But I will go.-Go you before me, sirrah;

Say I will come.

Laun.

I will go before, sir.—

Mistress, look out at windɔw, for all this;

There will come a Christian by,
Will be worth a Jewess' eye.

[Exit.

Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring; ha?

Jes. His words were Farewell, mistress; nothing else.

Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a
huge feeder,

Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day
More than the wild cat: drones hive not with

me,

Therefore I part with him; and part with him
To one that I would have him help to waste
His borrow'd purse.-Well, Jessica, go in ;
Perhaps I will return immediately;
Do as I bid you,

Shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find;
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit.
Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not
cross'd,

I have a father, you a daughter, lost.

Enter GRATIANO, and SALARINO, masqued.

[Exit.

Gra. This is the pent-house, under which

Lorenzo

Desired us to make stand.

40

50

60

Salar.

.

His hour is almost past.

Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his

hour,

For lovers ever run before the clock.

Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons

fly [are wont To seal love's bonds new made, than they To keep obligèd faith unforfeited!

Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a
feast

With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that
are,

Are with more spirit chasèd than enjoy'd.
How like a younker or a prodigal

70 The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, Hugg'd and embraced by the wanton wind! How like a prodigal doth she return;

With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails,
Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the

wanton

wind!

Enter LORENZO.

Salar. Here coines Lorenzo;—more of this hereafter.

Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my
long abode :

Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait:
When you shall please to play the thieves for

wives,
I'll watch as long for

80

Here dwells my father Jew.-Ho! who's within?

Enter JESSICA, above, in boy's clothes.

Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more cer-
tainty,

Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue.
Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, in

deed;

[knows For who love I so much? and now who But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.

Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth
the pains.

I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange:
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.

Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-
bearer.

Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my

shames? [light. They in themselves, good sooth, are too too Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love;

And I should be obscured.

Lor.

90

So you are, sweet,

ΙΟΟ

Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.

But come at once;

For the close night doth play the runaway,

And we are stay'd for at Bassanio's feast.
Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild
myself
[straight.
With some more ducats, and be with you
[Exit from above.

Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no

Jew.

Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily: For she is wise, if I can judge of her;

And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; 110 And true she is, as she hath proved herself; And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and

true,

Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

Enter JESSICA, below.

What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away; Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit, with JESSICA and SALARINO.

Enter ANTONIO.

Ant. Who's there?

Gra. Signior Antonio?

Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest?

'Tis nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you: No masque to-night; the wind is come about;

120 Bassanio presently will go aboard:

I have sent twenty out to seek for you.

Gra. I am glad on't; I desire no more de

light

Than to be under sail and gone to-night.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.-Belmont. A Room in Por-
tia's House.

Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE
OF MOROCCO, and both their Trains.

Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and dis

cover

The several caskets to this noble prince :-
Now make your choice.

Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscrip-
tion bears:

Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. The second, silver, which this promise carries:

Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt:

Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.
How shall I know if I do choose the right?
Por. The one of them contains my pic-
ture, prince;

If you choose that, then I am yours withal.
Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let

me see.

I will survey the inscriptions back again :
What says this leaden casket:

Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.
Must give for what? for lead? hazard for

lead?

IC