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- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
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- Act 2 Scene 9
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- (Enter Nerissa and a servitor)
- l1l Nerissa Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight.
- l2l The Prince of Aragon hath taÆen his oath,
- l3l And comes to his election presently.
- (The servitor draws aside the curtain, revealing the three
- caskets. Flourish of cornetts. Enter Aragon, his train, and
- Portia)
- l4l Portia Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince.
- l5l If you choose that wherein I am contained,
- l6l Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.
- l7l But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
- l8l You must be gone from hence immediately.
- l9l Aragon I am enjoined by oath to observe three things:
- l10l First, never to unfold to anyone
- l11l Which casket Ætwas I chose. Next, if I fail
- l12l Of the right casket, never in my life
- l13l To woo a maid in way of marriage.
- l14l Lastly, if I do fail in fortune of my choice,
- l15l Immediately to leave you and be gone.
- l16l Portia To these injunctions everyone doth swear
- l17l That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
- l18l Aragon And so have I addressed me. Fortune now
- l19l To my heartÆs hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.
- (He reads the leaden casket)
- l20l ôWho chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.ö
- l21l You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
- l22l What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see.
- l23l ôWho chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.ö
- l24l ôWhat many men desireöùthat ômanyö may be meant
- l25l By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
- l26l Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
- l27l Which pries not to thÆ interior but, like the martlet,
- l28l Builds in the weather on the outward wall
- l29l Even in the force and road of casualty.
- l30l I will not choose what many men desire,
- l31l Because I will not jump with common spirits
- l32l And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
- l33l Why then, to thee, thou silver treasure-house.
- l34l Tell me once more what title thou dost bear.
- l35l ôWho chooseth me shall get as much as he deservesöù
- l36l And well said too, for who shall go about
- l37l To cozen fortune, and be honourable
- l38l Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
- l39l To wear an undeservΦd dignity.
- l40l O, that estates, degrees, and offices
- l41l Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour
- l42l Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
- l43l How many then should cover that stand bare,
- l44l How many be commanded that command?
- l45l How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
- l46l From the true seed of honour, and how much honour
- l47l Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times
- l48l To be new varnished? Well; but to my choice.
- l49l ôWho chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.ö
- l50l I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
- l51l And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
- (He is given a key. He opens the silver casket)
- l52l Portia Too long a pause for that which you find there.
- l53l Aragon WhatÆs here? The portrait of a blinking idiot
- l54l Presenting me a schedule. I will read it.
- l55l How much unlike art thou to Portia!
- l56l How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
- l57l ôWho chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.ö
- l58l Did I deserve no more than a foolÆs head?
- l59l Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
- l60l Portia To offend and judge are distinct offices,
- l61l And of opposΦd natures.
- Aragon What is here?
- (He reads the schedule)
- l62l ôThe fire seven times tried this;
- l63l Seven times tried that judgement is
- l64l That did never choose amiss.
- l65l Some there be that shadows kiss;
- l66l Such have but a shadowÆs bliss.
- l67l There be fools alive, iwis,
- l68l Silvered oÆer; and so was this.
- l69l Take what wife you will to bed,
- l70l I will ever be your head.
- l71l So be gone; you are sped.ö
- l72l Still more fool I shall appear
- l73l By the time I linger here.
- l74l With one foolÆs head I came to woo,
- l75l But I go away with two.
- l76l Sweet, adieu. IÆll keep my oath
- l77l Patiently to bear my wroth.
- (Flourish of cornetts. Exit with his train)
- l78l Portia Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
- l79l O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose
- l80l They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
- l81l Nerissa The ancient saying is no heresy:
- l82l Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
- l83l Portia Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
- (Nerissa draws the curtain.)
- (Enter a Messenger)
- l84l Messenger Where is my lady?
- Portia Here. What would my lord?
- l85l Messenger Madam, there is alighted at your gate
- l86l A young Venetian, one that comes before
- l87l To signify thÆ approaching of his lord,
- l88l From whom he bringeth sensible regreets,
- l89l To wit, besides commends and courteous breath,
- l90l Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen
- l91l So likely an ambassador of love.
- l92l A day in April never came so sweet
- l93l To show how costly summer was at hand
- l94l As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
- l95l Portia No more, I pray thee, I am half afeard
- l96l Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
- l97l Thou spendÆst such high-day wit in praising him.
- l98l Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
- l99l Quick CupidÆs post that comes so mannerly.
- l100l Nerissa Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!
- (Exeunt)
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