45 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by William Shakespeare
ACT II
SCENE I. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince
of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly,
with Portia, Nerissa and their train.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnish’d sun,
To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phœbus’ fire scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath fear’d the valiant; by my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have lov’d it too. I would not change this hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.
PORTIA.
In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes;
Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
But if my father had not scanted me
And hedg’d me by his wit to yield myself
His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have look’d on yet
For my affection.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
Even for that I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets
To try my fortune. By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince,
That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
I would o’erstare the sternest eyes that look,
Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,
Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
To win thee, lady. But, alas the while!
If Hercules and Lichas play at dice
Which is the better man, the greater throw
May turn by fortune from the weaker hand:
So is Alcides beaten by his rage,
And so may I, blind Fortune leading me,
Miss that which one unworthier may attain,
And die with grieving.
PORTIA.
You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all,
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advis’d.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
PORTIA.
First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
Good fortune then,
To make me blest or cursed’st among men!
[Cornets. Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Venice. A street.
Enter Launcelet Gobbo, the
clown, alone.
LAUNCELET.
Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend
is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me “Gobbo, Launcelet Gobbo, good
Launcelet” or “good Gobbo,” or “good Launcelet Gobbo, use your legs, take the
start, run away.” My conscience says “No; take heed, honest Launcelet, take
heed, honest Gobbo” or, as aforesaid, “honest Launcelet Gobbo, do not run,
scorn running with thy heels.” Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack.
“Fia!” says the fiend, “away!” says the fiend. “For the heavens, rouse up a
brave mind,” says the fiend, “and run.” Well, my conscience, hanging about the
neck of my heart, says very wisely to me “My honest friend Launcelet, being an
honest man’s son”—or rather an honest woman’s son, for indeed my father did
something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste;—well, my conscience
says “Launcelet, budge not.” “Budge,” says the fiend. “Budge not,” says my
conscience. “Conscience,” say I, “you counsel well.” “Fiend,” say I, “you
counsel well.” To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my
master, who, (God bless the mark) is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the
Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who (saving your reverence) is the devil
himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation, and, in my
conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel
me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel. I will run,
fiend, my heels are at your commandment, I will run.
Enter Old Gobbo with a basket.
GOBBO.
Master young man, you, I pray you; which is the way to Master Jew’s?
LAUNCELET.
[Aside.] O heavens, this is my true-begotten father, who being more than
sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not. I will try confusions with him.
GOBBO.
Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew’s?
LAUNCELET.
Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of
all on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn
down indirectly to the Jew’s house.
GOBBO.
Be God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you
tell me whether one Launcelet, that dwells with him, dwell with him or no?
LAUNCELET.
Talk you of young Master Launcelet? [Aside.] Mark me now, now will I
raise the waters. Talk you of young Master Launcelet?
GOBBO.
No master, sir, but a poor man’s son, his father, though I
say’t, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to
live.
LAUNCELET.
Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young Master Launcelet.
GOBBO.
Your worship’s friend, and Launcelet, sir.
LAUNCELET.
But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you, talk you of
young Master Launcelet?
GOBBO.
Of Launcelet, an’t please your mastership.
LAUNCELET.
Ergo, Master Launcelet. Talk not of Master Launcelet, father, for the
young gentleman, according to Fates and Destinies, and such odd sayings, the
Sisters Three and such branches of learning, is indeed deceased, or, as you
would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.
GOBBO.
Marry, God forbid! The boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.
LAUNCELET.
[Aside.] Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? Do
you know me, father?
GOBBO.
Alack the day! I know you not, young gentleman, but I pray you tell me, is my
boy, God rest his soul, alive or dead?
LAUNCELET.
Do you not know me, father?
GOBBO.
Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not.
LAUNCELET.
Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a
wise father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of
your son. Give me your blessing, truth will come to light, murder cannot be hid
long, a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.
GOBBO.
Pray you, sir, stand up, I am sure you are not Launcelet my boy.
LAUNCELET.
Pray you, let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing.
I am Launcelet, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.
GOBBO.
I cannot think you are my son.
LAUNCELET.
I know not what I shall think of that; but I am Launcelet, the Jew’s man,
and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.
GOBBO.
Her name is Margery, indeed. I’ll be sworn if thou be Launcelet, thou
art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be, what a beard hast
thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on
his tail.
LAUNCELET.
It should seem, then, that Dobbin’s tail grows backward. I am sure he had
more hair on his tail than I have on my face when I last saw him.
GOBBO.
Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I
have brought him a present. How ’gree you now?
LAUNCELET.
Well, well. But for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to run away, so I
will not rest till I have run some ground. My master’s a very Jew. Give
him a present! Give him a halter. I am famished in his service. You may tell
every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come, give me your
present to one Master Bassanio, who indeed gives rare new liveries. If I serve
not him, I will run as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune, here comes
the man! To him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.
Enter Bassanio with
Leonardo and a follower or two.
BASSANIO.
You may do so, but let it be so hasted that supper be ready at the farthest by
five of the clock. See these letters delivered, put the liveries to making, and
desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.
[Exit a Servant.]
LAUNCELET.
To him, father.
GOBBO.
God bless your worship!
BASSANIO.
Gramercy, wouldst thou aught with me?
GOBBO.
Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy.
LAUNCELET.
Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man, that would, sir, as my
father shall specify.
GOBBO.
He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve.
LAUNCELET.
Indeed the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire, as my
father shall specify.
GOBBO.
His master and he (saving your worship’s reverence) are scarce
cater-cousins.
LAUNCELET.
To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having done me wrong, doth cause
me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto you.
GOBBO.
I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship,
and my suit is—
LAUNCELET.
In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by
this honest old man, and though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my
father.
BASSANIO.
One speak for both. What would you?
LAUNCELET.
Serve you, sir.
GOBBO.
That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
BASSANIO.
I know thee well; thou hast obtain’d thy suit.
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr’d thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew’s service to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.
LAUNCELET.
The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir: you
have “the grace of God”, sir, and he hath “enough”.
BASSANIO.
Thou speak’st it well. Go, father, with thy son.
Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
My lodging out. [To a Servant.] Give him a livery
More guarded than his fellows’; see it done.
LAUNCELET.
Father, in. I cannot get a service, no! I have ne’er a tongue in my head!
[Looking on his palm.] Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table
which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune; go to,
here’s a simple line of life. Here’s a small trifle of wives, alas,
fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in
for one man. And then to scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life
with the edge of a feather-bed; here are simple ’scapes. Well, if Fortune
be a woman, she’s a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I’ll
take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling.
[Exeunt Launcelet and
Old Gobbo.]
BASSANIO.
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.
These things being bought and orderly bestow’d,
Return in haste, for I do feast tonight
My best esteem’d acquaintance; hie thee, go.
LEONARDO.
My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.
GRATIANO.
Where’s your master?
LEONARDO.
Yonder, sir, he walks.
[Exit.]
GRATIANO.
Signior Bassanio!
BASSANIO.
Gratiano!
GRATIANO.
I have suit to you.
BASSANIO.
You have obtain’d it.
GRATIANO.
You must not deny me, I must go with you to Belmont.
BASSANIO.
Why, then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano,
Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice,
Parts that become thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why there they show
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour
I be misconst’red in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.
GRATIANO.
Signior Bassanio, hear me.
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say “amen”;
Use all the observance of civility
Like one well studied in a sad ostent
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
BASSANIO.
Well, we shall see your bearing.
GRATIANO.
Nay, but I bar tonight, you shall not gauge me
By what we do tonight.
BASSANIO.
No, that were pity.
I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment. But fare you well,
I have some business.
GRATIANO.
And I must to Lorenzo and the rest,
But we will visit you at supper-time.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. The same. A room in Shylock’s house.
Enter Jessica and
Launcelet.
JESSICA.
I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee,
And, Launcelet, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.
Give him this letter, do it secretly.
And so farewell. I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.
LAUNCELET.
Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a
Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But, adieu!
These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu!
JESSICA.
Farewell, good Launcelet.
[Exit Launcelet.]
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father’s child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.
[Exit.]
SCENE IV. The same. A street.
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino
and Solanio.
LORENZO.
Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.
GRATIANO.
We have not made good preparation.
SALARINO.
We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
SOLANIO.
’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d,
And better in my mind not undertook.
LORENZO.
’Tis now but four o’clock, we have two hours
To furnish us.
Enter Launcelet with a letter.
Friend Launcelet, what’s the news?
LAUNCELET.
And it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.
LORENZO.
I know the hand, in faith ’tis a fair hand,
And whiter than the paper it writ on
Is the fair hand that writ.
GRATIANO.
Love news, in faith.
LAUNCELET.
By your leave, sir.
LORENZO.
Whither goest thou?
LAUNCELET.
Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the
Christian.
LORENZO.
Hold here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica
I will not fail her, speak it privately.
Go, gentlemen,
[Exit Launcelet.]
Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
SALARINO.
Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
SOLANIO.
And so will I.
LORENZO.
Meet me and Gratiano
At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.
SALARINO.
’Tis good we do so.
[Exeunt Salarino and
Solanio.]
GRATIANO.
Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
LORENZO.
I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed
How I shall take her from her father’s house,
What gold and jewels she is furnish’d with,
What page’s suit she hath in readiness.
If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake;
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me, peruse this as thou goest;
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE V. The same. Before Shylock’s house.
Enter Shylock the Jew and
Launcelet his man that was the clown.
SHYLOCK.
Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.—
What, Jessica!—Thou shalt not gormandize
As thou hast done with me;—What, Jessica!—
And sleep, and snore, and rend apparel out.
Why, Jessica, I say!
LAUNCELET.
Why, Jessica!
SHYLOCK.
Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
LAUNCELET.
Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.
Enter Jessica.
JESSICA.
Call you? What is your will?
SHYLOCK.
I am bid forth to supper, Jessica.
There are my keys. But wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love, they flatter me.
But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon
The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house. I am right loath to go;
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest,
For I did dream of money-bags tonight.
LAUNCELET.
I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect your reproach.
SHYLOCK.
So do I his.
LAUNCELET.
And they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a masque, but if
you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black
Monday last at six o’clock i’ th’ morning, falling out that
year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in th’ afternoon.
SHYLOCK.
What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica,
Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum
And the vile squealing of the wry-neck’d fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish’d faces,
But stop my house’s ears, I mean my casements.
Let not the sound of shallow fopp’ry enter
My sober house. By Jacob’s staff I swear
I have no mind of feasting forth tonight.
But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah.
Say I will come.
LAUNCELET.
I will go before, sir.
Mistress, look out at window for all this.
There will come a Christian by
Will be worth a Jewess’ eye.
[Exit Launcelet.]
SHYLOCK.
What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring, ha?
JESSICA.
His words were “Farewell, mistress,” nothing else.
SHYLOCK.
The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder,
Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day
More than the wild-cat. Drones hive not with me,
Therefore I part with him, and part with him
To one that I would have him help to waste
His borrowed purse. Well, Jessica, go in.
Perhaps I will return immediately:
Do as I bid you, shut doors after you,
“Fast bind, fast find.”
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.
[Exit.]
JESSICA.
Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,
I have a father, you a daughter, lost.
[Exit.]
SCENE VI. The same.
Enter the masquers, Gratiano
and Salarino.
GRATIANO.
This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo
Desired us to make stand.
SALARINO.
His hour is almost past.
GRATIANO.
And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.
SALARINO.
O ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new-made than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!
GRATIANO.
That ever holds: who riseth from a feast
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d.
How like a younger or a prodigal
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
Hugg’d and embraced by the strumpet wind!
How like the prodigal doth she return
With over-weather’d ribs and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar’d by the strumpet wind!
Enter Lorenzo.
SALARINO.
Here comes Lorenzo, more of this hereafter.
LORENZO.
Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode.
Not I but my affairs have made you wait.
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I’ll watch as long for you then. Approach.
Here dwells my father Jew. Ho! who’s within?
Enter Jessica above, in boy’s clothes.
JESSICA.
Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.
LORENZO.
Lorenzo, and thy love.
JESSICA.
Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed,
For who love I so much? And now who knows
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
LORENZO.
Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
JESSICA.
Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.
I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much asham’d of my exchange.
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit,
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.
LORENZO.
Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer.
JESSICA.
What! must I hold a candle to my shames?
They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light.
Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love,
And I should be obscur’d.
LORENZO.
So are you, sweet,
Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.
But come at once,
For the close night doth play the runaway,
And we are stay’d for at Bassanio’s feast.
JESSICA.
I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some moe ducats, and be with you straight.
[Exit above.]
GRATIANO.
Now, by my hood, a gentle, and no Jew.
LORENZO.
Beshrew me but I love her heartily,
For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And true she is, as she hath prov’d herself.
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.
Enter Jessica.
What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away!
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
[Exit with Jessica and
Salarino.]
Enter Antonio.
ANTONIO.
Who’s there?
GRATIANO.
Signior Antonio!
ANTONIO.
Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest?
’Tis nine o’clock, our friends all stay for you.
No masque tonight, the wind is come about;
Bassanio presently will go aboard.
I have sent twenty out to seek for you.
GRATIANO.
I am glad on’t. I desire no more delight
Than to be under sail and gone tonight.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VII. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Flourish of cornets. Enter Portia
with the Prince of Morocco and both their trains.
PORTIA.
Go, draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Now make your choice.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
The first, of gold, who this inscription bears,
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
The second, silver, which this promise carries,
“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
How shall I know if I do choose the right?
PORTIA.
The one of them contains my picture, prince.
If you choose that, then I am yours withal.
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
Some god direct my judgment! Let me see.
