Note return to page 1 Kean's production at the Princess's Theatre in 1858 was as remarkable for its Venice as for its Merchant, and its lavish decor (for which certain important cuts had to be made in Shakespeare's text) is minutely described and justified in this acting edition.

Note return to page 2 For reference to Historical Authorities indicated by Letters, see end of each Act.

Note return to page 3 1This procession is copied from a print in the British Museum, by Josse Amman, who died in 1591.

Note return to page 4 2&lblank; argosies] A name given, in our author's time, to ships of great burthen. The name is supposed by some to be derived from the classical ship, Argo, as a vessel eminently famous.

Note return to page 5 3Plucking the grass,] By holding up the grass, or any light body that will bend by a gentle blast, the direction of the wind is found.

Note return to page 6 4&lblank; my wealthy Andrew] The name of the ship.

Note return to page 7 5Vailing her high-top] To vail is “to lower,” or “let fall.”

Note return to page 8 6Let me play the fool:] Alluding to the common comparison of human life to a stage-play. So that he desires his may be the fool's or buffoon's part, which was a constant character in the old farces; from whence came the phrase, to play the fool. Warburton.

Note return to page 9 7&lblank; whose visages do cream] The poet here alludes to the manner in which the film extends itself over milk in scalding; and he had the same appearance in his eye when writing a foregoing line: “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” Henley.

Note return to page 10 8&lblank; a wilful stillness entertain,] Id est, an obstinate silence.

Note return to page 11 9&lblank; let no dog bark!] This seems to be a proverbial expression.

Note return to page 12 10&lblank; 'twould almost damn those ears] The author's meaning is this:—That some people are thought wise whilst they keep silence; who, when they open their mouths, are such stupid praters, that the hearers cannot help calling them fools, and so incur the judgment denounced in the Gospel. —Theobald.

Note return to page 13 11I'll end my exhortation after dinner.] The humour of this consists in its being an allusion to the practice of the Puritan preachers of those times, who being generally very long and tedious, were often forced to put off that part of their sermon called the exhortation, till after dinner. —Warburton.

Note return to page 14 12&lblank; for this gear.] A colloquial expression, meaning for this matter.

Note return to page 15 13In a neat's tongue dried,] Neat, horned cattle of the Ox species.

Note return to page 16 14&lblank; a more swelling port] Port, in the present instance, comprehends the idea of expensive equipage, and external pomp of appearance.

Note return to page 17 15&lblank; I am prest unto it:] Ready.

Note return to page 18 16&lblank; Sometimes from her eyes] In old English, sometimes is synonymous with formerly; id est, some time ago, at a certain time. It appears by the subsequent scene, that Bassanio was at Belmont with the Marquis de Montferrat, and saw Portia in her father's lifetime.

Note return to page 19 17&lblank; superfluity comes sooner by white hairs,] Id est, superfluity sooner acquires white hairs—becomes old. We still say, how did he come by it. —Malone.

Note return to page 20 18&lblank; the Neapolitan prince.] The Neapolitans in the time of Shakespeare were eminently skilled in all that belonged to horsemanship.

Note return to page 21 19&lblank; that's a colt, indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse,] Colt is used for a restless, heady, gay youngster, whence the phrase used of an old man too juvenile, that he still retains his colt's tooth. —Johnson.

Note return to page 22 20&lblank; the county Palatine.] Shakespeare has more allusions to particular facts and persons than his readers commonly suppose. The Count here mentioned was, perhaps, Albertus Alasco, a Polish Palatine, who visited England in our author's lifetime, was eagerly caressed and splendidly entertained, but, running in debt, at last stole away, and endeavoured to repair his fortune by enchantment. —Johnson. County and Count in old language, were synonymous. The Count Albertus Alasco was in London in 1583.

Note return to page 23 21&lblank; the young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew.] In Shakespeare's time the Duke of Bavaria visited London, and was make Knight of the Garter. Perhaps in this enumeration of Portia's suitors, there may be some covert allusion to those of Queen Elizabeth. —Johnson

Note return to page 24 22&lblank; squander'd abroad.] Scattered.

