His borrow'd purfe. Well, Jeffica, go in; Do, as I bid you. Shut the doors after you; faft bind, faft find; A proverb never ftale in thrifty mind. [Exit. Jef. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [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 his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Sal. Q, ten times fafter Venus' pidgeons fly (7) Gra. That ever holds. Who rifeth from a feaft, The skarfed bark puts from her native bay, (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 firft Transcri bers have murder'd: I doubt not, but Shakespeare wrote the Line thus: For Widgeon is not only the filly Bird fo call'd, but fignifies likewise, metaphorically, a filly Fellow, as Goose, 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 witnefs, that thou art. Jef. Here, catch this casket, it is worth the paine. Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Lor. So are you, sweet, Ev'n in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once For the clofe night doth play the run-away, The Merchant of VENICE. fome more ducats, and be with you ftrait. 117 [Exit from above. -a. Now by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. r. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily; he is wife, if I can judge of her ; Enter Jeffica, to them. t, art thou come on, gentlemen, away; mafquing mates by this time for us stay. Enter Anthonio. th. Who's there? a. Signior Anthonio, th. Fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? ve fent twenty out to feek for you. SCENE changes to Belmont. [Exit. [Exeunt. Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. O, draw afide the curtains, and discover The fevral caskets to this noble Prince. make your choice. [Three caskets are difcover'd. r. The firft of gold, which this infcription bears, chufeth me, shall gain what many men defire. fecond filver, which this promife carries, chufeth m, fhall get as much as he deferves. third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, chufeth me, must give and hazard all he hath. fhall I know, if I do chufe the right? r. The one of them contains my picture, Prince; u chufe that, then I am yours withal. Mor Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me fee, I will furvey th' infcriptions back again; What fays this leaden casket? Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all he bath. A golden mind ftoops not to fhows of drofs; As much as I deferve- -why, that's the lady: 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 have you heard that told; Gilded wood may worms infold: Mor. Cold, indeed, and labour loft: Sal. SCENE changes to Venice. W Enter Solarino and Salanio. [Exit. - [Exeunt. HY, man, I faw Baffanio under fail; 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 |