Page 69 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

—Gratziano
That ever holds:° Who riseth from a feast / ‘Tis always true
With the keen° hunger of one sitting down? 5 / same
Where is the horse that doth retread° again {untread} / gallop
Another lap° with the unbated fire° {His tedious measures} // same kind of passion
That he did pace the first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chasèd° than enjoyed. / vigor pursued
How like a young man° or a prodigal {younker}/ young son
6
The bannered° ship leaves from her native bay, 7 / lofty / splendid
Hugged and escorted° by the forceful wind; 8 / embracèd / caresséd
How like the prodigal doth she return
With over-weathered° ribs and raggèd sails, / weather-beaten / a storm-beaten hull
Lean, rent, and beggared by the forceful° wind! {strumpet} / heady / sturdy / ruthless

Enter Lorenzo

—Salanio 9
Here comes Lorenzo—more of this hereafter.

—Lorenzo
Sweet friends, your patience for° my long delay.° / forgive me for {abode}
Not I, but my affairs have made you wait: 10
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives° / a wife-stealer
Then I will watch as long for you. Come here.° {Approach} / ‘Tis here
11
Here dwells my father Jew. [calling] Hey!° Who’s within? {Howe}

Enter Jessica above, dressed as a boy

—Jessica

with vows already made [See Additional Notes, 2.6.7]
5. / With the keen appetite that he sits down? / With the same (/keen) hunger as when he sat down?
6. / The proud vessel / The ship so proud
7. {The scarfed bark puts from her native bay} / The decorated ship leaves from her bay
scarfed: refers to something wrapped or adorned with streaming banners, such as the side of a ship (bark)
decorated with flags and steamers while it makes a glorious departure from her native port.
8. {the strumpet wind} / a good, strong wind
strumpet: refers to something inconsistent, something promising yet unreliable. The terms brings to fore
the metaphor of the Prodigal Son and the prostitutes (strumpets) upon whom he wasted his fortune. Here the
promising wind is quick to bring one’s ship out to sea and, later, it is that same wind which brings the ship to ruin.
9. In Q1 this speech heading is abbreviated as ‘Sal.’ and could indicate either Salarino or Salanio (depending on
which one is listed in the stage heading). Since both characters are present in the scene (which was the likely
intention of the author, though not specifically stated in the stage heading), and since both characters should have
lines, Salanio is given this line. In terms of staging, Gratziano and Salarino might be lounging around, talking about
the pigeons of Venus, while Salanio, who is not talking, first notices—and announces—Lorenzo’s arrival.
10. Such tardiness would put this whole plan in jeopardy since the long delay would give Shylock ample time to
return from dinner before Lorenzo’s arrival. What more pressing affairs could have caused Lorenzo to be so late?
Perhaps the delay was brought about by poor planning and last minute demands or because Lorenzo was waiting at
Bassanio’s feast to make sure Shylock was well situated before he departed.
11. father: future father-in-law.