Page 16 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

I did receive fair hints of her affection. 99
Her name is Portia—and she’s worth no less° {and nothing undervalued}
Than Cato’s daughter, Brutus’ Portia.°
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renownèd° suitors; and her sunny° locks / golden
Adorn° her temples like a golden fleece 100 {Hang on}
Which turns her country° estate° at Belmont / beautiful // gardens
101
Into the promising° shores of Colchis. / beckoning/ venturous / glistening
Where many Jasons come in quest of her. 102
103
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them° 104 / along with them
My mind portends° me of certain success, 105 / foretells
That I, without doubt, should° be fortunate. 106

—Antonio
You knows’t that all my fortunes are at sea;
Neither have I money, nor sufficient store° 107 {commodity} / goods to sell
To raise a present sum.B Therefore, go forth, / To raise the sum right now

99. {I did receive fair speechless messages}
fair speechless messages: beautiful and affectionate glances (which silently told me of her affection)
/ I did receive her° loving messages
/ I did receive the most adoring glances° / loving of glances
100. golden fleece: Jason was the rightful heir to his father’s throne but was deprived of his rights by his uncle.
Thus, to settle the matter, Jason and his uncle made an agreement: if Jason could bring back the golden fleece from
Colchis (which all believed was an impossible task) then Jason would be restored to his throne and gain back his
kingdom. So Jason and the Argonauts traveled to the shores (strond) of Colchis to retrieve the golden fleece. [See
Additional Notes, 1.1.170]
101. {Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos’ strond}
/ Which now makes Belmont like the shores of Colchis
seat: residence
Colchos’ strond (also ‘strand’): the shores of Colchis—the land where the Golden Fleece resided. The image
evoked is of many suitors (like Jason seeking his fortune) landing upon the shores of Belmont to obtain Portia (who
is likened to the golden fleece in both riches and beauty).
102. This line can be added for further clarity: +Each one in quest of her riches and beauty.,
103. This plea of Bassanio takes a few shifts: first from a personal connection to Portia, to a classical description of
her beauty, and back to a more personal plea to Antonio, with O my Antonio.
104. Why is Bassanio impelled to borrow such a large sum of money and put his friend at risk? [See Additional
Note, 1.1.174]
105. {I have a mind presages me such thrift}
/ I have a mind foretells me of success / I have a premonition of success / My mind tells me of assured success
presages: foretells, augurs, give a premonition of
such thrift: such success, such profit (which will comes from Portia and her fortune)
106. {I should questionless be fortunate.}
/ That I, without a doubt, shall win her fortune / That I, without question, should win her love.
How does Bassanio come to be questionless, without doubt, about being fortunate—about winning Portia
through a chance drawing of one of three chests? Is he so certain of his ability, or does something else tell him of his
assured success? And what, exactly, is Bassanio questionless about?—that he will win Portia’s love, or the lottery,
or both? [See Additional Notes, 1.1.76]
The theory which I put forth is that Bassanio received assurance from Nerissa, in their secret meeting, that
she would help him with the lottery if he could win Portia’s love. That is why, in 2.9, when Nerissa hears news of an
unannounced suitor from Venice, she already knows (and hopes) that it is Bassanio. She says, “Bassanio, Lord
Love, if thy will it be!” [See Appendix: The Lottery]
107. / Nor have I money, nor the extra goods