65 Bassanio presently will go aboard : I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gra. I am glad on't: I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house Flourish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and their trains. Por. Go draw aside the curtains and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. Now make your choice. Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears, 5 "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;" The second, silver, which this promise carries, "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;' This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.” 10 How shall I know if I do choose the right ? If Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince: you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgement! Let me see; I will survey the inscriptions back again. 15 What says this leaden casket? "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.” Must give for what? for lead? hazard for lead? This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages: 20 A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. What says the silver with her virgin hue? "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." As much as he deserves! Pause there, Morocco, 25 And weigh thy value with an even hand: If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady: I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, In graces and in qualities of breeding; But more than these, in love I do deserve. 35 What if I stray'd no further, but chose here? Let's see once more this saying graved in gold; "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her; From the four corners of the earth they come, 40 To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint: The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now For princes to come view fair Portia : The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head 45 Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar To stop the foreign spirits, but they come, One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is't like that lead contains her? "Twere damnation 55 Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 60 Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may ! 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 There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing. 65 [Reads] 70 Often have you heard that told: Had you been as wise as bold, Cold, indeed; and labor lost: 75 Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost! Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart [Exit with his train. Flourish of cornets. 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 : With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the duke, 5 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 Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica : |