ACT 4, SCENE 1


74. bodies 75. dog-like/bad-tempered


73. Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher who believed that the soul was immortal and could pass into the bodies of different animals after death.


76. the place where people were hanged 77. evil 78. unholy mother


79. Implanted 80. (lines 132–136) Your soul was once the soul of a wolf hanged for killing a human being which entered your body before you were born. (Elizabethans put animals on trial and hanged animals that were convicted of committing crimes!)


81. (lines 138–139) Unless your words can invalidate this contract, you are wasting your breath shouting at me.


82. (lines 140–141) Be quiet or you will do some permanent damage to your mind.


130 135


To hold opinion with Pythagoras73 That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks74 of men. Thy currish75 spirit Governed a wolf, who, hanged for human slaughter, Even from the gallows76 did his fell77 soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay’st in thy unhallowed dam,78 Infused79 itself in thee;80 for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.


140


SHYLOCK Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud.81 Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin.82 I stand here for law.


DUKE This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learnèd doctor to our court. Where is he?


NERISSA 83. He is waiting nearby. 145 He attendeth here hard by,83 To know your answer, whether you’ll admit him. 84. escort 150 85. having a friendly visit


86. matter in dispute 87. perused/read


155


89. enhanced by 90. (lines 156–157) the greatness of which I cannot recommend highly enough


88. (lines 155–156) He has been given my opinion on the case.


91. request 92. (lines 158–159) In answer to your request, I have sent Balthasar as my replacement.


168 The Merchant of Venice 160


DUKE With all my heart. Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct84 to this place. Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. [Reads.] ‘Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation85 was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy86 between the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o’er87 many books together. He is furnished with my opinion88 which, bettered with89 his own learning—the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend90—comes with him at my importunity91 to fill up your grace’s request in my stead.92 I beseech you let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend


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