Fled with a Christian ?-O my Christian ducats!— Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! And jewels; two stones, two rich and precious stones, Stolen by my daughter!-Justice! find the girl! Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Salar. Marry, well remember'd: I reason'd1 with a Frenchman yesterday; 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 1 Conversed. 2 To slubber is to do any thing carelessly And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. And quicken his embraced heaviness? 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, Florish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their trains. Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: 1. Shows, tokens. 2 The heaviness which he indulges. If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, Ar. 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 Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. ་ Ar. And so have I address'd 1 me. Fortune now To my heart's hope!-Gold, silver, and base lead. Who chooseth 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 see :"Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire.' What many men desire.-That many may be meant Not learning more than the fond 2 eye doth teach; 1 Prepared. 2 Foclish. 3 Power. Because I will not jump1 with common spirits, 'Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.' And well said too; for who shall go about To cozen Fortune, and be honorable Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume O, that estates, degrees, and offices Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor To be new varnish'd! Well, but to my choice :— I will assume desert.-Give me a key for this, Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there! 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 ! 1 Agree. How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! 'Who chooseth me, shall have as much as he de serves.' Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? Is that my prize? are my deserts no better? Ar. What is here ? The fire seven times tried this: Seven times tried that judgment is, That did never choose amiss. your head: So begone, sir; you are sped.' 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 ? 2 [Exeunt Arr. and train. Por. Thus hath the candle singed the moth. O these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. |