Sal. He came too late, the ship was under fail; But there the Duke was giv'n to understand, That in a Gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his am'rous Jessica: Besides, Anthonio certify'd the Duke, They were not with Bassanio in his ship.

Sola. I never heard a passion so confus'd, So strange, outrageous, and so variable, As the dog Few did utter in the streets; My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter, Fled with a christian? O my christian ducats ! Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter! A fealed bag, two fealed bags of ducats, Of double ducats, stoll'n from me by my daughter! And jewels, two stones, rich and precious stones, Stoll'n by my daughter! justice! find the girl; She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. Sola. Let good Anthonio look, he keep his day; Or he shall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd.
I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday,
Who told me, in the narrow feas, that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country richly fraught :
I thought upon Anthonio, when he told me,
And wish'd in filence, that it were not his.

Sola. You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear, Yet do not fuddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth.
I faw Baffanio and Anthonio part.
Baffanio told him, he would make some speed
Of his return: he answer'd, do not so,
Slubber not business for my fake, Baffanio.
But stay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:

As shall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wond'rous sensible

He wrung Baffanio's hand, and so they parted..
Sola. I think, he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness
With fome delight or other.

Sal. Do we so.

Ner.

SCENE changes to Belmont.

Enter Nerifssa with a Servant.

[Exeunt.

UICK, quick, I pray thee, draw the
tain strait;

The Prince of Arragon has ta'en his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

cur

Enter Arragon, his train, Portia. Flor. Cornets.
The Caskets are discover'd.

Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince;
If you chuse that, wherein I am contain'd,
Strait shall our nuptial rites be folemniz'd :
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath t'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 :
Laft, if I 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.

Ar. And fo have I addrest me; fortune now To my heart's hope! gold, filver, and base lead. Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard. What says the golden chest? ha, let me fee; VOL. II.

F

Whe

Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men defire. What many men defire - that may be meant Of the fool-multitude, that chuse by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pry not to th' interior, but like the martlet Builds in the weather on the outward wall, Ev'n in the force and road of casualty. I will not chuse what many men defire, Because I will not jump with common spirits, And rank me with the barb'rous multitudes. Why then to thee, thou filver treasure-house: Tell me once more, what title thou dost bear. Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves ; And well faid too, for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? let none prefume To wear an undeserved dignity : O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly, 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 ? How much low peasantry would then be gleaned From the true feed of honour ? how much honour (8) Pickt from the chaff and ruin of the times, To be new varnish'd? well, but to my choice : Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deferves :

(8)

how much honour

Pick'd from the Chaff and Ruin of the Times,

To be new varnish'd.] Mr. Warburton very justly observ'd to me upon the Confufion and Disagreement of the Metaphors here; and is of Opinion, that Shakespeare might have

I will assume desert; give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. [Unlocking the filver casket.

Ar. What's here! the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia ?

How much unlike my hopes and my deservings ?
Who chuses me, shall have as much as he deserves.
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Is that my prize? are my deferts no better?

Por. To offend, and judge, are diftinct offices,

And of oppofed natures.
Ar. What is here?

The fire fev'n times tried this;
Sev'n times tried that judgment is,
That did never chuse amiss.
Some there be, that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss :
There be fools alive, Iwis,
Silver'do'er, and so was this:
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head :
So be gone, Sir, you are sped.

Ar. 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 wrath.

Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth:
O these deliberate fools! when they do chuse,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy,

Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.

Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

Enter a Servant.

[Exit.

Serv. Where is my lady?

Fz

Por.

Por. Here, what would my lord?

Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To fignify th' approaching of his lord,
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;
To wit, befides commends and courteous breath,
Gifts of rich value; yet, I have not seen
So likely an ambassador of love.
A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.

Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afraid,
Thou'lt say anon, he is some kin to thee;
Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him:
Come, come, Neriffa, for I long to fee
Quick Cupid's post, that comes so mannerly.

Ner. Baffanio, lord Love, if thy will it be!

(6)}

[Exeunt.

ACT

III.

SCENE, a Street in VENICE.

N

Enter Salanio and Solarino.

SOLARINO.

OW, what news on the Ryalto?

Sal. Why, yet it lives there uncheckt, that Anthonio hath a ship of rich lading wreckt on the narrow feas; the Godwins, I think, they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the car

(9) Bassanio Lord, love, if] Mr. Pope, and all the preceding Editors have follow'd this pointing; as imagining, I fuppofe, that Ballanie lord means. Lord Ballonia: bur