Act II, Scene 9

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, 1130
  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:
  If you choose that wherein I am contain'd, 1135
  Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized:
  But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
  You must be gone from hence immediately.

• Prince of Arragon. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things:
  First, never to unfold to any one 1140
  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. 1145

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

• Prince of 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.' 1150
  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, 1155
  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.
  I will not choose what many men desire, 1160
  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:' 1165
  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 1170
  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!
  How much low peasantry would then be glean'd 1175
  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, 1180
  And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

[He opens the silver casket]

• Portia. Too long a pause for that which you find there.

• Prince of Arragon. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
  Presenting me a schedule! I will read it. 1185
  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? 1190

• Portia. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices
  And of opposed natures.

• Prince of Arragon. What is here?
  [Reads]
  The fire seven times tried this: 1195
  Seven times tried that judgment is,
  That did never choose amiss.
  Some there be that shadows kiss;
  Such have but a shadow's bliss:
  There be fools alive, I wis, 1200
  Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
  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 1205
  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 wroth. 1210

[Exeunt Arragon and train]

• Portia. Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
  O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose,
  They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

• Nerissa. The ancient saying is no heresy, 1215
  Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.

• Portia. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

[Enter a Servant]

• Servant. Where is my lady?

• Portia. Here: what would my lord? 1220

• Servant. 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,
  To wit, besides commends and courteous breath, 1225
  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,
  As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. 1230

• 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
  Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly. 1235

• Nerissa. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be!

[Exeunt]