W

Venice.

Enter Solarino, and Salanio.
Sal.

HY, man, I saw Bassanio under fail;

With him. is Gratiano gone along;
And in their ship, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not.

Sola. The villain Jew with outcries rais’d the duke,
Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.

Sal. He came too late, the ship was under fail ;
But there the duke was giv’n to understand
That in a gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his am'rous Jesica :
Besides, Anthonio certify'd the duke,
They were not with Bassanio in his ship.

Sola. I never heard a passion so confus’d,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,

E 2

cfacit.

AN

As

As the dog Jew did utter in the streets :
My daughter! o my ducats ! o my daughter !
Fled with a christian ! o my christian ducats !
Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter !
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter !
And jewels, two stones, rich and precious stones,
Stol'n by my daughter ! justice! find the girl!
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducațs.

Sola. Let good Anthonio look he keep his day,
Or he shall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd.
I reafon’d with a Frenchman yesterday,
Who told me, in the narrow seas that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country richly fraught:
I thought upon Anthonio when he told me,
And wish'd in silence that it were not his.

Sola. You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear;
Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part.
Bassanio told him, he would make some speed
of his return: he answer’d, do not fo,
Slubber not businefs for my fake, Bassanio,
But stay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind, of love:
Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship, and such fair oftents of love
As shall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wondrous sensible

.

He

He wrung Bassanio's hand, and fo they parted.

Sola. I think, he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go, and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness
With some delight or other.
Sal. Do we fo.

[Eieunt.

Q

Enter Neriffa with a Servant.
Ner. UICK, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight,

The prince of Arragon has ta’en his oath,
And comes to his election presently.
Enter Arragon, Portia, and their trains. Flor. Cornets. The

caskets are discovered.
Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince;
If
you

choose that wherein I am contain's,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd:
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath t'observe three things :
First, never to unfold to any one
Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my

life
To woo a maid in way of marriage ;
Laft, if I fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.

Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless felf.
Ar. And so have I address'd me : fortune now
my

heart's hopel gold, silver, and base lead.
W bo chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath..

You

To

He

You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:
Who chooseth me, mall gain what many men depre.
What many men desire that may be meant
Of the full multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach ;
Which pries not to th' interior ; like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Ev’n in the force and road of casualty,
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barb'rous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasurehouse:
Tell me once more, whąt title thou doft bear:
Who chooseth me, fall get as much as he deserves ;
And well said too, for who shall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit ? let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity :
O, that estates, degrees, and offices,
Were not deriv’d corruptly! that clear honour
Were purchas’d by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that stand bare?
How many be commanded, that command ?
How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned
From the true feed of honour? how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd ? Well, but to my

choice :
Who chooseth me, mall get as much as he deserves :
A key for this; I will assume desert,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.

.

[unlocking the silver casket. Ar. What's here! the portrait of a blinking idiot, Presenting me a schedule? I will read it: How much unlike art thou to Portia ?

How

How much unlike my hopes and my deservings ?
Who chooseth me, mall have as much as he deserves.
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Is that my prize? are my deserts no better?

Por. To offend and judge are distinct offices,
And of opposed natures.
Ar. What is here?

The fire sev’n times tried this,
Seven times try'd that judgment is
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that madows kiss,
Such have but a sadows bliss :
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'd o'er, and so was this :
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head :

So be gone, fir, you are sped.
Ar. Still more fool I shall appear
By the time I linger here:
With one fool's head I came to woo,
But I go away with two.
Sweet, adieu ! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wrath.

Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth.
O these deliberate fools! when they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy:
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.
Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

Enter a Servant.
Serv. Where is my lady?
Por. Here, what would

my

lord ?
Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate
young Venetian, one that comes before

[Exit.

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