What damned error, but fome fober brow
Will blefs it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the groffnefs with fair ornament?
There is no vice fo fimple, but affumes
Some mark of virtue on its outward parts.
How many cowards, whofe hearts are all as falfe
As stairs of fand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward fearch'd, have livers white as milk?
And these affume but valour's excrement,

To render them redoubted. Look on beauty,
And you shall fee 'tis purchas'd by the weight,
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it:
So are those crifped fnaky golden locks,
Which make fuch wanton gambols in the wind,
Upon fuppofed fairness, often known

To be the dowry of a fecond head,
The fcull, that bred them, in the fepulchre.
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
To a moft dangerous fea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word,

The feeming truth which cunning time puts on
To intrap the wifeft. Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee:

Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threat'neft, than doft promife aught,
Thy plainnefs moves me more than eloquence;
And here choose I: Joy be the confequence!

Por. How all the other paffions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rafh-embrac'd defpair,
And fhudd'ring fear, and green-ey'd jealousy.
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecftafy;

In measure rain thy joy, fcant this excefs;
I feel too much thy bleffing: make it lefs,
For fear I furfeit!

[Opening the leaden casket.

Bal. What find I here?

Fair Portia's counterfeit? What demi-god
Hath come fo near creation? Move these eyes?
Or whether, riding on the balls of mine,
Seem they in motion? Here are fever'd lips,
Parted with fugar-breath; fo fweet a bar
Should funder fuch sweet friends: here in her hairs
The painter plays the fpider; and hath woven
A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men,
Fafter than gnats in cobwebs : but her eyes,-
How could he fee to do them? having made one,
Methinks it should have power to steal both his,
And leave itself unfurnish'd: Yet look, how far
The fubftance of my praife doth wrong this shadow
In underprizing it, fo far this fhadow,

Doth limp behind the fubftance.-Here's the fcroll,
The continent and fummary of my fortune;
You that choose not by the view,
Chance as fair, and choofe as true!
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content, and feek no new.
If you be well pleas'd with this,
And hold your fortune for your blifs
Turn you where your lady is,
And claim her with a loving kifs.

A gentle fcroll;-Fair lady, by your leave;

[Kiffing ber.

I come by note, to give, and to receive,
Like one of two contending in a prize,
That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes;
Hearing applaufe, and univerfal fhout,

Giddy in spirit, ftill gazing in a doubt,
Whether thofe peals of praise be his or no;
So, thrice fair lady, ftand I even fo;

As doubtful whether what I fee be true,
Until confirm'd, fign'd, ratify'd by you.

Por. You fee me, lord Baffanio, where I ftand, Such as I am. though, for myself alone, I would not be ambitious to my wish, To wish myself much better: yet, for you, I would be trebled twenty times myfelf; A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times More rich; that, to ftand high in your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, Exceed account: but the full fum of me Is fum of fomething; which to term in grofs, Is an unleffon'd girl, unfchool'd, unpractis'd: Happy in this, fhe is not yet so old But the may learn; and happier than this, She is not bred fo dull but she can learn ; Happiest of all, is, that her gentle fpirit Commits itself to yours to be directed, As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myfelf, and what is mine, to you, and yours, Is now converted: But now I was the lord Of this fair manfion, master of my fervants, Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now, This houfe, these fervants, and this fame myself, Are yours, my lord, I give them with this ring, Which when you part from, lofe, or give away, Let it prefage the ruin of your love,

And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

Bal. Madam, you have bereft me of all words, Only my blood speak to you in the veins : And there is fuch confufion in my powers,

As, after fome oration fairly fpoke

By a beloved prince, there doth appear
Among the buzzing pleafed multitude;
Where every fomething, being blent together,
Turns a wild of nothing, fave of joy

Exprest, and not expreft: But when this ring
Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence;
O, then be bold to fay, Baffanio's dead.

Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time, That have stood by, and feen our wishes profper, To cry, good joy; Good joy, my lord and lady! Gra. My lord Baffanio, and my gentle lady, I with you all the joy that you can wish h; For, I am fure, you can with none from me; And, when your honours mean to folemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, Even at that time I may be married too.

1

Baff. With all my heart, fo thou canst get a wife.
Gra. I thank your lordship; you have got me one.
My eyes, my lord, can look as fwift as yours;
You faw the miftrefs, I beheld the maid;
You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermiffion

No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune ftood upon the casket there;
And fo did mine too, as the atter falls:
For wooing here until I fweat again;
And fwearing till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love; at laft,-if promise laft,-
I got a promife of this fair one here,

To have her love, provided that your fortune

Atchiev'd her miftrefs.

Por. Is this true, Neriffa?

Ner. Madam, it is, fo you ftand pleas'd withal.
Baff. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?

Gra.

Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord.

Baff. Our feaft fhall be much honour'd in your marriage.

Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a thousand ducats.

Ner. What, and stake down?

Gra. No; we shall ne'er win at that sport, and ftake down.

But who comes here? Lorenzo, and his infidel? What, and my old Venetian friend, Salerio ?

Enter LORENZO, JESSICA, and SALERIO. Baff. Lorenzo, and Salerio, welcome hither; If that the youth of my new interest here Have power to bid you welcome:-By your leave, I bid my very friends, and countrymen, Sweet Portia, welcome.

Por. So do I, my lord;

They are entirely welcome.

Lor. I thank your honour:--For my part, my lord, My purpose was not to have feen you here:

But meeting with Salerio by the way,

He did entreat me, past all saying nay,
To come with him along.

Sale. I did, my lord,

And I have reafon for it. Signior Anthonio,
Commends him to you. [Gives BASSANIO a letter.
Baff. Ere I ope this letter,

I pray you tell me how my good friend doth ?
Sale Not fick, my lord, unless it be in mind;
Nor well, unless in mind: his letter there
Will fhew you his effate.

Gra. Neriffa, cheer yon' ftranger; bid her wel

come.

Your