The Merchant Of Venice

1 Enter Nerissa and a Servitor.
2 NERISSA.
3 Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight.
4 The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath,
5 And comes to his election presently.
6 Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, his train, and
7 Portia.
8 PORTIA.
9 Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince,
10 If you choose that wherein I am contain’d,
11 Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz’d.
12 But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
13 You must be gone from hence immediately.
14 ARRAGON.
15 I am enjoin’d by oath to observe three things:
16 First, never to unfold to anyone
17 Which casket ’twas I chose; next, if I fail
18 Of the right casket, never in my life
19 To woo a maid in way of marriage;
20 Lastly,
21 If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
22 Immediately to leave you and be gone.
23 PORTIA.
24 To these injunctions everyone doth swear
25 That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
26 ARRAGON.
27 And so have I address’d me. Fortune now
28 To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.
29 “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
30 You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
31 What says the golden chest? Ha! let me see:
32 “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
33 What many men desire! that “many” may be meant
34 By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
35 Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
36 Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet
37 Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
38 Even in the force and road of casualty.
39 I will not choose what many men desire,
40 Because I will not jump with common spirits
41 And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
42 Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house,
43 Tell me once more what title thou dost bear.
44 “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
45 And well said too; for who shall go about
46 To cozen fortune, and be honourable
47 Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
48 To wear an undeserved dignity.
49 O that estates, degrees, and offices
50 Were not deriv’d corruptly, and that clear honour
51 Were purchas’d by the merit of the wearer!
52 How many then should cover that stand bare?
53 How many be commanded that command?
54 How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
55 From the true seed of honour? And how much honour
56 Pick’d from the chaff and ruin of the times,
57 To be new varnish’d? Well, but to my choice.
58 “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
59 I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
60 And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
61 [_He opens the silver casket._]
62 PORTIA.
63 Too long a pause for that which you find there.
64 ARRAGON.
65 What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot
66 Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.
67 How much unlike art thou to Portia!
68 How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
69 “Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.”
70 Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head?
71 Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
72 PORTIA.
73 To offend and judge are distinct offices,
74 And of opposed natures.
75 ARRAGON.
76 What is here?
77 _The fire seven times tried this;
78 Seven times tried that judgment is
79 That did never choose amiss.
80 Some there be that shadows kiss;
81 Such have but a shadow’s bliss.
82 There be fools alive, I wis,
83 Silver’d o’er, and so was this.
84 Take what wife you will to bed,
85 I will ever be your head:
86 So be gone; you are sped._
87 Still more fool I shall appear
88 By the time I linger here.
89 With one fool’s head I came to woo,
90 But I go away with two.
91 Sweet, adieu! I’ll keep my oath,
92 Patiently to bear my wroth.
93 [_Exit Arragon with his train._]
94 PORTIA.
95 Thus hath the candle sing’d the moth.
96 O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose,
97 They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
98 NERISSA.
99 The ancient saying is no heresy:
100 Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
101 PORTIA.
102 Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
103 Enter a Messenger.
104 MESSENGER.
105 Where is my lady?
106 PORTIA.
107 Here. What would my lord?
108 MESSENGER.
109 Madam, there is alighted at your gate
110 A young Venetian, one that comes before
111 To signify th’ approaching of his lord,
112 From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;
113 To wit (besides commends and courteous breath)
114 Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen
115 So likely an ambassador of love.
116 A day in April never came so sweet,
117 To show how costly summer was at hand,
118 As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
119 PORTIA.
120 No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard
121 Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
122 Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him.
123 Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
124 Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.
125 NERISSA.
126 Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!
127 [_Exeunt._]