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The Merchant of Venice (Folio 1, 1623)
1111Enter Nerrissa and a Seruiture.
P2 The
172The Merchant of Venice.
1113The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath,
1115Enter Arragon, his traine, and Portia.
1116Flor. Cornets.
1118If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,
1120But if thou faile, without more speech my Lord,
1121You must be gone from hence immediately.
1123First, neuer to vnfold to any one
1125Of the right casket, neuer in my life
1126To wooe a maide in way of marriage:
1128Immediately to leaue you, and be gone.
1134You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard.
1137What many men desire, that many may be meant
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.
1145And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes.
1147Tell me once more, what title thou doost beare;
1150To cosen Fortune, and be honourable
1152To weare an vndeserued dignitie:
1154Were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour
1155Were purchast by the merrit of the wearer;
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,
1164And instantly vnlocke my fortunes here.
1166Ar. What's here, the portrait of a blinking idiot
1168How much vnlike art thou to Portia?
1169How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings?
1171Did I deserue no more then a fooles head,
1172Is that my prize, are my deserts no better?
1174And of opposed natures.
1175Ar. What is here?
1177 Seauen times tried that iudement is,
1178 That did neuer choose amis,
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.
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.
1196Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie.
1198Enter Messenger.
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
1205To wit (besides commends and curteous breath)
1206Gifts of rich value; yet I haue not seene
1207So likely an Embassador of loue.
1210As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord.
1211Por. No more I pray thee, I am halfe a-feard