Note return to page 25 23&lblank; to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into!] See 8th c. St. Matthew, v. 30.

Note return to page 26 24&lblank; catch him once upon the hip,] Dr. Johnson says the expression is taken from the practice of wrestling.

Note return to page 27 25&lblank; ripe wants of my friend,] Wants come to the height—wants that can have no longer delay.

Note return to page 28 26Is he yet possess'd] Id est, acquainted—informed.

Note return to page 29 27&lblank; eanlings] Lambs just dropt.

Note return to page 30 28&lblank; certain wands,] A wand in Shakespeare's time was the usual term for what we now call a switch. —Malone.

Note return to page 31 29&lblank; deed of kind,] Id est, of nature.

Note return to page 32 30&lblank; the fulsome ewes;] Lascivious—rank, obscene ewes.

Note return to page 33 31Fall] To let fall.

Note return to page 34 32&lblank; and those were Jacob's.] See Genesis xxx. 37.

Note return to page 35 33The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.] See St. Matthew iv. 6.

Note return to page 36 34O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!] Falsehood, which, as truth means honesty, is taken here for treachery and knavery, does not stand for falsehood in general, but for the dishonesty now operating. —Johnson.

Note return to page 37 35&lblank; and my usances:] Usance in our author's time signified interest of money.

Note return to page 38 36A breed of barren metal of his friend?] A breed, that is, interest money bred from the principal. The epithet barren implies that money is a barren thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself.

Note return to page 39 37Dwell] Continue.

Note return to page 40 38&lblank; fearful guard] A guard not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear.

Note return to page 41 39I like not fair terms] Kind words—good language.

Note return to page 42 40&lblank; whose blood is reddest, his, or mine.] Red blood is a traditionary sign of courage, as cowards are said to have livers as white as milk. It is customary in the East for lover's to testify the violence of their passion by cutting themselves in the sight of their mistresses. —Picart's Religious Ceremonies.

Note return to page 43 41&lblank; therefore be advis'd.] Therefore be not precipitant; consider well what you are about to do.

Note return to page 44 42&lblank; with warning all as blunt:] That is, as gross as the dull metal.

Note return to page 45 35700001[A] (A) The foundation of Venice is attributed to the inhabitants of the surrounding districts, who fled from the cruelty of Attila, King of the Huns, and took refuge among the islets at the mouth of the Brenta. Here, about the middle of the fifth century, they founded two small towns, called Rivoalto and Malmocco, and, being in a manner shut out from all other modes of employment, naturally devoted themselves to commerce. In this way they soon became prosperous, and their numbers increased so rapidly, that in the year 697 they made application to the Emperor to be elected into a body politic, and obtained authority to elect a chief, to whom they gave the name of Duke or Doge. The town, continuing to increase, gradually extended its buildings to the adjacent islands, and, at the same time, acquired considerable tracts of territory on the mainland, then inhabited by the Veneti, from whence the rising city is supposed to have borrowed its name of Venetia or Venice.

