Clamber not you up to the casements then, To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces, But I will go. Say I will come. Launcelot. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, [Exit. Shylock. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha ? Jessica. His words were "Farewell, mistress; " nothing else. Shylock. The patch 2 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 Do as I bid you; shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit. Jessica. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. SCENE VI. The Same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. Gratiano. This is the penthouse 3 under which Lorenzo Desired us to make stand. 1 See Gen. xxxii. 10, and Heb. xi. 21. 2 Fool. 3 Shed. Salarino. His hour is almost past. Gratiano. And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Salarino. Oh, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont To keep obliged faith unforfeited ! 1 Gratiano. 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 chased than enjoy'd. Salarino. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter. Enter LORENZO. Lorenzo. 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 you then. Here dwells my father Jew. Approach; Ho! who's within ? Enter JESSICA, above, in boy's clothes. Jessica. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lorenzo. Lorenzo, and thy love. Jessica. Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed, For whom love I so much? And now who knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lorenzo. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. Jessica. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, For I am much asham'd of my exchange: 1 "Ten times faster," etc., i.e., the goddess of love, in her dove-drawn chariot, flies ten times faster, to assist in sealing new bonds of love, than to assist in keeping inviolate the bonds that have been formed. But love is blind and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit; For if they could, Cupid himself would blush.. Lorenzo. Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. And I should be obscur'd. Lorenzo. So are you, sweet, 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. Jessica. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [Exit above. Gratiano. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew. Lorenzo. 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, And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself, Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away! [Exit with Jessica and Salarino. Enter ANTONIO. Antonio. Who's there? Gratiano. Signior Antonio ! Antonio. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? 1 Cupid, the god of love of classic mythology, is represented as a winged infant bearing a bow and quiver full of arrows. 2 "Good sooth," i.e., in very truth. 'Tis nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you. No masque to-night: the wind is come about ; I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gratiano. I am glad on't: I desire no more delight Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House. Flourish of cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and their trains. Portia. Go draw aside the curtains and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. Now make your choice. Morocco. The first, of gold, who 1 this inscription bears, 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, If Portia. The one of them contains my picture, prince: I will survey the inscriptions back again. Let me see; "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath." Must give: for what ? for lead ? hazard for lead P This casket threatens. Men that hazard all Do it in hope of fair advantages: A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. 1 “Who" and "which" were to some extent used indifferently by writers of the time. What says the silver with her virgin hue? 66 Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." As much as I deserve! Why, that's the lady: As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia. One of these three contains her heavenly picture. Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere damnation To think so base a thought: it were too gross To rib her cerecloth 3 in the obscure grave. Or shall I think in silver she's immur'd, 1 Hyrcania was the name given to a district of uncertain extent south of the Caspian or Hyrcanian Sea. a "land of tigers." Shakespeare alludes to it in other plays as 2 Thoroughfares. 3 A prepared cloth used for wrapping a corpse. |