The Merchant of Venice (37 page)
Read The Merchant of Venice Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
346
principal
original capital sum, i.e. three thousand ducats
349
merely
only/absolute
352
barely
i.e. at the very least
355
good
good fortune
356
stay
remain
question
to argue the case
360
alien
foreigner
363
contrive
scheme
364
seize
take legal possession of
365
privy coffer
private treasury
366
in
at
367
gainst … voice
despite any other appeals
369
proceeding
course of action
373
danger
damage/penalty
rehearsed
related
374
Down
i.e. on your knees
377
cord
rope
378
charge
cost
381
For
as for
383
humbleness
remorse (on Shylock’s part)
drive
convert
384
for … Antonio
i.e. the state’s portion of the goods may be reduced to a fine, but not Antonio’s half
390
halter
hangman’s noose
391
So
if it please
392
quit
cancel, release (Shylock) from
393
so
provided that
394
use
(legal) trust
398
presently
immediately
400
possessed
possessed of
401
son
i.e. son-in-law
403
late
lately
412
ten more
i.e. twelve, the number in a jury
413
font
place of Christian baptism
415
of
for
417
meet
fitting, necessary
418
your … not
you don’t have time to stay
419
gratify
show gratitude to/reward
423
in lieu whereof
in exchange for which
425
cope
give in recompense (for)
430
account
consider (plays on the sense of “financial reckoning”)
432
know
remember (a private joke on the sense of “have sex with”)
434
attempt
tempt/persuade
437
pardon me
i.e. excuse my insistence
438
press
urge (plays on the sense of “enjoy sexually”)
yield
plays on the sense of “submit sexually”
440
love
friendship (plays on the sense of “marital love”)
442
in
out of
446
mind to
desire for
448
dearest
most expensive
451
liberal
free/over-generous
470
Fly
hasten
1
Inquire … out
find out where the Jew’s house is
deed
i.e. the document stating Shylock will leave his possessions to Jessica and Lorenzo
3
be
i.e. arrive
5
you … o’erta’en
i.e. I’m glad I caught you
6
advice
reflection
17
old
plenty of
19
outface
defy/contradict/shame
outswear
outdo in swearing
4
Troilus
separated from his lover, Cressida (
Cressid
), by the Trojan War, he was subsequently abandoned by her
8
Thisbe
at their meeting place Pyramus discovered his lover Thisbe’s cloak, dropped in fright at the sight of a lion; his mistaken belief that she had been killed led to both their suicides
o’ertrip
skip over
9
ere himself
before the lion itself
12
Dido
Queen of
Carthage
who fell in love with, and was abandoned by, Aeneas
willow
willow leaves; symbol of grief for lost love
13
wild
unruly/cruel
waft
wafted (i.e. beckoned)
16
Medea
lover of Jason; she helped him gain the golden fleece and restored the health of his father,
Aeson
17
renew
rejuvenate/revive
19
steal
run stealthily from/rob
20
unthrift
extravagant
27
shrew
troublemaker, ill-tempered woman
28
love
lover
29
out-night you
i.e. outdo you in our game of references to the night
did
if
30
footing
footfall
36
doth stray about
is distracted by
37
holy crosses
shrines by the road
46
Sola
imitation of the sound of a messenger’s horn/a hunting cry
Wo ha, ho!
falconer’s call to the hawk
50
hollowing
shouting/urging on of dogs in the hunt
53
post
messenger
54
horn
messenger’s instrument/cornucopia, i.e. plentiful supply
56
in
go in
expect
await
58
signify
make known
60
music
i.e. musicians
air
plays on sense of “melody”
64
Become
suit
touches
skillful playing (by plucking or fingering instruments)
65
floor of heaven
i.e. sky
66
patens
shallow, circular dishes (on which communion bread is placed)
67
orb
heavenly body (planet, star)
68
motion
movement (heavenly bodies were thought to be surrounded by hollow spheres; as they rotated they produced beautiful music)
69
Still choiring
continually singing in chorus
young-eyed
with eternally clear sight
cherubins
cherubim, angels
71
muddy … decay
i.e. clay-like mortal clothing (flesh)
72
grossly
physically, coarsely
close it in
i.e. enclose the soul
73
Diana
Roman goddess of the moon
77
spirits
mental faculties/feelings
attentive
i.e. preoccupied
78
wanton
unrestrained, wild, boisterous
79
race
company/herd
unhandled
untamed
80
Fetching
performing
bounds
leaps
81
hot condition
passionate nature
blood
spirit
82
but
only
perchance
by chance/perhaps
83
air
melody
84
mutual stand
general pause
86
the poet
i.e. Ovid
87
feign
depict/invent
Orpheus
legendary Greek poet and musician who could charm all of nature with his music
drew
drew in, attracted
floods
rivers
88
stockish
unfeeling/ stupid
92
stratagems
schemes/bloody acts
spoils
destruction, pillaging
93
motions
inner promptings
dull
dark/lifeless
94
affections
feelings/disposition
Erebus
place of darkness between earth and the classical underworld
98
naughty
wicked
102
by
nearby
his
i.e. the substitute’s
state
dignity/sovereignty
106
respect
consideration of circumstance
110
attended
paid attention to/heard
114
season
occasion
seasoned
improved/flavored
116
Endymion
shepherd with whom the moon goddess fell in love; she granted him eternal sleep so she could visit him
124
speed
succeed/hasten
words
i.e. prayers
127
before
ahead of them
132
tucket
trumpet call
138
should … Antipodes
would experience day at the same time as the other side of the world
139
in … sun
i.e. at night (since Portia is like a second sun)
140
be light
be promiscuous
141
heavy
sad (plays on the sense of “weighty”)
143
sort
arrange
148
bound
imprisoned/indebted/legally bound
149
acquitted of
repaid for/freed from
152
scant
cut short
breathing
i.e. verbal
155
gelt
gelded, castrated
for my part
as far as I’m concerned
156
at
to
159
posy
verse or motto inscribed on a ring
166
Though
i.e. if
167
respective
careful, considerate
173
scrubbèd
undersized
175
prating
chattering
178
slightly
easily
180
riveted
bolted
185
masters
possesses
187
mad
enraged
208
conceive
understand
212
virtue
power
214
contain
retain
217
If
that if
pleased
wanted, attempted
218
wanted
(so) lacking
modesty
restraint
219
urge
request persistently
ceremony
sacred token
223
civil doctor
doctor of civil law
226
suffered
let
227
held up
i.e. saved
232
it
i.e. honor
233
candles … night
i.e. stars
239
liberal
generous
242
Know
recognize/have sex with
243
Argus
monster with a hundred eyes
245
honour
good name/chaste reputation
yet
still
247
be well advised
take care
249
take
catch