Note return to page 46 35700002[B] (B) This is the heart of Venice, and is one of the most imposing architectural objects in Europe. Three of the sides are occupied by ranges of lofty buildings, which are connected by a succession of covered walks or arcades. The church of St Mark, founded in the year 828, closes up the square on the east. The lofty Campanile, or Bell-tower, over 300 feet in height, was begun A.D. 902, and finished in 1155. In the reign of Justiniani Participazio, A.D., 827, the son and successor of Angelo, undistinguished by events of more important character, the Venetians became possessed of the relics of that saint to whom they ever afterwards appealed as the great patron of their state and city. These remains were obtained from Alexandria by a pious stratagem, at a time when the church wherein they were originally deposited was about to be destroyed, in order that its rich marbles might be applied to the decoration of a palace. At that fortunate season, some Venetian ships (it is said no less than ten, a fact proving the prosperous extent of their early commerce) happened to be trading in that port; and their captains, though not without much difficulty, succeeded in obtaining from the priests, who had the custody of the holy treasure, its deliverance into their hands, in order that it might escape profanation. It was necessary, however, that this transfer should be made in secrecy; for we are assured by Sabellico, who relates the occurrence minutely, that the miracles which had been daily wrought at the saint's shrine had strongly attached the populace to his memory. The priests carefully opened the cerements in which the body was enveloped; and considering, doubtless, that one dead saint possessed no less intrinsic virtue and value than another, they very adroitly substituted the corpse of a female, Sta. Claudia, in the folds which had been occupied by that of St. Mark. But they had widely erred in their graduation of the scale of beatitude. So great was the odour of superior sanctity, that a rich perfume diffused itself through the church at the moment at which the grave-clothes of the evangelist were disturbed; and the holy robbery was well nigh betrayed to the eager crowd of worshippers, who, attracted by the sweet smell, thronged to inspect the relics, and to ascertain their safety. After examination, they retired, satisfied that their favourite saint was inviolate; for the slit which the priests had made in his cerements was behind and out of sight. But the Venetians still had to protect the embarkation of their prize. For this purpose, effectually to prevent all chance of search, they placed the body in a large basket stuffed with herbs and covered with joints of pork. The porters who bore it were instructed to cry loudly ‘Khanzri Khanzir!’* [Subnote: *Khanzir, Arab. a hog. A cape on the coast of Syria is named Ras el Khanzir; i.e., hog's-head.] and every true Mussulman whom they met, carefully avoided the uncleanness with which he was threatened by contact with this forbidden flesh. Even when once on board, the body was not yet quite safe; for accident might reveal the contents of the basket; it was therefore wrapt in one of the sails, and hoisted to a yard-arm of the main-mast, till the moment of departure. Nor was this precaution unnecessary; for the unbelievers instituted a strict search for contraband goods before the vessel sailed. During the voyage, the ship was in danger from a violent storm; and but for the timely appearance of the saint, who warned the captain to furl his sails, she would inevitably have been lost. The joy of the Venetians, on the arrival of this precious cargo, was manifested by feasting, music, processions, and prayers. An ancient tradition was called to mind, that St. Mark, in his travels, had visited Aquileia; and having touched also at the Hundred Isles, at that time uninhabited, had been informed, in a prophetic vision, that his bones should one day repose upon their shores. Venice was solemnly consigned to his protection. The saint himself, or his lion, was blazoned on her standards and impressed on her coinage; and the shout of the populace, whether on occasions of sedition or of joy, and the gathering cry of the armies of the republic in battle was, henceforward, ‘Viva San Marco!’ —Sketches of Venetian History.

Note return to page 47 35700003[C] (C) This ancient Exchange “where merchants most do congregate,” is situated on the Rialto Island, its name being derived from “riva alta,” “high shore.” It is a square in the immediate vicinity of the Rialto Bridge, and contains the Church of San Jacopo, the first sacred edifice built in Venice. The original church was erected in the year 421, and the present building in 1194, and was restored in 1531. This island, being the largest and most elevated, became the first inhabited, and is, therefore, the most ancient part of Venice. The Exchange was held under the arcades, facing the church, and was daily crowded with those connected with trade and commerce. It is now occupied as a vegetable market.

Note return to page 48 35700004[D] (D) Vecellio informs us that the Jews of Venice differed in nothing, as far ar regarded dress, from Venetians of the same occupation, with the exception of a yellow, or orange tawney coloured bonnet, which they were compelled to wear by order of government. The women were distinguished from the Christian ladies by wearing yellow veils. Shakespeare is supposed to have taken the name of his Jew from an old pamphlet, entitled “Caleb Shillocke, his prophesie; or the Jewes Prediction.”

Note return to page 49 35700005[E] (E) “He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice.” About the time that Shakespeare lived, Venice had commercia. dealings with all the civilized nations of the world; and Cyprus, Candia, and the Morea were subject to her government. Merchants from all countries congregated in Venice, and received every possible encouragement from the authorities. The Jews, under the sanction of government, were the money lenders, and were, consequently, much disliked, as well as feared, by their mercantile creditors. They indulged in usury to an enormous extent, and were immensely rich.

Note return to page 50 1&lblank; for the heavens;] This expression is simply “a pretty oath.” It occurs in Ben Jonson and Decker.

