Where is the horse that doth untread again His tedious measures with the unbated fire Enter LORENZO. Sal. Here comes Lorenzo. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode: Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait: When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, Here dwells my father Jew: GLEE.26 O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue sweet air When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear !27 Ho! who's within? Enter JESSICA, above. Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; For who love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. Lor. Come, come at once; For the close night doth play the run-away, And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [Exit from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew.28 26 Sung by Miss POOLE, Miss LEFFLER, and Mr. WALLWORTH. 27 The words are from Midsummer Night's Dream, Act i., Scene 1. a Gentile and no Jew.] A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which signifies both a Heathen, and one well-born. 28 Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily: Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away; [Exeunt Enter various parties of Maskers, Revellers, &c. DANCE. END OF THE SECOND ACT. HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT SECOND. (A) Venice occupies 72 islands. There are 306 canals, traversed by innumerable gondolas. The gondolas introduced in this scene are copied from paintings of the same date as when the action of the play is supposed to occur, and are, consequently, rather varied in shape from those now seen in Venice. Besides the great squares of St. Mark, and the adjoining Piazetta before the Doge's Palace, the city has numerous narrow streets, or rather lanes, with small open spaces in front of the churches, or formed by the termination of several alleys, leading to a bridge. It is one of these spaces that is represented in the second act. (B) "Black Monday" is Easter Monday, and was so called on this occasion. In the 34th of Edward III. (1360), the 14th April, and the morrow after Easter Day, King Edward, with his host, lay before the City of Paris, which day was full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horse's backs with the cold.-Stowe. ACT III. SCENE I.-SALOON OF THE CASKETS IN PORTIA'S HOUSE AT BELMONT. Enter NERISSA, with SERVANTS. Ner. The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, And comes to his election presently. Music. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains. If Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince; choose that wherein I am contain❜d, you Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, Arr. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: 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, Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear 'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.' What says the golden chest? ha! let me see: 1 'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.' -so have I address'd me: :] To address is to prepare-id est I have prepared myself by the same ceremonies. What many men desire.-That many may be meant2 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.;' 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, To be new varnish'd? Well, but to my choice: 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves :' I will assume desert:-Give me a key for this, Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. Some there be that shadows kiss ; Such have but a shadow's bliss: There be fools alive, I wis,4 Silver'd o'er; and so was this.' 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. 2 That many may be meant] Many modes of speech were familiar in Shakespeare's age that are now no longer used. ““May be meant," id est, meaning by that, &c. 3 the fool multitude] The foolish multitude. 4 -I wis,] I know. |