Of double Ducats, stoln from me by my Daughter. And Jewels, two rich and precious Stones, Stoln by my Daughter, Justice, find the Girl, She hath the Stones upon her, and the Ducats.
Sal. Why all the Boys in Venice follow him, Crying his Stones, his Daughter, and his Ducats. Sola. Let good Anthonio look he keep his Day, Or he shall pay for this.
Sal. Marry well remembred, I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday, Who told me, in the narrow Seas that part The French and English, there miscarried A Vessel of our Country richly fraught: I thought upon Anthonio when he told me, And wish'd in filence that it were not his.
Sola. You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear, Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the Earth, I saw Baffanio and Anthonio part, Baffanio told him he would make some speed Of his return: He answered, do not so, Slubber not Business for my fake, Baffanio, But stay the very riping of the time, And for the Jew's Bond which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of Love, Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts To Courtship, and such fair oftents of Love As shall conveniently become you there; And even there, his Eye being big with Tears, Turning his Face, he put his Hand behind him And with Affection wondrous sensible He wrung Baffanio's Hand, and so they parted.
Sola. I think he only loves the World for him. I pray thee let us go and find him out, And quicken his embraced Heaviness With fome Delight or other. Sal. Do we fo,
Enter Nerissa and a Servant.
Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the Curtain straight,
The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his Oath, And comes to his Election presently.
Enter Arragon, his Train, Portia, Flor. Cornets. The Caskets are discover'd.
Por. Behold there stand the Caskets, noble Prince, If you chuse that wherein I am contain'd, Straight shall our Nuptial Rights be folemniz'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 one doth swear That comes to hazard for my worthless felf.
Ar. And so have I addrest me, Fortune now To my Heart's Hope; Gold, Silver, and base Lead. Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. You shall look fairer e'er I give or hazard. Whatsays the Golden Cheft, ha, let me fee; Who chuseth me, shall gain what many Man defire. What many Men defire that Many, may be meant By the fool Multitude that chuse by Show, Not learning more than the fond Eye doth teach, Which pryes not to th'Interior; but like the Martlet Builds in the Weather on the outward Wall, Even in the Force and Road of Casualty, I will not chuse what many Men defire, Because I will not jump with common Spirits, And rank me with the barbarous Multitudes. Why then to thee thou filver Treafure-house, Tell me once more, what Title thou dost bear; Who chuseth 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? let none presume To wear an undeserved Dignity: O that Estates, Degrees, and Offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly, and that clear Honour Were purchast 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 gleaned From the true Seed of Honour? And how much Honour
Pickt from the Chaff and Ruin of the Times, To be new varnish'd? Well, but to my Choice: Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves: I will assume Desert; give me a Key for this, And instantly unlock my Fortunes here.
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Por. Too long a Pause for that which you find there. [Unlocking the filver Casket.
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 deserving? Who chuseth me shall have as much as he deferves: 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?
The Fire seven times tried this, Seven times tried that Judgment is That did never chuse amiss. Some there be that Shadows kiss, Such have but a Shadow'd 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 be gone Sir, you are sped.
Ar. 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.
Por. Thus hath the Candle fing'd the Moth: O these deliberate Fools! when they do chuse, They have the Wisdom by their Wit to lose. Ner. The ancient Saying is no Herefy,
Hanging and wiving goes by Destiny.
Por. Come, draw the Curtain, Nerissa. 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 fignify th' Approaching of his Lord, From whom he bringeth sensible Regreets; To wit, befides Commends and courteous Breath, Gifts of rich Value; yet I have not feen So likely an Ambassador of Love. A Day in April never came so sweer, To show how costly Summer was at Hand, As this Fore-spurrer comes before his Lord. Por. No more I pray thee; I am half afeard Thou wilt say anon, he is fome kin to thee, Thou spend'st such high-day Wit in praising him: Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to fee Quick Cupid's Post, that comes so mannerly.
Ner. Baffanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be. [Exeunt.
ACT III. SCENE Venice,
Enter Salanio and Solarino,
OW, what News on the Ryalto?
Sal. Why yet it lives there uncheckt, that Anthanio hath a Ship of rich Lading wrackt on the narrow Seas; the Goodwins, I think, they call the Place; a very dangerous Flat, and fatal, where the Carcasses of many a tall
Ship lye bury'd, as they say, if my Goffip's Report be an honest Woman of her Word.
Sola. I would she were a lying a Gossip in that, as ever knapt 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 High-way of Talk, that the good Anthonio, the honest Anthonio-O that I had a Title good enough to keep his Name Company!
Sal. Come, the full stop.
Sola. Ha, what say'st thou? Why the end is, he hath loft a Ship.
Sal. I would it might prove the end of his Loffes
Sola. Let me say Amen betimes, left the Devil cross my Prayer; for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. How now Shylock, what News among the Merchants?
Shy. You knew, none fo well, none so well as you, of my Daughter's Flight.
Sal. That's certain; I for my Part knew the Tailor that made the Wings the flew withal.
Sola. And Shylock for his own part knew the Bird was fl dg'd, and then it is the Complexion of them all to leave the Dam.
Shy. She is damn'd for it.
Sal. That's certain, if the Devil may be her Judge. Shy. My own Fleth and Blood to rebel,
Sola. Out upon it, old Carrion, Rebels it at these Years? Shy. I say, my Daughter is my Flesh and Blood.
Sal. There is more Difference between thy Flesh and hers, than between Jet and Ivory; more between your Bloods, than there is between red Wine and Renish: But tell us, do you hear whether Anthonio have had any Loss at Sea or
Shy. There I have another bad Match, a Bankrupt, a Prodigal, who dare scarce shew his Head on the Ryalto, a Beggar! that was us'd to come so smug upon the Mart; let him look to his Bond; he was wont to call me Ufurer; let him look to his Bond; he was wont to lend Mony for a Chriftian Courtefie; let him look to his Bond.
Sal. Why I am fure if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his Flesh: What's that good for?
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