Note return to page 51 2&lblank; 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.

Note return to page 52 3I will try conclusions] Experiments.

Note return to page 53 4&lblank; turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.] This perplexed direction is given to puzzle the enquirer.

Note return to page 54 5&lblank; now will I raise the waters.] Id est, make him weep.

Note return to page 55 6&lblank; 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.

Note return to page 56 7&lblank; phill horse,] The horse in the shafts of a cart or waggon. The term is best understood in the Midland Counties.

Note return to page 57 8&lblank; the suit is impertinent] Launcelot is a blunderer, as well as one who can “play upon a word;” here he means pertinent.

Note return to page 58 9&lblank; a livery more guarded] More ornamented.

Note return to page 59 10&lblank; a fairer table;] Table is the palm of the hand.

Note return to page 60 11&lblank; 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.

Note return to page 61 12&lblank; here's a simple line of life!] In allusion to the lines on the palm of his hand.

Note return to page 62 13&lblank; in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed,] A cant phrase to signify the danger of marrying.

Note return to page 63 14&lblank; something too liberal:—] Gross or coarse.

Note return to page 64 15&lblank; hood mine eyes] Alluding to the manner of covering a hawk's eyes.

Note return to page 65 16&lblank; sad ostent;] Grave appearance—show of staid and serious behaviour. Ostent is a word very commonly used for show among the old dramatic writers.

Note return to page 66 17&lblank; we shall see your bearing.] Bearing is carriage—deportment.

Note return to page 67 18We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.] Id est, we have not yet bespoken the torch-bearers.

Note return to page 68 19&lblank; to break up this,] To break up was a term in carving.

Note return to page 69 20I am bid forth to supper,] I am invited. To bid, in old language, meant to pray.

Note return to page 70 21&lblank; 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.

Note return to page 71 22&lblank; nose fell a bleeding] Some superstitious belief was annexed to the accident of bleeding at the nose.

Note return to page 72 23&lblank; wry-neck'd fife,] The upper part or mouth-piece, resembling the beak of a bird.

Note return to page 73 24&lblank; worth a Jewess' eye.] It's worth a Jews' eye is a proverbial phrase.

Note return to page 74 25The patch is kind enough;] Patch is the name of a Fool, probably in allusion to his patch'd or party colored dress.

Note return to page 75 26Sung by Miss Poole, Miss Leffler, and Mr. Wallworth.

Note return to page 76 27The words are from Midsummer Night's Dream, Act i., Scene 1.

Note return to page 77 28&lblank; a Gentile and no Jew.] A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which signifies both a Heathen, and one well-born.

Note return to page 78 35700006[A] (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.

Note return to page 79 35700007[B] (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.

Note return to page 80 1&lblank; so have I address'd me:] To address is to prepare—id est I have prepared myself by the same ceremonies.

Note return to page 81 2That many may be meant] Many modes of speech were familiar in Shakespeare's age that are now no longer used. “May be meant,” id est, meaning by that, &c.

Note return to page 82 3&lblank; the fool multitude] The foolish multitude.

Note return to page 83 4&lblank; I wis,] I know.

Note return to page 84 5&lblank; to bear my wroath.] Misfortune.

Note return to page 85 6&lblank; regreets;] i. e., salutations.

Note return to page 86 7I reason'd] Id est, I conversed.

Note return to page 87 8&lblank; knapp'd ginger,] To knap is to break short. The word occurs in the common prayer—“He knappeth the spear in sunder.”

Note return to page 88 9&lblank; turquoise;] A precious stone found in the veins of the mountains on the confines of Persia to the east, subject to the Tartars. Many superstitious qualities were imputed to it, all of which were either monitory or preservative to the wearer.

Note return to page 89 10Sung by Miss Poole, and Chorus of Ladies.

Note return to page 90 11So may the outward shows be least themselves;] Bassanio begins abruptly; the first part of the argument having passed in his mind while the music was proceeding.

Note return to page 91 12&lblank; gracious voice,] Pleasing—winning favour.

