SCENE III Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house Flourish of cornets. Enter PORTIA with the Prince of 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? Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince: If you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! 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, And weigh thy value with an even hand. As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady. 5 I do in birth deserve her, and in fortunes, To kiss this shrine, this mortal-breathing saint. 10 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds 15 For princes to come view fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. 20 To think so base a thought. It were too gross To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she's immur'd, Being ten times undervalu'd to tried gold? O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 25 10 But here an angel in a golden bed Lies all within. Deliver me the key. Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! Por. There, take it, Prince; and if my form lie there, 5 Then I am yours. 10 15 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. [Reads.] "All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard that told. Cold, indeed; and labor lost : Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost! Portia, adieu. I have too griev'd a heart 20 To take a tedious leave; thus losers part. Exit. Flourish of cornets. Por. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. Exeunt. SCENE IV 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, And comes to his election presently. 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; 5 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 10 Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail Of the right casket, never in my life To woo a maid in way of marriage; If I do fail in fortune of my choice, Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear 15 Ar. And so have I address'd 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. 5 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, I will not choose what many men desire, 10 Because I will not jump with common spirits And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house; Tell me once more what title thou dost bear : "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;" 15 And well said too; for who shall go about To cozen fortune and be honorable Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume To wear an undeserved dignity. "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." 20 I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, And instantly unlock my fortunes here. [He opens the silver casket.] 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. 25 How much unlike art thou to Portia ! |