Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 5, Scene 1

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 5, Scene 1 – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Passage – 1 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 49-65)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 1

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 2

Paraphrase :

LORENZO : Sweet soul, let’s go in, and wait there for them to come. And yet, it doesn’t matter; why should we go in’? My friend Stephano, let them know, please, Within the house, that your mistress is at hand, And bring your music outside. How sweet the moonlight sleeps on this bank! We will sit here and let the sounds of music Creep into our ears; soft stillness and the night Compliment the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica: look how the sky Is covered thick with layers of bright gold; Even the smallest star that you see Sings like an angel as it moves, Still singing like a choir to the young-eyed cherubs; Such harmony is in immortal souls;. But, while this muddy earth of decay Buries us, we can’t hear it

Word Meaning With Annotation

Expect : await, signify : make known the fact, become : suit. touches of sweet harmony : notes of sweet music, patines : plates, orb : star, but in his motion like an angel sings : that does not produce sweet music, young-eyed : bright-eyed, cherubins : angels, muddy vesture of decay : body of perishable flesh, grossly : so as to make our souls gross or dull.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
What does Lorenzo suggest to his sweet heart?
Answer:
Lorenzo suggests to his beloved that they should go inside and wait for the arrival of Bassanio and Gratiano. Then he drops the suggestion.

Question 2.
What does Lorenzo tell Stephano to signify?
Answer:
Lorenzo tells him to go and tell the servants that their mistress was about to come and they should bring their musical instruments in the open air.

Question 3.
Describe the moon-light scene and the playing of music.
Answer:
The moon-light is falling gently on the bank. Musicians are playing on the musical instruments. A soft silence and the time of night befit the playing of musical instruments.

Question 4.
Describe briefly the beauty of the sky.
Answer:
The sky is studded with the bright, golden stars. Even the smallest planet produces an angelic music.

Question 5.
Why cannot human beings hear the music of spheres?
Answer:
Human beings cannot hear the music of the Spheres because their bodies are made of insensitive clay.

Passage – 2 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 70-87)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 3

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 4

Paraphrase :

LORENZO : The reason is your spirits are observant; Because only look at a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Pushing crazy limits, bellowing and neighing loudly Which is the hot condition of their blood; If they only hear may be a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touches their ears, You will see them make a mutual stop, Their savage eyes turned to a calm gaze By the sweet power of music: so the poet Pretended that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods; Only music for the time changes his nature From not so wooden, hard, and full of rage. The man that has no music in him, Or is not moved by harmony of sweet sounds,’ Is fit for treasons, plots, and stealing; The movement of his spirit is as dull as night, And his affections are as dark as the place between Earth and hell. Don’t trust such a man. Listen to the music.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Attentive : rapt in attention, wanton : mischievous, race : breed, unhandled colt: young horses not broken in. fetching mad bounds : bounding madly, hot condition of their blood : their own natural wild condition, perchance : by chance, make a mutual stand : come to a standstill together, modest : mild, feign : imagine, nought : nothing, stockish : unfeeling, concord of sweet sounds : sweet melody, stratagems : plots, spoils : thefts, motions of his spirits : his thoughts and feelings

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
What effect does music produce on wild horses?
Answer:
Wild horses become lame on hearing music.

Question 2.
What impact did Orpheus create by the power of his music?
Answer:
Orpheus had the power to draw trees, stones and floods to him with his music.

Question 3.
How does Lorenzo characterise a man who does not like music?
Answer:
Such man is fit for treacherous actions, plots and acts of plunder. The impulses of the mind of such a person are dull as the time of night. His feelings are as dull as the regions of hell.

Question 4.
Is a man also does not love music reliable?
Answer:
He is not reliable.

Question 5.
What do you understand by treasons, stratagems and spoils?
Answer:
Treasons mean treacherous deeds, Stratogems are Conspiracies and spoils are looting.

Passage – 3 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 147-158)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 5

Paraphrase :

GRATIANO : About a hoop of gold, a worthless ring That she gave me, whose inscription was, For all the world, like knife maker’s poem on a knife, “Love me and leave me not.”

NERISSA : Why do you talk of the inscription or the value? You swore to me, when I gave it you, That you would wear it until the hour of your death, And that it would go with you to your grave; You should have respected and have kept it Though not for me, but for your intense oaths. Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge, The clerk will never grow a beard that took it.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Hoop : circle, ring, posy : a short verse of poetry, cutler’s poetry : verses or mottos engraved on knife- blades. respective : scrupulous, careful.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
Which quarrel is referred to in the extract? What does Shakespeare want to show by introducing a quarrel among the lovers?
Answer:
The quarrel referred to in the extract is between Gratiano and his wife Nerissa. This is about the ring given by Nerissa to her husband which he does not have in his possession now.
Shakespeare introduces a quarrel among the lovers to produce the comic effect in the serious atmosphere’ of the play. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ assumes the seriousness of a tragedy, particularly in the Trial Scene when Antonio’s life is threatened by the forfeiture of the bond. The playwright introduces the ring episode to relieve the tension. Thus, the play concludes happily. „ The quarrel itself is a practical joke played by Portia and Nerissa on their husbands.

Question 2.
Give the meaning of :

(a) a hoop of gold
(b) cutler’s poetry.

Answer:

(a) A ‘hoop’ is a circular band of metal or anything, here made of gold. It is contemptuously used for the ring. Gratiano wants to minimise the importance of the ring so that there may not be much fuss about it.
(b) It was customary to have inscriptions on spoons and table knives. They were perhaps not so poetical in tone. Gratiano says humorously that the motto inscribed on the ring was like the one on a piece of cutlery. It was the least poetic.

Question 3.
Who had given the ring to Gratiano? What promise was made by him at that time about the ring?
Answer:
Nerissa had given the ring to Gratiano soon after their marriage. At that time. Gratiano had made the promise to his wife that this ring was a token of her love, and he would never lose it.

Question 4.
To whom did Gratiano give the ring? Why? What is the practical joke about the ring episode?
Answer:
Gratiano gave the ring to the lawyer’s clerk. The practical joke about the rings is that he actually gave it to none other than his own wife. Nerissa who was disguised as the lawyer’s clerk. Nerissa had herself demanded it in order to tease his husband on returning home. Gratiano was unable to recognise the lawyer’s clerk in the new out fit.

Question 5.
What does Portia say about the quarrel referred to in the extract?
Answer:
On hearing the sharp exchange of words between Nerissa and Gratiano; Portia comments that there is a quarrel so soon after their marriage. She does not expect such a development.

