Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her! speak it privately; go.— Gentlemen, [Exit LAUNCELOT. Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Solan. And so will I. Lor. Meet me and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence. [Exeunt SALARINO and SOLANIO. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed How I shall take her from her father's house; Jes. Call you? What is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: There are my keys.—But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl, Look to my house.—I am right loath to go; There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream of money-bags to-night. Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together,-I will not say you shall see a mask; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-Monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there masks? Hear you me, Lock up my doors: and when you hear the drum, Snail-low in profit, and he sleeps by day Shut doors after you: fast bind, fast find; SCENE VI.-The same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masked. Gra. This is the penthouse under which Lo renzo Desired us to make stand. His hour is almost past. Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont To keep obligéd faith unforfeited! Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast With that keen appetite that he sits down? Where is the horse that doth untread again His tedious measures with the unbated fire That he did pace them first? All things that are, Enter LORENZO. Salar. Here comes Lorenzo;-more of this hereafter. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode : Not I, but my affairs, have made wait: you When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then.-Approach; Here dwells my father Jew.-Ho! who's within? Enter JESSICA above, in boy's clothes. Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; For who love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. Jes. Here, catch this casket! it is worth the pains. I am glad 't is night, you do not look on me, Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. They in themselves, good sooth, are too, too light. For the close night doth play the runaway, Must give for what? for lead? hazard for lead? A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross: As much as he deserves?-Pause there, Morocco, If thou beest rated by thy estimation, May not extend so far as to the lady ; As much as I deserve!—Why, that's the lady: Why, that's the lady: all the world desires her: One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is 't like that lead contains her? "Twere damnation To think so base a thought: it were too gross Por. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. Mor. O hell! what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing. All that glisters is not gold, Often have you heard that told: Had you been as wise as bold, Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then farewell heat; and welcome frost. Portia, adieu! I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers part. [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 SOLANIO. Salar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. Solan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the 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, That in a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. Besides, Antonio certified the Duke They were not with Bassanio in his ship. Solan. I never heard a passion so confused, So strange, outrageous, and so variable, As the dog Jew 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 sealed bag-two sealed bags of ducats— Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! And jewels; two stones— two rich and precious Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. He wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted. Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains. Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince : If you choose that wherein I am contained, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnised; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately. Arra. I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one Which casket 't was I chose: next, if I fail Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Arra. And so have I addressed 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 By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Builds in the weather on the outward wall, And well said too: for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not derived corruptly; and that clear honour Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times, I will assume desert.—Give me the key for this, And instantly unlock my fortunes here. Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. Arra. What's here? the portrait of a blinking |