Shakespere?

Question

Even if you don't know the play, (its the merchant of venice) could someone help me understand these lines? I can't seem to understand them myself:

So may the outward shows be least themselves:

The world is still deceived with ornament.

In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,

But, being season'd with a gracious voice,

Obscures the show of evil? In religion,

What damned error, but some sober brow

Will bless it, and approve it with a text,

Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?

There is no vice so simple, but assumes

Some mark of virtue on his outward parts:

How many cowards, whose hearts are all false

As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins

The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;

Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk;

And these assume but valour's excrement

To render them redoubted! Look on beauty,

And you shall see't is purchased by the weight;

Which therein works a miracle in nature,

Making them lightest that wear most of it:

(cont. in details)

Answer 1

It's basically a long way of saying "things are not always as they would seem" and that people have ways of making themselves appear better than they actually are - don't judge a book by it's cover!

Answer 2

go onto google and search "no fear shakespeare" and click on the first website.

Answer 3

read every sentance carefully and thik for some time till you get it

Answer 4

Appearances are deceiving.  What shows on the outside may not be true inside.  In law, a gracious voice can conceal corruption.  In religion, something wrong can be blessed by someone in all seriousness who quotes a text and hides the wrongness with the fancy words.  Vice and evil can look virtuous on the outside.  How many guys who look strong like Hercules and Mars are acutally cowards with milky livers, in truth taking on nothing more than the waste products of valor.  Beauty/ beautiful things are often purchased by weight (like diamonds for example) but the people who wear the most of these things outwardly are often the people who are the least substantial inwardly.

Answer 5

I dont understand them! but at any bookstore, thewy sell books called shakspeare made easy, and they translate the text into modern english!!good luck!! he is difficult to understand...

Answer 6

he talking about people,

that are rich, and vain.

rather then being a

caring person whom helps  the poor.

he will not be selfish.

this is how is see the

poem, hope i helped.

laney