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, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately. Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three First, never to unfold to any one [things: 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 you choice, Immediately to leave you and be gone. Por. To these injunctions every one doth You shall look fairer, ere I give, or hazard. [meant What many men desire. That many may be By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pries not to the anterior, but, like the martlet, Builds in the weather on the outward wall. 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 undeserved dignity. Oh! that estates, degrees, and offices, bouour and that clear Ar. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot, Presenting me a schedule? I will read it. Who chooseth me, shall have as much as he deserves. Did I deserve no more than a fool's head! The fire seven times tried this; So begone, Sir, you are sped. With one fool's head I came to woo, Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath, Patiently to bear my wroth. [Exeunt ARRAGON, and Train. Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth. O these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. Ner. The ancient saying is no beresy ;Hanging and wiving goes by destiny, Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Enter a SERVANT. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate Gifts of rich value; Yet I bave not seen Por. 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. SCENE 1.-Venice.-A Street. Enter SALANIO and SALARINO. Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto? Salar. Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word. Salan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as ever knapp'd ginger, or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband: But it is true, without any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain highway of talk,-that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,- O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company ! How now, Shylock? what news among the merchants? Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter's flight. Salar. That's certain; I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal. Salan. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledg'd; and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. Shy. She is damn'd for it. 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 she were hears'd at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin -No news of them ?-Why, so :-and I know not what's spent in the search: Why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge: nor no ill-luck stirring, but what lights o' my shoulders; no sighs, but o' my breathing; no tears, but o' my shedding. Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too; Antonio, as I heard in Genoa,— Shy. What, what, what? ill luek, ill luck? Tub. -bath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God:-Is it true? is it true? Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that Sular. That's certain, if the devil may be escaped the wreck. her judge. Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel. Salan. Out upon it, old carrion I rebels it at these years? Shy. I say my daughter is my flesh and blood. Salar. There is more difference between thy flesh and her's, than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenish :-But tell us, do you bear whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no? Shy. There I have another bad match : a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto;-a beggar, that used to come so smug upon the mart;-let him look to his bond: he was wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond: he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy ;-let him look to his bond. Salar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh; What's that good for? 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 stick'st a dagger in me :--I shall never see my gold again: Fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats! Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose 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 showed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my torquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor: would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies. Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. House. [Exeunt. Shy. Nay that's true, that's very true: Go, Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight Shy. To bait fish withal: it it will feed no- before, I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit thing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath for were be out of Venice, I can make what disgraced me, and hindered me of half a mil-merchandise I will: Go, go, Tubal, and meet lion; laughed at my losses, mocked at my me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bar-synagogue, Tubal. gains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies ; and what's his reason? I am a Jew: Hath not SCENE II.-Belmont.-A Room in PORTIA's a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with Enter BASSANIO, PORTIA, GRATIANO, NERISSA, the same food, hurt with the same weapons, and Attendants. The caskets are set out. subject to the same diseases, healed by the same Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two, means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? if you prick us, Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not lose your company; therefore, forbear a while : laugh? if you poison ns, do we not die? and if There's something tells me, (but it is not love,) you wrong us, shall we not revenge? if we are would not lose you; and you know yourself, like you in the rest, we will resemble you in Hate counsels not in such a quality : that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his But lest you should not understand me well, humility? revenge: If a Christian wrong a Jew, (And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought,) what should his sufferance be by Christian ex-I would detain you here some month or two, ample? why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute; and it shall go hard, but I will better the instruction. Enter a SERVANT. Serv. Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his house, aud desires to speak with you both. Salar. We have been up and down to seek him. Enter TUBAL. Salan. Here comes another of the tribe; a third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew. Before you venture for me. I could teach you, Mine own, I would say, but if mine, then your's, And so all your's: Oh! these naughty times [Exeunt SALAN. SALAR. and SERVANT. I speak too long; but 'tis to peize the time; Shy. How now, Tubal, what news from Ge-To eke it, and to draw it out in length, noa? hast thou found my daughter? Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her. Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now :-two To stay you from election. For as I am, I live upon the rack. Por. Upon the rack, Bassanio? then confess What treason there is mingled with your love. A precious stone + Delay. Bass. None, but that ugly treason of mistrust, | To be the dowry of a second head, The skull that bred them, in the sepulchre. Where men enforced do speak any thing. Por. Well then, confess, and live. Had been the very sum of my confession : the the shore Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee: Which rather threat'nest, than dost promise Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence, of And here choose I; Joy be the consequence! Por. How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash embrac'd despair, If you do love me, you will find me out.- May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream, And wat❜ry death-bed for him: He may win; Than young Alcides, when he did redeem I view the tight, than thou that mak'st the fray. 1. Tell me, where is fancy + bred, All. Let us all ring funcy's knell: I'll begin it,--Ding, dong, bell. Ding, dong, bell. And shudd'ring fear, and green-ey'd jealousy. Bass. What find I here? [Opening the leaden casket. Fair Portia's counterfeit ?+What demi-god Hath come so near creation ? Move these eyes? Or, whether, riding on the balls of mine, Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends: Here in her bairs The painter plays the spider; and hath woven A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men, Faster than gnats in cobwebs : But her eyes, How could he see to do them? having made one, Methinks, it should have power to steal both his, And leave itself unfurnish'd: Yet look, how far The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow, In underprizing it, so far this shadow The continent and summary of my fortune. If you be well pleas'd with this, Bass.-So may the outward shows be least A gentle scroll ;-Fair lady, by your leave; themselves; The world is still deceiv'd with ornament. false As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars, [Kissing her. I come by note, to give, and to receive. Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am though for myself alone, Who, inward search'd, have livers white as To wish myself much better; yet, for you, I would be trebled twenty times myself; A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times More rich; Than only to stand high on your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit Are your's, my lord; I give them with this ring, Which, when you part from, lose, or give away, words, me of all Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence; Ob then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead. To cry, good joy; Good joy, my lord and lady! Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. Gra. I thank your lordship; you have got me one. My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as your's: To have her love, provided that your fortune 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? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down.- But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? What my old Venetian friend, Salerio ? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. I bid my very friends and countrymen, Por. So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour:-For my pait, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you bere; He did entreat me, past all saying nay, Saler. I did, my lord, And I have reason for it. Signior Antonio Commends him to you. [Gives BASSANIO a letter. Bass. Ere I ope his letter, I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her welcome. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Bass. O sweet Portia, Here are a few of the unpleasant'st words, That I was worse than nothing; for, indeed, And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch Saler. Not one, my lord. Besides, it should appear, that if he had Jes. When I was with him I have heard him swear, To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, Por. Is it your dear friend, that is thus in trouble? Bass. The dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best condition'd and unwearied spirit • The chief of men. Por. What, no more? Well, jailer, on :-Pray God, Bassanio come SCENE IV.-Belmont.-A Room in POR- Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA Lor. Madam, although I speak it in your presence, You have a noble and a true conceit Of god-like amity; which appears most strongly How true a gentlemen you send relief, Bass. [Reads.] Sweet Bassanio, my ships How dear a lover of my lord your husband, have all miscarried, my creditors grow cruel, I know, you would be prouder of the work, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is Than customary bounty can enforce you. Por. I never did repent for doing good, forfeit; and since, in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debts are cleared be- Nor shall not now: for in companions tween you and I, if I might but see you at That do converse and waste the time together, my death; notwithstanding, use your plea-Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love, sure: if your love do not persuade you to come, There must be needs a like proportion Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit; let not my letter. Which makes me think that this Antonio, Being the bosom lover of my lord, Must needs be like my lord: If it be so, How little is the cost I have bestow'd, In purchasing the semblance of my soul From out the state of hellish cruelty? This comes too near the praising of myself; Therefore, no more of it: hear other things.Lorenzo, commit into your hands Por. O love, despatch all business, and gone. Bass. Since I have your good leave to away, I will make haste; but till I come again, be go [Exeunt. of [law; Ant. The duke cannot deny the course The husbandry and manage of my house, Until her husband and my lord's return: And there we will abide. I do desire you, The which my love, and some necessity, Lor. Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands. pleas'd To wish it back on you: fare you well, Jes- As I have ever found thee honest, true, Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd speed But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee. speed. Por. Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand Ner. Shall they see us? Por. They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit, |