1112Ner. Quick, quick I pray thee, draw the curtain strait,

P2 The

1113The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath,

1114And comes to his election presently.

1117Por. Behold, there stand the caskets noble Prince,

1118If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,

1119Straight shall our nuptiall rights be solemniz'd:

1120But if thou faile, without more speech my Lord,

1121You must be gone from hence immediately.

1122Ar. I am enioynd by oath to obserue three things;

1123First, neuer to vnfold to any one

1124Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I faile

1125Of the right casket, neuer in my life

1126To wooe a maide in way of marriage:

1127Lastly, if I doe faile in fortune of my choyse,

1128Immediately to leaue you, and be gone.

1129Por. To these iniunctions euery one doth sweare

1130That comes to hazard for my worthlesse selfe.

1131Ar. And so haue I addrest me, fortune now

1132To my hearts hope: gold, siluer, and base lead.

1133Who chooseth me must giue and hazard all he hath.

1134You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard.

1135What saies the golden chest, ha, let me see:

1136Who chooseth me, shall gaine what many men desire:

1137What many men desire, that many may be meant

1138By the foole multitude that choose by show,

1139Not learning more then the fond eye doth teach,

1140Which pries not to th' interior, but like the Martlet

1141Builds in the weather on the outward wall,

1142Euen in the force and rode of casualtie.

1143I will not choose what many men desire,

1144Because I will not iumpe with common spirits,

1145And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes.

1146Why then to thee thou Siluer treasure house,

1147Tell me once more, what title thou doost beare;

1148Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues:

1149And well said too; for who shall goe about

1150To cosen Fortune, and be honourable

1151Without the stampe of merrit, let none presume

1152To weare an vndeserued dignitie:

1153O that estates, degrees, and offices,

1154Were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour

1155Were purchast by the merrit of the wearer;

1156How many then should couer that stand bare?

1157How many be commanded that command?

1158How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned

1159From the true seede of honor? And how much honor

1160Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times,

1161To be new varnisht: Well, but to my choise.

1162Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues.

1163I will assume desert; giue me a key for this,

1164And instantly vnlocke my fortunes here.

1165Por. Too long a pause for that which you finde there.

1166Ar. What's here, the portrait of a blinking idiot

1167Presenting me a scedule, I will reade it:

1168How much vnlike art thou to Portia?

1169How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings?

1170Who chooseth me, shall haue as much as he deserues.

1171Did I deserue no more then a fooles head,

1172Is that my prize, are my deserts no better?

1173Por. To offend and iudge are distinct offices,

1174And of opposed natures.

1175Ar. What is here?

1176 The fier seauen times tried this,

1177 Seauen times tried that iudement is,

1178 That did neuer choose amis,

1179 Some there be that shadowes kisse,

1180 Such haue but a shadowes blisse:

1181 There be fooles aliue Iwis

1182 Siluer'd o're, and so was this:

1183 Take what wife you will to bed,

1184 I will euer be your head:

1185 So be gone, you are sped.

1186Ar. Still more foole I shall appeare

1187By the time I linger here,

1188With one fooles head I came to woo,

1189But I goe away with two.

1190Sweet adue, Ile keepe my oath,

1191Patiently to beare my wroath.

1192Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moath:

1193O these deliberate fooles when they doe choose,

1194They haue the wisdome by their wit to loose.

1195Ner. The ancient saying is no heresie,

1196Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie.

1197Por. Come draw the curtaine Nerrissa.

1199Mes. Where is my Lady?

1200Por. Here, what would my Lord?

1201Mes. Madam, there is a-lighted at your gate

1202A yong Venetian, one that comes before

1203To signifie th' approaching of his Lord,

1204From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;

1205To wit (besides commends and curteous breath)

1206Gifts of rich value; yet I haue not seene

1207So likely an Embassador of loue.

1208A day in Aprill neuer came so sweete

1209To show how costly Sommer was at hand,

1210As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord.

1211Por. No more I pray thee, I am halfe a-feard

1212Thou wilt say anone he is some kin to thee,

1213Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him:

1214Come, come Nerryssa, for I long to see

1215Quicke Cupids Post, that comes so mannerly.

1216Ner. Bassanio Lord, loue if thy will it be. Exeunt.