Stamped in gold; but that's insculp'd upon;
But here an angel in a golden bed
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, [He unlocks the golden casket.

Then I am yours.

Mor. O hell! what have we here?
A carrion death, within whose empty eye

There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing.

Cold, indeed; and labour lost:

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,

[Exeunt.

go:

Let all of his complexion choose me so.

SCENE VIII.

Venice. A Street.

Enter SALARINO and SALANIÓ.

Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along;

9-insculp'd upon ;] To insculp is to engrave. The meaning is, that the figure of the angel is raised or embossed on the coin, not engraved on it.

And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not.

Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.

Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : But there the duke was given to understand, That in a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica : Besides, Antonio certify'd the duke, They were not with Bassanio in his ship. Salan. I never heard a passion so confus'd, So strange, outrageous, and so variable, As the dog Jew did utter in the streets : My daughter! - O my ducats! - O my daughter! Fled with a Christian? 0 christian ducats! my Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter! A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!. And jewels; two stones, two rich and precious stones, Stol'n by my daughter!-Justice! find the girl! She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats!

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 1; 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

1 I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday;] i.e. I conversed.

Of his return; he answer'd · Do not so,
Slubber not2 business for my sake, Bassanio,
But stay the very riping of the time;

And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:
Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship, and such fair ostents of love
As shall conveniently become you there:
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him3,
And with affection wondrous sensible

He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted.
Salan. I think he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go, and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness 4
With some delight or other.

Salar.

Do we so.

SCENE IX.

Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.

Enter NERISSA, with a Servant.

Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee draw the curtain straight;

The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath,
And comes to his election presently.

[Exeunt.

2 Slubber not ] To slubber is to do any thing carelessly, imperfectly.

3 And even there, his eye being big with tears,

Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, &c.] So curious an observer of nature was our author, and so minutely had he traced the operation of the passions, that many passages of his works might furnish hints to painters. It is indeed surprizing that they do not study his plays with this view. In the passage before us, we have the outline of a beautiful picture. MALONE.

4

embraced heaviness-] The heaviness which he indulges, and is fond of.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, PORTIA, and their Trains.

Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain❜d, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one

Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail

Of the right casket, never in my life,
To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly,
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.

Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear,
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

Ar. And so have I address'd me 5: Fortune now To my heart's hope! - Gold, silver, and base lead. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath : You shall look fairer, ere I give, or hazard. What says the golden chest? ha! let me see: — Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. What be meant many men desire. That many may By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;

6

Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.

6

7

And so have I address'd me:] To address is to prepare.

in the force-] i. e. the power.
jump-] i. e. agree with.

about

And well said too; For who shall go
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit! Let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity.

O, that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that stand bare?
How many be commanded, that command?
How much low peasantry would then be glean'd
From the true seed of honour?s and how much honour
Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd? Well, but to my choice:

Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves :
I will assume desert; Give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.
Ar. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia?
How much unlike my hopes, and my deservings?
Who chooseth me, shall have as much as he deserves.
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?

-

Is that my prize? are my deserts no better?

Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices,
And of opposed natures.
Ar.

What is here?

The fire seven times tried this ;
Seven times tried that judgment is,
That did never choose amiss:
Some there be, that shadows kiss ;
Such have but a shadow's bliss:

8 How much low peasantry would then be glean'd

From the true seed of honour?] The meaning is, How much meanness would be found among the great, and how much greatness among the mean.