Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee: Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge Bass. What find I here? [Opening the leaden casket. Fair Portia's counterfeit? What demi-god Hath come so near creation! Move these eyes? Or whether, riding on the balls of mine, 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 You that choose not by the view, And claim her with a loving kiss. A gentle scroll;-Fair lady, by your leave; I come by note, to give, and to receive. [Kissing her. That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes, Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand, A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times That only to stand high on your account, Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn; and happier than this, 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 By a beloved prince, there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased multitude; Where every something, being blent together, Turns to a wild of nothing, save of joy, Express'd, and not express'd: But when this ring Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence; O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead. Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time, That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper, To cry, good joy; Good joy, my lord, and lady! Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish; And, when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife. No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. Bass. Our feast shall be much honoured in your mar riage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and stake down But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome :-By your leave, Sweet Portia, welcome. Por. So do I, my lord; They are entirely welcome. Lor. I thank your honour :-For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have seen you here; But meeting with Salerio by the way, He did intreat me, past all saying nay, To come with him along. Sale. I did, my lord, And I have reason for it. Commends him to you. I Bass. Ere I ope his letter, Signior Antonio [Gives BASSANIO a letter. pray you, tell me how my good friend doth. Sale. Not sick, my lord, unless it be in mind; Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there Will show you his estate. Gra. Nerissa, cheer yon' stranger; bid her welcome. Your hand, Salerio; What's the news from Venice? How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio ? I know, he will be glad of our success; We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece. Sale. 'Would you had won the fleece, that he hath lost! Por. There are some shrewd contents in yon' same paper, That steal the colour from Bassanio's cheek: Some dear friend dead; else nothing in the world Of any constant man. What, worse and worse? |