Clamber not you up to the casements then, 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. [Exit. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing else. Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder, Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day 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 crost, 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 stand. The patch-A term for a fool. Salar. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast, The scarfed bark' puts from her native bay, Enter LOREnzo. Salar. Here comes Lorenzo; more of this here after. Lor. 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, Here dwells my father Jew: Ho! who's within? Enter JESSICA above, in boy's clothes. Jes. Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; 7 scarfed bark-] i. e. the vessel decorated with flags. Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art. Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. 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, And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. 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; And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; [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, 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 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? 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, I will survey the inscriptions back again: What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; What says the silver, with her virgin hue? If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, As much as I deserve! — Why, that's the lady: As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is't like, that lead contains her? "Twere damnation, To think so base a thought: it were too gross 8 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think, in silver she's immur'd, Being ten times undervalued to try'd gold? O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold. They have in England A coin, that bears the figure of an angel To rib- i. e. inclose, as the ribs inclose the viscera. |