Belmont. A Room in PORTIA’S House. | |
| |
Enter NERISSA, with a Servitor. | |
| Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight: | |
| The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath, | 4 |
| And comes to his election presently. | |
| |
Flourish of Cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains. | |
| Por. Behold, there stands the caskets, noble prince: | |
| If you choose that wherein I am contain’d, | 8 |
| 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 to observe three things: | 12 |
| 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; | 16 |
| Lastly, | |
| If I do fail in fortune of my choice, | |
| Immediately to leave you and be gone. | |
| Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear | 20 |
| That comes to hazard for my worthless self. | |
| Ar. 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: | 24 |
| 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 | 28 |
| By the fool multitude, that choose by show, | |
| Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; | |
| Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet, | |
| Builds in the weather on the outward wall, | 32 |
| 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 multitude. | 36 |
| 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 | 40 |
| 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 | 44 |
| 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; | 48 |
| How much low peasantry would then be glean’d | |
| 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: | 52 |
| 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. | |
| Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. | 56 |
| 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 much unlike my hopes and my deservings! | 60 |
| 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? | |
| Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices, | 64 |
| And of opposed natures. | |
Ar. 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, sir: you are sped. |
| |
| Still more fool I shall appear | |
| By the time I linger here: | 68 |
| 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. | 72 |
| Por. 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. | |
| Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy: | 76 |
| ‘Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.’ | |
| Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. | |
| |
Enter a Servant. | |
| Ser. Where is my lady? | 80 |
| Por. Here; what would my lord? | |
| Ser. Madam, there is alighted at your gate | |
| A young Venetian, one that comes before | |
| To signify the approaching of his lord; | 84 |
| 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 embassador of love. | 88 |
| A day in April never came so sweet, | |
| To show how costly summer was at hand, | |
| As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. | |
| Por. No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard | 92 |
| 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. | 96 |
| Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! [Exeunt. | |
