Sal. He came too late, the fhip was under fail;
But there the Duke was giv'n to understand,
That in a Gondola were feen together
Lorenzo and his am'rous Jeffica:

Befides, Anthonio certify'd the Duke,
They were not with Bafanio in his fhip.
Sola. I never heard a paflion fo confus'd,
So ftrange, outrageous, and fo variable,
As the dog few did utter in the streets;
My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,
Fled with a chriftian? O my chriftian ducats!
Juftice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!
A fealed bag, two fealed bags of ducats,

Of double ducats, ftoll'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels, two ftones, rich and precious ftones,
Stoll'n by my daughter! juflice! "find the girl;
She hath the ftones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal. Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying his ftones, his daughter, and his ducats.
Sola. Let good Anthonio look, he keep his day;
Or he fhall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd.

I reafon'd with a Frenchman yesterday,
Who told me, in the narrow feas, that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A veffel of our country richly fraught:
I thought upon Anthonio, when he told me,
And wifh'd in filence, that it were not his.

Sola. You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear, Yet do not fuddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth.

I faw Baffanio and Anthonio part.

Baffanio told him, he would make some speed
Of his return: he answer'd, do not fo,
Slubber not bufinefs for my fake, Bassanio.
But ftay the very riping of the time;

And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:
Be merry, and employ your chiefeit thoughts
To courtship, and fuch fair oftents of love,

*As

As fhall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wond'rous fenfible

He wrung Baffanio's hand, and fo they parted.
Sola. I think, he only loves the world for him.
pray thee, let us go and find him out,

I

And quicken his embraced heaviness

With fome delight or other.

Sal. Do we fo.

Ner.

[Exeunt.

SCENE changes to BELMONT.

Enter Neriffa with a Servant.

Uick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain ftrait;
The Prince of Arragon has ta'en his oath,

And comes to his election presently.

Enter Arragon, his train, Portia. Flo. Cornets.
The Caskets are difcover'd.

Por. Behold, there ftand the caskets, noble Prince; If you chufe that, wherein I am contain'd,

Strait fhall our nuptial rites be folemniz'd :
But if you fail, without more fpeech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath t'obferve three things;
Firft, 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:
Laft, if I fail in fortune of my choice,.
Immediately to leave you and be gone.

Por. To thefe injunctions every one doth fwear,
That comes to hazard for my worthless felf.

Ar. And fo have I addreft me; fortune now
To my heart's hope! gold, filver, and bafe lead.
Who chufeth me, must give and hazard all he bath.
You fhall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
What fays the golden cheft ?_ha, let me see;
F
VOL. II.

Who

Who chufeth me, shall gain what many men defire.
What many men defire- -that may be meant
Of the fool-multitude, that chufe by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pry not to th' interior, but like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Ev'n in the force and road of cafualty.

I will not chufe what many men defire,
Because I will not jump with common fpirits,
And rank me with the barb'rous multitudes.
Why then to thee, thou filver treasure-house :
Tell me once more, what title thou doft bear?
Who chufeth me, shall get as much as he deferves ;
And well faid too, for who fhall go about
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the ftamp of merit? let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity :

O, that eftates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly, that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then fhould cover, that ftand bare?
How many be commanded, that command ?
How much low peafantry would then be glean'd
From the true feed of honour? how much honour (8)
Pickt from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnish'd? well, but to my choice:
Who chufeth me, shall get as much as he deferves :

(8)

how much bonour

Picked from the Chaff and Ruin of the Times,

To be new varnish'd.] Mr. Warburton very justly obferved to me upon the Conclufion and Difagreement of the Metaphors here; and is of Opinion, that Shakespeare might have wrote;

To be new vanned.

i. e. winnowed, purged: from the French Word, vanner; which is derived from the Latin, Vannus, ventilabrum, the Fann ufed for winnowing the Chaff from the Corn. This Alteration, as he cbferves, reftores the Metaphor to its Integrity and our Poct frequently ufes the fame Thought. But as Shakespeare is fo loofe and licentious in the blending of different Metaphors, I have not ventured to disturb the Text,

I will assume desert; give me a key for this,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.

[Unlocking the silver casket.
Ar. What's here ! the portrait of a blinking ideot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia ?
How much unlike my hopes and my deservings?
Who chuseth me, fhall have as much as he deserves.
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Is that my prize ? are my deserts no better?

Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices,
And of opposed natures.
Ar. What is here?

The fire seu'n times tried this;
Seu'n times tried that judgment is,
That did never chuse amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow's bliss :
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'd o'er, and so was this :
Take what wife you will to bed,
I will be

jour

bead:
So be gone, Sir, you are sped.
Ar. Still more fool I shall appear,
By the time I linger here.
With one fool's head I came to woo,
But I go away with two.
Sweet, adieu ! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wrath.

[Exit.
Por. Thus hath the candle fing'd the moth:
O these deliberate fools ! when they do chuse,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

Ner. The ancient saying is no heresy,
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
Por. Come, draw the curtain, Neriffa.

Enter a Servant.
Serv. Where is my lady?

F 2

ever

Por.

A

Por. Here, what would my lord?

Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate

young Venetian, one that comes before To fignify th' approaching of his lord,

From whom he bringeth fenfible regreets;
To wit, befides commends and courteous breath,
Gifts of rich value; yet, I have not seen
So likely an embassador of love.

A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how coftly fummer was at hand,
As this fore-fpurrer comes before his lord..
Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afraid,
Thou'lt fay anon, he is some kin to thee;
Thou fpend'ft fuch high-day wit in praising him :
Come, come, Neriffa, for I long to fee
Quick Cupid's poft, that comes fo mannerly.

Ner. Baffanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! (9)

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE, a Street in VENICE.

Enter Salanio and Solarino.

SOLARINO.

OW, what news on the Ryalto?

Now Sal. Why, yet it lives there uncheckt, that

Anthonio hath a fhip of rich lading wreckt on the narrow feas; the Godwins, I think, they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcaffes of

(9) Baffanio, Lord, love, if] Mr. Pope, and all the preceding Editors have followed this Poin ing; as inagining, I fup; ofe, that Baffanie lord- means, Lord Bafanio; but Lord must be coupled tove: as if he had faid, " Imperial Love, if it be thy Will, let "it be Baffanio whom this Meffenger fore-runs.”

Sev.