Act 2 — HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT SECOND.

(A) Venice occupies 72 islands. There are 306 canals, traversed by innumerable gondolas. The gondolas introduced in this scene are copied from paintings of the same date as when the action of the play is supposed to occur, and are, consequently, rather varied in shape from those now seen in Venice. Besides the great squares of St. Mark, and the adjoining Piazetta before the Doge's Palace, the city has numerous narrow streets, or rather lanes, with small open spaces in front of the churches, or formed by the termination of several alleys, leading to a bridge. It is one of these spaces that is represented in the second act.

(B) "Black Monday" is Easter Monday, and was so called on this occasion. In the 34th of Edward III. (1360), the 14th April, and the morrow after Easter Day, King Edward, with his host, lay before the City of Paris, which day was full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horse's backs with the cold.—Stowe.

FOOTNOTES:

[43]

Khanzir, Arab, a hog. A cape on the coast of Syria is named Ras el Khanzir; i.e., hog's-head.

[44]

—for the heavens; This expression is simply "a pretty oath." It occurs in Ben Jonson and Decker.

[45]

—sand-blind, high-gravel blind,; Having an imperfect sight, as if there was sand in the eye.—Gravel-blind, a coinage of Launcelot's, is the exaggeration of sand-blind.

[46]

I will try conclusions; Experiments.

[47]

—turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.; This perplexed direction is given to puzzle the enquirer.

[48]

—now will I raise the waters.; Id est, make him weep.

[49]

—we talk of young master Launcelot. Gobbo. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. Id est, plain Launcelot, and not, as you term him, master Launcelot.

[50]

—phill horse,; The horse in the shafts of a cart or waggon. The term is best understood in the Midland Counties.

[51]

—the suit is impertinent; Launcelot is a blunderer, as well as one who can "play upon a word;" here he means pertinent.

[52]

—a livery more guarded; More ornamented.

[53]

—a fairer table; Table is the palm of the hand.

[54]

—I shall have good fortune!; The palm which offers to swear that the owner shall have good fortune, is a fair table to be proud of.

[55]

—here's a simple line of life!; In allusion to the lines on the palm of his hand.

[56]

—in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed,; A cant phrase to signify the danger of marrying.

[57]

—something too liberal:—; Gross or coarse.

[58]

—hood mine eyes; Alluding to the manner of covering a hawk's eyes.

[59]

—sad ostent; Grave appearance—show of staid and serious behaviour. Ostent is a word very commonly used for show among the old dramatic writers.

[60]

—we shall see your bearing.; Bearing is carriage—deportment.

[61]

We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.; Id est, we have not yet bespoken the torch-bearers.

[62]

—to break up this, To break up was a term in carving.

[63]

I am bid forth to supper,; I am invited. To bid, in old language, meant to pray.

[64]

to feed upon the prodigal Christian: The poet here means to heighten the malignity of Shylock's character, by making him depart from his settled resolve, of "neither to eat, drink nor pray with Christians," for the prosecution of his revenge.

[65]

nose fell a bleeding; Some superstitious belief was annexed to the accident of bleeding at the nose.

[66]

wry-neck'd fife,; The upper part or mouth-piece, resembling the beak of a bird.

[67]

—worth a Jewess' eye.; It's worth a Jews' eye is a proverbial phrase.

[68]

The patch is kind enough; Patch is the name of a Fool, probably in allusion to his patch'd or party colored dress.

[69]

Sung by Miss POOLE, Miss LEFFLER, and Mr. WALLWORTH.

[70]

The words are from Midsummer Night's Dream, Act i., Scene 1.

[71]

—a Gentile and no Jew.; A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which signifies both a Heathen, and one well-born.