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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

swear,

one doth

That comes to hazard fo my worthless self.
Ar. And so have I address'd me: Fortune now
Gold, silver, and base

To my heart's hope!

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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.

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By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach:
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;

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Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:

Who chooseth me,

shall get as much as he de

serves;

And well said too; For who shall go about

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!

honour

and that clear

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? 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 de-

serves:

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?

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

Ar. What is here?

• The

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.
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So begone, Sir, you are sped.

Still more fool I shall appear
By the time I linger here:
With one fool's head I came to woo,
But I go away with two. —
Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wroth.

[Exeunt Arragon and train. Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth. O these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy; Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. Por, Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

Entér 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,
Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen
So likely an embassador of love:

A day in April-never came so sweet,

VOL. IV.

་ 10

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To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this forespurrer comes before his lord.

Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afeard, Thou wilt say anon, he is some kin to thee,

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Thou spend'st such high day wit in praising him.

Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see

Quick Cupid's post, that comes so mannerly.
Ner. Bassanio, lord love, if thy will it be!

ACT III,

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

Venice. A Street.

Enter SALANIO and SALARINO.

Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto?

Salar. Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcases 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 knapp'd ginger, or made her neighbours 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 that the good Antonio, the honest Anto

talk,

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nio O that I had a title good enough to keep

his name company!

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Salar. I would it might prove the end of his losses!

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Salan. Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer; for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew.

How now, merchants?

Enter SHYLOCK.
Shylock? what news

among the

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.

Salan. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledg'd; and then it is the com plexion of them all to leave the dam.

Shy. She is damn'd for it.

Salar. That's certain, if the deyil may be her judge.

Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel!

Salan. Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at these years?

Shy. I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood. Salar. There is more difference between thy Alesh and hers, than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenish: But tell us, do you hear, whether Antonio have had any loss at sea or no? Shy, There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; - a beggar, that used to come so

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