Page 175 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

—Portia [looking toward the house]
That light we see is burning in my hall—
How far that little candle throws its beams! {his}
So shines a good deed in a wicked° world. {naughty} / darkened

—Nerissa
When the moon shone, we did° not see the candle. / could

—Portia
So doth the greater glory dim the lesser.° {less}
A substitute shines brightly as a king
Until the king arrives° and then his status° {be by} / returns // state / rank
Empties itself, as doth an inland brook,
Into the vaster ocean.° Music. Listen!° {main of waters}/ endless ocean {hark}

Music plays.

—Nerissa
It is your music, madam, from the house.

—Portia
Nothing is good without a proper context:° 41 / setting
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.° / in the night

—Nerissa
Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.

—Portia
The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark,
When neither one is heard;° and yet, I think, {attended}
The nightingale, if she should sing by day—
When every goose is cackling—° would be thought {honking} / bird is crowing
No better a musician than the wren.
How many things, by proper setting, rise° 42 / set are lifted

41. {Nothing is good, I see, without respect}
respect: a) context, comparison to something else, b) appreciation
Portia is saying: Things are made good by context; one can appreciate the goodness of a things when they
are set in the right context. Hence, the music sounds better in the context of night (which is still) as opposed to day
(which is filled with noise and activity). [See Additional Note, 5.1.99]
42. {How many things by season seasoned are}
/ How many things by season are delivered° / inspired / uplifted