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,
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you, and begone.

Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear,
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

Bass. And so have I addressed me.-Fortune nov
To my heart's hope!

Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong,
I lose your company; therefore, forbear a while:
There's something tells me, but it is not love,
I would not lose you: and you know yourself,
Hate counsels not in such a quality.

I could teach you

How to choose right, but then I am forsworn;
So will I never be: so may you miss me:
But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin,
That I had been forsworn.

I speak too long: but 'tis to peize the time;
To eke it, and to draw it out in length,
To stay you from election.

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.--
Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire."
hat may be meant

f the fool multitude, that choose by show;
"he world is still deceived with ornament.
n law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damnéd error, but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
Thus ornament is but the guiléd shore
To a most dang'rous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty.

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
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer?
How

many then should cover, that stand bare?
How many be commanded, that command?
And how much honour,

Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnished?" Much as he deserves."-

I'll not assume desert.-
"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
I'll none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threat'nest than dost promise aught,
Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence,
And here choose I: Joy be the consequence!
Por. How all the other passions fleet to air!
Oh, love, be moderate, allay thy ecstacy;
I feel too much thy blessing; make it less,
For fear I surfeit!

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!
Since this fortune falls to you,

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;
I come by note, to give, and to receive;
Yet doubtful whether what I say be true,
Until confirmed, signed, ratified by you.-

[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,
I would be trebled twenty times myself;

A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times
More rich;

That only to stand high on your account,
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account. But now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself: and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring;

nich, when you part from, lose, or give away,
t it presage the ruin of your love,

d be my vantage to exclaim on you.
Bass. Madam, you have bereft me of all words,
ly my blood speaks to you in my veins :

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.
Gra. I thank your lordship, you have got me one.
My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours:
You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid;
You loved, I loved; for intermission
No more pertains to me, my lord, than you.
Your fortune stood upon the caskets there;
And so did mine, too, as the matter falls :
For wooing here, until I sweat again;
And swearing, till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love; at last,-if promise last,-
I got a promise of this fair one here,

To have her love, provided that your fortune
Achieved her mistress.

Por. Is this true, Nerissa?

Ner. Madam, it is, so you stand pleased withal.
Bass. And do you, Gratiano, mean good faith?
Gra. Yes, 'faith, my lord.

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?