Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge Por. [Aside.] How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embrac'd despair, And shuddering fear, and green-ey'd jealousy! O love, Be moderate; allay thy ecstasy; In measure rein thy joy; scant this excess! Bass. What find I here? [Opening the leaden casket.] Fair Portia's counterfeit! What demi-god Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes? Seem they in motion? Here are sever'd lips, Parted with sugar breath; so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs 10 A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men Here's the scroll, 5 The continent and summary of my fortune. [Reads.] "You that choose not by the view, Chance as fair and choose as true! Since this fortune falls to you, 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; 15 I come by note, to give and to receive. Like one of two contending in a prize, Por. You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, 25 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 More rich; That only to stand high in your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends Is sum of something, which, to term in gross, But she may learn; happier than this, She is not bred so dull but she can learn ; And be my vantage to exclaim on you. Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Only my blood speaks to you in my veins; And there is such confusion in my powers, As, after some oration fairly spoke Express'd and not express'd. But when this ring SHAKESPEARE: The Merchant of Venice. HELPS TO STUDY SCENE I. 1. Where does this scene take place? 2. Who are the speakers? 3. Why cannot Portia choose a husband for herself? 4. How is a husband to be selected for her? 5. What suitors have appeared? 6. What does Portia think of the Neapolitan prince? 7. What of County Palatine? 8. Of whom does she say "God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man"? 9. What objection does she make to the Englishman? to the German? 10. What have all these suitors decided to do? 11. Who does Nerissa say is the man "best deserving of a fair lady"? 12. Can you "level at Portia's affection"? 13. What new suitor is announced? 14. Select a number of Portia's wisest and wittiest sayings. Notes on Words and Phrases. Page 376, 1. 1, troth, truth ; 1. 6, surfeit, overeat; P. 378, 1. 6, whereof, of which; 1. 11, overname, name over; 1. 13, level, level a gun so as to shoot correctly, i.e., guess; 1. 15, Ay (I), yes; 1. 16, appropriation, addition; 1. 19, County, Count; 1. 23, weeping philosopher, Heraclitus (Hĕr-ā-kli'tus), the Greek, was so named; P. 379, l. 1, by, concerning; 1. 18, |