Note return to page 92 13&lblank; approve it] Id est, justify it.

Note return to page 93 14&lblank; guiled] Treacherous—deceitful.

Note return to page 94 15Fair Portia's counterfeit?] Counterfeit, which is at present used only in a bad sense, anciently signified a likeness, a resemblance, without comprehending any idea of fraud

Note return to page 95 16&lblank; intermission] Intermission is pause—intervening time—delay.

Note return to page 96 17&lblank; any constant man.] Constant, in the present instance signifies grave.

Note return to page 97 18&lblank; fond] Id est, foolish.

Note return to page 98 19The duke cannot deny, &c.] As the reason here given seems a little perplex'd, it may be proper to explain it. If, says he, the duke stop the course of law, it will be attended with this inconvenience, that stranger merchants, by whom the wealth and power of this city is supported, will cry out of injustice. For the known stated law being their guide and security, they will never bear to have the current of it stopped on any pretence of equity whatsoever. —Warburton.

Note return to page 99 20For the commodity that strangers have With us in Venice, if it be denied, &c.] Id est, for the denial of those rights to strangers, which render their abode at Venice so commodious and agreeable to them, would much impeach the justice of the state. The consequence would be, that strangers would not reside or carry on traffick here; and the wealth and strength of the state would be diminished. In the Historye of Italye, by W. Thomas, quarto, 1567, there is a section On the libertee of straungers, at Venice —Malone.

Note return to page 100 21&lblank; hear other things.] Id est, she'll say no more in self-praise, but will refer to a new subject.

Note return to page 101 22&lblank; with imagin'd speed] Id est, with celerity, like that of imagination.

Note return to page 102 23Unto the tranect,] Probably this word means the tow-boat of the ferry.

Note return to page 103 35700008[A] (A) The present stone structure superseded an older one of wood. This celebrated edifice was commenced in 1588.

Note return to page 104 35700009[B] (B) That the swan uttered musical sounds at the approach of death was credited by Plato, Chrysippus, Aristotle, Euripides, Philostratus, Cicero, Seneca, and Martial. Pliny, Ælian, and Athenæus, among the ancients, and Sir Thomas More among the moderns, treat this opinion as a vulgar error. Luther believed in it. See his Colloquia, par. 2, p. 125, edit. 1571, 8vo. Our countryman, Bartholomew Glanville, thus mentions the singing of the swan: “And whan she shal dye and that a fether is pyght in the brayn, then she syngeth, as Ambrose sayth,” De propr. rer. 1. xii., c. 11. Monsieur Morin has written a dissertation on this subject in vol. v. of the Mem. de l'acad. des inscript. There are likewise some curious remarks on it in Weston's Specimens of the conformity of the European languages with the Oriental, p. 135; in Seelen Miscellanea, tom. 1. 298; and in Pinkerton's Recollections of Paris, ii. 336. —Douce's illustrations.

