it was my torquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.
Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone.
Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true: Go, Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before: I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize I will: Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt.
PORTIA'S House at Belmont.-The Three Caskets of Gold, Silver, and Lead, are set out.
PORTIA, BASSANIO, NERISSA, GRATIANO, SINGERS, MUSICIANS, PAGES, and other ATTENDANTS, discovered.
Bass. I am enjoin'd by oath to 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; 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,
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
Bass. And so have I address'd me.-Fortune now To my heart's hope!
Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in chusing wrong,
I lose your company; therefore, forbear a while:
There's something tells me, but it is not love,
I would not lose you; and you know yourself,
Hate counsels not in such a quality.
How to chuse right, but I am then forsworn;
So will I never be: so you may miss me;
But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin,
That I had been forsworn.
I speak too long: but 'tis to pieze the time;
To eke it, and to draw it out in length,
To stay you from election.
Bass. Let me chuse;
For, as I am, I live upon the rack.
Come, let me to my fortune and the caskets.
Por. Away, then: I am lock'd in one of them;
you do love me, you will find me out.--
Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof. —-
Let music sound while he doth make his choice;
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music: that the comparison
May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream, And wat'ry death-bed for him.
A Song, whilst BASSANIO comments on the Caskets to himself.
Tell me, where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourished?
Reply. It is engender'd in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies;
Let us all ring fancy's knell ;
I'll begin it,-Ding, dong, bell.
Ding, dong, bell.
Bass. Some god direct my judgment!--Let me
Of the fool multitude, that chuse by show;
The world is still deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season'd with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
To a most dang'rous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty.-
Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee.
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.
And well said too; for who shall
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit ?
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!
And how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff, and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd !-Much as he deserves→→
I'll not assume desert. t
Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.
I'll none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
"Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threat'nest, than dost promise aught,
Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence,
And here chuse I; Joy be the consequence!
Por. How all the other passions fleet to air!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstacy;
I feel too much thy blessing; make it less,
For fear I surfeit!
Bass. [Opening the Leaden Casket.] What find I here?
Fair Portia's counterfeit? Here is the scroll,
The continent and summary of my fortune.
[Reads.] You that chuse not by the view, Chance as fair, and chuse as true! Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content, and seek no new.
If you be well pleas'd with this,
And hold your fortune for your bliss,
Turn you where your lady is,
And claim her with a loving kiss.
A gentle scroll!-Fair lady, by your leave!
I come by note, to give, and to receive;
Yet doubtful whether what I see be true,
Until confirm'd, sign'd, ratify'd by you. [Kissing her.
Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand,
Such as I am though for myself alone,
I would be ambitious in my wish,
To wish myself much better; yet, for you,
I would not be trebled twenty times myself;
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times
More rich;
That only to stand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account. But now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring;
Which, when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.
Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words,
Only my blood speaks to you
But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence;
O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead.
Ner. My lord, and lady, it is now our time,
That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper,
To cry, good joy! Good joy, my lord, and lady!
Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady,
I wish you all the joy that you can wish;
For, I am sure, you can wish none from me:
And, when your honours mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you,
Even at that time I may be marry'd too.
Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a
wife.
Gra. I thank your lordship; you have got me
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermission
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the caskets there;
And so did mine too, as the matter falls:
For wooing here, until I sweat again;
And swearing, till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love; at last,-if promise last,-
I got a promise of this fair one here,
To have her love, provided that your fortune
Atchiev'd her mistress.
Por. Is this true, Nerissa?
Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal.
Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?
Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord.
Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your
marriage.
Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a thousand ducats.
Ner. What, and stake down?
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