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NERISSA
1 Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight:
2 The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath,
3 And comes to his election presently.
Enter [the PRINCE of] ARRAGON,
his TRAIN, and PORTIA.
PORTIA
4 Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince:
5 If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,
6 Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized:
7 But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
8 You must be gone from hence immediately.
ARRAGON
9 I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things:
10 First, never to unfold to any one
11 Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail
12 Of the right casket, never in my life
13 To woo a maid in way of marriage;
14 Lastly,
15 If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
16 Immediately to leave you and be gone.
PORTIA
17 To these injunctions every one doth swear
18 That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARRAGON
19 And so have I address'd me. Fortune now
20 To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead.
21 "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."
22 You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
23 What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:
24 "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."
25 What many men desire! that "many" may be meant
26 By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
27 Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
28 Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
29 Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
30 Even in the force and road of casualty.
31 I will not choose what many men desire,
32 Because I will not jump with common spirits
33 And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
34 Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
35 Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
36 "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."
37 And well said too; for who shall go about
38 To cozen fortune and be honorable
39 Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
40 To wear an undeserved dignity.
41 O, that estates, degrees and offices
42 Were not deriv'd corruptly, and that clear honor
43 Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
44 How many then should cover that stand bare!
45 How many be commanded that command!
46 How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
47 From the true seed of honor! and how much honor
48 Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times
49 To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice:
50 "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."
51 I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
52 And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
PORTIA
53 Too long a pause for that which you find there.
ARRAGON
54 What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
55 Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.
56 How much unlike art thou to Portia!
57 How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
58 "Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves."
59 Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
60 Is that my prize? are my deserts no better?
PORTIA
61 To offend, and judge, are distinct offices
62 And of opposed natures.
[Reads.]
63 "The fire seven times tried this:
64 Seven times tried that judgment is,
65 That did never choose amiss.
66 Some there be that shadows kiss;
67 Such have but a shadow's bliss:
68 There be fools alive, iwis,
69 Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
70 Take what wife you will to bed,
71 I will ever be your head:
72 So be gone: you are sped."
73 Still more fool I shall appear
74 By the time I linger here
75 With one fool's head I came to woo,
76 But I go away with two.
77 Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath,
78 Patiently to bear my wroth.
PORTIA
79 Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
80 O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose,
81 They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
NERISSA
82 The ancient saying is no heresy,
83 Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
PORTIA
84 Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
PORTIA
85 Here: what would my lord?
Servant
86 Madam, there is alighted at your gate
87 A young Venetian, one that comes before
88 To signify the approaching of his lord;
89 From whom he bringeth sensible regreets,
90 To wit, besides commends and courteous breath,
91 Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen
92 So likely an ambassador of love:
93 A day in April never came so sweet,
94 To show how costly summer was at hand,
95 As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
PORTIA
96 No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard
97 Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
98 Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.
99 Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see
100 Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.
NERISSA
101 Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be!
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