His borrow'd purse. Well, Jeffica, go in ; Perhaps, I will return immediately; Do, as I bid you.. Shut the doors after you; faft bind, faft find; [Exit: Jef. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft, I have a father, you a daughter, loft. [Exit: SCENE, the STREET. Enter Gratiano and Salanio in masquerade. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo` defired us to make a stand. Sal. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells this hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Sal. O, ten times fafter Venus' pidgeons fly (7) Gra. That ever holds. Who rifeth from a feaft, (7) 0, ten times fafter Venus' Pidgeons fly.] This is a very odd Image, of Venus's Pidgeons flying to feal the Bonds of Love. The Senfe is obvious, and We know the Dignity due to Venus's Pidgeons. There was certainly a Joke intended here, which the Ignorance, or Boldness, of the first Transcribers have murder'd: I doubt not, but Shakespear wrote the Line thus: O, ten times fafter Venus' Widgeons fly For Widgeon is not only the filly Bird fo call'd, but fignifies likewife, metaphorically, a filly Fellow, as Goofe, or Gudgeon, does now. Mr. Warburton. Hugg'd and embraced by the ftrumpet wind! Enter Lorenzo. Sal. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter. Jef. Who are you? tell me for more certainty, Jef. Lorenzo certain, and my love, indeed; Lor. Heav'n and thy thoughts are witness, that thou art. Jef. Here, catch this casket, it is worth the pains. Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer. And I fhould be obfcur'd. Lor. So are you, sweet, Ev'n in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once For the close night doth play the run-away, And we are ftaid for at Baffanio's feast. Jef. I will make faft the doors, and gild my felf With fome more ducats, and be with you strait. [Exit from above. Gra. Now by my hood, a Gentile, and no few. Lor. Bethrew me, but I love her heartily; For the is wife, if I can judge of her; And fair fhe is, if that mine eyes be true; And true she is as the hath prov'd her felf; And therefore like her felf, wife, fair, and true, Shall he be placed in my conftant foul. Enter Jeffica, to them." What, art thou come ? on, gentlemen, away; Enter Anthonio. Anth. Who's there? Gra. Signior Anthonio, Anth. Fie, Gratiano, where are all the reft ? I have fent twenty out to feek for you. SCENE changes to Belmont. [Exit. [Exeunt. Enter Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. Por. and the curtains, and difcover The fev'ral caskets to this noble Prince. Now make your choice. [Three caskets are discover'd. Mor. The firft of gold, which this infcription bears, Who chufeth me, fhall gain what many men defire. The fecond filver, which this promise carries, Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince; If you chufe that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me fee, Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all be bath. A golden mind ftoops not to fhows of drofs; why, that's the lady: I do in birth deferve her, and in fortunes, One of these three contains her heav'nly picture. Being ten times undervalu'd to try'd gold ? Was fet in worse than gold! they have in England Por. There take it, Prince, and if my form lye there, Then I am yours. [Unlocking the gold casket. Mor. O hell! what have we here? a carrion death, Within whofe empty eye there is a scrowl: I'll read the writing. All that glifters is not gold, Often barve you heard that told; Mor. Cold, indeed, and labour loft: Sal. SCENE changes to Venice. Enter Solarino and Salanio. [Exit. [Exeunt. HY, man, I faw Baffanio under fail; WH And in their fhip, I'm fure, Lorenzo is not. Sola. The villain Few with outcries rais'd the Duke, Who went with him to fearch Bassanio's fhip. Sal. |