Merchant of Venice
Act I Sc. 1
“What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am
To learn; and such a want-wit sadness makes of me.”
“That courtesy to them, and do them reverence.”
“And see my wealthy Andrew docks in sand.”
For ‘docks’ the editors read, after Rowe, ‘dock’d’; but it is simpler to read ‘dock,’ the s being the usual printer’s addition. We might even perhaps retain the text, reading ‘see!’
“If they should speak ’twould almost damn those ears.”
Sc. 2
“Come Nerissa. Sirrah, go before. Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.”
Perhaps a rime and a seven-foot line were intended, in which case we should arrange thus, as Knight has also done;
“Come in, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.”
Sc. 3
“Will you pleasure me in it? Shall I know your answer?”
“Mark you this Bassanio,” etc.
This speech should be marked Aside. It is so in my Edition.
“Hath a dog money? Is it possible?”
We should read ‘monies,’ the word Shylock always uses.
“Of usance for my monies, and you’ll not hear me.
This is kind that I offer.—This were kindness.”
So it should be arranged.