Question 6.
Why did Portia join in accusing Gratiano of doing wrong ? what did she say about the ring she had given to Bassanio, before she had finished speaking against Gratiano?
Answer:
Portia soon joins Nerissa in accusing Gratiano for so non-seriously parting with his wife’s first present to him. She does so to caution Bassanio that a similar attack is going to be launched on him for a similar lapse. She concludes her speech by saying that if Bassanio ever behaved in this manner, she would go mad in grief.
There is a dramatic irony in this speech of Portia’s. She naturally takes the side of the woman in this loving battle between sexes. Thus she cleverly introduces the parallel quarrel about her own ring, reminding them that there was a ringing similarly given by her to Bassanio. She is deliberately making the situation uncomfortable for Bassanio, and increasing the effect of irony for the delight of the audience.

Passage – 4 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 200-212)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 6

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 7

Paraphrase :

PORTIA : If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half the worthiness of her who gave the ring, Or your own honor to hold the ring, You wouldn’t have parted then with the ring. What man is there so very unreasonable, That, if you had’ bothered to defend it With any terms of earnestness, lacked the modesty To encourage the thing be held as a ceremony? Nerissa teaches me what to believe : I’ll die for it, but some woman took the ring.

BASSANIO : No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, No woman took it. but a civil doctor, Which refused three thousand ducats of me, And begged for the ring, which I denied him, And let him go away displeased.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Worthiness : ment. your own honour : your duty as an honourable man. contain : preserve, wanted : lacked, ceremony : a sacred pledge, civil doctor : doctor of civil law, lawyer.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
What defence has Bassanio given in the lines preceding the passage, for losing the ring?
Answer:
In the lines preceding this passage, Bassanio makes an earnest plea while explaining the circumstances in which he was compelled to part with the ring. He is sure that Portia will excuse him if she comes to know to whom the ring was given away. She will understand if she learns for whom it was done, and last of all, the reluctance with which it was finally given to the lawyer.

Question 2.
How does Portia reject his argument to magnify his offence?
Answer:
Portia seems to reject her husband’s argument. She is equally vehement in magnifying his offence of parting with the marriage ring soon after his marriage.
Portia rejects Bassanio’s plea as incredible. She thinks that if he had zealously defended the ring, no man would have been so unreasonable and unmannerly to ask for the ring which was a ceremonious gift.

Question 3.
What effect the repetition of the word ‘ring’ achieves?
Answer:
Portia succeeds in seriously embarrassing her husband. She achieves the effects of strong emphasis by repeating the word ‘ring’ at the end of each line four times.

Question 4.
Is Portia right in accusing her husband that he gave the ring to some other woman?
Answer:
Portia is right in accusing her husband for giving away the ring to ‘some woman’. But, as the audience know, the woman whom he gave the ring was no other than Portia herself, without knowing it.

Question 5.
How far is Bassanio truthful in saying that he did not give the ring to any woman?
Answer:
Bassanio is truthful when he swears that he did not give the ring to a woman. He gave it to the lawyer, who appeared to be a youngman. He gave it unwillingly under pressing circumstances. This too is true. And yet he gave it unknowingly to the ‘young man’ who was actually a young woman’, i.e. Portia herself.

Question 6.
What is the source of amusement in this dialogue?
Answer:
This dialogue should be very amusing for the audience. The pleasure is derived from the fact that what Bassanio and Gratiano do not know, is well known to the audience. It is a delightful situation to watch young husbands being be fooled and teased by their newly-wedded wives.

Passage – 5 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 223-246)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 8

Paraphrase :

PORTIA : Don’t let that doctor ever come near my house; Since he has gotten the jewel that I loved, And which you swore to keep for me, I’ll become as free as you; I won’t deny him anything I have, No, not my body, nor my husband’s bed. I shall know him, I am well sure of it. Don’t sleep a night from home; watch me With one hundred eyes; if you don’t, if I am left alone, Now, by my virginity which is still my own, I’ll have that doctor for my lover.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Jewel : costly ring, liberal : generous, know : recognise, lie : sleep, from : away. Argos : a hundred eyed monster, yet mine own : still intact, my bed fellow. : sleep with me, rut with me.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
Who speaks these words? To whom are these addressed? Where are these persons?
Answer:
Portia is the speaker of these words, and she is in conversation with Bassanio. They are in Belmont at Portia’s residence. Both have returned from Venice after attending Antonio’s trial.

Question 2.
Who is the ‘doctor’ referred to in the lines? Has the other person said something earlier?
Answer:
The doctor referred to is the Doctor of Law, whom Bassanio referred to as the civil doctor. He is the person who interpreted the Venetian law in the court of the Duke in the dispute between Shylock and Antonio.

Question 3.
Which Jewel has the doctor taken away? What is the speaker’s complaint?
Answer:
Portia complains that the doctor has taken away the ring which was given by her to her husband as a token of her love. This she mentions as a Jewel’. By this she means a precious thing.

Question 4.
Why does the speaker say the following? “Let not the Doctor e’er come near my house.”
Answer:
Portia has heard Bassanio’s version of how he.could not resist the doctor’s earnest demand for the ring. She now says that if the doctor was so very persuasive, then Bassanio must see to it that he does not come that way. If he could while away the ring from his finger, it was just possible the same doctor may succeed in prevailing upon her to part with her most valuable possession, which was her honour and chastity.
Portia here pretends to have great grievance against the doctor. She goes to the extent of saying that she would become as free in her associations as was Bassanio. Then she would not refuse the doctor anything, as a retaliation for Bassanio’s licence.

Question 5.
Does the speaker give any warning to the, other person?
Answer:
Portia warns Bassanio not to stay away from home even for a night. The doctor might come in his absence and form intimate relations with Portia. Bassanio must guard against this possibility.

Question 6.
“Watch me like Argos,” Explain the reference about Argos.
Answer:
Portia wants Bassanio to watch her carefully, i.e. with a hundred eyes, as Argos watched Argos in classical mythology was a person with hundred eyes. Only one of his eyes slept at a time. For this reason, Juno directed him to keep watch over another goddess with whom Jupiter had fallen in love.

Passage – 6 (Act V, Sc.I, Lines 267-279)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act V, Scene I 9

Paraphrase :

PORTIA : Don’t speak so indecently. You are all amazed: Here is a letter; read it at your leisure; It comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, Nerissa there, her clerk: Lorenzo here Shall witness that I set out as soon as you left, And even just now returned; I have not yet Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome; And I have better news in store for you Than you expect: unseal this letter right away; There you shall find three of your merchant ships Have richly come into harbor suddenly.You will not know by what strange accident I happened to get this letter.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Grossly : in a vuglar way. amaz’d : astonished, your leisure : in your free time, there : in that letter, witness : support my statement, set forth : started, but e’en now : a moment ago, just now. news in store : waiting for me. unseal : open. Argosies : merchant ships, richly : laden with rich Cargo, suddenly : by chance, chanced on : happened to get.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
“Speak not so grossly, you are all amazed,” Portia advises not to speak ‘grossly’. What have they been talking? Why are they amazed? Who are the other people present there.
Answer:
They had been talking something indecent. Portia said that she would sleep with the young lawyer if he came there. Nerissa said that she would have relations with the lawyer’s clerk. All this was said to tease Bassanio and Gratiano. At last, Portia decides to stop talking in that manner.
All are amazed to see that Portia has got the ring which Bassanio presented to the doctor of the laws. Similarly. Nerissa has the ring which Gratiano gave to the lawyer’s clerk. This amazement changes into embarrassment to hear from the two woman that they slept with other men to secure these rings.

