Enter LORENZO. Salar. Here comes Lorenzo :—more of this hereafter. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode; Not I, but my affairs have made you wait. When you shall please to play the thieves for wive Enter JESSICA above, in boy's clothes. Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit. I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; For who love I so much? And now who knows, But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? 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. Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love: And I should be obscured. Lor. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the runaway, And we are stay'd 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. Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily: For she is wise, if I can judge of her; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; And true she is, as she hath proved herself; And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, Shall she be placed in my constant soul. Enter JESSICA below. What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen; away! [Exit with Jes. and Salar. Enter ANTONIO. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio ? Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you :— No mask to-night; the wind is come about. Bassanio presently will go aboard: I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gru. 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. Florish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE UF 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 inscriptior. 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 de serves.' 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? If you For. The one of them contains my picture, prince; choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see; I will survey the inscriptions back again. 'Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.' Must give--For what? for lead? hazard for lead? This casket threatens. Men, that hazard all, A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; 'Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he de serves.' As much as he deserves?—Pause there, Morocco, As much as I deserve!—Why, that's the lady: Let's see once more this saying graved in gold :— desire.' Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her; To stop the foreign spirits; but they come, One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Was set in worse than gold. They have in England 2 Stamped in gold; but that's insculp'd upon : Lies all within.-Deliver me the key; Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may ! Por. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. Mor. [he unlocks the golden casket. 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. |