Question

What are Antonio ships compared to? how do his ships move? how are the petty traffickers compared to Antonio argosies

Answer 1

Salarino compares Antonio's ships sailing on the waves with the great lords and wealthy citizens, who look down on lesser men as they walk along the street. He says that compared to smaller ships, Antonio's ships move swiftly on the sea with their canvas sails and look like grand spectacles or pageants of the sea.