Question 2.
Which letter is being shown by Portia? What is the need of showing this letter?
Answer:
Portia is showing them a letter written by Dr. Bellario of Padua, authorising Portia to act as his representative while arguing the case in the court of the Duke in Venice.
She needs to show this letter to those present there to prove to them that the doctor who defended Antonio in the court was no other person that Portia herself. Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio and others are listening to her account in sheer amazement.

Question 3.
What are the new facts revealed by Portia? Where has she come from?
Answer:
Portia springs a surprise on everybody by telling everybody that she and Nerissa have just returned from Venice. They had left the house soon after Bassanio and Gratiano left for Venice. – This fact can be confirmed from Lorenzo, who was left in charge of the house in her absence.
Tire new facts revealed by Portia are that she herself acted as the doctor of laws in the court of the Duke. Nerissa stood beside her as her clerk. After concluding the case in the court and extracting the rings from Bassanio and Gratiano, these two clever women rushed back to Belmont to overtake their husbands.

Question 4.
What good news does Portia have for Antonio?
Answer:
Portia has a good news for Antonio. She has a letter with her which gives the information that three of Antonio’s merchant ships laden with merchandise have reached home safely. Antonio had earlier been told that all his ships have been destroyed in the sea. This means that Antonio is once again a rich merchant of Venice.

Question 5.
Does she have any good news for Lorenzo and Jessica? Is Portia anyway responsible for bringing this good news for them?
Answer:
portia does have a very good news for Lorenzo and Jessica. She has with her a deed signed by Shylock beqeathing his share of the property for his daughter and son-in-law. He would have disinherited Jessica who had eloped with a Christian.
Portia has played a vital role in not only saving Antonio’s life, but, also in interpreting law in a manner that pushed Shylock into a tight comer. Half of the Jew’s property went to Antonio and the remaining was left to be used by Shylock in his life time. Thereafter, it goes to Jessica and Lorenzo. In this, Antonio has also played a gracious role. He is to hold half the Jew’s property 1 only as a trust, to pass it on to the Jew’s daughter and son-in-law.

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Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 – Passages with Reference to the Context

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 – Passages with Reference to the Context – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Passage – 1
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 1-5)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 1

Context : These are the opening lines of the play The Merchant Of Venice, Spoken by Antonio. The merchant speaks to his friends Salarino and Salanio. Antonio makes a confession of the mysterious melancholy which oppresses him. He is shown as a sad man at the beginning of the drama even before anything happens to him. His sadness strikes the key¬note of his character.

Explanation : Antonio says that he does not know why he is so sad. Frankly speaking, this sadness has taken hold of him. You complain that you find this sadness very depressing for you. He can assure you that it has a similar effect on his spirits. He is totally ignorant how and where he came to have this melancholy, what has given rise to it and what its nature is.

Passage – 2
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 8-14)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 2

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 3

Context : These lines are spoken by Salarino in The Merchant of Venice when Antonio is seen in a melancholy mood in the opening scene.

Explanation : Salarino tries to suggest a possible reason for Antonio’s melancholy. He says that Antonio’s mind is worried by thoughts of his richly laden merchant ships which are voyaging on the ocean. These ships of Antonio rise above smaller vessels just as rich men rise above ordinary citizens. Smaller ships bow to and salute Antonio’s ships just as humble persons bend respectfully before rich men. Salarino here describes Antonio’s ships in highly, complimentary words.

Passage – 3
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 17-22)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 4

Context : These lines are taken from Act I Scene I of The Merchant of Venice. Salanio, one of Antonio’s friends speaks to Antonio, when the latter complains of his mysterious and strange melancholy.

Explanation : Salarino assures Antonio that if he were busy in a business enterprise as Antonio is, all his thoughts would center round what danger would the ships face. He should be constantly holding up a blade of grass in the air to find out if the wind was blowing in a direction favourable to his ship’s course. He should be consulting maps to find out what harbours, ports and road steads could lend shelter to his ships in case of need and danger. And to find anything that was likely to endanger the safety of his shops should, beyond all doubt, make him unhappy.

Passage – 4
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 50-56)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 5

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Antonio’s friends offer several explanations of his melancholy but Antonio does not admit any of those explanations to be true. At this point Salarino makes the comment quoted in above lines.

Explanation : Salarino swears by Janus (two faced gods) the Roman god of gates and doors, who can see both ways, that Nature has created people of strange temperaments. There are some people who are so jovial and good humoured that they laugh at trifles even as parrots laugh to see a bagpiper-one who plays on a bagpipe. Others wear such a sad, gloomy expression that they will not laugh even at a joke that can amuse the most serious man in this world. Salarino swears by Janus, the two faced god, because he has to describe people of two opposite temperaments. A parrot laughing at a bagpipe implies people who will laugh without rhyme or reason. Nestor is a character in Greek mythology. He was known for his over-seriousness. These lines show Antonio as a man of naturally melancholy temperament.

Passage – 5
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 80-86)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 6

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Antonio’s friends have been trying to find reasons for his melancholy. Antonio says that he is by nature a serious and gloomy man. Gratiano in this passage comments upon Antonio’s statement.

Explanation : Gratiano says that he would rather be a jester than a kill-joy. He would like to remain happy and gay till his very old age. It is better to drink heavily, even if it is harmful to health, than to sink in despair and feel worried to death. He cannot understand why a man in the prime of his life should feel sad and keep quiet like the stone statue of his grandfather. Why should a man be lazy and inactive in spite of youthful energy? Why should he contract diseases like jaundice by remaining continuously ill-tempered? Antonio’s melancholy seems causeless to Gratiano. He, therefore, condemns it in a witty manner.

Passage – 6
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 88-94)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 7

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Antonio’s friends have been discussing his melancholy. Antonio has said that his melancholy is temperamental and not due to any particular cause. Gratiano makes the following comment upon it.

Explanation : There are some people in this world who wear upon their faces a serious expression. Such people are like a pool of standing and stagnant water. They put on such serious airs deliberately and intentionally. Their object is to earn a reputation for wisdom, seriousness and deep thoughtfulness. They wish to appear to be prophets who must not be interrupted while they are uttering words of wisdom. Gratiano is here making fun of Antonio’s melancholy.

Passage – 7
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 115-118)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 8

Context : These words are spoken by Bassanio to Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio describes Gratiano’s habit of talking too much with very little meaning.