Note return to page 105 35700010[C] (C) These two magnificent granite columns, which adorn the Piazzetta of St. Mark, on the Molo or Quay, near the Doge's Palace, were among the trophies brought by Dominico Michieli on his victorious return from Palestine in 1125; and it is believed that they were plundered from some island in the Archipelago. A third pillar, which accompanied them, was sunk while landing. It was long before any engineer could be found sufficiently enterprising to attempt to rear them, and they were left neglected on the quay for more than fifty years. In 1180, however, Nicolo Barattiero* [Subnote: *Doglioni fixes the erection of these columns in 1172, Sabellico in 1174, the common Venetian Guide-books, a few years later. The Abbate Garaccioli, writes the name of the engineer Starrattoni.] , a Lombard, undertook the task, and succeeded. Of the process which he employed, we are uninformed; for Sabellico records no more than that he took especial pains to keep the ropes continually wetted, while they were strained by the weight of the huge marbles. The Government, more in the lavish spirit of Oriental bounty, than in accordance with the calculating sobriety of European patronage, had promised to reward the architect by granting whatever boon, consistent with its honour, he might ask. It may be doubted whether he quite strictly adhered to the requisite condition, when he demanded that games of chance, hitherto forbidden throughout the capital, might be played in the space between the columns: perhaps with a reservation to himself of any profits accruing from them. His request was granted, and the disgraceful monopoly became established; but afterward, in order to render the spot infamous, and to deter the population from frequenting it, it was made the scene of capital executions; and the bodies of countless malefactors were thus gibbeted under the very windows of the palace of the chief magistrate. A winged lion in bronze, the emblem of St. Mark, was raised on the summit of one of these columns; and the other was crowned with a statue of St. Theodore, a yet earlier patron of the city, armed with a lance and shield, and trampling on a serpent. A blunder, made by the statuary in this group, has given occasion for a sarcastic comment from Amelot de la Houssaye. The saint is sculptured with the shield in his right hand, the lance in his left; a clear proof, says the French writer, of the unacquaintance of the Venetians with the use of arms; and symbolical that their great council never undertakes a war of its own accord, nor for any other object than to obtain a good and secure peace. The satirist has unintentionally given the republic the highest praise which could flow from his pen. Happy, indeed, would it have been for mankind, if Governments had never been actuated by any other policy. De la Houssaye informs us also that the Venetians exchanged the patronage of St. Theodore for that of St. Mark, from like pacific motives; because the first was a soldier and resembled St. George, the tutelary idol of Genoa. —Sketches of Venetian History.

Note return to page 106 1Magnificoes,] Coryat calls the nobles of Venice Clarissimoes.

Note return to page 107 2&lblank; envy's reach,] Envy, in this place, means hatred or malice.

Note return to page 108 3&lblank; remorse,] Id est, pity.

Note return to page 109 4&lblank; apparent cruelty:] That is, seeming cruelty; not real.

Note return to page 110 5&lblank; where thou now] where for whereas.

Note return to page 111 6&lblank; I'll not answer that; But, say, it is my humour;] The Jew being asked a question which the law does not require him to answer, stands upon his right, and refuses; but afterwards gratifies his own malignity by such answers as he knows will aggravate the pain of the enquirer. I will not answer, says he, as to a legal or serious question, but, since you want an answer, will this serve you? —Johnson.

Note return to page 112 7&lblank; a gaping pig;] By a gaping pig, Shakespeare, I believe, meant a pig prepared for the table; for in that state is the epithet, gaping, most applicable to this animal. So, in Fletcher's Elder Brother— “And they stand gaping like a roasted pig.” A passage in one of Nashe's pamphlets (which perhaps furnished our author with his instance), may serve to confirm the observation: “The causes conducting unto wrath are as diverse as the actions of a man's life. Some will take on like a madman, if they see a pig come to the table. Sotericus, the surgeon, was cholerick at the sight of sturgeon,” &c. Pierce Pennylesse his Supplication to the Devil, 1592. —Malone.

Note return to page 113 8&lblank; question with the Jew.] To question is to converse.

Note return to page 114 9Padua is the place of education for the civil law in Italy.

Note return to page 115 10Cannot impugn you,] To impugn, is to oppose, to controvert.

Note return to page 116 11You stand within his danger,] Id est, within his power—within his reach or control.

Note return to page 117 12The quality of mercy is not strain'd;] “Mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.” —Ecclesiasticus XXXV., 20.

Note return to page 118 13&lblank; malice bears down truth.] Malice oppresses honesty, A true man in old language is an honest man.

Note return to page 119 14&lblank; Barrabas] Shakespeare seems to have followed the pronunciation of the name of this robber usual to the Theatre, Barrabas being sounded Barabas throughout Marlowe's Jew of Malta.

Note return to page 120 15Ay, for the state;] That is, the state's moiety may be commuted for a fine, but not Antonio's.

Note return to page 121 16The other half in use,] Let him have it at interest during the Jew's life, to render it on his death to Lorenzo.

Note return to page 122 17&lblank; thou should'st have had ten more,] Id est, a jury of twelve men, to condemn thee to be hanged.

Note return to page 123 18&lblank; upon more advice,] Id es, upon more reflection.

Note return to page 124 19&lblank; old swearing,] Of this once common augmentative in colloquial language there are various instances in our author.

