Shy. I thank God, I thank God!-Is it true? it is true? Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck. Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal?-Good news, good news ha ha!-Where? in Genoa? Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, fourscore ducats. Shy. (L.) Thou stick'st a dagger in me-I shall never see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats! Tub. (L.) There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose but break. Shy. I am very glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture him; I am glad of it. Tub. One of them shewed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. [Running R.] Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my torquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies. [Crosses to L. Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true: go, Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before: I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize I will: go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue, go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt, SHY. L. TUBAL, R. SCENE II.-Portia's House at Belmont. The three Caskets of gold, silver, and lead, are set out. PORTIA, BASSANIO, NERISSA, and GRATIANO, R. Singers, Musicians, Pages, and other Attendants, discovered. Bass. (c.) 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 To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly, D Por. (c.) To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Bass. And so have I address'd me.-Fortune now Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two I could teach you How to choose right, but then I am forsworn ; I speak too long: but 'tis to peize the time; Bass. Let me choose; For, as I am, I live upon the rack. Come, let me to my fortune and the caskets. Por. Away then: I am lock'd in one of them; If you do love me, you will find me out. Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof.- [They retire. May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream, [Music-BASSANIO stands surveying the caskets. Bass. Some good direct my judgment!-Let me see. "Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire." That may be meant Of the fool multitude, that choose by show; Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. "Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves." And well said too; for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, "Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath," Por. (L.) How all the other passions fleet to air! O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstacy; I feel too much thy blessing; make it less, For fear I surfeit! Bass. (c.) [Opening the leaden casket.] What find Fair Portia's counterfeit? Here is the scroll, [Reads.]-You that choose not by the view, Chance as fair, and choose as true! Be content, and seek no new. If you be well pleas'd with this, And claim her with a loving kiss. A gentle scroll;-Fair lady, by your leave; Por. (L. c.) You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am; though, for myself alone, I would not be ambitious in my wish, To wish myself much better; yet, for you, A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times That only to stand high on your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, And be my vantage to exclaim on you. Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence; Ner. [Comes forward with GRATIANO, R.] My lord and lady, it is now our time, That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper, Bass. With all my heart, so thou can'st get a wife. No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. (L. C.) Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal. Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith? Bass. Our feast shall be much honour'd in your marriage. [BASS. and Pon. retire up the Stage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a thou sand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down. But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SOLANIO, L. Bass. (c.) Lorenzo, and Solanio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome ;-by your leave, I bid my very friends and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. (c.) So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour :-for my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; But meeting with Solanio by the way, He did entreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. Signior Antoni Gives BASSANIO a letter. Bass. [L. to SOL.] Ere I ope his letter, I pray you tell me how my good friend doth. Will shew you his estate. Gra. [Back ground.] Nerissa, cheer yon stranger bid her welcome. Your hand, Solanio; what's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? I know he will be glad of our success; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sol. Would you had won the fleece that he hath lost! [They retire up the stage. Por. (R.) There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world |