Explanation : Bassanio says that Gratiano’s talk contains very little sense. To find sense in Gratiano’s talks is like searching for two grains of wheat buried in two large heaps of chaff. It demands much time and much effort to discover the sense in Gratiano’s words and, when that sense has been discovered, the discoverer feels that it is not worth the pains that he has spent.

Passage – 8
(Act I, Sc.I, Lines 167-172)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 9

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio wants a loan of- money from his friend Antonio in order to try his luck at winning Portia. He praises highly the lady whom he wishes to marry for her wealth as well as beauty.

Explanation : Portia’s beauty and accomplishments, says Bassanio, are not a secret from anyone. She is so widely known that men of high rank and position go to Belmont, where she live, from all countries and lands. Her like Colchos. Just as Jason went to Colchos in order to win the golden fleece, similarly suitors from far near go to Belmont in order to win fair Portia.

Passage – 9
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 5-8)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 10

Context : These words are spoken by Nerissa to Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Portia has said that she is feeling sick of the world. Nerissa replies that happiness lies in having neither too much wealth nor too little.

Explanation : Nerissa says that people who have too much of wealth are as sick of life as people who are penniless. A person who has neither too much, nor too little is, therefore, lucky. A man who possesses too much wealth grows old to early; while he who has neither too much nor too little lives very long.

Passage – 10
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 11-20)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 11

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Nerissa has said that those who, like Portia, own too much wealth are as unhappy as those who have little. It is better, therefore, to be neither very rich nor very poor. Portia praises the wisdom of Nerissa’s remark.

Explanation : It is much easier to say wise things than to do them. If doing them were as easy as saying or knowing them, there would have been much greater happiness in the world than there is now. In the case small places of worship like chapels would have become churches; that is, they would have attracted more people and that would have led to a greater piety, and more kindness would have been shown to the poor. Thus, the happiness of the poor would have transformed their cottages into palaces. A really good priest is one who himself practices what he preaches. It is much easier to teach others to follow the right path than to follow it oneself. Reasons may dictate certain wise courses of action but one’s impulses usually ignore such dictates. Youth is generally nor rash and unthinking; so it never follows the rules of good conduct or good advice. Youth is swift like a hare and the advice of experienced people is a cripple. Youth cannot be caught in the net of good counsel. A young man never stops to consider the advice given to him. Portia ends her speech by saying that this way of talking and reasoning will not help her in getting husband. It is useless to analyses human nature, she says.

Passage – 11
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 37-39)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 12

Context : These words, spoken by Portia to Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice express Portia’s opinion about the Neapolitan Prince who is a candidate for Portia’s hand.

Explanation : Portia humorously calls the Neapolitan Prince a colt (the young one of a horse), because he constantly talks about the horse. In calling him a colt, she also means that he is a wild fellow. The Prince, says Portia, takes great pride in the fact that can himself shoe his horse. He thinks it a great qualification. Portia is making fun of the Neapolitan Prince’s exaggerated interest in his horse.

Passage – 12
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 41-45)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 13

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 14

Context : These words, taken from the Merchant of Venice, express Portia’s opinion about the Count Palatine, one of the suitor of Portia. Portia is talking to her maid, Nerissa.

Explanation : Portia says that the Count Palatine is all time frowning and that he seems to think that he will not bother very much if he is rejected by Portia. He is so serious-minded that he does not smile even at funny stories. If he is so foolishly serious-minded in youth, he will surely become a hardened pessimist in his old age.

Passage – 13
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 50-58)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 15

Context : These words, taken from The Merchant of Venice, and contain Portia’s comment on one of her suitors, namely, Monsieur Le Bon, the French Lord.

Explanation : Portia says that she is willing to consider Monsieur Le Bon a human being only on the -ground that the God made him. She means that he is not fit to be regarded as a human being. She further says that making fun of people is a sin but that she cannot help making fun of this man. This fellow talks of his horse even more proudly than the Neapolitan prince. He has a worse habit of frowning ever, than the Count Palatine. He pretends to possess all sorts of accomplishments but actually he possesses none. He will start dancing when he hears a bird like the throstle singing. He will fight a duel even with his own shadow. He has no character ‘or personality of his own as he combines in himself the various qualities of at least twenty different persons. Marrying him would mean marrying twenty husbands. Portia says that if this fellow were to hate her she would not mind. If he were to love her, no matter how desperately, she would never be able to respond to his love.

Passage – 14
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 65-69)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 16

Context : This is Portia’s comment on one of her suitors in The Merchant of Venice. Portia is talking to Nerissa and the target of satire if Falconbridge, the young baron of England.

Explanation : Portia says that the young baron of England is certainly as beautiful as a picture, but no one can talk with a picture, because a picture is dumb and cannot talk. She will not be able to talk to him because she does not know English and he does not know Italian or French. She then describes his strange was of dressing because he wears clothes of mixed fashions. He wears a jacket of an Italian design, breeches of a French cut, a hat of a German style, while his manners are a mixture of the manners of all countries.

Passage – 15
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 71-75)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 17

Context : These words are spoken by Portia to Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice. Portia here gives an amusing description of the Scottish lord, one of her suitors.

Explanation : Portia says that the Scottish lord possesses a very sympathetic heart and charitable feelings. When the Englishman gave the Scottish lord a box on his ears, the Scottish lord promised to return it as soon as he would be in a position to do so. The Frenchman stood the Scottish lord’s surety in this transaction, and gave an assurance that the Scottish lord would certainly fulfill his promise to return the box. This assurance made the Englishman give another box to the Scottish lord.

Passage – 16
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 77-79)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 18

Context : These words are from The Merchant of Venice spoken by Antonio in reply to Gratiano’s remark that Antonio looked sad because he had too much regard for the world and its good opinion of him. Antonio is in the company of Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano. A short time before, when the play opens, Antonio says to Salarino and Salanio that he is sad but he does not know the cause of his sadness. Salarino and Salanio had tried in their own way to account for the sadness of Antonio. According to them he was sad either because he was thinking about his ships or because he was in love. But Antonio had rejected both these explanations. Now when the new group of friends arrives, they also note that Antonio is looking rather sad and careworn. Gratiano is the first to express this feeling.

Explanation : Antonio, not knowing the cause of his sadness, tells Gratiano that he regards this world as nothing more than a stage, upon which everybody has to play his part. He feels that his part in the drama of life set on the world’s stage is a serious one.

Passage – 17
(Act I. Sc.II, Lines 3-8)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 19

Context : These lines are from Act I, Scene II of The Merchant of Venice and are spoken by Nerissa, Portia’s waiting maid. Portia has just remarked that she has become ‘aweary’ of the world.

Explanation : Nerissa somewhat philosophically says that Portia’s sadness proceeds from superfluity of wealth, for true happiness lies in the golden mean. Her opinion is that persons who have too much of anything are in as bad a condition as those who have too little of it. Therefore, the best condition is to be neither too wealthy nor too poor, because those who have too much money indulge themselves in excess and grow old very soon while those who have just sufficient to keep themselves healthy live longer.

