Understanding Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice by Robert A. Albano - HTML preview

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allusion toVenusand the doves that pull her chariot across the sky. He comments that her dove- propelled chariot (symbolizing young lovers) moves “ten times faster” than those couples who have already been married for a long time (lines 5-7). Young love is fast, but old love is slow.

The witty Graziano then contributes a number ofmetaphorsto suggest that many objects in nature start out quickly but then slow down sometime later:

(1) A hungry person eagerly and quickly sits down to a feast but rises slowly after he has finished.

(2) An excited horse will gallop quickly to an intended destination but return with a much slower gait.

(3) A glistening ship setting sail for a journey will energetically head for strong winds, but on the return trip home the weather-beaten ship with its ragged sails struggles slowly upon less ferventwinds.

Graziano thus comments that …

All things that are Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.

(12-13)

Young people who are in pursuit of love are spirited and energetic; but shortly after they are united with