Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love; And I should be obscured. Lor. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the runaway, And we are stay'd 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. Lor. Beshrew' me, but I love her heartily: For she is wise, if I can judge of her ; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; Enter JESSICA below. What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen; away! [Exit with Jes. and Salar. Enter ANTONIO. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio? Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you :No mask to-night; the wind is come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard: 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. Florish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and both their trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover 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.' Must give-For what? for lead? hazard for lead? A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he de serves.' As much as he deserves ?-Pause there, Morocco, As much as I deserve!-Why, that's the lady : What if I stray'd no farther, but chose here? Let's see once more this saying graved in gold :— . Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire.' Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her ; To stop the foreign spirits; but they come, One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is 't like, that lead contains her? "Twere damnation 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 There is a written scroll: I'll read the writing : Your answer had not been inscroll'd: Cold, indeed, and labor lost: Then, farewell, heat; and welcome, frost.Portia, adieu! I have too grieved 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 SALANIO. 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 raised the duke, Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica : Salan. I never heard a passion so confused, So strange, outrageous, and so variable, As the dog Jew did utter in the streets :— 'My daughter!-O my ducats!-O my daughter! |