10661062Ner. Quick, quick I pray thee, draw the curtain strait,

10671063The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath,

10681064and comes to his election presently.

10701066Por. Behold, there stand the caskets noble Prince,

10711067yf you choose that wherein I am containd

10721068straight shall our nuptiall rights be solemniz'd:

10731069but if you faile, without more speech my Lord

10741070you must be gone from hence immediatly.

10751071Arra. I am enioynd by oath to obserue three things,

10761072First, neuer to vnfold to any one

10771073which casket twas I chose; next, if I faile

10781074of the right casket, neuer in my life

10791075to wooe a maide in way of marriage:

10801076lastly, if I doe faile in fortune of my choyse,

10811077immediatly to leaue you, and be gone.

10821078Por. To these iniunctions euery one doth sweare

10831079that comes to hazard for my worthlesse selfe.

10841080Arr. And so haue I addrest me, fortune now

10851081To my harts hope: gold, siluer, and base lead.

10861082Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.

10871083You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard.

10881084What saies the golden chest, ha, let me see,

10891085Who chooseth me, shall gaine what many men desire,

10901086What many men desire, that many may be meant

10911087by the foole multitude that choose by show,

10921088not learning more then the fond eye doth teach,

10931089which pries not to th interiour, but like the Martlet

10941090Builds in the weather on the outward wall,

10951091Euen in the force and rode of casualty.

10961092I will not choose what many men desire,

10971093Because I will not iumpe with common spirits,

10981094And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes.

10991095Why then to thee thou siluer treasure house,

11001096Tell me once more what title thou doost beare;

11011097Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues,

11021098And well sayde to; for who shall goe about

11031099To cosen Fortune, and be honourable

11041100without the stampe of merrit, let none presume

11051101To weare an vndeserued dignity:

11061102O that estates, degrees, and offices,

11071103were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour

11081104were purchast by the merrit of the wearer,

11091105How many then should couer that stand bare?

11101106How many be commaunded that commaund?

11111107How much low peasantry would then be gleaned

11121108From the true seede of honour? and how much honour

11131109Pickt from the chaft and ruin of the times,

11141110To be new varnist; well but to my choise.

11151111Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues,

11161112I will assume desert; giue me a key for this,

11171113And instantly vnlocke my fortunes heere.

11181114Portia. Too long a pause for that which you finde there.

11191115Arrag. What's heere, the pourtrait of a blinking idiot

11201116Presenting me a shedule, I will reade it:

11211117How much vnlike art thou to Portia?

11221118How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings.

11231119Who chooseth me, shall haue as much as he deserues?

11241120Did I deserue no more then a fooles head,

11251121Is that my prize, are my deserts no better?

11261122Portia. To offend and iudge are distinct offices,

11271123And of opposed natures.

11281124Arrag. What is heere?

E. That

11391135Arrag. Still more foole I shall appeare

11401136By the time I linger heere,

11411137With one fooles head I came to woo,

11421138But I goe away with two.

11431139Sweet adiew, ile keepe my oath,

11441140Paciently to beare my wroath.

11451141Portia. Thus hath the candle singd the moath:

11461142O these deliberate fooles when they doe choose,

11471143They haue the wisedome by their wit to loose.

11481144Nerriss. The auncient saying is no herisie,

11491145Hanging and wiuing goes by destinie.

11501146Portia. Come draw the curtaine Nerrissa.

11521148Mess. Where is my Lady.

11531149Portia. Heere, what would my Lord?

11541150Mess. Madame, there is a-lighted at your gate

11551151A young Venetian, one that comes before

11561152To signifie th'approching of his Lord,

11571153From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;

11581154To wit, (besides commends and curtious breath)

11591155Gifts of rich valiew; yet I haue not seene

11601156So likely an Embassador of loue.

11611157A day in Aprill neuer came so sweete

11621158To show how costly Sommer was at hand,

11631159As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord.

11641160Portia. No more I pray thee, I am halfe a-feard

11651161Thou wilt say anone he is some kin to thee,

11661162Thou spendst such high day wit in praysing him:

11671163Come come Nerryssa, for I long to see

11681164Quick Cupids Post that comes so mannerly.

11691165Nerryss. Bassanio Lord, loue if thy will it be. Exeunt.