5 10 How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! "Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves." Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? Ar. What is here? [Reads.] "The fire seven times tried this; Seven times tried that judgment is, That did never choose amiss. Some there be that shadows kiss, Such have but a shadow's bliss. There be fools alive, I wis, Silver'd o'er; and so was this. Still more fool I shall appear By the time I linger here. With one fool's head I came to woo, Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, Patiently to bear my wroth. Exeunt ARRAGON and train. Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth. O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose, Enter a MESSENGER Mess. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? Mess. Madam, there is alighted at your gate 10 To signify the approaching of his lord. So likely an ambassador of love. A day in April never came so sweet, To show how costly summer was at hand, 15 As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. Por. No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard 20 Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly. Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! Exeunt. 5 SCENE V Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house Enter BASSANIO, PORTIA, GRATIANO, NERISSA, and all their train Por. I pray you, tarry. Pause a day or two Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so, though yours, not yours. I speak too long; but 'tis to peize the time, To stay you from election. Bass. Let me choose; For as I am, I live upon the rack. Por. Upon the rack, Bassanio! Then confess What treason there is mingled with your love. Bass. There may as well be amity and life Bass. Promise me life, and I'll confess the truth. Bass. "Confess and love" Had been the very sum of my confession. 10 O happy torment, when my torturer Doth teach me answers for deliverance! But let me to my fortune and the caskets. If Por. Away, then! I am lock'd in one of them; 15 Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. Let music sound while he doth make his choice; Fading in music. That the comparison May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream 20 And watery death-bed for him. He may win; And what is music then? Then music is Even as the flourish when true subjects bow Now he goes, 25 With no less presence, but with much more love, Than young Alcides, when he did redeem The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy To the sea-monster. I stand for sacrifice; Live thou, I live. With much, much more dismay A song, the whilst BASSANIO comments on the caskets to himself Tell me where is fancy bred, Or in the heart or in the head? Reply, reply. It is engend'red in the eyes, Let us all ring fancy's knell; I'll begin it, All. Ding, dong, bell. 5 10 Bass. So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceiv'd with ornament. |