TPTT The Merchant of Venice: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
SCENE II. Venice. A street.
SCENE III. The same. A room in SHYLOCK'S house.
SCENE IV. The same. A street.
SCENE V. The same. Before SHYLOCK'S house.
SCENE VI. The same.
SCENE VII. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
SCENE VIII. Venice. A street.
SCENE IX. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE IX. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Enter NERISSA with a Servitor
NERISSA
      Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight:
      The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath,
      And comes to his election presently.
Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their trains
PORTIA
      Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince:
5     If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,
      Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized:
      But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
      You must be gone from hence immediately.
ARRAGON
      I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things:
10    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,
15    Immediately to leave you and be gone.
PORTIA
      To these injunctions every one doth swear
      That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
ARRAGON
      And so have I address'd me. Fortune now
      To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead.
20    'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
      You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
      What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:
      'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
      What many men desire! that 'many' may be meant
25    By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
      Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
      Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
      Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
      Even in the force and road of casualty.
30    I will not choose what many men desire,
      Because I will not jump with common spirits
      And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
      Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
      Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
35    '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? Let none presume
      To wear an undeserved dignity.
40    O, 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!
45    How much low peasantry would then be glean'd
      From the true seed of honour! and how much honour
      Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times
      To be new-varnish'd! Well, but to my choice:
      'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
50    I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
      And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
He opens the silver casket
PORTIA
      Too long a pause for that which you find there.
ARRAGON
      What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
      Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.
55    How much unlike art thou to Portia!
      How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
      'Who chooseth me shall 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?
PORTIA
60    To offend, and judge, are distinct offices
      And of opposed natures.
ARRAGON
      What is here?

Reads

      The fire seven times tried this:
      Seven times tried that judgment is,
65    That did never choose 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.
70    Take what wife you will to bed,
      I will ever be your head:
      So be gone: you are sped.
      Still more fool I shall appear
      By the time I linger here
75    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 wroth.
Exeunt Arragon and train
PORTIA
      Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
80    O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose,
      They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
NERISSA
      The ancient saying is no heresy,
      Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
PORTIA
      Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
Enter a Servant
Servant
85    Where is my lady?
PORTIA
      Here: what would my lord?
Servant
      Madam, there is alighted at your gate
      A young Venetian, one that comes before
      To signify the approaching of his lord;
90    From whom he bringeth sensible regreets,
      To wit, besides commends and courteous breath,
      Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen
      So likely an ambassador of love:
      A day in April never came so sweet,
95    To show how costly summer was at hand,
      As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
PORTIA
      No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard
      Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
      Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.
100   Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see
      Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.
NERISSA
      Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be!
Exeunt
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