Passage – 18
(Act. I, Sc.II, Lines 16-19)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 20

Context : These lines occurs in Shakespeare’s famous play lines The Merchant of Venice. When Portia resents the manners of her marriage and complains of sadness. Nerissa like a philosopher says that (his sense of weariness is the malady of the idle rich who live a pampered life of enjoyment and superfluity. She adds that competency and not superfluity will ensure happiness. Portia admits it but says that the problem is that it is very difficult to put a maximum into actual practice.

Explanation : Portia says that the rational nature of man may frame rules for controlling the passion, but human beings both men and women especially in youth, are apt to be governed by passions which are deaf to the appeal of reason. The laws of reason are easily overthrown by youthful impulse, just as ordinary nets meant for catching hare are skipt over by him. The wild impulse of youth is like a hare and moral, laws are like a cripple that pursues a hare to catch him but fails to do so. Similarly, moral law falls to keep under control wild passions of youth.

Passage – 19
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 31-35)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 21

Context : These words are spoken by Shylock in Scene III of Act I of The Merchant of Venice. Shylock and Bassanio have been talking about the loan of three thousand ducats for a period of three months for which Antonio is to stand as a surety. Shylock tells Bassanio that he could stand surety for him. Although all Antonio’s fortunes ‘are at sea’ yet Shylock considers him sufficient. But before giving that loan Shylock must see Antonio and speak to him.

Explanation : When Bassanio invites Shylock to dinner, where he could talk to Antonio, Shylock says that he would have commercial dealing with the Christians but would not mix with them socially. He would not dine with a Christian because they eat pork which is a prohibited food for the Jews. Shylock contemptuously refers to swine as the dwelling place of the devil; he is alluding to the miracle of Jesus Christ who compelled certain evil spirits to come out of two men, and allowed them to enter the bodies of a herd of swine.

Passage – 20
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 33-42)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 22

Context : These lines are spoken by Shylock in Act I Scene III of The Merchant of Venice. While Shylock is discussing with Bassanio the loan of three thousand ducats on Antonio’s security, the merchant himself makes his appearance. On seeing him, Shylock at once bridles up within himself. He mutters, “How like a fawning publican he looks” thereby giving vent to all the pent up rage and venom of his heart.

Explanation : Antonio is a Christian and he hates the Jew. The Jew is a money-lender by profession: and Antonio brings down the rate of interest in the market by lending money without any interest, which is a loss to the business of Shylock, Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian and lends money free of interest and moreover for his (Antonio’s) hatred of the sacred Jewish nation. Naturally he talks in terms of having a revenge upon Antonio.

Passage – 21
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 98-99)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 23

Context : These lines occur in Act I Scene III of The Merchant of Venice. When Antonio approaches Shylock for a loan, Shylock alludes to the insulting treatment which he has met with at the hands of Antonio. Shylock has endured patiently all the insults hurled at him by Antonio because he and the other members of his race are noted for their power of tolerance. Shylock here refers to the age long suffering and grievances of the Jews of Europe.

Passage – 22
(Act I, Sc.II, Lines 119-123)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 24

Context : These lines are spoken by Portia in The Merchant of Venice when a servant brings the information that the four suitors who had previously arrived are about to depart while a fifth The Prince of Morocco is about to arrive.

Explanation : Portia says that she is very happy to learn that the four suitors are departing. She wishes she could be as happy at the arrival of the fifth suitor. The Prince of Morocco, she says, might be as holy as a saint but his black complexion would make him look like a devil. She can agree to regard this man as a priest before whom she has to confess her sins, but she would certainly not like to become the wife of such a man.

Passage – 23
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 21-25)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 25

Context : These words are spoken by Shylock to Bassanio in reply to Bassanio’s request for a loan. Shylock’ clever and cunning as he is exaggerates the dangers to which the ships of Antonio are exposed.

Explanation : Shylock asks Bassanio how he can be certain that, if he gives a loan to Antonio, his money will be safe. True that Antonio is a wealthy merchant but all his money is invested in ships and merchandise. There can be no certainty that Antonio’s ships will return safely to harbour. What are ships? They are just made of wooden boards. What are sailors? They are just human beings. There are not only thieves on land like land-rates; but there are also but there are also thieves on water like water rats— that is, there are pirates (sea-robbers). Antonio’s ships may be seized by sea-robbers. What then is the surety that Shylock’s money will be safe? Besides the danger from sea-robbers, there is also the danger from storms and rocks.’ Antonio’s ships may get wrecked. Under these circumstances, if Shylock lends money to Antonio, he will be taking a great risk. And yet, he says, nobody can doubt that Antonio’ is a man of wealth.

Passage – 24
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 75-79)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 26

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. Shylock defends his practice of charging interest by citing the old testament in the following manner.

Explanation : When Jacob, who was the third in succession from Abraham, decided to quit his uncle Laban’s place, they came to an understanding. The agreement was that Jacob should have for his wages, as many of his uncle’s lambs as were born streaked and pied. This was a method to gain and Jacob was blessed by God. It is advisable to make profits and enrich oneself as long as one does not steal other people’s money.

Passage – 25
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 87-91)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 27

Context : These words are spoken by Antonio to Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice. Shylock has defended his practice of charging interest on loans by citing an example from the Bible. Here is Antonio’s comment.

Explanation : Antonio says that even the devil will sometimes quote cases from the Bible to justify his devilish conduct. A wicked person, quoting the authority of the Bible in support of his actions, is like a villain who wears a smile in order to pretend friendship. Such a man is like a nice-looking apple which is rotten inside. How strange that all false things have an attractive appearance!

Passage – 26
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 108-118)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 28

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 29

Context : These lines are taken from The Merchant of Venice. The speaker is Shylock who is addressing Antonio when the latter has requested a loan of three thousand ducats from the Jew.

Explanation : Shylock reminds Antonio of the insults and indignities that the latter has been heaping upon the Jew. Antonio has often called the Jew a dog and has often spat on his clothes. Now Antonio wants a loan from the same Jew. How should the Jew behave now? asks Shylock. How can a dog or cur lend money? Why should Antonio now expect money from Shylock whom he holds in contempt? Should Shylock bend low to Antonio and offer him the loan respectfully? Should he give him three thousand ducats for having been called a misbeliever, a cut-throat dog, etc.? Should he give him the money for having been insulted, degraded, and spat upon?

Passage – 27
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 5-7)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 30

Context : These lines occur in Act II, Scene VI of The Merchant of Venice. Gratiano and Salarino, masqued, are waiting and waiting for Lorenzo at a pent house projecting from Shylock’s place of residence.

