Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode:
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait.
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you then. - Approach;
Here dwells my father Jew.

[A song is sometimes introduced here.]

Jes.

[Enter Jessica to window.

Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue.

Lorenzo, and thy love.

Lor.

Jes.

Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed;

For who love I so much? And now who knows
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?

Lor.

Heaven, and my thoughts, are witness that thou art!

Jes.

Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.

Come at once;

Lor.

[Throwing casket.

For the close night doth play the runaway,
And we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast.

Jes.

I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.

Gra.

[Exit from window.

Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew.

Lor.

Beshrew me, but I love her heartily:
For she is wise, if I can judge of her;
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as she hath proved herself;
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

[Enter Jessica. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen; away! Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.

[They embark in gondola. Music as it starts.

CURTAIN.

Act Third.

A ROOM IN PORTIA'S HOUSE. THREE CASKETS, -Gold, SILVER AND LEAD, ON TABLE, C.

BELMONT.

Scene First.

BASSANIO, PORTIA, GRATIANO, NERISSA, AND ATTENDANTS DISCOVERED.

Bass.

I am enjoined by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to any one

Which casket 't was 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 addressed me: Fortune now
To my heart's hope!

Por.

I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two,
Before you hazard; for, in choosing 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.

I could teach you

How to choose right, but then I am forsworn;
So will I never be: so may you miss me;
But if you do, you 'll make me wish a sin,
That I had been forsworn.

I speak too long; but 't is to peize the time,
To eke it, and to draw it out in length,
To stay you from election.

Let me choose;

Bass.

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

Come, let me to my fortune and the caskets!

Away then.

Por.

I am locked in one of them;

If you do love me you will find me out.
Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof.

[They retire.

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 watery death-bed for him.

[Music, while Bassanio speaks what follows.

Bass.

Some good direct my judgment! "Who chooseth me shall gain What many men desire."

That may be meant

Let me see.

[Reads on casket.

Of the fool multitude that choose by show.
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned 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 dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty.

Therefore, thou gaudy gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee.

"Who chooseth me shall get

As much as he deserves."

[Reads on second casket.

And well said, too: for who shall go about

To cozen fortune, and be honourable

Without the stamp of merit?

O, that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not derived corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover that stand bare!
How many be commanded that command!
And how much honour

Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnished!

"Much as he deserves."

I'll not assume desert.

"Who chooseth me must give

And hazard all he hath."

[Reads on third casket.

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 paleness moves me more than eloquence,
And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!

Por.

How all the other passions fleet to air!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy;
I feel too much thy blessing; make it less,
For fear I surfeit !

What find I here?

Bass.

[Opening the leaden casket.

Fair Portia's counterfeit ?

Here's the scroll,

The continent and summary of my fortune: