Sal. Changes to Venice. Enter Solarino and Salanio. WHY, man, I faw Bassanio under fail; With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their fhip, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not. Sola. The villain Few with outcries rais'd the Duke, Who went with him to fearch Baffanio's fhip. Sal. He came too late, the fhip was under fail; Juftice, the law-My ducats, and my daughter! Of double ducats, ftoll'n from me by my daughter! Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Sal. Marry, well remember'd. I reafon'd with a Frenchman yesterday, Ee 4 And And wifh'd in filence, that it were not his. Sola. You were beft to tell Anthonio what you hear, Yet do not fuddenly, for it may grieve him. Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth. Bassanio told him, he would make some speed * And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Baffario's hand, and fo they parted. Sal. Do we fo. [Exeunt. Of Dr. Warburton's correction it is only neceffary to obferve, that it has produced a new word which cannot be received without neceflity, When I thought the paffage corrupted, it feemed to me not improbable that ShakeSpeare had wrtien entranced heawinefs, mufing, abitracted, moping melancholy. But I know not why any great efforts fhould be made to change a word which has no uncommodious or unufual fenfe. We fay of a man new, that he hugs his forrows, and why may not Anthonio embrace heaviness. SCENE Ner. Enter Neriffa with a Servant. UICK, quick-I pray thee, draw the curtain strait; The Prince of Arragon has ta'en his oath, And comes to his election presently. Enter Arragon, his train, Portia. Flourish of Cornets. The Cafkets are discovered. Por. Behold, there ftand the caskets, noble Prince; If you chufe that, wherein I am contained, Strait fhall our nuptial rites be folemniz'd : But if you fail, without more fpeech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately. Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath t'observe three things, Which cafket 'twas I chofe. Next, if I fail Por. To thefe injunctions every one doth fwear, Ar. And fo have I addrest me. Fortune now To my heart's hope!-Gold, filver, and bafe lead. Who chufeth me, must give and hazard all be bath. You fhall look fairer, ere I give or hazard. What fays the golden cheft? ha, let me feeWho chufeth me, shall gain what many men defire. What many men defire-that may be meant Of the fool-multitude, that chufe by fhow; Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pries not to th' interior, but like the martlet Builds in the weather on the outward wall, Ev'n in the force and road of casualty. I will not chufe what many men defire, O that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly, that clear honour 6 To be new varnish'd? well, but to my choice: 5 How much low peasantry would then be glean'd From the true feed of honour?] The meaning is How much meannefs would be found among the great, and how much greatness among the mean. But fince men are always faid to glean corn tho' they may pick chaff, the fentence had been more agreeable to the common manner of speech if it had been written thus, How much low peasantry would From the true feed of honour? 6 - how much honour Pickt from the chaff and ruin of the times, And inftantly unlock my fortunes here. Por. Too long a paufe for that which you find there. Is that my prize? are my deferts no better? Ar. What is here? The fire fev'n times tried this; Ar. Still more fool I fhall 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, [Exit. Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth. O these deliberate fools! when they do chufe, They have the wifdom by their wit to lofe: } 7 Take what wife you will to tia was never to marry any wo bed.] Perhaps the poet had forgotten that he who miffed Por man. Ner. |