Explanation : These lines contain Salarino’s reply to the remark of Gratiano who is surprised that Lorenzo, a lover, is not meeting them at the appointed time. According to him, lovers during their courtship and the period prior to their marriage are over-punctual in keeping their engagements relating to the love-affair: Salarino takes the cue from Gratiano and insinuates that Lorenzo is not so faithful to Jessica now as Jessica is his. Lovers are ten times more ready to plight truth in the case of new love than they are to keep old love inviolate. They are quick in making new love but slow when love has been made. Venus, “Love-drawn”, the unscrupulous goddess of love, is more ready to be present at an engagement than at a marriage.

Passage – 28
(Act I, Sc.III, Lines 149-156)

Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 1 - Passages with Reference to the Context 31

Context : These lines, taken from The Merchant of Venice, are spoken by Shylock when Bassanio tries to prevent Antonio from signing the bond.

Explanation : Shylock appeals to Abraham and expresses his surprise at the suspicious nature of Christians. He says that because Christians are merciless in their own dealings with others, they regard others also as equally merciless. He asks Bassanio what he can gain by cutting a pound of Antonio’s flesh in case Antonio fails to repay the loan before the fixed date. He adds that a pound of a goat’s flesh or a cow’s flesh is more valuable than a pound of human flesh.

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Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act II Scene II

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 1

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 2

Modern English Reading
Act II Scene II

LAUNCELOT : Certainly, my conscience will allow me to run from this Jew my master. The devil is at my elbow and tempts me, saying to me, “Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot” or “good Gobbo” or “good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, get going, run away.” My conscience says, “No; be careful, honest Launcelot, be careful, honest Gobbo” or, as I said before, “honest Launcelot Gobbo, don’t run; scorn running with your heels.” Well, the most courageous devil tells me to pack. “Go!” says the devil; “Away!” says the devil. “For heaven’s sake, wake up a brave mind,” says the devil ’and run.” Well, my conscience, hanging, about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, “My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man’s son”—or rather “an honest woman’s son;”—because indeed my father experienced some things, earned some things, he had a kind of taste;—well, my conscience says, “Launcelot, don’t budge.” “Budge,” says the devil. “Don’t budge,” says my conscience.” Conscience, “I say, you advise me well.” “Devil,” I say, “you advise me well.” To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, God save us all! is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should listen to the devil, who, deliver us from evil! is the devil himself. Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnate; and, in my conscience, my conscience is only a kind of hard conscience, to offer to advise me to stay with the Jew. The devil gives the more friendly advice: I’ll run, devil; my heels are at your commandment; I will run.
Enter old Gobbo with a basket.

Word Meaning With Annotation

The fiend : Satan; the devil, scorn running with thy heels : “to take to one’s heels” is a colloquial phrase meaning “to take to flight.” pack : depart. Via : ‘Take the road’, hanging about the neck of : restraining, holding back. (Just as we might imagine a wife hanging about the neck of her husband, restraining him from some act.) God bless the mark ! : this expression was used as an apology for having used any coarse expression: here for having used the name of the devil, which was supposed to be unlucky, saving your reverence : used in the same sense as “God bless the mark !”

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 3

Modern English Reading

GOBBO : Master young man, you, please; which is the way to Master Jew’s?

LAUNCELOT : Oh, heavens! This is my biological father, who, being more than half¬blind, nearly stone blind, doesn’t know me: I’ll try to confuse him.

GOBBO : Master young gentleman, please, which is the way to Master Jew’s?

LAUNCELOT : Tum up on your right hand at the next turning, but, atthe next turning of all, on your left; damn it, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house.

GOBBO : Be God’s sonties, it will be a hard way to go. Can you tellme whether one Launcelot, who lives with him, lives with him or not?

LAUNCELOT : Are you taking about young Master Launcelot? Listen to me now; now I will really get him. Are you talking about young Master Launcelot?

Word Meaning With Annotation

Master Jew’s : The word “Master” is used here as a title of respect, with much the same effect as “Sahib”, sand-blind : half-blind, “high-gravel” blind represents a further stage of blindness, but it is still not so bad as “stoneblind” i.e. completely blind, confusions : wrongly used by Launcelot, who means “conclusions”, turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house : this is deliberately given as a confused and senseless direction, sonties : God’s health, so perhaps it was customary to swear by the health of the Deity. Or it may mean “By the saints.” raise the waters : brings tears to the old man’s eyes by telling him that his son was dead.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 4

Modern English Reading

GOBBO : No master, sir, only a poor man’s son; his father, although I say it, is an honest, exceedingly poor man, and, thank God, well enough to live.

LAUNCELOT : Well, let his father be what he will be, we’re talking about young Master Launcelot.

GOBBO : Your worship’s friend, and Launcelot, sir.

LAUNCELOT : But please, therefore, old man, therefore, I beg you, are you talking about young Master Launcelot?

GOBBO : Of Launcelot, if it pleases you, sir.

LAUNCELOT : Therefore, Master Launcelot. Don’t talk about Master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman,—according to Fates and Destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters Three and such branches of learning,—is indeed dead; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.

GOBBO : Damn it, God forbid! The boy was the very support of my age, my very prop.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Though I say it : an apology for boasting of his own honesty and poverty, well to live : may mean “in good health”. But the more common meaning would be “well to do.” a : a contraction for “he”; it is used only in the speech of uneducated countrymen, your worship’s friend : you may call him your frignd, but he is not entitled to be called “Master”. Ergo : Latin word for “therefore”. Launcelot uses it here because it sounds learned, but he seems not to know the use or meaning of the word, an’t please your mastership : if it please you, sir! talk not of Master Launcelot, father : the word “father” was used as a respectful form of address to any old man. the sister three, and such branches of learning : the three sisters, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, were also called the Fates and Destinies; they are the symbolic classic conception of fate and destiny, ranches of learning : may be read as “learned names and phrases.” Shakespeare is satirising those people who are not content to use plain speech, but attempt to use learned words and phrases, staff of my age, my very prop : Launcelot had been a source of support to his father, just as a staff is to a feeble person, or a prop to a wall.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 5

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 6

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : Do I look like a club or a beating stick, a staff or a prop? Don’tyou know me, father?

GOBBO : Unhappy the day! I don’t know you, young gentleman; but please tell me, is my boy—God rest his soul!—alive or dead?

LAUNCELOT : Don’t you know me, father?

GOBBO : Sorry, sir, I am half-blind; I don’t know you.

LAUNCELOT : No, indeed, even if you had your eyes, you might not know me: it is a wise father that knows his own child. Well,old man, I’ll tell you news of your son. Give me your blessing; truth will come to light; murder cannot be hidden long; a man’s son may, but, in the end, truth will come out.

GOBBO : Please, sir, stand up; I am sure you are not Launcelot, my boy.

LAUNCELOT : Please, let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your sonthat is, your child that shall be.

GOBBO : I cannot think you are my son.

