Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art. Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. And I should be obscur'd. Lor. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once: For the close night doth play the run-away, And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [Exit, from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. For she is wise, if I can judge of her; And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself; Shall she be placed in my constant soul. Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; [Exit with JESSICA and SALARINO. Enter ANTONIO. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio ? Ant. Fye, fye, Gratiano! where are all the rest? 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 both 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;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. 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 : What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; What says the silver, with her virgin hue? Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. As much as I deserve!— Why, that's the lady: In graces, and in qualities of breeding; But more than these, in love I do deserve. 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 8 To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave. Or shall I think, in silver she's immur'd, Being ten times undervalued to try'd gold? O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold. They have in England A coin, that bears the figure of an angel 9 To rib-] i. e. inclose, as the ribs inclose the viscera. Stamped in gold; but that's insculp'd upon : But here an angel in a golden bed Lies all within.-Deliver me the key; 9 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: But Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then, farewell, heat; and welcome, frost. Portia adieu ! I have too griev❜d a heart go: [Exit. Draw the curtains, Let all of his complexion choose me so. 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. [Exeunt. insculp'd upon;] To insculp is to engrave. The meaning is that the figure of the angel is raised or embossed on the coin, not engraved on it. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : Of double ducats, stoľn from me by my daughter ! 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 ;1 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 Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. you Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part : hear; 1 I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday;] i. e. I conversed. |