Sala. Here comes another of the tribe: a third cannot e matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew. [Exeunt Solanio and Salarino, R. Enter TUBAL, r. Shy. How now, Tubal, what news from Genoa? hast hou found my daughter? Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot ind her. Shy. Why, there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now; -two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels--I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! 'would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them?—why, so:—and I know not what's spent in the search: why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge; nor no ill luck stirring, but what lights o' my shoulders; no sighs, but o' my breathing: no tears, but o' my shedding. Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too; Antonio, as I heard in Genoa, Shy. What, what, what! ill luck? ill luck? ill luck? Tub. Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God !-Is it true? is it true? Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck. Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal?-Good news, good news ha ha!-Where? in Genoa? Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, fourscore ducats. Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger in me:-I shall never see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats! Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot choose but break. Shy. I am very glad of it; I'll plague him! I'll torture him! I am glad of it. Tub. One of them shewed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal! it was my torquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. [Crosses, L. Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true: go, Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before: I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize I will: go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue. (o, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt, Shylock, L., Tubal, R. SCENE II.-Portia's House at Belmont.-Three Caskets of Gold, Silver, and Lead, laid out, c. PORTIA and BASSANIO, L., NERISSA and GRATIANO, R.— Singers, Musicians, Pages, and other Attendants, discovered. Bass. 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, Bass. And so have I addressed me.-Fortune nov Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two I could teach you How to choose right, but then I am forsworn; I speak too long: but 'tis to peize the time; ass. Let me choose; as I am, I live upon the rack. ne, let me to my fortune and the caskets. Por. Away, then: [Crosses, L.] I am locked in one of them; ou do love me, you will find me out. rissa, and the rest, stand all aloof.— [They retire. = music sound while he doth make his choice; en, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, ding in music; that the comparison y stand more proper, my eyes shall be the stream, ad wat'ry death-bed for him. [Music whilst Bassanio comments on the caskets to himself. Bass. Some good direct my judgment !-Let me see.-- f the fool multitude, that choose by show; Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." And well said, too; for who shall go about To cozen fortune, and be honourable Without the stamp of merit? Oh, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not derived corruptly! and that clear honour many then should cover, that stand bare? Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times, I'll not assume desert.- Bass. [Opening the Leaden Casket.] What find I here Fair Portia's counterfeit ! Here is the scroll, of my fortune. The continent and summary [Reads.] You that choose not by the view, Chance as fair, and choose as true! Be content, and seek no new. If you be well pleased with this, And hold your fortune for your bliss, Turn you where your lady is, And claim her with a loving kiss." A gentle scroll;-Fair lady, by your leave; [Kneels, kissing her Por. (L. c.) You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand Such as I am though, for myself alone, I would not be ambitious in my wish, To wish myself much better; yet, for you, A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times That only to stand high on your account, nich, when you part from, lose, or give away, d be my vantage to exclaim on you. at when this ring arts from this finger, then parts life from hence; h, then be bold to say, Bassanio's dead. [Gratiano and Nerissa advance, r. Ner. My lord and lady, it is now our time, hat have stood by, and seen our wishes prosper, To cry, good joy! Good joy, my lord and lady! [Crosses to Portia. Gra. My lord Bassanio, and my gentle lady, I wish you all the joy that you can wish; For, I am sure, you can wish none from me: And when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith, I do beseech you, Even at that time I may be married, too. Bass. With all my heart, so thou can'st get a wife. To have her love, provided that your fortune Por. Is this true, Nerissa? Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal. Bass. Our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage. [Bassanio and Portia retire up the Stage. Gra. We'll play with them, the first boy, for a thousand ducats. Ner. What, and stake down? |