Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Part 9

[Footnote 67: _--worth a Jewess' eye_.; It's worth a Jews' eye is a proverbial phrase.]

[Footnote 68: _The patch is kind enough;_ Patch is the name of a Fool, probably in allusion to his _patch'd_ or party colored dress.]

[Footnote 69: Sung by Miss POOLE, Miss LEFFLER, and Mr. WALLWORTH.]

[Footnote 70: The words are from _Midsummer Night's Dream_, Act i., Scene 1.]

[Footnote 71: _--a Gentile and no Jew_.; A jest arising from the ambiguity of _Gentile_, which signifies both a _Heathen_, and one well-born.]

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.

_Flourish of Trumpets. Enter the_ PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, _and their Trains_.

_Por_. Behold, there stand the caskets, n.o.ble 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, You must be gone from hence immediately.

_Arr_. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one 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, If I do fail in fortune of my choice, Immediately to leave you and be gone.

_Por_. To these injunctions every one doth swear That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

_Arr_. And so have I address'd me:[72] Fortune now To my heart's hope!--Gold, silver, and base lead.

'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'

What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:

'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'

What many men desire.--That many may be meant[73]

By the fool mult.i.tude,[74] that choose by show, Why, then, to thee, thou silver treasure-house; Tell me once more what t.i.tle thou dost bear:

'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;'

And well said too. For who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit!

O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!

How many then should cover that stand bare?

How many be commanded that command?

And how much 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 a.s.sume desert:--Give me a key for this, And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

_Por_. Too long a pause for that which you find there.

_Arr_. What's here: the portrait of a blinking idiot, Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.

Some there be that shadows kiss; Such have but a shadow's bliss: There be fools alive, I wis,[75]

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.

Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath, Patiently to bear my wroath.[76]

[_Exeunt_ ARRAGON _and Train_.

_Por_. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth.

O these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

_Ner_. The ancient saying is no heresy;-- Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.

_Enter_ BALTHAZAR.

_Ser_. Madam, there is alighted at your gate A young Venetian, one that comes before To signify the approaching of his lord: From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;[77]

To wit, besides commends and courteous breath, Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen So likely an amba.s.sador of love.

_Por_. No more, I pray thee.

Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.

_Ner_. Ba.s.sanio, lord love, if thy will it be!

[_Exeunt_.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 72: _--so have I address'd me_: To address is to prepare--_id est_ I have prepared myself by the same ceremonies.]

[Footnote 73: _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.]

[Footnote 74: _--the fool mult.i.tude_; The foolish mult.i.tude.]

[Footnote 75: _--I wis_,; I know.]