Por. A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go; Let all of his complexion choose me so. SCENE VIII. Venice. A Street. Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. [Exeunt. Salar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries raised the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late; the ship was under sail; But there the duke was given to understand, Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. Besides, Antonio certified the duke, They were not with Bassanio in his ship. Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! Salar. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him, Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats. Salan. Let good Antonio look he keep his day, Or he shall pay for this. Salar. Marry, well remembered. 1 Conversed. The French and English, there miscarried I thought upon Antonio, when he told me, Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what you hear; Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. Bassanio told him, he would make some speed And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. I With some delight or other. Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Enter NERISSA, with a Servant. Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight; The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, And comes to his election presently. 1 To slubber is to do a thing carelessly. 2 Shows, tokens. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, PORTIA, and their Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince. Ar. I am enjoined by oath to observe three things. First, never to unfold to any one Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail Of the right casket, never in my life To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly, Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, 1 Prepared. 2 By and of, being synonymous, were used by our ancestors indifferently; Malone has adduced numerous instances of the use of by, in all of which, by substituting of, the sense is rendered clear to the modern reader. 3 Power. 4 To jump is to agree with. Tell me once more what title thou dost bear. Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves; Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not derived corruptly; and that clear honor Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. Ar. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot, Presenting me a schedule. I will read it. How much unlike art thou to Portia ! How much unlike my hopes, and my deservings! Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? Ar. What is here? The fire seven times tried this; Silvered o'er; and so was this. 1 The meaning is, how much meanness would be found among the great, and how much greatness among the mean. 2 Know. Take what wife you will to bed,1 Still more fool I shall appear With one fool's head I came to woo, [Exeunt Arragon, and Train. Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy.- Enter a Servant. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? To wit, besides commends, and courteous breath, So likely an ambassador of love; A day in April never came so sweet, To show how costly summer was at hand, As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. Por. No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard, Thou wilt say, anon, he is some kin to thee, 1 The poet had forgotten that he who missed Portia was never to marry any other woman. 2 Wroath is used in some of the old writers for misfortune, and is often spelled like ruth. 3 Salutations. |