Of his return; he answer'd-Do not so. And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. 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. 2 Slubber not -] To slubber is to do any thing carelessly, imperfectly. 3 And even there, his eye being big with tears, Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, &c.] So curious an observer of nature was our author, and so minutely had he traced the operation of the passions, that many passages of his works might furnish hints to painters. It is indeed surprising that they do not study his plays with this view. In the passage before us, we have the outline of a beautiful picture. MALone. 4 embraced heaviness-] The heaviness which he indulges, and is fond of. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; Ar. I am enjoin'd 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, Ar. And so have I address'd me': Fortune now To my heart's hope!-Gold, silver, and base lead. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath : You shall look fairer, ere I give, or hazard. What says the golden chest? ha! let me see :— Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. What many men desire.-That many may be meant By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet, Builds in the weather on the outward wall, Even in the force and road of casualty. I will not choose what many men desire, Because I will not jump' with common spirits, And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. Why then to thee, thou silver treasure house; Tell me once more what title thou dost bear: Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves; 7 And so have I address'd me:] To address is to prepare. 6 in the force] i. e. the power. jump ] i. e. agree with. And well said too; For who shall go about Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour To be new varnish'd! Well, but to my choice: 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; 8 How much low peasantry would then be glean'd From the true seed of honour!] The meaning is, How much meanness would be found among the great, and how much greatness among the mean! There be fools alive, I wis', Still more fool I shall appear Patiently to bear my wroth +. [Exeunt Arragon, and Train. Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth. O these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy ;Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Enter a Servant. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate A day in April never came so sweet, 9 I wis,] I know. Wissen, German. 1 regreets;] i. e. salutations. Thou wilt say anon, he is some kin to thee, Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.— Quick Cupid's post, that comes so mannerly. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-Venice. A Street. Enter SALANIO and SALARINO. Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto? Salar. Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word. Salan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as ever knapp'd ginger, or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband: But it is true, without any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain high-way of talk,-that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio, O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company!— Salar. Come, the full stop. Salan. Ha,-what say'st thou ?-Why the end is, he hath lost a ship. Salar. I would it might prove the end of his losses! Salan. Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer; for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. Enter SHYLOCK. How now, Shylock? what news among the merchants? |