No masque to-night; the wind is come about, I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gra. I am glad on't; I desire no more delight, Than to be under sail, and gone to-night. [Exeunt. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the Prince of MOROCCO, and both their Trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince :— Now make your choice. Mor. 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? If Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! 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. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady: One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 3 Enclose. 4 Engraven. Lies all within.- Deliver me the key; Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may ! Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. What have we here? Mor. All that glisters is not gold, heard that told: Many a man his life hath sold, suit is cold. Cold, indeed; and labour lost : Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. Portia, adieu! I have too griev'd a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. Por. A gentle riddance : go; [Exit. Draw the curtains, Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Venice. A Street. Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. Salar. He came 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 certify'd the duke, They were not with Bassanio in his ship. Salan. I never heard a passion so confus'd, 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? - 0 christian ducats! my Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter! Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter! Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Salar. Marry, well remember'd: I reason'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 Antonio, when he told me ; And wish'd in silence, that it were not his. Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what you hear; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him, he would make some speed 5 Conversed. To slubber is to do a thing carelessly. And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. 8 Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Enter NERISSA, with a Servant. Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight; The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains. Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince : If you choose that wherein I am contain❜d, Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: 7 Shows, tokens. The heaviness he is fond of. |