For she is wise, if I can judge of her:
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true;
And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself:
And therefore like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

Enter JESSICA, to them.

What, art thou come? on, gentlemen, away;
Our masking mates by this time for us stay.

Enter ANTHONIO.

Anth. Who's there?

Gra. Signior Anthonio.

[Exeunt.

Anth. Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? 'Tis nine o'clock, our friends all stay for you: No mask to-night; the wind is come about, Bassanio presently will go on board,

I have sent twenty out to seek for you.

Gra. I am glad on't; I desire no more delight, Than to be under sail, and gone to-night.

Enter PORTIA, with MoRocco, and both their

Trains.

Por. Go, draw aside the curtain, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince :

Now make your choice.

[bears,

Mor. The first of gold which this description Who chooseth me shall gain what men desire.

The second silver, which this promise carries; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warming all as blunt ;Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.

How shall I know if I do choose the right?

Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince, If you choose that, then I am yours' withal.

Mor. Some god direct my judgment, let me see-
Is't like that lead contains her? 'twere damnation
To think so base a thought: it were too gross
To rib her sear-cloth in the obscure grave;
Or shall I think in silver she's immured,
B'ing ten times undervalued to tried gold;
O sinful thought; never so rich a gem

Was set in more than gold! They have in England
A coin that bears the figure of an angel
Stamped in gold, but that's insculp'd upon :
But here an angel in a golden bed (40)

Lies all within. Deliver me the key ;

1

Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may.

Por. There, take it prince; and if my form lie Then I am yours.

[there

(40) In figure 63, ante, is given a drawing of the angel in the moon, the position of which shews clearly where we are to search for the golden casket, which is the object of Morochio's choice.

Mor. O hell! what have we here? a carrion

death (41)

Within whose empty eyes a written scroll,
All that glisters is not gold

Often have you heard that told;
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded timber do worms infold:
Had you been as wise as bold
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well, your suit is cold.

Mor. Cold indeed and labour lost,

Then farewel heat, and welcome frost:
Portia, adieu, I have too griev'd a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus lovers part.
Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtains, go:
Let all of his complexion choose me so.

Enter SOLARINO and SALANIO.

Flourish Cornets.

Sal. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along;

And in their ship, I'm sure, Lorenzo is not.

(41) The death's head which occupies much the same field as the angel mentioned in the last note may be seen in fig. 21 ante, situate at the back of Colon's head, and looking due north in the moon.

Sala. The villain Jew, with outcries rais'd the

duke.

Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.
Sal. He came too late, the ship was under sail;
But there the duke was given to understand,
That in a Gondola were seen together (42)
Lorenzo and his am'rous Jessica: (43)
Besides, Anthonio certifi'd the duke,
They were not with Bassanio, in his ship.
Sola. I never heard a passion so confus'd,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets;
My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,
Fled with a christian! O my christian ducats!
Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels! Justice! find the girl;

She hath the jewels upon her, and the ducats.
Sola. Let good Anthonio look he keep his day;
Or he shall pay for this.

Sal. Marry, well remember'd

(42) The Gondola is made up of the figure of Hudibras (now Anthonio) viewed with the north side of the moon. on the left hand.

(43) The Duke I apprehend to have the same prototype. as the King's ghost in Hamlet, drawn ante in fig. 51.

I reason'd with a Frenchman, yesterday,
Who told me, in the narrow seas, that part
The French, and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country, richly fraught:

I thought upon Anthonio, when he told me,
And wish'd in silence, that it were not his. [hear,
Sola. You were best tell Anthonio; what you
Yet do not suddenly for it may grieve him.

Sal. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part.
Bassanio told him he would make some speed
Of his return: he answer'd do not so,
Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio.
But stay the very riping of the time;

And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love;

Be

merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship, and such fair ostents of love;
As shall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him.
And with affection wond'rous sensible,

He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted.

Sola. I think he only loves the world for him. I pray thee, let us go and find him out,

And quicken his embraced heaviness,
With some delight or other.

Sal. Do we so.

[Exeunt.