Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now:-two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would, my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! 'would she were hears'd at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them?-Why so:-and I know not what's spent in the search: why, thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief and no satisfaction, no revenge: nor no ill luck stirring, but what lights o' my shoulders; no sighs, but o' my breathing; no tears, but o' my shedding. Tub. Yes, other men have ill luck too; Antonio, as I heard in Genoa,— Shy. What, what, what? ill luck, ill luck? Tub.-Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis. Shy. I thank God, I thank God Is it true? is it true? Tub. I spoke with some of the sailors, that escaped the wreck. Shy. I thank thee, good Tubal ;-Good news, good news: ha! ha!-Where, in Genoa ? Tub. Your daughter spent in Genoa, as I heard, one night, four score ducats. Shy. Thou stick'st a dagger in me:-I shall never see my gold again: four score ducats at a sitting! four score ducats! Tub. There came divers of Antonio's creditors in my company to Venice, that swear he cannot chuse but break. Shy. I am very glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture him; I am glad of it. Tub. One of them showed me a ring, that he had of your daughter for a monkey. Shy. Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: Ε it was my torquoise; I had it of Leah, when I was a bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. Tub. But Antonio is certainly undone. Shy. Nay, that's true, that's very true: Go, Tubal, fee me an officer, bespeak him a fortnight before: I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandize I will: Go, go, Tubal, and meet me at our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue, Tubal. [Exeunt. SCENE II. PORTIA'S House at Belmont.-The Three Caskets of Gold, Silver, and Lead, are set out. PORTIA, BASSANIO, NERISSA, GRATIANO, SINGERS, MUSICIANS, PAGES, and other ATTENDANTS, discovered. Bass. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one, Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly, Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Bass. And so have I address'd me.-Fortune now Το my heart's hope! Por. I pray you, tarry; pause a day or two There's something tells me, but it is not love, I could teach you How to chuse right, but I am then forsworn; I speak too long: but 'tis to pieze the time; Bass. Let me chuse; For, as I am, I live upon the rack. Come, let me to my fortune and the caskets. If Por. Away, then: I am lock'd in one of them; you do love me, you will find me out.— Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof.— Let music sound while he doth make his choice; May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream, And wat'ry death-bed for him. A Song, whilst BASSANIO comments on the Caskets to himself. Tell me, where is fancy bred, Reply. It is engender'd in the eyes, All. With gazing fed; and fancy dies Bass. Some god direct my judgment!-Let me see. shall gain what many men desire. Who chuseth me, Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee. Without the stamp of merit? O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour Pick'd from the chaff, and ruin of the times, Who chuseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. |