"He is winding the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike"

This quote from William Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice," is spoken by Portia to her servant, Nerissa. It is a metaphor for a person's intelligence and wit. Portia is stating that the individual is ending up his wit, like a watch, and quickly it will be ready to strike. To put it simply, the individual is gathering his ideas and concepts, and soon he will be prepared to share them. This might be analyzed as a cautioning to be gotten ready for the person's concepts, as they might be effective and influential. It could also be translated as a sign of appreciation for the person's intelligence and wit. In either case, the quote is a pointer that intelligence and wit can be powerful tools, and must be used sensibly.