Merchant of Venice. - Repositories

160 NOTES [ACT m.
1.42. rhenish. Rhine wines are ''white" wines, that is
colorless, or pale amber. Does Salarino have more than one
purpose in asking the question that follows ?
1. 44. match. Bargain.
1. 45. prodigal. Why does Shylock use this word of
Antonio ? Has he applied it to him before this ? If so,
where ?
11.44-50. What indication in this speech of the lapse of time ?
1. 52. good for. Where in Act I. had Shylock himself asked
virtually this same question ?
1. 54. disgraced. ''Lowered in estimation." (Furness.)
1. 69. humility. This may be used in its usual sense, as the
Christians boasted of their humility. It may, however, mean
"kindness," or "humanity."
I. 72. go hard. Why ? because such revenge is contrary to
the tendency of Shylock's nature, or because of the difl&culty of
any one's surpassing such cruelty as the Gentiles show ?
II. 53-73. " To those who, like the present editors, can remember
Edmund Kean's delivery of this superb speech of wild wrath
pleading its claim to some show of justice, there is excitement
in recalling the wonderful eyes fiashing out their red sparkles,
tJtie body writhing from head to foot, the arm thrown upward
as witness to the recorded oath of vengeance. The attitude, as
the voice, rose to a sublime climax when these words were
uttered ; then there was a drop, both of person and tone, as he
hissed out the closing sentence of deep concentrated malignity."
(Cowden-Clarke.)