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Who chuseth me, shall gain what many men desire.
That may be meant

Of the fool multitude, that chuse by show;
The world is still deceiv'd with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being season'd with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore

To a most dang'rous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty.--

Therefore, thou gaudy gold,

Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee.
Who chuseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.
And well said too; for who shall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit ?——————

O, that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover, that stand bare!
How many be commanded, that command!
And how much honour

Pick'd from the chaff, and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd!-Much as he deserves—
I'll not assume desert.-

Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.
I'll none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
"Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threat'nest, than dost promise aught,
Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence,
And here chuse I; Joy be the consequence!
Por. How all the other passions fleet to air!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstacy;
I feel too much thy blessing; make it less,
For fear I surfeit!

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Bass. [Opening the Leaden Casket.] What find I

here?

Fair Portia's counterfeit? Here is the scroll,

The continent and summary of my fortune.

[Reads.] You that chuse not by the view,
Chance as fair, and chuse as true!
Since this fortune falls to you,
Be content, and seek no new.

If you be well pleas'd with this,
And hold your fortune for your bliss,
Turn you where your lady is,

And claim her with a loving kiss.

A gentle scroll!-Fair lady, by your leave!
I come by note, to give, and to receive;
Yet doubtful whether what I see be true,

Until confirm'd, sign'd, ratify'd by you. [Kissing her.
Por. You see me, lord Bassanio, where I stand,
Such as I am though for myself alone,

I would be ambitious in my wish,

To wish myself much better; yet, for you,
I would not be trebled twenty times myself;
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times
More rich;

That only to stand high in your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account. But now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring;
Which, when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,

And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words,

Only my blood speaks to you in my veins :

But when this ring

Parts from this finger, then parts life from hence;
O, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead.

Ner. My lord, and lady, it is now our time,
That have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper,
To cry, good joy! Good joy, my lord, and lady!
Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady,
I wish you all the joy that you can wish;
For, I am sure, you can wish none from me:
And, when your honours mean to solemnize
The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you,
Even at that time I may be marry'd too.

Bass. With all my heart, so thou canst get a wife.

Gra. I thank your lordship; you have got me

one.

My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
You lov'd, I lov'd; for intermission

No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the caskets there;
And so did mine too, as the matter falls:
For wooing here, until I sweat again;
And swearing, till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love; at last,-if promise last,-
I got a promise of this fair one here,

To have her love, provided that your fortune
Atchiev'd her mistress.

Por. Is this true, Nerissa?

Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleas'd withal.
Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?
Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord.

Bass. Our feast shall 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?

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