To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. A coin, that bears the figure of an angel Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Mor. [He unlocks the golden casket. O hell! what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye All that glisters is not gold, Often have you heard that told: Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then, farewel, heat; and, welcome, frost. [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; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail: But there the duke was given to understand, Stol'n 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'd with a Frenchman yesterday; Who told me,-in the narrow seas, that part The French and English, there miscarried A vessel of our country, richly fraught: I thought upon Antonio, when he told me; And wish'd in silence, that it were not his. Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what hear; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. you 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 answer'd-Do not so, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. Salan. I think, he only loves the world for him. I pray thee, let us go, and find him out, With some delight or other. 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, Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, 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, You must be gone from hence immediately. 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 Of the right casket, never in my life Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Ar. And so have I address'd me: Fortune now Το 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 By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pries not to the interior, but, like the mart let, Builds in the weather on the outward wall, O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour honour Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, |