Bass. [Opening the leaden casket.] What find I here?

Fair Portia's counterfeit! What demi-god

Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes?
Or whether, riding on the balls of mine,

115

'What find I here? Fair Portia's counterfeit.'

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 hairs

A golden mesh, to entrap the hearts of men

121

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, 125
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

Doth limp behind the substance.-Here's the scroll, The continent and summary of my fortune.

130

A gentle scroll.--Fair lady, by your leave; [Kissing her. I come by note, to give and to receive.

140

Like one of two contending in a prize,

That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes,

Hearing applause and universal shout,

Giddy in spirit, still gazing, in a doubt

Whether those peals of praise be his or no :

145

So, thrice fair lady, stand I, even so ;

As doubtful whether what I see be true,

Until confirm'd, sign'd, ratified by you.

150

Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am though, for myself alone, I would not be ambitious in my wish, 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 :

That, only to stand high in your account,

I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account; but the full sum of me
Is sum of nothing; which, to term in gross,

155

Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractis'd :
Happy in this, she is not yet so old

But she may learn; happier than this,

160

165

She is not bred so dull but she can learn ;
Happiest of all, is, that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours
Is now converted but now, I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself, 170
Are yours, my lord: I give them with this ring;
Which when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,

And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words:

Only my blood speaks to you in my veins;

176

And there is such confusion in my powers,
As, after some oration fairly spoke

By a beloved prince, there doth appear

Among the buzzing pleasèd multitude;

180

Where every something, being blent together,

Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy,

Express'd, and not express'd. But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence :
O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead,

185

Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time,
That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper,
To cry, Good joy. Good joy, my lord and lady!
Grat. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady,
I wish you all the joy that you can wish;
For, I am sure, you can wish none from me;
And, when your honours mean to solemnise
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you,
Even at that time I may be married too.

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190

194

Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. Grat. I thank your lordship; you have got me

one.

My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermission
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the caskets there:
And so did mine too, as the matter falls;
For wooing here, until I sweat again,
And swearing, till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love, at last,-if promise last,-
I got a promise of this fair one here,
To have her love, provided that your fortune
Achiev'd her mistress.

Por.

Is this true, Nerissa?

200

Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Grat. Yes, 'faith, my lord.

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2II

Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage.

Grat. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel.

What, and my old Venetian friend, Solanio?

Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SOLANIO.

Bass.

Lorenzo and Solanio, welcome hither; 215 ·

If that the youth of my new interest here

Have power to bid you welcome.-By your leave,
I bid my very friends and countrymen,

Sweet Portia, welcome.

Por.

So do I, my lord;

They are entirely welcome.

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Lor. I thank your honour :-For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here;

But, meeting with Solanio by the way,

He did entreat me, past all saying nay,
To come with him along.

Solan.

And I have reason for it.
Commends him to you.

Bass.

Signor Antonio
[Gives BASSANIO a letter.
Ere I ope this letter,

I pray you, tell me how my good friend doth.
Solan. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind ;
Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there

Will show you his estate.

[BASS. reads.

230

Grat. Nerissa, cheer yond stranger; bid her wel

come.

Your hand, Solanio. What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ?

I know, he will be glad of our success;

We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.

235

Solan. I would you had won the fleece that he hath lost!

Por. There are some shrewd contents in yond same

paper,

That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek :