Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.

Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, coft me two thoufand ducats in Frankfort! The curfe never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now:-two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels.-I would, my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! 'would the were hearfed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them?-Why, fo:-and I know not what's spent in the fearch. Why, thou lofs upon lofs! the thief gone with fo much, and fo much to find the thief; and no fatisfaction, no revenge: no il luck firring, but what lights on my fhoulders; no fighs, but of my breathing; no tears, but of my fhedding.

Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too; Antonio, as I heard in Genoa,

Shy. What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck? Tub-hath an argofy caft away, coming from Tripolis.

Shy. I thank Heaven, I thank Heaven!-Is it true? is it true?

Tub. I fpoke with fome of the failors, that efcaped the wreck.

A

Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal ;-Good news, good news: ha! ha!-Where? in Genoa?.

Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, fourscore ducats.

Shy. Thou ftickest a dagger in me :-I shall never fee my gold again. Fourfcore ducats at a fitting! fourscore ducats!

Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that fwear he cannot chufe but break.

Shy. I am very glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture him; I am glad of it.

Tub. One of them fhowed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey.

Shy. Out upon her! Thou tortureft me, Tubal: it was my torquoife; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor; I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies.

Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone.

Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true. Go, Tubal, fee me an officer, befpeak 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 fynagogue; go, good Tubal; at our fynagogue, Tubal.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

If

SCENE II.

Portia's Houfe at Belmont.

The three Caskets, of Gold, Silver, and Lead, are set out, PORTIA, BASSANIO, NERISSA, GRATIANO, and Attendants, difcovered.

Por. Behold, there ftand the caskets, noble youth!

you chufe that, wherein I am contain'd, Straight shall our nuptial rites be folemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately.

Bass. I am enjoin'd by oath t'observe three things:

First, never to unfold to any one

Which casket 'twas I chofe; 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 begone.

Por. To thefe injunctions every one doth swear,

That comes to hazard for my worthless felf.

Bass. And fo have I addrefs'd me.-Fortune

now

To my heart's hope!

Por.

Por. I pray you, tarry; paufe a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in chufing wrong,
I lose your company; therefore, forbear a while.
There's fomething tells me, but it is not love,
I would not lofe you; and you know yourself,
Hate counsels not in fuch a quality.
I could teach you

How to chufe right, but I am then forfworn;
So will I never befo you may mifs me;
But if you do, you'll make me with a fin,
That I had been forfworn.

Bass. Come, let me chufe;

For, as I am, I live upon the rack.

So let me to my fortune and the caskets.

Por. Away then: I am lock'd in one of them; If you do love me, you will find me out.Neriffa, and the reft, ftand all aloof.

Let mufic found while he doth make his choice; Then, if he lofe, he makes a swan-like end, Fading in mufic.

[Soft Mufic, while Bafanio comments on the Cafkets to himself. Bass. Some God direct my judgment—Let me fee.

"Who chufeth me, fhall gain what many men defire."
What many men defire!That may be meant
Of the fool multitude, that chufe by fhow.
The world is ftill deceiv'd with ornament.

In

In law, what plea fo tainted and corrupt,
But, being feafon'd with a gracious voice,
Obfcures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but fome fober brow
Will blefs it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the groffness with fair ornament?
There is no vice fo fimple, but affumes
Some mark of virtue on its outward parts.
How many cowards, whofe hearts are all as falfe
As ftairs of fand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who inward fearch'd, have livers white as milk!
Therefore, thou gaudy gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee !-----
"Who chufeth me, shall get as much as he deferves."
And well faid too, for who shall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honorable

Without the flamp of merit?" Much as he deferves."

O, that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honor
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that ftand bare?
How many be commanded, that command?
And how much honor would then be

Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,

To be new varnish'd?" Much as he deferves."--I'll not affume defert.