Merchant of Venice. - Repositories

SCENE 3.] NOTES 135
stick to listen gravely while moneys are requested of him, he
impressed the audience, as Douglas Jerrold used to say, ' like
a chapter of Genesis.' "
1.1. ducats. "The value of the Venetian silver ducat was
about that of the American dollar."—ROLFE. If_ the golden
ducat is referred to here, the sum would be many times larger.
I 7. May you. Are you willing ?
1. 12. good. In what sense does Shylock use this word, and
how does Bassanio at first understand him ?
1. 19. Rialto. The board of trade at Venice, a building
located at the end of the famous bridge which was known as
the Rialto, and which is more generally thought of when that
name is mentioned.
1. 21. squandered. Scattered. What does Shylock think of
Antonio's business judgment in thus scattering his ventures
abroad ?
1. 29. assured. How does Shylock change the meaning of
Bassanio's words?
1. 33. Nazarite is used here in the sense of Nazarene.
1. 34. devil into. In this connection note the following:
(Two men "possessed with devils" have cried out on the
approach of Jesus.) "So the devils besought him, saying. If
thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of
swine.
"And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come
out, they went into the herd of swine ; and, behold, the whole
herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and
perished in the waters." Matt. viii. 31, 32.