Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Vantage, subst. == advantage; 1) profit, gain: “the injuries that to myself I do, doing thee v.” Sonn. 88, 12. “which though thou wouldst deny, denies thee v.” Meas. V, 418. “in her right we came, which we . . . have turned to our own v.” John II, 550. “little v. shall I reap thereby,” R2 I, 3, 218. “O happy v. of a kneeling knee,” V, 3, 132. “to match with her that brings no --s,” H6B I, 1, 131. “you have all the v. of her wrong,” R3 I, 3, 310. “to win some v.” Cor. I, 1, 164. “a brain that leads my use of anger to better v.” III, 2, 31. “for my v. excellent,” Cymb. V, 5, 198.
Of v. == to boot, besides: “'tis meet that some more audience than a mother . . should o'erhear the speech of v.” Hml. III, 3, 33.* to the v., in the same sense: and as many (women) “to the v. as would store the world,” Oth. IV, 3, 86.
2) condition favourable to success; good opportunity: “having thee at v.” Ven. 635. “with the v. of mine own excuse hath he excepted most against my love,” Gent. I, 3, 82. “I slew him . . . without false v.” IV, 1, 29. “when the doctor spies his v. ripe,” Wiv. IV, 6, 43. “He that might the v. best have took,” Meas. II, 2, 74. “where you may have such v. on the duke, he shall not pass you,” IV, 6, 11. “my v. to exclaim on you,” Merch. III, 2, 176. “watch our v.” Shr. III, 2, 146. “if I have any v. of ground to get up,” H4B II, 1, 85. “till time and v. crave my company,” II, 3, 68. “you fled for v.” H6A IV, 5, 28 (to take your time). “it is war's prize to take all --s,” H6C I, 4, 59. III, 2, 25. “at your meetest v. of the time,” R3 III, 5, 74 (Qq advantage). “thus I took the v. of those few,” III, 7, 37. “all for our v.” V, 2, 22. “let us survey the v. of the field,” V, 3, 15. “I am unarmed; forego this v.” Troil. V, 8, 9. “answer the v. of his anger,” Cor. II, 3, 268. “at your v. . . . let him feel your sword,” V, 6, 54. “some single --s you took,” Tim. II, 2, 138. “surveying v.” Mcb. I, 2, 31. “did line the rebel with hidden help and v.” I, 3, 113. “coign of v.” I, 6, 7 (== advantageous c.). which (rights) “now to claim my v. doth invite me,” Hml. V, 2, 401. “take v., heavy eyes, not to behold this shameful lodging,” Lr. II, 2, 178. “these offers, which serve not for his v., he shakes off,” Ant III, 7, 34. “when v. like a pair of twins appeared,” III, 10, 12. “when shall we hear from him? With his next v.” Cymb. I, 3, 24. “lets go by no --s,” II, 3, 50.
3) superiority: “urging the worser sense for v. still,” Lucr. 249 (placing it in a more advantageous light). “my fortunes as fairly ranked, if not with v., as Demetrius',” Mids. I, 1, 102.* “'tis no wisdom to confess so much unto an enemy of craft and v.” H5 III, 6, 153 (to a cunning enemy, who is besides favoured by circumstances). to get v. of == to get the better of: “if they get ground and v. of the king,” H4B II, 3, 53. “such a wretch . . . had the forehand and v. of a king,” H5 IV, 1, 297.