Act 2

Scene 1 / running scene 4

Enter Morocco, a tawny Moor , all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa and their train. Flourish cornets

MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,

To whom I am a neighbour and near bred .

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

Where Phoebus ' 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 feared the valiant. By my love I swear,

The best-regarded virgins of our clime

Have loved 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 hedged me by his wit to yield myself

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,

Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair

As any comer I have looked on yet

For my affection.

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 page,

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 advised .

MOROCCO Nor will not . Come, bring me unto my chance.

PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Your hazard shall be made.

MOROCCO Good fortune then!

To make me blest or cursed'st among men.

Cornets [ and ] exeunt

Scene 2 / running scene 5

Enter the Clown [ Lancelet ] alone

LANCELET 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 , Lancelet Gobbo, good Lancelet', or 'Good Gobbo', or 'Good Lancelet Gobbo, use your legs, take the start , run away.' My conscience says, 'No; take heed, honest Lancelet, take heed, honest Gobbo', or, as aforesaid, 'Honest Lancelet 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 Lancelet, 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 'Lancelet, 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 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?

LANCELET 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.

Aside

GOBBO Master young gentleman, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew's?

LANCELET Turn upon 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 By God's sonties , 'twill be a hard way to hit . Can you tell me whether one Lancelet, that dwells with him, dwell with him or no?

LANCELET Talk you of young Master Lancelet?— Mark me now, now will I raise the waters .— Talk you of young Master Lancelet?

Aside

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 .

LANCELET Well, let his father be what a will, we talk of young Master Lancelet.

GOBBO Your worship's friend and Lancelet .

LANCELET But I pray you ergo , old man, ergo , I beseech you talk you of young Master Lancelet?

GOBBO Of Lancelet, an't please your mastership.

LANCELET Ergo , Master Lancelet. Talk not of Master Lancelet, 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.

LANCELET 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?

LANCELET Do you not know me, father?

GOBBO Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.

LANCELET 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.

He kneels

GOBBO Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you are not Lancelet, my boy.

LANCELET Pray you let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelet, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be.

GOBBO I cannot think you are my son.

LANCELET I know not what I shall think of that. But I am Lancelet, 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 Lancelet, 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.

LANCELET It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward . I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him.

He rises

GOBBO Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree ? I have brought him a present. How 'gree you now?

LANCELET 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 a follower or two [ including Leonardo ]

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.

To a Servant

[ Exit a Servant ]

LANCELET To him, father.

GOBBO God bless your worship!

Comes forward

BASSANIO Gramercy ! Wouldst thou aught with me?

GOBBO Here's my son, sir, a poor boy—

LANCELET 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—

LANCELET 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 —

LANCELET 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—

LANCELET 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?

LANCELET Serve you, sir.

GOBBO That is the very defect of the matter, sir.

BASSANIO I know thee well, thou hast obtained thy suit.

Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,

And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment

To leave a rich Jew's service, to become

The follower of so poor a gentleman.

LANCELET 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 .— Give him a livery

To a Servant

More guarded than his fellows'. See it done.

LANCELET Father, in. I cannot get a service, no. I have ne'er a tongue in my head. 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.

Points to his palm

Exit Clown [ Lancelet with Old Gobbo ]

BASSANIO I pray thee good Leonardo, think on this.

Gives a list

These things being bought and orderly bestowed ,

Return in haste, for I do feast tonight

My best-esteemed 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 a suit to you.

BASSANIO You have obtained 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 they are 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 misconstered 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',

Covers his face

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 suppertime.

Exeunt

Scene 3 / running scene 6

Enter Jessica and the Clown [ Lancelet ]

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.

Gives money

And, Lancelet, soon at supper shalt thou see

Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:

Give him this letter. Do it secretly.

Gives a letter

And so farewell. I would not have my father

See me talk with thee.

LANCELET Adieu! Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived; but adieu. These foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit. Adieu.

Exit

JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelet.

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 4 / running scene 7

Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salerio and Solanio

LORENZO Nay, we will slink away in suppertime,

Disguise us at my lodging and return

All in an hour.

GRATIANO We have not made good preparation.

SALERIO We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.

SOLANIO 'Tis vile , unless it may be quaintly ordered ,

And better in my mind not undertook.

LORENZO 'Tis now but four of clock. We have two hours

To furnish us .— Friend Lancelet, what's the news?

Enter Lancelet, with a letter

LANCELET An it shall please you to break up this , shall it seem to signify .

