ST.

PETER’S SCHOOL, MAZAGAON

CLASS 9
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 1 SCENE 2

1. NERISSA
“You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your
good fortunes are. And yet for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit with too
much as they that starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be
seated in the mean. Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives
longer.”

i. Who is Nerissa speaking to? What has the listener said that prompts this response?
Nerissa is speaking to Portia. The listener gave this reply to the comment made by Portia
that her little body is tired with this great world.

ii. Explain the terms:

a. surfeit: supplied in excess.
b. seated in the mean: placed in moderate circumstances/one who has just enough.
c. Superfluity: wastefulness (personification) .

iii. Explain the context of Nerissa’s line.

According to Nerissa, Portia is doubtful about her future because of strange provisions of
her father’s will. Nerissa is Portia’s maid but she is her friend and confidante too. She
says some people are tired of their extreme poverty while others are due to too much
wealth.

iv. How does the listener respond to show that it's not easy to follow what one preaches?
The listener it is easier to give advice to twenty people as compared to following her
own teachings. The brain may make laws for the blood but the heat of the blood
overpowers the dictates of such dry laws.

v. Later in the same scene the listener compares madness of youth to a hare. Explain the
comparison.
The madness of youth can leap across good advice without paying any heed to it. They
are like a hare avoiding the trap of good advice from experienced people.

2. PORTIA
I pray thee, overname them. And as thou namest them, I will describe them. And
according to my description,level at my affection.
NERISSA
First, there is the Neapolitan prince.
PORTIA
Ay, that’s a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse, and he makes it a great
appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself.
 i. Where are the speakers?
The speaker, Portia and Nerissa, are in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont.

ii. Name the other suitors that Portia refers to when she says, ‘over -name them’.
The Neapolitan Prince from Naples, The County Palatine, Monsieur Le Bon from France,
Mr Falcon Bridge from England, The Scottish Lord & The Duke of Saxony.

iii. Where is the Neapolitan prince from? Does he finally agree to the lottery for Portia? Give
reasons for your answer.
The Neapolitan Prince from Naples, Italy. (Answer in your own words)

iv. Give the meaning of:

a. level at my affection: guess/gauge

b. That’s a colt indeed: an inexperienced young man
c. a great appropriation:addition to his own merits

v. Explain the comparison made by Portia.

According to Portia, the Neapolitan prince is as immature and rash as a wild young horse.
He talks about nothing but horses and considers it a great qualification that he can shoe
his own horse. She feels that his mother must have had a love affair with a blacksmith.

3. PORTIA
“If a throstle sing, he falls straight a- capering. He will fence with his own shadow. If I
should marry him, I should marry twenty husbands. If he would despise me I would
forgive him, for if he love me to madness I shall never requite him.”
NERISSA
What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of England?
PORTIA
“You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him.”

i. Where are the speakers? What has led them to this conversation?
The speaker, Portia and Nerissa, are in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont. Portia’s
opinion about one of the suitors Monsieur Le Bon leads them to this conversation.

ii. Who is Portia referring to? Why does she say, ‘if I should marry him, then I should marry
twenty husbands’?
Portia is referring to Le Bon. She feels that Le Bon is more attached to the horse that the
Neapolitan frowns more than Count Palatine. He has every man’s fault, but is not a man
at all. Marrying him will be like marrying twenty different men.

iii. Explain ‘If a throstle sing, he falls straight a- capering.’

Even if a throstle sings he will dance. He seems so energetic that he can dance to any
music or cannot stand still.
iv. Give the meaning of:
a. love me to madness: an intense emotion of affection
b. requite him:repay

v. Why does Portia say ‘he understands not me about the young baron of England?
Portia says that Falconbridge, the young Baron does not understand her just like she
doesn’t understand him. He doesn’t know any language and his grasp of English is very
poor. He is a fine figure of a man but who can hold a conversation by means of signs. He
dresses in different styles, and borrows manners from everywhere.

