"Is It So Nominated in the Bond?"

John Rogers, born Salem, MA 1829-died New Canaan, CT 1904 · patented 1860

“Is It So Nominated in the Bond?” is from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, and was one of John Rogers’s most popular works. In the scene, Antonio has been called to trial against the moneylender Shylock, who is demanding a pound of flesh for nonpayment of a loan. Antonio’s friend Portia is dressed as a judge trying to bargain with Shylock. Upon the suggestion that a surgeon be present when the flesh is extracted, Shylock challenges, “Is it so nominated in the bond?” to which Portia replies, “It is not so express’d; but what of that? ‘Twere good you do so much for charity.”