; Id est_, within his
power--within his reach or control.]

[Footnote 106: _The 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.]

[Footnote 107: _--malice bears down truth_.; Malice oppresses honesty. A
_true_ man in old language is an _honest_ man.]

[Footnote 108: _--Burrabas_; Shakespeare seems to have followed the
pronunciation of the name of this robber usual to the Theatre, Barrabas
being sounded Barabas throughout Marlowe's _Jews of Malta_.]

[Footnote 109: _Ay, for the state_; That is, the state's moiety may be
commuted for a fine, but not Antonio's.]

[Footnote 110: _The other half in use_,; Let him have it at interest
during the Jew's life, to render it on his death to Lorenzo.]

[Footnote 111: _thou should'st have had ten more,; Id est_, a jury of
_twelve_ men, to condemn thee to be hanged.]

SCENE II.--VENICE. THE FOSCARI GATE OF THE DUCAL PALACE, LEADING TO THE
GIANT'S STAIRCASE.

_Enter_ PORTIA _and_ NERISSA.

_Por_. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign
it; we'll away to-night, And be a day before our husbands home: This
deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

_Enter_ GRATIANO.

_Gra_. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken: My lord Bassanio, upon more
advice,[112] Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Your company
at dinner.

_Por_. That cannot be: This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I
pray you, tell him: Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's
house.

_Gra_. That will I do.

_Ner_. Sir, I would speak with you:--I'll see if I can get my husband's
ring,

[_To_ PORTIA.

Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

_Por_. Thou may'st, I warrant. We shall have old swearing,[113] That
they did give the rings away to men; But we'll outface them, and
outswear them, too. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry.

_Ner_. Come, good Sir, will you show me to this house?

[_Exeunt_.

END OF ACT FOURTH.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 112: _upon more advice,; Id est_, upon more reflection.]

[Footnote 113: _old swearing_; Of this once common augmentative in
colloquial language there are various instances in our author.]

HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT FOURTH.

(A) This scene represents the Sala dei Preg