Enter Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. Per. G O, draw afide the curtains, and discover The fev'ral cafkets to this noble Prince. Now make your choice. [Three cafkets are difcovered. Mor. The first of gold, which this infcription bears, Who chufeth me, fball gain what many men defire. The fecond filver, which this promise carries, Who chu'eth me fhall get as much as he deferves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, * Who chu eth me, muft give and hazard all be bath. How shall I know, if I do chufe the right? If Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me fee, Who chufeth me, muji glve and hazard all be bath. A golden mind ftoops not to fhows of drofs; * As blunt,] That is, as grofs as the dull metal. In graces, and in qualities of breeding: One of these three contains her heav'nly picture. Stamped in gold, but that's infculpt upon: Lyes all within. Deliver me the key; Por. There take it, Prince, and if my form lye there, Then I am yours.. [Unlocking the gold casket: Mor. O hell! what have we here? a carrion death Within whofe empty eye there is a scrowl; I'll read the writing. All that glifters is not gold, Often have you beard that told. GS Gilded Gilded wood may worms infold: (1) Mor. Cold, indeed, and labour loft: [Exeunt. (1) Gilded wood may worms infold:] In all the old Editions this line is written thus: Gilded timber do worms infoli. From which Mr. Rowe and all the following Editors have madeGilded wood may worms-infold. A line not bad in itself, but not so applicable to the occafion as that which, I believe, Shakespeare wrote, Gilded tombs de worms inföld: A tomb is the proper repofitory of a death's head. (2) Your answer bad not been inferol'd ;] Since there is an an fwer inferol'd or written in every casket, I believe for your we should read this. When the words were written y and y the mistake was eafy. (3) Chufe me fo.] The old quarto Edition of 1600 has no diftribution of acts, but proceeds from the beginning to the end in an unbroken tencur. This play therefore having been probably divided: without authority by the publishers of the first folio, lies open to a new regulation if any more commodious divifion can be propofed. The ftory is itself fo wildly incredible, and the changes of the scene fo frequent and capricious, that the probability of action does not deferve much care: yet it may be proper to obferve, that, by concluding the fecond act here, time is given for Baffanio's paffage to Belmont. SCENE Sal. WH SCENE IX. Changes to Venice. Enter Solarino and Salanio. HY, man, I faw Baffanio under fail ; And in their ship, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not. Sola. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the Duke,. Who went with him to fearch Bassanio's fhip. Sal. He came too late, the ship was under fail, Sola. I never heard a paffion fo confus'd, Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Sal Marry, well remember'd. I reafon'd with a Frenchman yesterday, Sola. You were beft to tell Anthonio what you hear,' SAL Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth. Ballanio told him, he would make some speed I He wrung Ballanio's hand, and so they parted. Sal. Do we fo. corruption. [Exeunt. - your mind of love :] So all the copies, but I fufpect some Your mind of love:] This imaginary corruption is removed by. only putting a comma after mind. (4) EMBRACED beavinesswould make me choose rather to read, ENRACED, heaviness, Mr. LANGTON. -] This unmeaning epithet from the French enraciner, accrefcere, inveterafcere. So in Much ado about nothing, I could not bave owed her a more ROOTED love. And again in Othello, With one of an INGRAFT infirmity. WARBURTON. Of Dr. Warburton's correction it is only neceffary to observe, that it has produced a new word which cannot be received without neceffity. When I thought the paffage corrupted, it feemed to me not improbable that Shakespeare had written entranced heaviness, maling, abstracted, moping melancholy. But I know not why any great efferts fhould be made to change a word which has no uncommodious. or unufual fenfe. We fay of a man now, that be hugs bis forrows, why may not Anthonio embrace beaviness. SCENE |