footnotes+a2s1

**1-3: "Mislike me not for my complexion, the shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun, to whom I am a neighbour and near bred."-** Don't dislike me because I am so black, for the sun, to whom I am a neighbor and closely related, has darkened my skin. The Prince of Morocco is asking Portia not to pass over him in her selection because his skin is black, and he explains why his skin is dark in hopes of showing her that he is civil. This phrase is also a reference to Song of Solomon in the Bible. AEMV 

**4: "fairest creature"-**most beautiful creature (woman). Flattery sometimes works, and the Prince of Morocco is trying everything in his power to get Portia to like him. In this line, he is telling Portia that she's really pretty. AEMV

**5: "Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles-** Where Phoebus' (the sun-god's) fire, of which there is not much, thaws the icicles. Shakespeare is referencing mythology. AEMV

**7: "To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine"** -This phrase means what it says: to prove whose blood is reddest. Duh. The only reason I put this footnote in was because in those times, red blood was thought to show courage. AEMV


 * 8: "aspect"** - Shakespearean for "character. The Prince is bragging that his character is so fierce that it has terrified even the valiant. AEMV


 * 10: "clime"** - (climate) part of the world. He's flattering her again; telling her that they should be together because they each are the most admired non-married people of their region.AEMV


 * 15: "lottery of my destiny"** - Portia is saying that her future is uncontrollable, like a lottery (metaphor), because of her father's restrictions on who she can marry. AEMV


 * 32: "Hercules and Lichas"** - Hercules was the superman of Greek mythology, and Lichas was his sidekick. In case you hadn't noticed yet, Shakespeare likes to reference mythology and the Bible. Why? Because he's trying to appeal to two very different audiences: the poor, who like fighting and stuff like that, and the rich, who feel smart when authors reference things that they know about.AEMV


 * 35: "Alcides"** - Another name for Hercules. More mythology references.AEMV


 * 36: "blind Fortune leading"** - The Prince of Morocco is saying that he has no idea what lies ahead so he will let fortune lead him (personification). Shakespeare even capitalizes "Fortune" to emphasize the personification.AEMV


 * 43: "Nor will not"** - The Prince is responding to Portia's telling of his punishment by saying that he will not speak to a woman about marraige if he chooses wrongly. This is a casual oath before the oath taken at the altar later.AEMV