His character is displayed as distinctly in other less
prominent parts of the play, and we may collect from a few sentences
the history of his life--his descent and origin, his thrift and
domestic economy, his affection for his daughter, whom he loves next
to his wealth, his courtship and his first present to Leah, his
wife! 'I would not have parted with it' (the ring which he first
gave her) 'for a wilderness of monkeys!' What a fine Hebraism is
implied in this expression!
Portia is not a very great favourite with us, neither are we in love
with her maid, Nerissa. Portia has a certain degree of affectation
and pedantry about her, which is very unusual in Shakespeare's
women, but which perhaps was a proper qualification for the office
of a 'civil doctor', which she undertakes and executes so
successfully. The speech about mercy is very well; but there are a
thousand finer ones in Shakespeare. We do not admire the scene of
the caskets; and object entirely to the Black Prince, Morocchius. We
should like Jessica better if she had not deceived and robbed her
father, and Lorenzo, if he had not married a Jewess, though he
thinks he has a right to wrong a Jew. The dialogue between this
newly married couple by moonlight, beginning 'On such a night', &c.,
is a collection of classical elegancies. Launcelot, the Jew's man,
is an honest fellow.
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