LAUNCELOT : I don’t know what I shall think of that; but I am Launcelot, theJew’s man, and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Cudgel : a club or lathi, this is used palyfully and is suggested by the literal meaning of the word “staff’ m the previous line, hovel-post : a wooden post or upright used in the building of a hovel or hut. It is a wise father that knows his own child : this coarse expression still persists in English. The meaning is, of course, that if a man has a wife who is immoral, he can never tell whether the child which is bom belongs to him or not. truth will out : truth cannot be conceaed. let’s have no more fooling : Let us cease to talk in jest about it. I know not what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew’s man; and I am sure Margery, your wife, is my mother : the thought is again of the coarse nature such as pleased the calsses of Elzabethans. Launcelot says that no man can be sure who his father was, although there is no doubt about his mother. It is an echo of the words “It’s a wise father that knows his own child.”

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 7

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 8

Modern English Reading

GOBBO : Her name is Margery, indeed: I’ll swear, if you are Launcelot, you are my own flesh and blood. Lord of us all,what a beard you’ve got! You have got more hair on your chin than Dobbin my thrill-horse has on his tail.

LAUNCELOT : It should seem, then, that Dobbin’s tail grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail than I have on my face when I last saw him.

GOBBO : Lord! how you have changed! How do you and your master get along? I have brought him a present. How do you get along now?

LAUNCELOT : Well, well; but, as for me, as I have made up my mind to run away, so I’ll not rest until I have run some ground. My master’s a very Jew. Give him a present! Give him a halter. I am starving in his service; you can count my ribs with your fingers. Father, I’m glad you’ve come; give your present toone Master Bassanio, who indeed is giving rare new clothing to new servants. If I don’t serve him, I’ll run as far as God has any ground. Oh, rare fortune! Here comes the man: give the present to him, father; because I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.
Enter Bassanio with a follower or two [one of them Leonardo.]

Word Meaning With Annotation

Dobbin my fill-horse : ‘fill-horse’ denotes a horse used for drawing a cart, and “Dobbin” has always been an affectionate name bestowed on a horse in England, grows backward : becomes less instead of longer of : used instead of “on.” set up my rest : determined; resolved. This phrase is derived from a gambling game, and meant to stand upon the cards in one’s hand, relying that they would be better than those of an opponent, you may tell every finger I have with my ribs : the words “finger” and “ribs” should be interchanged. Launcelot means that he has not been sufficiently fed while in Shylock’s service, with the result that anyone is able to count all his ribs by feeling with a finger. But he makes this mistake, something a kin to what we call a “Spoonerism.” who, indeed, gives rare new liveries : In the meantime, Bassanio is engaged in fitting out his expedition to Belmont, and evidently Launcelot has heard that Bassanio’s servants are being clothed in fine new suits of uniform. I am a Jew : “May I become a Jew myself etc.” Launcelot means that this is- equally impossible as it is for him to remain longer in Shylock’s service.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 9

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 10

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : You may do so; but let it be quickly so that supper is ready by five of the clock at the latest. See these letters are delivered, get the servants’ clothes made, and ask Gratiano to come now to my house.
Exit a servant.

LAUNCELOT : To him, father.

GOBBO : God bless you, sir!

BASSANIO : God have mercy, what do you want with me?

GOBBO : Here is my son, sir, a poor boy—

LAUNCELOT : Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man, that would, sir,—as my father shall specify.

GOBBO : He has a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve—

LAUNCELOT : Indeed the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall specify—

GOBBO : His master and he, God save you, sir, are almost like cousins—

LAUNCELOT : To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, causes me,— as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify to you—

GOBBO : I have here a dish of doves that I wish to give you, sir; and what I want is—

Word Meaning With Annotation

Grammercy : An exclamation denoting thanks; Bassanio acknowledges the respect paid in the words “Your worship”, he hath a great infection : He has a great desire. The word “infection” is deliberately used wrongly instead of “affection” saving your worship’s reverence : “with apologies to you Sit.” or “if I may mention the fact, Sir.” frutify : another word used wrongly by Launcelot; he means “explain” or “set forth”.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 11

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : In very brief, what he asks is impertinent to myself, asyou, sir, shall know from this honest old man; and, though I sayit, though old man, yet poor man, my father.

BASSANIO : One of you speak for both of you. What do you want?

LAUNCELOT : To serve you, sir.

GOBBO : That is the very defect of the matter, sir.

BASSANIO : I know you well; you have gotten what you ask for. Shylock your master spoke with me today, And has recommended you, if it is a recommendation To leave a rich Jew’s service to become The follower of so poor a gentleman.

LAUNCELOT : The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he has enough.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Impertinent : ridiculous mistake. He means “pertinent” i.e. “my application pertains to or concerns myself.” defect : Gobbo means the “substance” or “effect” of the matter, and hath preferr’d thee, if it be preferment : the verb “prefer” meant either to recommend or to promote, the old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough : the proverb is “The grace of God is better than gear (possessions).” lodging : place of abode, guarded : “braided”. In the first place the edge of the cloth was bound with material to protect it and keep it form fraying. Then it came to mean additional cloth applied by way of ornament. Launcelot is to have a uniform with more ornamental stripes on it than the other servants.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 12

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 13

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : You speak well. Go, father, with your son. Say goodbye to your old master, and find out where I live. Give him clothes that are less showy than that of his fellows; see it gets done.

LAUNCELOT : Father, go in. I cannot get a service, no! I have never had a tongue in my head! Well; if any man in Italy has a better table that offers to swear on a book, I shall have good luck. Come on; here’s a simple line of life; here’s a small number of wives; sadly, fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man. And then to escape drowning three times, and to be in fear for my life with the edge of a feather bed; here are simple escapes. Well, if Fortune is a woman, she’s a good woman for this guy. Father, come; I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.
Exit Clown. Exit Launcelot.

Word Meaning With Annotation

If any man in Italy have a fairer table, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune! : The general sense is- “Any one who has (or who can swear he has) a hand better endowed than mine, is lucky indeed.” “Table” is a technical term in palmistry, meaning the palm of the hand on which the lines are read. It is enough to remember that Shakespeare depicts Launcelot as overjoyed by his good luck, and makes him speak in a confused and excited manner, simple line of life : a clearly marked line on his palm, denoting that he will have long life, coming-in : that which comes in, i.e. something acquired, to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather bed : The sense is “and I see also from my hand that I shall at one time be in danger of losing my life, and also I see the symbol of a bed, denoting a wealthy marriage for me.” a good wench for gear : a kind lady for showing me this prospect of possessions. in the twinkling of an eye : “in an instant’, or, as the saying goes, As
quickly as you could wink.”

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 14

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 15

Modern English Reading

BASSANIO : Please, good Leonardo, think about this: Once these things have been bought and orderly put away Come back quickly, because I feast tonight with My best-esteemed acquaintance; hurry up, go.

LEONARDO : You have my best efforts to get everything done as you ask. Exit Leonardo. Enter Gratiano.

