants anon presently, at once Gramercy many thanks infection i.e., affection cater-cousins close friends frutify i.e., fructify prevented forestalled impertinent i.e., pertinent defect i.e., effect preferred recommended for advancement 13941 proverbenough (play on the proverb He who has the grace of God has enough) guarded decorated with braid table palm of hand (Lancelot now reads the lines of his palm) simple coming-in just a start (with wordplay on coming in women) 153, 154 scape, scapes escape, escapes 15354 perilfeather bed i.e., endangered by an angry cuckolded spouse (?) ( feather bed seems to mean [someone elses] marriage bed) this gear these matters strange like strangers Parts qualities liberal free modesty expected behavior misconstered misunderstood habit (1) garb, (2) demeanor hood cover civility polite behavior sad ostent solemn appearance gauge measure, judge II.3 Shylocks house attend on wait on (i.e., fit) gauge measure, judge get beget sin i.e., Jessica breaks the Fourth Commandment II.4 A public place slink away get away unnoticed spoketorchbearers ordered torchbearers quaintly ordered nicely, or elaborately, arranged 1112 Ifthee (cf. ll. 1718) break up break open straight right away respect upon concern for gentle (with pun on gentile?) never dare misfortune may misfortune never dare she i.e., misfortune she i.e., Jessica; issue offspring; faithless i.e., not Christian, but Lorenzos actions are also faithless II.5 Shylocks house of between rend apparel out wear out clothing through tearing wherefore why money bags (Elizabethan dream interpretation worked by contraries, so to dream of money was a prediction of its loss); tonight last night reproach i.e., approach, but the error is also wordplay, as Shylock makes clear liver (to Elizabethans, the seat of the emotions) 2425 Black Monday Easter Monday 2527 fallingafternoon (Lancelot departs into a gibberish of omens and fortune-telling) wry-necked fife i.e., played with a musicians head awry (?) varnished faces painted masks foppery frivolity Bystaff (an appropriate oath because Jacob set out from his homeland with only a staff and returned twenty years later a wealthy man: see Genesis 32:10) Jews eye object of great value (the disyllabic form of Jew-es is needed for the meter) Hagars offspring i.e., a gentile and an outcast (Hagar, Abrahams Egyptian bondwoman, bore Ishmael, and both became gentile outcasts: see Genesis 16 and 21:9) patch fool profit productive work mortifying (1) deadening, (2) penitential Fast secure II.6 Shylocks house penthouse projecting upper story of a building make stand wait Venus pigeons doves that draw her chariot obligd bound by marriage or marriage contract; unforfeited unbroken younger i.e., younger son scarfd decked with flags or streamers 1417 Howreturn (see Luke 15:1132 for the parable of the Prodigal Son, which is alluded to here) abode delay alabaster stone used for funerary monuments play the thieves for steal watch wait father i.e., father-in-law to be exchange change of clothes (but also theft and elopement) light frivolous, immodest (with pun on moral lightness) tisdiscovery i.e., to bear a torch is to reveal garnish dress, trimmings close secret; dothrunaway i.e., is passing rapidly stayed for awaited gild cover in gold leaf (i.e., make more valuable, but also brighten) jaundice (jaundice was associated with grief, as cause or consequence) byhood (meaningless emphatic phrase); gentle gentile Beshrew me evil come to me (a weak oath) presently immediately II.7 Portias house, Belmont discover reveal several various blunt i.e., the casket is plain, dull as lead nornor neithernor withhand impartially estimation reputation sort kind, type disabling underrating mortal breathing living Hyrcanian deserts i.e., wilderness area southeast of the Caspian Sea, noted for fierce tigers since classical times watery kingdom i.e., Neptunes realm, the seas foreign spirits i.e., spirited (courageous) foreigners (Portias other suitors) it i.e., lead rib cover, enclose; cerecloth waxed cloth used in wrapping for burial; obscure (accent on first syllable) tried tested, assayed coinangel i.e., the angel, a coin with a winged Saint Michaels image insculped upon engraved on the surface I.1 A street in Venice creampond cover themselves ( mantle ) in scum ( cream ) like a stagnant pool death deaths-head, skull glisters glitters my outside i.e., my shining surface inscrolled thus inscribed heat i.e., of love, now labor lost (l. 