Belmont. A Room in PORTIA’S House. | |
| |
Flourish of Cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and his Followers; PORTIA, NERISSA, and Others of her Train. | |
| Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, | |
| The shadow’d livery of the burnish’d sun, | 4 |
| 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, | 8 |
| 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 | 12 |
| Have lov’d it too: I would not change this hue, | |
| Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. | |
| Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led | |
| By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes; | 16 |
| Besides, the lottery 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 | 20 |
| 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. | 24 |
| Mor. 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 | 28 |
| That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,— | |
| I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, | |
| Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, | |
| Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, | 32 |
| 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 | 36 |
| May turn by fortune from the weaker hand: | |
| So is Alcides beaten by his page; | |
| And so may I, blind fortune leading me, | |
| Miss that which one unworthier may attain, | 40 |
| And die with grieving. | |
| Por. You must take your chance; | |
| And either not attempt to choose at all, | |
| Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong, | 44 |
| Never to speak to lady afterward | |
| In way of marriage: therefore be advis’d. | |
| Mor. Nor will not: come, bring me unto my chance. | |
| Por. First, forward to the temple: after dinner | 48 |
| Your hazard shall be made. | |
| Mor. Good fortune then! | |
| To make me blest or cursed’st among men! [Cornets, and exeunt. | |
