Scene IX

[Belmont]

Enter Nerissa and 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.

NERISSA:

Quickly, quickly, please, draw the curtain right away;
The Prince of Aragon has taken his oath,
And comes to make his choice now.

Enter [the Prince of] Arragon, his train, and Portia. Flourish of cornets.

PORTIA:

Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince;
If you choose that wherein I am contain'd,(5)
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd;
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

PORTIA:

Behold, the chests stand there, noble Prince:
If you choose the one that I am contained in,
Our marriage vows will be solemnized right away;
But if you fail, my lord, you must be gone from here
Immediately without any more talking.

ARRAGON:

I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to any one,(10)
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,
Immediately to leave you, and be gone.(15)

ARRAGON:

I am required by oath to observe three things:
First, never to tell anyone
Which chest I chose; next, if I fail
To choose the right chest, I will never
Court a maid to marry for my whole life;
Lastly, if I do fail in choosing the right chest,
I will leave you immediately and be gone.

PORTIA:

To these injunctions every one doth swear,
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

PORTIA:

Everyone swears to these conditions
Who come to take a chance for my worthless self.

ARRAGON:

And so have I address'd me: Fortune now
To my heart's hope!—Gold; silver; and base lead.
Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.(20)
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
By the fool multitude, that choose by show,(25)
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Which pries not to th' interior, but, like the martlet,
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
I will not choose what many men desire,(30)
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:
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves.(35)
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:
O, that estates, degrees, and offices,(40)
Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover that stand bare!
How many be commanded that command!
How much low peasantry would then be glean'd(45)
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.
I will assume desert:—Give me a key for this,(50)
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

ARRAGON:

And I have prepared myself like that. Fortune now
Lead me to my heart's hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.
“Who chooses me must give and gamble all he has.”
You shall look more beautiful before I give or gamble.
What says the golden chest? Ha! Let me see:
“Who chooses me shall gain what many men desire.”
What many men desire! that “many” may mean
The foolish multitudes, that choose by outward appearance,
Not learning any more than their loving eyes teach,
Which doesn’t go to the inside but, like the marten,
Builds on the outside wall in any weather,
Even in the force of wind and on the road to ruin.
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank myself with the barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to you, you silver treasure-house;
Tell me once more what title you bear:
“Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.”
And it is said well too, because who shall go about
To steal a fortune, and still be honorable
Without the stamp of deserving it? Let no one pretend
To wear an undeserved dignity.
Oh! that fortunes, degrees, and offices
Were not earned by corruption, and that clear honors
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
How many then would be covered that stand naked;
How many would be commanded that command;
How much low peasantry would then be taken from
From the true seed of honor; and how much honor
Picked from the garbage and ruin of the times
To be newly painted! Well, to my choice:
“Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.”
I will assume I am deserving. 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.

PORTIA:

That’s too long a pause over what you find there.

ARRAGON:

What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia!(55)
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?

ARRAGON:

What's here? The portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a piece of paper! I will read it.
This doesn’t look very much like Portia!
This doesn’t look very much like what I deserve!
“Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.”
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Is that my prize? Is my deserving no better than that?

PORTIA:

To offend, and judge, are distinct offices,(60)
And of opposed natures.

PORTIA:

To insult and judge are different things,
And of opposite natures.

ARRAGON:

What is here?
The fire seven times tried this;
Seven times tried that judgment is,
That did never choose amiss:(65)
Some there be that shadows kiss,
Such have but a shadow's bliss:
There be fools alive, iwis,
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
Take what wife you will to bed,(70)
I will ever be your head:
So be gone: you are sped.
Still more fool I shall appear,
By the time I linger here:
With one fool's head I came to woo,(75)
But I go away with two.
Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wroth.

ARRAGON:

What is this here?
“The fire tried this seven times.
The judgment that never chose wrong
Is tried seven times.
There are some men that shadows kiss;
Men like this have only a shadow's bliss;
There are fools alive, I know,
That are silvered over, and so was this chest.
Take whatever wife you want to bed,
I will be your head forever:
So be gone; you are finished.”
I shall appear to be more foolish
By the time I stay here;
I came to court with one fool's head,
But I go away with two.
Sweetheart, goodbye! I'll keep my oath,
Patiently to deal with my anger.

PORTIA:

Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth.
O these deliberate fools! when they do choose,(80)
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

PORTIA:

In this way, the candle has burned the moth.
Oh, these deliberate fools! When they choose,
They have the wisdom to lose by their senses.

NERISSA:

The ancient saying is no heresy;—
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.

NERISSA:

The ancient saying is no lie:
“Hanging and getting a wife are up to Fate.”

PORTIA:

Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

PORTIA:

Come, close the curtain, Nerissa.

Enter Messenger.

MESSENGER:

Where is my lady?(85)

MESSENGER:

Where is my lady?

PORTIA:

Here; what would my lord?

PORTIA:

I’m here; what do you want?

MESSENGER:

Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To signify the approaching of his lord;
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;(90)
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,
To show how costly summer was at hand,(95)
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.

MESSENGER:

Madam, at your gate, a young Venetian
Has just arrived, one that comes ahead
Of his lord to tell us he is coming;
He brings sensible apologies from him;
As noted,—besides greetings and courteous sayings,—
Gifts of rich value. Yet I haven’t seen
Such an ambassador of love.
A day in April never came so sweetly
To show how expensive summer was coming,
As this forerunner comes so urgently 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.
Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see(100)
Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.

PORTIA:

No more, please; I am half afraid
You will now say he is related to you,
You spend such so many words in praising him.
Come, come, Nerissa, because I long to see
Quick Cupid's messenger that comes so politely.

NERISSA:

Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be.

NERISSA:

Bassanio, lord Love, if it is your will!

Exeunts.