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 'tis night, you do not look on me, For I am much ashamed of my exchange : But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit; For if they could, Cupid himself would blush To see me thus transformed to a boy. Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames ? They in themselves, good sooth, are too, too light. Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love; And I should be obscur'd. Lor. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the run-away, Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [Exit, from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. 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 Jessica and Salarino. Enter Antonio. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio ? Ant. Fye, fye, Gratiano! where are all the rest ? "Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you :— No masque to-night; the wind is come about, Bassanio presently will go aboard: 1 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 of Morocco, and both their trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince :· Now make your choice. 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? If Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, I will survey the inscriptions back again : What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. Must give-For what? for lead? hazard for lead? This casket threatens: Men, that hazard all, A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; To stop the foreign spirits; but they come, One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Was set in worse than gold. They have in England * Enclose. Stamped in gold: but that's insculp'd* upon; 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. Mor. [He unlocks the golden casket. O hell! what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye Often have you heard that told: Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost.Portia, adieu! I have too griev'd a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. [Exit. Por. A gentle riddance:-Draw the curtains, go; Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Venice. A street. Enter Salarino and Salanie. Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along ; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke ; Engraven. Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter! Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, · Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Salar. Marry, well remember'd: I reason'd* with a Frenchman yesterday; Who told me,-in the narrow seas, that part The French and English, there miscarried A vessel of our country, richly fraught: I thought upon Antonio, when he told me; And wish'd in silence that it were not his. Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what you hear; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him he would make some speed And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, * Conversed. To slubber is to do a thing carelessly. |