Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

                                             But is it true, Solanio?

Have all his ventures fail’d? What, not one hit?

From Tripolis, from Mexico, and England,

From Lisbon, Barbary, and India?

And not one vessel scape the dreadful touch

Of merchant-marring rocks?

 

Bassanio

The Merchant of Venice       Act III, Scene ii, Line 269

                           

Recall, that this whole story is about Bassanio borrowing money from Antonio to be able to take a chance at winning Portia. Recall also, that Shylock only gets involved because Antonio is cash poor since all his money has been sunk in ventures overseas. The loan from Shylock needs to be repaid within ninety days, and it is expected that all or some of Antonio’s ventures will be returning by then.

Bassanio has won Portia, but in the next breath we learn that all of Antonio’s ventures have failed. Now Antonio will have to pay the pound of flesh to Shylock.

Yes, apparently Antonio had ships out to Tripolis, Mexico, England, Lisbon, Barbary, and India, all expected to come back with goods for resale. And they all wrecked, every single one of them. Not one vessel scape the dreadful touch/Of merchant-marring rocks.

That’s some pretty bad luck!

First mate Mojo is keeping a sharp eye out for any merchant-marring rocks.

No Mojo, that's Walker in a donut, not a merchant-marring rock.

Nice try, though.