swear, My sober house.-By Jacob's staff I Laun. I will go before, sir.Mistress, look out at window for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Jewess' eye. More than the wild cat: drones hive not with me, Do as I bid you, Shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit. Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not cross'd, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. SCENE VI.-The same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo Desir'd us to make a stand. His hour is almost past. Salar. Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly a Patch. The domestic fool was sometimes called a patch; and it is probable that this class was thus named from the patched dress of their vocation. Patch thus came to be an expression of contempt. Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast, The scarfed barka puts from her native bay, Enter LORENZO. Salar. Here comes Lorenzo ;-more of this hereafter. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode: Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait: Enter JESSICA, above, in boy's clothes. Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. 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 thy thoughts, are witness that thou art. Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. I am glad 't is night, you do not look on me, For I am much asham'd of my exchange: But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit; a Scarfed bark-the vessel gay with streamers For if they could, Cupid himself would blush Lor. Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, 't is an office of discovery, love; And I should be obscur'd. Lor. So you are, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the runaway, Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself For she is wise, if I can judge of her; Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away; Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit, with JEs. and SALAR. Enter ANTONIO. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio? Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? "T is nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you: No masque to-night; the wind is come about; Bassanio presently will go aboard: 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. SCENE VII.-Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PoRTIA, with the PRINCE Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover 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? Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; If you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see. "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: "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is 't like that lead contains her? "T were damna tion To think so base a thought: it were too gross Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 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. Mor. O hell! what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing. |