2324, make clear) entertain take on, assume keep his day repay his debt on the day agreed reasoned talked fraught loaded Slubber perform hastily, botch mind of love thoughts of wooing ostents shows wondrous sensible wonderfully strong in feeling quickenheaviness enliven the sadness he has embraced II.9 Portias house, Belmont draw pull; curtain i.e., the one hiding the caskets; straight at once opinion reputation (so also in l. 102) election choice; presently immediately addressed me prepared myself (i.e., by thus swearing); Fortune good luck Youhazard (addressed to the leaden casket) 2425 meant / By intended to mean, to suggest fond foolish martlet a bird (Aragon may make a mistaken analogy here, since the martlet was often used as an image of prudence) in exposed to forcecasualty power and path of mishap jump with go along with cozen cheat conceit thought estates, degrees social ranks coverbare wear hats who now stand bareheaded (i.e., retain the dignity of wearing their hats rather than removing them in deference) gleaned culled honor noble rank new varnished refurbished schedule scroll 6061 To offendnatures i.e., those who are subject to judgment may not be their own judges this i.e., the silver shadows illusive images iwis certainly Sir Oracle (the mock title ridicules pretended gravity) sped done for wroath (the quartos word could mean wrath or ruth, grief) deliberate reasoning, deliberating sensible regreets tangible greetings (i.e., more than words) costly rich, bountiful forespurrer forerunner highday holiday (i.e., suitable for a special occasion) post messenger Lord Love god of love (i.e., Cupid) III.1 A street in Venice 9899 If theyfools (See Matthew 5:22: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire.) lives i.e., circulates; unchecked uncontradicted Goodwins Goodwin Sands (dangerous shoal off the southeastern English coast) gossip Report (a humorous comparison of Report rumorto a neighborly or friendly source of information, a gossip ) knapped nibbled slips of prolixity lapses into wordiness 1112 crossingtalk i.e., deviation from plain speech full stop period, end of statement (Salarino is tired of his friends verbosity) cross thwart wings i.e., the pages suit (with pun on flight ) fledge ready to fly; complexion disposition gudgeon (proverbially, an easily caught fish); opinion (compared to a fish not worth catching with cheap bait) dam mother (i.e., parent) carrion dead, putrefied flesh (cf. 102) election choice; presently immediately addressed me prepared myself (i.e., by thus swearing); Fortune good luck Youhazard (addressed to the leaden casket) 2425 meant / By intended to mean, to suggest fond foolish martlet a bird (Aragon may make a mistaken analogy here, since the martlet was often used as an image of prudence) in exposed to forcecasualty power and path of mishap jump with go along with cozen cheat conceit thought estates, degrees social ranks coverbare wear hats who now stand bareheaded (i.e., retain the dignity of wearing their hats rather than removing them in deference) gleaned culled honor noble rank new varnished refurbished schedule scroll 6061 To offendnatures i.e., those who are subject to judgment may not be their own judges this i.e., the silver shadows illusive images iwis certainly Sir Oracle (the mock title ridicules pretended gravity) sped done for wroath (the quartos word could mean wrath or ruth, grief) deliberate reasoning, deliberating sensible regreets tangible greetings (i.e., more than words) costly rich, bountiful forespurrer forerunner highday holiday (i.e., suitable for a special occasion) post messenger Lord Love god of love (i.e., Cupid) III.1 A street in Venice 9899 If theyfools (See Matthew 5:22: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire.) lives i.e., circulates; unchecked uncontradicted Goodwins Goodwin Sands (dangerous shoal off the southeastern English coast) gossip Report (a humorous comparison of Report rumorto a neighborly or friendly source of information, a gossip ) knapped nibbled slips of prolixity lapses into wordiness 1112 crossingtalk i.e., deviation from plain speech full stop period, end of statement (Salarino is tired of his friends verbosity) cross thwart wings i.e., the pages suit (with pun on flight ) fledge ready to fly; complexion disposition gudgeon (proverbially, an easily caught fish); opinion (compared to a fish not worth catching with cheap bait) dam mother (i.e., parent) carrion dead, putrefied flesh (cf.