Gives him the letter

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.

LANCELET By your leave , sir.

Starts to leave

LORENZO Whither goest thou?

LANCELET 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

Gives money

I will not fail her. Speak it privately.

Go , gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?

I am provided of a torchbearer.

Exit Clown [ Lancelet ]

SALERIO 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.

SALERIO 'Tis good we do so.

Exit [ Salerio with 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 furnished 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.

Gives the letter

Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer.

Exeunt

Scene 5 / running scene 8

Enter [ Shylock the ] Jew and [ Lancelet, ] his man that was, the Clown

SHYLOCK Well, thou shall 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!

LANCELET Why, Jessica!

SHYLOCK Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.

LANCELET 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 .

LANCELET I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth expect your reproach .

SHYLOCK So do I his.

LANCELET An 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-necked fife,

Clamber not you up to the casements then,

Nor thrust your head into the public street

To gaze on Christian fools with varnished 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.

LANCELET I will go before, sir.— Mistress, look out at window, for all this,

Aside to Jessica

There will come a Christian by,

Will be worth a Jewès eye .

[ Exit Lancelet ]

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 , but 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 crossed ,

I have a father, you a daughter lost.

Exit

Scene 6 / running scene 9

Enter the masquers, Gratiano and Salerio

GRATIANO This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo

Desired us to make a stand .

SALERIO His hour is almost past .

GRATIANO And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour ,

For lovers ever run before the clock .

SALERIO O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly

To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont

To keep obligèd 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 chasèd than enjoyed.

How like a younger or a prodigal

The scarfèd bark puts from her native bay,

Hugged and embracèd by the strumpet wind!

How like a prodigal doth she return,

With over-withered ribs and ragged sails,

Lean, rent and beggared by the strumpet wind!

Enter Lorenzo

SALERIO 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 ashamed 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 transformèd to a boy.

LORENZO Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.

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 obscured.

LORENZO So you are, sweet,

Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.

But come at once,

For the close night doth play the runaway ,

And we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast.

JESSICA I will make fast the doors and gild myself

With some more 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 proved herself,

And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,

Shall she be placèd in my constant soul.

Enter Jessica [ below ]

What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away!

Our masquing mates by this time for us stay .

Exit [ with Jessica and Salerio ]

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 7 / running scene 10

[ 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.

The curtains are opened

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 .

MOROCCO Some god direct my judgement! 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 strayed no further, but chose here?

Let's see once more this saying graved 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

Spits 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 immured ,

Being ten times undervalued to trièd 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 insculped 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 gold casket

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,

Reads

Often have you heard that told;

Many a man his life hath sold

But my outside to behold.

Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgement old ,

Your answer had not been inscrolled :

Fare you well, your suit is cold.'

Cold, indeed, and labour lost.

Then farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!

Portia, adieu. I have too grieved 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.

[ They close the curtains and ] exeunt

Scene 8 / running scene 11

Enter Salerio and Solanio

SALERIO 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 raised the duke,

Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.

SALERIO He comes 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 confused,

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 sealèd bag, two sealèd 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.'

SALERIO 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.

SALERIO Marry, well remembered.

I reasoned 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 wished 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.

SALERIO 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 embracèd heaviness

With some delight or other.

SALERIO Do we so.

Exeunt

Scene 9 / running scene 12

Enter Nerissa and a Servitor

NERISSA Quick, quick, I pray thee draw the curtain straight .

The Servitor opens the curtains

The Prince of Aragon hath ta'en his oath,

And comes to his election presently .

Enter [ the Prince of ] Aragon, his train and Portia. Flourish of cornets

PORTIA Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince.

If you choose that wherein I am contained,

Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.

But if thou fail, without more speech, my lord,

You must be gone from hence immediately.

ARAGON I am enjoined 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.

ARAGON And so have I addressed 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 barb'rous 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 undeservèd dignity.

O, that estates, degrees and offices

Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour

Were purchased 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

Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times

To be new-varnished ! 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.

Aside?

ARAGON 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 opposèd natures .

ARAGON What is here?

'The fire seven times tried this :

Reads

Seven times tried that judgement is

That did never choose amiss .

Some there be that shadows kiss,

Such have but a shadow's bliss.

There be fools alive, iwis ,

Silvered o'er , and so was this.

Take what wife you will to bed,

I will ever be your head.

So begone: 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 .

[ Exeunt Aragon and train ]

PORTIA Thus hath the candle singed 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.

Nerissa closes the curtains

Enter 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!

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