No masque to-night; the wind is come about, I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gra. I am glad on't; I desire no more delight, Than to be under sail, and gone to-night. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the Prince of MOROCCO, and both their Trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince : Now make your choice. Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears; Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. The second; silver, which this promise carries; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt; Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. How shall I know if I do choose the right? Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; If you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, I will survey the inscription back again : What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. As much as I deserve! - Why, that's the lady; One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 3 Enclose. 4 Engraven. Lies all within. - Deliver me the key; Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Mor. [He unlocks the golden casket. What have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing. All that glisters is not gold, Often have you heard that told: Many a man his life hath sold, But my outside to behold: Gilded tombs do worms infold. Cold, indeed; and labour lost : Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. go; [Exit. Draw the curtains ; Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Venice. A Street. Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica: Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter! Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, his stone, his daughter, and his ducats. Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Salar. Marry, well remember'd: 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 Antonio, when he told me; And wish'd in silence, that it were not his. Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what you hear; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him, he would make some speed Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, 5 Conversed. 6 To slubber is to do a thing carelessly. And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. Salan. I think, he only loves the world for him. I pray thee, let us go, and find him out, And quicken his embraced heaviness 8 With some delight or other. Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Enter NERISSA, with a Servant. Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight; The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains. For. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, 7 Shows, tokens. 8 The heaviness he is fond of. |