Note return to page 125 35700011[A] (A) This scene represents the Sala dei Pregadi, or Hall of the Senators. In Venice the tribunal for criminal cases was composed of forty judges, ordinarily presided over by one of three selected from the Council of the Doge, and draughted for the most part, if not wholly, from the members of the Senate. The Doge, who on all occasions was attended by his particular officers, had the right of sitting in the councils, or on the tribunal. The authority for the six senators in red (in this scene) is taken from the picture at Hampton Court Palace, where the Doge of Venice, in state, is receiving Sir Henry Wootton, ambassador from James the First. The picture is by Odoardo Fialletti, better known as an engraver than as a painter, and who was living at Venice when Sir Henry Wootton was ambassador there.

Note return to page 126 35700012[B] (B) The first Doge, or Duke of Venice, was Paolo Luca Anafesto, elected A.D. 697, and the last was Luigi Manini, who yielded the city, which had just completed the eleventh century of its sway, to the victorious arms of Buonaparte, in 1797.

Note return to page 127 35700013[C] (C) We are not to imagine the word royal to be only a ranting, sounding epithet. It is used with great propriety, and shows the poet well acquainted with the history of the people whom he here brings upon the stage. For when the French and Venetians, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, had won Constantinople, the French, under the Emperor Henry, endeavoured to extend their conquests into the provinces of the Grecian Empire on the Terra firma; while the Venetians, who were masters of the sea, gave liberty to any subjects of the republic, who would fit out vessels, to make themselves masters of the isles of the Archipelago, and other maritime places; and to enjoy their conquests in sovereignty: only doing homage to the republic for their several principalities By virtue of this licence, the Sanudi, the Justinianii, the Grimaldi, the Summaripi, and others, all Venetian merchants, erected principalities in several places of the Archipelago (which their descendants enjoyed for many generations), and thereby became truly and properly royal merchants, which indeed was the title generally given them all over Europe. Hence, the most eminent of our own merchants (while publick spirit resided amongst them, and before it was aped by faction), were called royal merchants. —Warburton. This epithet was in our poet's time more striking and better understood, because Gresham was then commonly dignified with the title of the royal merchant. —Johnson.

Note return to page 128 35700014[D] (D) This judgment is related by Gracian, the celebrated Spanish jesuit, in his Hero, with a reflection at the conclusion of it:— “The vivacity of that great Turke enters into competition with that of Solomon: a Jew pretended to cut an ounce of the flesh of a Christian upon a penalty of usury; he urged it to the Prince, with as much obstinacy, as perfidiousness towards God. The great Judge commanded a pair of scales to be brought, threatening the Jew with death if he cut either more or less: And this was to give a sharp decision to a malicious process, and to the world a miracle of subtilty.” —The Hero, p. 24, &c. Gregorio Leti, in his Life of Sixtus V., has a similar story. The papacy of Sixtus began in 1583. He died Aug. 29, 1590. —Steevens

Note return to page 129 1&lblank; patines of bright gold.] A patine is the small flat dish or plate used with the chalice in the service of the altar. In the time of popery, and probably in the following age, it was commonly made of gold.

Note return to page 130 2Sung by Miss Poole, Miss Leffler, Mr. T. Young, Mr. J. Collett, and Mr. Wallworth. —From As You Like It, Act V., Scene 3.

Note return to page 131 3Nothing is good, I see, without respect;] Not absolutely good but relatively good, as it is modified by circumstances.

Note return to page 132 4&lblank; this breathing courtesy.] This verbal complimentary form, made up only of breath, i. e., words.

Note return to page 133 5&lblank; like cutler's poetry] Knives were formerly inscribed, by means of aqua fortis, with short sentences in distich.

Note return to page 134 6&lblank; respective,] Regardful.

Note return to page 135 7&lblank; a little scrubbed boy,] A stunted boy.

Note return to page 136 8&lblank; I once did lend my body for his wealth;] Id est., for his advantage —to obtain his happiness; wealth was, at that time, the term opposed to adversity or calamity.

Note return to page 137 10&lblank; inter'gatories,] A contraction of interrogatories.

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