I will survey the inscriptions back again.
What says this leaden casket?
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard for lead!
This casket threatens; men that hazard all
Do it in hope of fair advantages:
A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross,
I’ll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead.
What says the silver with her virgin hue?
“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco,
And weigh thy value with an even hand.
If thou be’st rated by thy estimation
Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough
May not extend so far as to the lady.
And yet to be afeard of my deserving
Were but a weak disabling of myself.
As much as I deserve! Why, that’s the lady:
I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes,
In graces, and in qualities of breeding;
But more than these, in love I do deserve.
What if I stray’d no farther, but chose here?
Let’s see once more this saying grav’d in gold:
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
Why, that’s the lady, all the world desires her.
From the four corners of the earth they come
To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint.
The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds
Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now
For princes to come view fair Portia.
The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head
Spets in the face of heaven, is no bar
To stop the foreign spirits, but they come
As o’er a brook to see fair Portia.
One of these three contains her heavenly picture.
Is’t like that lead contains her? ’Twere damnation
To think so base a thought. It were too gross
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.
Or shall I think in silver she’s immur’d
Being ten times undervalued to tried gold?
O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem
Was set in worse than gold. They have in England
A coin that bears the figure of an angel
Stamped in gold; but that’s insculp’d upon;
But here an angel in a golden bed
Lies all within. Deliver me the key.
Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may.
PORTIA.
There, take it, prince, and if my form lie there,
Then I am yours.
[He unlocks the golden casket.]
PRINCE OF MOROCCO.
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing.
All that glisters is not gold,
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.
Gilded tombs do worms infold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll’d,
Fare you well, your suit is cold.
Cold indeed and labour lost,
Then farewell heat, and welcome frost.
Portia, adieu! I have too griev’d a heart
To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part.
[Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets.]
PORTIA.
A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go.
Let all of his complexion choose me so.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VIII. Venice. A street.
Enter Salarino and
Solanio.
SALARINO.
Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail;
With him is Gratiano gone along;
And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
SOLANIO.
The villain Jew with outcries rais’d the Duke,
Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
SALARINO.
He came too late, the ship was under sail;
But there the Duke was given to understand
That in a gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica.
Besides, Antonio certified the Duke
They were not with Bassanio in his ship.
SOLANIO.
I never heard a passion so confus’d,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable
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, two rich and precious stones,
Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! find the girl,
She hath the stones upon her and the ducats.”
SALARINO.
Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.
SOLANIO.
Let good Antonio look he keep his day
Or he shall pay for this.
SALARINO.
Marry, well rememb’red.
I reason’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 Antonio when he told me,
And wish’d in silence that it were not his.
SOLANIO.
You were best to tell Antonio what you hear,
Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
SALARINO.
A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I saw Bassanio and Antonio part,
Bassanio told him he would make some speed
Of his return. He answered “Do not so,
Slubber not business for my sake, 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 ostents 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 wrung Bassanio’s hand, and so they parted.
SOLANIO.
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.
SALARINO.
Do we so.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE IX. Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.
Enter Nerissa and a
Servitor.
NERISSA.
Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight.
The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath,
And comes to his election presently.
Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince
of Arragon, his train, and Portia.
PORTIA.
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince,
If you choose that wherein I am contain’d,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz’d.
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.
ARRAGON.
I am enjoin’d by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to anyone
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;
Lastly,
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.
PORTIA.
To these injunctions everyone doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARRAGON.
And so have I address’d me. Fortune now
To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
What says the golden chest? Ha! let me see:
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
What many men desire! that “many” may be meant
By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even 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 barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house,
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear.
“Who chooseth me shall 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, and 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 peasantry would then be gleaned
From the true seed of honour? And 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 shall get as much as he deserves.”
I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
[He opens the silver casket.]
PORTIA.
Too long a pause for that which you find there.
ARRAGON.
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 much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
“Who chooseth me shall 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?
PORTIA.
To offend and judge are distinct offices,
And of opposed natures.
ARRAGON.
What is here?
The fire seven times tried this;
Seven times tried that judgment is
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow’s 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; you are sped.
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 wroth.
[Exit Arragon with his train.]
PORTIA.
Thus hath the candle sing’d the moth.
O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
NERISSA.
The ancient saying is no heresy:
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
PORTIA.
Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER.
Where is my lady?
PORTIA.
Here. What would my lord?
MESSENGER.
Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To signify th’ approaching of his lord,
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;
To wit (besides commends and courteous breath)
Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen
So likely an ambassador of love.
A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
PORTIA.
No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him.
Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.
NERISSA.
Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!
[Exeunt.]