Sal.Wit

SCENE IX.

Venice.

Enter Solarino, and Salanio.

HY, man, I faw Bassanio under fail;
With him is Gratiano gone along;

And in their ship, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not.
Sola. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke,
Who went with him to fearch Baffanio's ship.
Sal. He came too late, the ship was under fail;
But there the duke was giv'n to understand
That in a gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his am'rous Jeffica:
Befides, Anthonio certify'd the duke,
They were not with Bafssanio in his ship.
Sola. I never heard a passion so confus'd,
So ftrange, outrageous, and fo 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 fealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels, two stones, rich and precious stones,
Stol'n by my daughter! justice! find the girl!
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.
Sola. Let good Anthonio look he keep his day,
Or he shall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd.
I reafon'd 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 Anthonio when he told me,
And wish'd in filence that it were not his.

Sola. You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear ;
Yet do not fuddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I faw Bassanio and Anthonio part.
Bassanio told him, he would make fome speed
Of his return: he answer'd, do not fo,
Slubber not business for my fake, 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 oftents 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 wond'rous sensible

He

He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted.
Sola. I think, he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go, and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness
With some delight or other.
Sal. Do we fo.

[Exeunt.

Ner.

Q

SCENE X.

Belmont.

Enter Neriffa with a Servant.

UICK, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight,
The prince of Arragon has ta'en his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

Enter Arragon, Portia, and their trains. Flor. Cornets. The caskets are discovered.

Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince;
If you choose 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.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath t' 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;
Laft, if I 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.

Ar. And fo have I address'd me: fortune now To my heart's hope! gold, filver, and base lead. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath..

You

You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
What says the golden chest? ha! let me fee:
Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men defire.
What many men defire
that may be meant

Of the full multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pries not to th' interior; like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Ev'n in the force and road of cafualty.
I will not choose what many men defire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barb'rous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou filver treasurehouse :
Tell me once more, what title thou dost bear :
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deferves;
And well faid too, for who shall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit? let none prefume
To wear an undeserved dignity:
O, that estates, degrees, and offices,
Were not deriv'd corruptly! 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?
How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned
From the true feed of honour? how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,

To be new varnish'd? Well, but to my choice :
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves :
A key for this; I will assume defert,

Shall get as

And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.

[unlocking the filver casket.

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?

1

How

How much unlike my hopes and my defervings?
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 deferts no better?
Por. To offend and judge are diftinct offices,

And of oppofed natures.
Ar. What is here?

The fire sev'n times tried this,
Seven times try'd that judgment is
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss,
'Such have but a shadows bliss :
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'do'er, and so was this :
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone, fir, you are sped.

Ar. 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 wrath.

Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth.
O these deliberate fools! when they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lofe.
Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy :
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.

Por. Come, draw the curtain, Neriffa.

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Where is my lady?
Por. Here, what would my lord?
Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate

A young Venetian, one that comes before

[Exit.

To