And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself; Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; Ant. Who's there? [Exit with JESSICA and SALARINO. Enter ANTONIO. Gra. Signior Antonio? Ant. Fye, fye, Gratiano! where are all the rest? 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you:No masque to-night; the wind is come about, Bassanio presently will go aboard: 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. SCENE VII. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. [Exeunt. 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 shall gain me, 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 inscriptions back again : Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. Do it in hope of fair advantages : A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is't like, that lead contains her? "Twere damnation, a To rib-] i, e. Inclose, as the ribs inclose the viscera. Being ten times undervalued to try'd gold? O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold. They have in England Stamp'd in gold; but that's insculp'd upon; Lies all within.-Deliver me the key; Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! Por. There, take it prince, and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. Mor. O hell! 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: Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. Portia adieu! I have too griev'd a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. [Exit. Por. A gentle riddance,Draw the curtains, go: 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; With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. b c insculp'd upon;] Is embossed on the coin. timber-] This is the reading of all the old editors, which Mr. Rowe altered to wood, and Dr. Johnson to tombs. However great the improvement, the alteration is not required, and therefore ought not to be retained. d inscrol'd:] Written ;-the answer alluded to is the dismissal of his suit contained in the last line. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Salar. 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 Of his return; he answered-Do not so, Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time; e I reason'd-] i. e. I conversed with. In Italian, ragionare has the same sense. Slubber not-] i. e. Do not do carelessly. And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. 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, And comes to his election presently. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, PORTIA, and their Trains. Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain❜d, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, Ar. 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, mind of love:] i. e. Your loving mind. So in the tragedy of Croesus, 1604, A mind of treason is a treasonable mind.-STEEVENS. h embraced heaviness-] The heaviness which he indulges, and is fond of.-EDWARDS. |