The Merchant of Venice Act 5 – “…in such a night as this, when the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, and they did make no noise…”

The Merchant of Venice Act 5 – “…in such a night as this, when the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, and they did make no noise…”

The magic of night, moonlight and lovers frames this finale to ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Lorenzo and Jessica craft poetic allusions and personifications in their declarations of love. “…in such a night as this/When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees/ And they did make no noise…” The news of Portia’s return brings music while Lorenzo continues contemplation.

“The man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;

The motions of his spirit are dull as night

And his affections dark as Erebus:

Let no such man be trusted.”

It is the music and then the night candles that signal Portia and Nerissa that they are almost home. Lorenzo welcomes Portia and when she finds out her husband’s party has almost arrived as well, she tells Lorenzo not to tell her husband of her absence.

Bassanio and Gratiano arrive and Bassanio introduces his good friend Antonio who he tells has won his life back in the court case in Venice. Suddenly, an argument is heard between Gratiano and Nerissa and what is revealed is that Gratiano has given away to a lawyer’s clerk the ring that Nerissa gave him. Portia chatises Gratiano and declares her husband Bassanio would never part with the ring she gave him. Gratiano reveals that Bassanio has in fact done just that when he gave his ring to a young lawyer in thanks and payment for saving his good friend Antonio. Portia declares she will never sleep with Bassanio until her produces the ring. She then accuses him of giving the ring to a woman. Bassanio denies this. Antonio tries to intervene and pledges his soul as collateral if ever Bassanio is unfaithful.

Portia knows she has had enough sport and she and Nerissa reveal the rings and the story of their cross-dressing exploits. Bassanio and Gratiano recognize the rings but swear that they could not and did not recognize their wives when they were dressed up as the young impressive lawyer and his clerk in Venice. Portia also reveals that three of Antonio’s ships laden with rich stores have come into harbour and gives Antonio a letter to confirm this. She then tells Lorenzo that he and his wife will receive Shylock’s fortune upon Shylock's death. So, with love, fortunes and ships coming home to harbour, we are still left to contemplate “in sooth” why ‘was’ and maybe ‘is’ Antonio so sad.

Shakespeare returns in ‘Henry IV Part 1’.