What does Shakespeare mean by the word metal?

In Shakespeare's time, the word "metal" was used in a broader sense than it is today. It referred to any solid, opaque, shiny material that could be melted and shaped. This included not only metals in the modern sense, such as iron, copper, and gold, but also other substances such as glass, stone, and even ice.

In some cases, Shakespeare used the word "metal" in a figurative sense, to refer to the strength or courage of a person or thing. For example, in the play "Henry V," the king refers to his soldiers as "the metal of France," meaning that they are the strongest and most courageous warriors in the country.

Here are some examples of Shakespeare's use of the word "metal":

* "This precious stone is worth as much as all the metal in the world." (from The Merchant of Venice)

* "The sun shines bright, and the air is mild; The metal of the sky seems refined by fire." (from Romeo and Juliet)

* "I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prince by the same title." (from Twelfth Night)

* "What, man! 'tis not for gravity to play tricks with us; 'tis for the good man to give good word, and the good woman to give good welcome; and drink when the night comes; and sing when the morning peep; and bid the sun go, and bid the moon come; and bid him go down when he is weary, and bid the sea flow when the moon shines; and let it run when the sea is full; and let the wind blow when it will; and the mill turn when it may; and the waters stand when they will; and the ducks, and the geese, and the other wildfowl, come and go as they please; and let time stride over all." (from Twelfth Night)

In these examples, Shakespeare uses the word "metal" to refer to a variety of different substances, including gold, stone, and the sky. He also uses it in a figurative sense, to refer to the strength or courage of a person.