"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." What many men desire! that "many" may be meant By the fool multitude, that choose by show, 30 Not learning more than the fond' eye doth teach; To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume O, that estates,° degrees and offices Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour 40 How much low peasantry would then be glean'd° To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice: 51 [He opens the silver casket. Por. [Aside] 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 de serves." 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? [Reads] The fire seven times tried this: Seven times tried that judgement is, That did never choose amiss. Some there be that shadows kiss; Such have but a shadow's bliss: There be fools alive, I wis,° Silver'd o'er; and so was this. 60 Take what wife you will° to bed, So be gone you are sped. With one fool's head I came to woo, Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, Patiently to bear my wroth.° 70 [Exeunt ARRAGON and train. Por. Thus hath the candle singed the moth. Enter a Servant. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here: what would my lord° Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian, one that comes before To signify the approaching of his lord; From whom he bringeth sensible regreets," To wit, besides commends and courteous breath, 80 90 Gifts of rich value. Yet° I have not seen A day in April never came so sweet, Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly. 100 Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be !° [Exeunt. ACT THIRD. SCENE I. Venice. A street. Enter SALANIO and SALARINO. Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto? Salar. Why, yet it lives there unchecked, tha Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the car cases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her word. Salan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapped ginger," or made her neighbours I believe she wept for the death of a third husband. But it is true, without any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio, O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company! Salar. Come, the full stop. Salan. Ha! what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he hath lost a ship. Salar. I would it might prove the end of his losses. Salan. Let me say 66 amen betimes, lest the devil 2 cross my prayer,° for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. Enter SHYLOCK. How now, Shylock! what news among the merchants? Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter's flight. Salar. That's certain: I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal. |