Stamped in gold, but that's infculpt upon :
But here an angel in a golden bed

Lyes all within. Deliver me the key;
Here do I chufe, and thrive. I as I may !

Por. There take it, Prince, and if my form lye there, Then I am yours. [Unlocking the gold cafket.. Mor. O hell! what have we here? a carrion death,

Within whose empty eye there is a scrowl:

I'll read the writing.

All that glifters is not gold,

Often have you beard that told;
Many a man bis life bath fold,
But my outfide to behold.

Gilded wood may worms infold:
Had you been as wife as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer bad not been inferol'd,
Fare you well, your fuit is cold.
Mor. Cold indeed, and labour loft:
Then farewel, heat; and welcome, froft:
Portia, adieu! I have too griev'd a heart

To take a tedious leave: thus lofers part.

Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtains, go;

Let all of his complexion chuse me fo!

SCENE IX. Venice.

Enter Solarino and Salanio.

Sal. Why, man, I faw Bassanio under fail,

With him is Gratiano gone along,

And in their fhip I'm fure Lorenzo is not.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

Sola. The villain Few with outcries rais'd the Duke,
Who went with him to fearch Bafania's fhip.,

Sal. He came too late, the ship was under fail;
But there the Duke was giv'n to understand
That in a Gondola were feen together
Lorenzo and his am'rous Feffica:
Betides, Anthonio certify'd the Duke
They were not with Bafanio in his hip.
Sola. I never heard a paffion fo confus'd,
So ftrange, outrageous, and fo variable,
As the dog few did utter in the streets;
VOL. 1.

U

My

My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter!
Fled with a chriftian? O my chriftian ducats!
Juftice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!
A fealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,

Of double ducats, ftol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels, two ftones, rich and precious ftones,
Stol'n by my daughter! juftice! find the girl;
She hath the ftones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal. Why all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying his ftones, his daughter, and his ducats.
Sola. Let good Anthonia look he keep his day,
Or he shall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd.

I reafon'd with a Frenchman yefterday,
Who told me, in the narrow feas that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A veffel of our country richly fraught:
I thought upon Anthonio when he told me,
And with'd in filence that it were not his.

Sola. You were beft to tell Anthonio what you hear, Yet do not fuddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth.

I faw Baffanis and Anthonio part.

Baffanio told him he would make fome speed
Of his return; he answer'd, do not fo,
Slubber not bufinefs for my fake, Baffanio,
But ftay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:
Be merry, and employ your chiefeft thoughts
To courtship, and fuch fair oftents of love
As fhall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wond'rous fenfible

He wrung Bafanio's hand, and fo they parted.
Sola. I think he only loves the world for him.

I pray thee, let us go and find him out,
And quicken his embraced heaviness
With fome delight or other.

Sal

Sal. Do we fo.

SCENE X. Belmont.

Enter Neriffa with a Servant.

[Exeunt.

Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain ftrait, The Prince of Arragon has ta'en his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

Enter Arragon, his train, Portia. Flor. Cornets. The
Cafkets are difcover'd.

Por. Behold there ftands the caskets, noble Prince;
If you chufe that wherein I am contain'd,
Strait fhall our nuptial rites be folemniz'd:
But if you fail, without more fpeech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by bath t' obferve three things;
Firft, never to unfold to any one

Which cafket 'twas I chofe; next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life
To woo a maid in way of marriage :
Laft, if I fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.

Por. To thefe injunctions every one doth fwear
That comes to hazard for my worthless felf.

Ar. And fo have I addreft me; fortune now
To my heart's hope! gold, filver, and bafe lead.
Who cbufeth me, must give and hazard all be bath.
You fhall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
What fays the golden cheft? ha, let me fee;
Who cbufeth me, fhall gain what many men defire.
What many men defire that may be meant
Of the full multitude that chufe by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pryes not to th' interior: like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Ev'n in the force and road of cafualty.
I will not chufe what many men defire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barb'rous multitudes.
Why then to thee, thou filver treasure-house:
Tell me once more, what title thou doft bear :
Who cbufetb me, fball get as much as be deferves;

U 2

And

And well faid too, for who fhall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit? let none prefume
To wear an undeserved dignity:

O that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly, 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 ?
How much low peafantry would then be gleaned
From the true feed of honour? how much honour
Pickt from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd? well, but to my choice:
Who cbufeth me, fhall get as much as be deferves:
A key for this; will affume defert,

And inftantly unlock my fortunes here.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.
[Unlocking the filver cafket.
Ar. What's here! the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it :
How much unlike art thou to Portia?

How much unlike my hopes and my defervings?
Who chufeth me, fhall have as much as be deferves.

Did I deferve no more than a fool's head ?
Is that my prize? are my deferts no better?
Por. To offend and judge are diftinct offices,
And of oppofed natures.

Ar. What is here?

The fire fev'n times tried this,
Sev'n times tried that judgment is
That did never chufe amifs.
Some there be that shadows kifs,
Such have but a fhadow's bliss:
There be fools alive, Iris,
Silver'd o'er, and fo was this:
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your bead:

So be gone, Sir, you are fped.
Ar. Still more fool I fhall appear
By the time I linger here:

ر

Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath,

Patiently to bear my wroth.

Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth:
O these deliberate fools! when they do chufe,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lofe.
Ner. The ancient faying is no heresy,
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.

Por. Come, draw the curtain, Neriffa.
Enter a Servant.

Serv. Where is my lady?

Por. Here, what would my lord?
Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To fignify th' approaching of his lord,
From whom he bringeth fenfible regreets;
To wit, befides commends and courteous breath,
Gifts of rich value; yet I have not feen
So likely an ambaffador of love.

A day in April never came fo fweet,
To fhow how coftly fummer was at hand,
As this fore-fpurrer comes before his lord.

Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afraid
Thou'lt fay anon, he is fome kin to thee,
Thou spend'ft fuch high-day wit in praifing him:
Come, come, Neriffa, for I long to fee

Quick Cupid's poft, that comes fo mannerly.

[Exit.

Ner. Baffanio, lord Love! if thy will it be! [Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Venice. Enter Salanio and Solarino.

Sola. Nal. Why, yet it lives there uncheckt, that

WOW, what news on the Ryalto?

Anthonio hath a fhip of rich lading wreck'd on the nar-row feas; the Goodwins, I think, they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcafes of many a tall fhip lie bury'd, as they fay, if my goflip Report be an honeft woman of her word.