GRATIANO : Where’s your master? LEONARDO:Over there, sir, he’s walking. GRATIANO: Mr. Bassanio!— BASSANIO:Gratiano!

GRATIANO : I have to ask you something.

BASSANIO : You’ve got it.

GRATIANO : You mustn’t say no: I must go with you to Belmont.

BASSANIO : Why, then you must go. But listen, Gratiano;You are too wild, too rude, and loud, Qualities that become you happily enough,And, in such eyes as ours, don’t appear to be faults; But where no one knows you, why there, these qualities Show something that’s too liberal. Please, take pains To behave yourself and to control Your wild spirit, so that I won’t be misunderstood As to why I came, because of your wild behavior, And lose my hopes of marriage.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Orderly bestowed : carefully placed on board the ship, feast: entertain, hie thee : “Betake yourself’ or “Go.” you have obtained it : Bassanio grants the request before he knows what it is. parts : characteristics; manners, too liberal : overdone; too bold, allay : to weaken; to abate, skipping spirit : unruly disposition. I be misconstrued : I should find my errand misunderstood.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 16

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : Mr. Bassanio, listen to me: If I don’t put on a sober habit, talk with respect, and swear only now and then, wear prayer- books in my pocket, look demurely, No more, while grace is saying, hood my eyes like this with my hat, and sigh, and say “amen;” Use all the observances of manners, as one well studied in a sad display in order to please his grandmother, never trust me anymore.

BASSANIO : Well, we’ll see your behavior.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Put on a sober habit : assume quieter manners, wear prayer books in my pocket : to give people the impression that he was a devout man, given to religious exercises, demurely : modestly ; equietly. hood mine eyes, thus with my hat : men of quality wore hats at meals; probably the custom was that when the grace (prayer of thanks) was being said, they held the hat reverently in front of the face. Amen : the word which concludes a prayer. Use all the observance of civility : company with the usages of good society, sad ostent : appearance of solemnity.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 2 Translation Meaning Annotations 17

Modern English Reading

GRATIANO : No, but tonight is an exception; you shall not judge me by what we do tonight.

BASSANIO : No, that would be a pity;I would beg you rather to put on your boldest face of happiness, because we have friends that offer merriment. But goodbye; I have some business to see to.

GRATIANO : And I must go to Lorenzo and the rest; But we’ll visit you at suppertime.
Exeunt.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Bar to-night : make an exception of tonight gauge, judge, that were pity : it would be a pity to do so. boldest suit of mirth : “Your gayest dress”, or “Your most mirthful mood.” the latter is more suitable to the context.

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Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 3 Translation Meaning Annotations

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 3 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act II Scene III

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 3 Translation Meaning Annotations 1

Modern English Reading
Act II Scene III

JESSICA : I am sorry that you will leave my father like this: Our house is hell, and you, a happy devil, Robbed it of some taste of boredom. But goodbye; there is a dollar for you; And, Launcelot, you will soon see Lorenzoat supper, who is your new master’s guest: Give him this letter; do it secretly. And so, goodbye. I wouldn’t have my father see me talking with you.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil : our home has been as miserable as hell, but enlivened somewhat by the presence of such a merry fellow as yourself. Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness : who relieved the monotony a little.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 3 Translation Meaning Annotations 2

Modern English Reading

LAUNCELOT : Goodbye! Tears exhibit my voice. Most beautiful pagan,most sweet Jew! If a Christian doesn’t play the rogue and get you, I am much deceived. But, goodbye! these foolish drops drown my manly spirit some what; goodbye!
Exit.

JESSICA : Goodbye, good Launcelot.It’s a pity, what hateful sin it is in me to be ashamed to be my father’s child! But, although I am a daughter from his blood, I am not from his manners. Oh, Lorenzo! If you keep your promise, I shall end this strife, Become a Christian and your loving wife.
Exit.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Tears exhibit my tongue : emotion keeps him from speaking. I shall end this strife : Jessica has been divided between loyalty to her father and love for Lorenzo; now she declares that the latter has won.

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Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Translation Meaning Annotations

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Modern English Translation Meaning Annotations – ICSE Class 10 & 9 English

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Original Text
Act II Scene IV

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Translation Meaning Annotations 1

Modern English Reading
Act II Scene IV

LORENZO : No, we’ll slink away at supper time, Disguise ourselves at my house, and return all in an hour.

GRATIANO : We haven’t made a good preparation.

SALARINO : We haven’t spoken about the torch bearers yet.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Slink : go stealthily, disguise us : dress up in (he fancy costumes and masks required for the proposed procession, spoke us yet : ordered in advance. We use the verb “be speak” in the sense of “to order beforehand.” torch-bearers : each gentleman participating in the procession would be preceded by an attendant who carried a lighted torch.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Translation Meaning Annotations 2

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Translation Meaning Annotations 3

Modern English Reading

SALANIO : It’s nasty, unless they may be skillfully ordered, and I think it’s better not to be undertaken.

LORENZO : It’s only four o’clock now; we have two hours to get them. Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?
Enter Launcelot, with a letter.

LAUNCELOT : If you will please break this up, it will become clear.

LORENZO : I know the hand; in faith, it’s a beautiful hand, And the beautiful hand that wrote it is whiter than the paper it’s written on.

GRATIANO : Love news, in faith.

LAUNCELOT : Excuse me, sir.

LORENZO : Where are you going?

LAUNCELOT : Damn it, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to come to supper tonight with my new master, the Christian.

LORENZO : Hang on! Here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica that I will not fail her; speak it in private. Go, gentlemen, will you get yourself ready for this party tonight? I have a torchbearer.
Exit Clown.

SALARINO : Yes, damn it, I’ll be taking care of it right away.

SALANIO : And so will I.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Quaintly ordered : arranged so as to present a pretty spectacle, take this : on the stage Lorenzo accompanies the words by giving a coin to Launcelot. I am provided of a torch-bearer : evidently the idea has just come into Lorenzo’s mind that he will disguise Jessica as a boy, and smuggle her away as the attendant carrying his torch in the procession.

Original Text

Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene 4 Translation Meaning Annotations 4

Modern English Reading

LORENZO : Meet me and Gratiano at Gratiano’s house in about an hour.

SALARINO : Okay.
Exit [Salarino and SALANIO]

GRATIANO : Wasn’t that letter from beautiful Jessica?

LORENZO : I must tell you everything. She has made a plan of how I shall take her from her father’s house; what gold and jewels she has; what boy’s suit she has ready. If the Jew her father ever comes to heaven, it will be for his gentle daughter’s sake; and never should misfortune dare to cross her foot, unless she does it under this excuse, that she is daughter to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me, read this over as you go; Beautiful Jessica shall be my torch bearer.
Exeunt

Word Meaning With Annotation

Some hour : in about an hour. I must needs : “needs” is superfluous; read simply “I must” or “I feel compelled to.” page’s suit : a servant boy’s clothing, cross her foot : “Cross her path.”

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