4. PORTIA: “Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober, and most vilely
In the afternoon, he is drunk. When he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when
he is worst, he is little better than a beast. And the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I
Shall make shift to go without him.”
NERISSA: “If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse
to perform your father’s will, if you should refuse to accept him.”

i. Who is being spoken about? What did Portia think of this suitor?
The young German, The Duke of Saxony’s nephew is being spoken about. Portia thinks
that this suitor is bad in the morning and worse in the afternoon when he is drunk.

ii. Why does Nerissa say ‘you should refuse to perform your father’s will’?
Nerissa says the alone line to let Portia know that if the young German chose the right
casket and she refused to accept him, she would be going against her father’s will.

iii. What advice does Portia give Nerissa to ensure the suitor chooses incorrectly?
Portia advises Nerissa to place a glass of Rhenish wine on the wrong casket to ensure
that the suitor chooses the wrong casket in his fondness for wine.

iv. Why is Portia confident her advice will ensure he chooses wrongly?
Portia is confident that her advice will ensure the young German will choose wrongly as
he is addicted to drinking and will surely choose the wine in his drunkenness, thereby
choosing the wrong casket.

v. Give meaning of:

a. and the worst fall that ever fell: Let the worst that may have ever taken place,
happen.
b. hope I shall make shift to go without him: hope I shall manage to go without him.

5. PORTIA: “If I live to be as old as Siblylla, I will die as chaste as Diana, Unless I be
obtained by the manner of my father’s will, I am glad this parcel of wooers are so
 reasonable, for there is not One among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray
God grant them a fair departure.”

i. What has Nerissa just said that makes Portia say this?
Nerissa tells Portia that the six Lords have told her that they would wish to return back to
their home and not trouble Portia, unless she can win by any other means besides the
lottery of the three caskets.

ii. Name two of the ‘parcel of wooers’ she is referring to.

Neapolitan Prince / County Palatine………(any 2 of the six can be mentioned)

iii. Explain the metaphorical imagery of Sibylla and Diana.

Sibylla – is a prophetess whom Apollo granted her wish to live as many years as the
grains of the sand in her hands. Diana – was a virgin goddess. Meaning that Portia will
live as old as Sibylla and stay as chaste as Diana but not marry against her father’s wish.

iv. What was her father’s will?

Her father’s will stated that a lottery of three caskets of gold, silver and lead would decide
who would marry Portia. Nerissa mentions an important person immediately after this
extract.

v. What does she say and what does Portia say in response.
After this extract Nerissa says that a Venetian scholar and soldier who had visited them
when her father was alive was the most deserving to be wedded to Portia. Portia is
excited and says that she remembers him well and accepts the praise Nerissa showers on
him.

6. PORTIA:
“If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I
should be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of
the devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me. Come, Nerissa: Sirrah, go
before: While we shut the gates upon on wooer, another knocks at the door.

i. Who has just entered the scene? Where does this scene take place?
A servant has just entered the scene. This scene takes place in Belmont in a room in
Portia’s house.

ii. What news does this entrant give Portia?

He tells Portia that an advance messenger has come from the Prince of Morocco with the
message that the prince will be there at Belmont that night.

iii. Name the ‘other four’.

Neapolitan Prince, County Palatine, French Lord, Falconbridge…
iv. Earlier Nerissa mentioned a ‘Venetian ,scholar and a soldier’. Name this suitor. What
does Portia say about him when Nerissa makes this statement? What does it tell us of her
feelings?
This suitor is Bassanio. Portia tells that she remembers him well and that Bassanio is
worthy of the praise Nerissa showers on him. It tells us that Portia is excited and specially
fond of Bassanio too.

v. Give the meaning of :

a. so good a heart: a generous giver of gifts
b. condition of a saint: possessing the good qualities of a holy person
c. he should shrive me: he should hear my confession and declare me free of my sins.