Page 135 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

ACT FOUR — Scene One

Venice. A court of justice. Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, Gratziano,
and others.

—Duke
What,° is Antonio here? / Well

—Antonio Ready,° so please your grace. 1 / I am

—Duke
I am sorry for thee. Thou art° come to answer° / You’ve // You’ve come against
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
2
Incapable of pity—void, and empty° / and lacking / without
From any hint° of mercy. {dram}

—Antonio I have heard
Your grace hath ta’en° great pains to modify° 3 / borne {qualify} / mollify
His savage° course, but since he stands unshaken° {rigorous} {obdurate} / unmovèd
And, as° no lawful means can carry° me {that} / since // render / deliver
4
Beyond his envy’s reach, I do° oppose° / now / doth // pit against
My patience to his fury, and am armed 5 / braced / ready
To suffer, with a quietness of spirit,
6
The very tyranny and rage of his.° / he portions / he levies

—Duke
Go one, and° call the Jew into the court. > Someone go,

—Salerio
He’s ready at° the door. He comes, my lord. / standing by

Enter Shylock 7

1. The first three lines of the original play have six iambs (twelve syllables) as opposed to the standard iambic
pentameter (ten syllables)
2. void: > a) heartless, b) without Christian grace
3. / taken great measures° to curb / utmost pains
4. {Out of}
5. {My patience to his fury, and am armed} / His fury with my patience; I am braced
patience: Patience, as used in this context, is somewhat synonymous with forbearance, and suggests to the
Renaissance virtue which is advocated as the best way to meet adversity. [Lear 1.4.240, 2.2. 445]. More deeply, it
refers to faith in God and the short-term corporeal suffering which is often needed to bring about long-term and
divine gain. “The ability to bear misfortune with confidence in the ultimate justice and goodness of God. This is a
Christian notion not to be confused with classical Stoicism.” (Kit).
6. {The very tyranny and rage of his.}
/ The very brunt and tyranny of his rage. / The very tyranny of this man’s rage / The very brunt and
onslaught of his rage / The very despotism of his rage
7. The stage heading in Q1 reads, Enter Shylocke, yet the speech headings shift—with no real
significance—between Jew and Shy.
Iewe (or Iew): [34— I have possessed your grace,64, 66,68,84,88,121,126,138,173]