Merchant of Venice. - Repositories

180 NOTES [ACT IV.
1. 294. Most rightful judge. Booth : *'With back to audience,
and knife raised high above his head."
1. 297. Booth: "Most learned judge" is uttered with an
exultant voice.
1. 305. Booth: *'Shylock staggers backward and drops the
knife."
1. 327. In this line what peculiar expression that we had
before in the play? Where ? Why especially appropriate to
have it spoken here to Shylock ?
1. 347. privy. Secret.
1. 365. drive unto. Reduce to.
1. 372. halter. What other person in the play had previously
suggested a halter as a suitable present for Shylock ?
1. 374. for. Of; i.e. consisting of.
1. 376. in use. In trust.
1.387. I am content. Booth: '^Shylock, thus addressed,
raises both head and hands as if about to appeal to Portia,
checks himself, and says very slowly, as head and hands drop,
*I am content.' His last words are uttered plaintively. As
Shylock is leaving, Gratiano seizes his left arm, and at the conclusion
of the taunting speech with which he addresses him,
casts Shylock's hand from him. Shylock bows low to the
Duke, and slowly totters toward the door, — he meets Antonio,
and shrinks with abhorrence; raises his hand (as on previous
occasions), which slowly descends upon the back of his head as
it drops upon his breast, — falls against the door, which slowly
opens."