His borrow'd purfe. Well, Jeffica, go in; Do, as I bid you. Shut the doors after you; faft bind, faft find; [Exit. Jef. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. SCENE, the STREET. Enter Gratiano and Salanio in masquerade. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo defired us to make a ftand. Sal. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Sal. O, ten times fafter Venus' pidgeons fly (7) Gra. That ever holds. Who rifeth from a feast, The skarfed bark puts from her native bay, (7) 0, ten times fafter Venus' Pidgeons fly.] This is a very odd Image, of Venus's Pidgeons Aying to feal the Bonds of Love. The Sense is obvious, and We know the Dignity due to Venus's Pidgeons. There was certainly a Joke intended here, which the Ignorance, or Boldness, of the first Transcri bers have murder'd: I doubt not, but Shakespeare wrote the Line thus: O, ten times fafter Venus' Widgeons fly To feal &c. For Widgeon is not only the filly Bird fo call'd, but fignifies likewise, metaphorically, a filly Fellow, as Goofe, or Gudgeon, does now. Mr. Warburton. Hugg'd Hugg'd and embraced by the ftrumpet wind! Enter Lorenzo. Sal. Here comes. Lorenzo: more of this hereafter. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode ; Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait; When you fhall please to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then; come, approach; Here dwells my father Jew. Hoa, who's within ? · Jeffica above, in boy's cloaths. Jef. Who are you? tell me for more certainty, Albeit I'll fwear, that I do know your tongue. Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. Jef. Lorenzo certain, and my love, indeed; For who love I fo much? and now who knows, But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor. Heav'n and thy thoughts are witness, that thou art. Jef. Here, catch this casket, it is worth the pains. Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Lor. So are you, sweet, Ev'n in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once For the clofe night doth play the run-away, And we are ftaid for at Baffanio's feast. Jef. I will make faft the doors, and gild my self With fome more ducats, and be with you ftrait. Enter Jeffica, to them. What, art thou come? on, gentlemen, away; Anth. Who's there? Gra. Signior Anthonio, Anth. Fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? I have fent twenty out to feek for you. SCENE changes to Belmont. [Exit: [Exeunt. Enter Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. Por. G The fev'ral caskets to this noble Prince. Now make your choice. [Three caskets are difcover'd. Mor. The firft of gold, which this infcription bears, Who chufeth me, shall gain what many men defire. The fecond filver, which this promife carries, Who chufeth me, fhall get as much as he deferves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chufeth me, must give and hazard all he hath. How fhall I know, if I do chuse the right? Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince; If y you chufe that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me fee, I will furvey th' infcriptions back again; What fays this leaden casket? Who chufeth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind ftoops not to fhows of drofs; One of these three contains her heav'nly picture. Being ten times undervalu'd to try'd gold ? Was fet in worse than gold! they have in England Lyes all within. Deliver me the key; ! Por. There take it, Prince, and if my form lye there, Then I am yours. [Unlocking the gold casket. Mor. O hell! what have we here? a carrion death, Within whofe empty eye there is a fcrowl: I'll read the writing. All that glifters is not gold, Often have you heard that told; Gilded wood may worms infold: Mor. Cold, indeed, and labour loft: To take a tedious leave: thus lofers part. [Exit. Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtains; goLet all of his complexion chufe me so. Sal. SCENE changes to Venice. Enter Solarino and Salanio. [Exeunt. WHY man, I faw Bassanio under fail; With him is Gratiano gone along ; And in their fhip, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not. Sola. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the Duke, Who went with him to fearch Bafanio's fhip. Sal. |