Salan. You were beft to tell Anthonie what you heare, Yet do not fodainely, for it may greeue him.

Salar. A kinder Gentleman treades not the earth,
Ifaw Baffanio and Anthonio part:

Bafanio told him he would make fome speede
Of his returne: be aufwered,do not fo,
Slubber not bufineffe for my fake Baffante,
But stay the very riping of the time,
And for the Iewes bond which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your minde of loue:
Be ferry, and employ your cheefeft thoughts
To Courtship, and fuch faire oftents ofloue,
As fhall conueniently become you there.
And euen there his eye being bigge with teares,
Turning his face,he put his hand behinde him;
And with affection wondrous fenfible,

He wrung Baffanies hand, and fo they parted.

Salan, I thinke he onely loues the world for him:

I prethee let vs goe and finde him out,

And quicken his embraced heauineffe,
With fome delight or other.

Salar. Do we fo.

Enter Nerriffa and a Seruitor.

Exeunt

Ner. Quicke, quicke, I pray thee, draw the Curtain ftraite, The Prince of Arragon hath tane his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

Enter Arragon,his traine,and Portia.

Por. Behold, there ftand the Caskets Noble Prince,
If you choose that wherein I am contain❜d,

Straight fhall our nuptiall rights be folemniz'd:
But if you faile, without more fpeech my Lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Arra. I am enioyn'd by oath to obferue three things.
First, neuer to vnfold to any one

E

Which

Which Casket twas I chofe. Next, if I faile
Of the right Casket, neuer in my life
To woe a maide in way of marriage:
Laftly, if I do faile in fortune of my choife,
Immediately to leaue you, and be

gone.
Por. To thefe iniunctions euery one doth fweare,
That comes to hazard for my worthleffe felfe.

Arr. And fo haue I addreft me, fortune now
To my hearts hope : Gold, Siluer, and base Lead.
Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.
You fhall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard.
VVhat fayes the golden Cheft? ha, let me fee,
VVho chooseth me, fhall gaine what many men desire.
VVhat many men defire, that many may be meant
By the foole-multitude, that chufe by fhow:
Not learning inore then the fond eye doth teach,
VVhich pries not to th'interiour; but like the Martlet,
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Euen in the force and rode of casualty.

I will not chufe what many men defire,
Because I will not jumpe with common fpirits,
And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes.
VVhy then to thee thou Siluer treasure house,
Tell me once more what title thou doft beare:
who choofeth me fhall get as much as he deferues.
And well faid too, for who fhall go about
To cofen Fortune, and be honourable
VVithout the ftampe of merit, let none prefume
To weare an vndeferued dignity:
Othat eftates, degrees, and offices,

VVere not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honor
VVere purchac'd by the merit of the wearer,
How many then fhould couer, that stand bare?
How many be commanded, that command?
How much low pezantry would then be gleaned

From the true feede of honor? And how much honor,

Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times
To be new vernifh'd? well, but to my choife,
who chooseth me fhall get as much as he deferues.
I will affume defert. Giue me a key for this,
And inftantly vnlocke my fortunes heere.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you finde there.
Arrag. VVhat's heere, the portrait of a blinking Ideot,
Prefenting me a fedule? I will reade it.

How much vnlike art thou to Portia?

How much vnlike my hopes, and my deferuings.
Who chooseth me fhall baue as much as he deferues.
Did I deferue no more then a fooles head?
Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
Por. To offend and iudge are diftinct offices,
And of oppofed Natures.

Arrag. VVhat heere?

The fire feuen times tried this :
Seuen times tried that judgement is,
That did newer choose amis.
Some there be that fhadowes kis,
Such haue but a fbadowes blis:
There be fooles aline I wis,
Silner'dore, and fo was this.
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head:
So be gone, you are sped.

Still more foole I fhall appeere,

By the time I linger heere,

VVith one fooles head I came to woe,

But I go away with two.

Sweet adieu, Ile keepe my oath,

Patiently to beare my vvroath.

Portia. Thus hath the candle findg'd the Moth.

O these deliberate fooles, vvhen they do choose,

Heereads.

They

They haue their wifedome, by their wit to loose,
Ner. The ancient faying is no herefie,
Hanging and wiuing goes by deftiny.
Por. Come draw the Curtaine Nerriffa.

Enter a Messenger.

Melf. Where is my Lady?

Por. Heere, what would my Lord?
Meff. Madam, there is a-lighted at your gate
A yong Venetian, one that comes before
To fignifie th'approching of his Lord,
From whom he bringeth fenfible regreets;
To wit (befides commends and courteous breath)
Gifts of rich valew; yet I haue not feene
So likely an Embaffador ofloue,

A day in Aprill neuer came fo fwect,
To fhew how coftly Summer was at hand,
As this fore-fpurrer comes before his Lord.
Por. No more Lpray thee, I am halfe a-fear'd
Thou wilt fay anon he is some kin to thee,
Thou spendft fuch high day wit in praising him:
Come,conie Nerrissa, for I long to fee
Quicke Cupids poft that comes fo mannerly.
Ner.Baffanio Lord, loue if thy will it be.

Enter Salanio and Salarino.

Salan. Now, what newes on the Ryalto?

Exit.

Salar. Why yet it liues there vncheckt, that Anthonio hath a fhip of rich lading wrackt on the narrowe feas; the Goodwins I thinke they call the place, a very dangerous flat,& fatal, wher the carkaffes of many a tall fhippe lie buried, as they fay, if my goffips report be an honeft woman of her word.

Salan. I would fhee were as a lying goffippe in that, as euer knapt Ginger, or made her neighbors beleeue fhe wept fori the death of a third husband: but it is true, without any flippes of prolixity, or croffing the plaine highway of talk, that the good

Antho

Anthonio, the honeft Anthonio, O that I had a title good inough to keepe his name company.

Salar. Come, the full ftop.

Sal. Ha,what faift thou? why the end is, he hath loft a fhip.
Salar. I would it might proue the end of his loffes.

Salan. Let me fay Amen betimes, leaft the deuill croffe my prayer, for heere be comes in the likeneffe of a lew.

Enter Shylocke.

How now Shylocke, what newes among the Marchants?
Shy. You know, none fo well, none fo well as you,
Of my daughters flight.

Salar. That's certaine, I for my part knew the Taylor
That made the wings fhe flew withall.

Salan. And Shylocke for his owne part knew the Birde was Aledg'd, and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the Shy.She is damn'd for it.

Dam.

Salar. That's certaine, if the diuell may be her iudge.
Sky.My owne flesh and blood to rebell.

Salan. Out vpon it old carrion,rebels it at thefe yeares.
Shy. I fay my daughter is my flesh and blood.

Salar. There is more difference betweene thy flesh and hirs, then betweene Iet and Iuory: more between your bloods, then there is between red wine & rennifh: but tell vs,do you heare, whether Anthonio haue had at loffe a fea or no?

Shy.There I haue another bad match, a bankrout, a prodigal, who dare scarfe fhew his head on the Ryalto, a begger that was vfd to come fo fmug vpon the Mart: let him looke to his bond: he was wont to call me vfurer, let him looke to his bond;he was wont to lend money for a Chriftian curtfie,let him looke to his bond.

Salar, Why I am fure if he forfet, thou wilt not take his flefb, what's that good for?

Shyl. To baite fish withall; if it will feede nothing els it will feed my reuenge: he hath difgrac'd me, and hindred me halfe a million,laught at my loffes,mockt at my gaines,fcorned my na E3

tion