Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice Part 4

[Footnote 27: _--eanlings_; Lambs just dropt.]

[Footnote 28: _--certain wands_,; A _wand_ in Shakespeare's time was the usual term for what we now call a _switch_.--MALONE.]

[Footnote 29: _--deed of kind,; Id est,_ of nature.]

[Footnote 30: _--the fulsome ewes_; Lascivious--rank, obscene ewes.]

[Footnote 31: _--Fall_; To let fall.]

[Footnote 32: _--and those were Jacob's_.; See Genesis x.x.x. 37.]

[Footnote 33: _The devil can cite scripture for his purpose_.; See St.

Matthew iv. 6.]

[Footnote 34: _O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!_; _Falsehood_, which, as _truth_ means _honesty_, is taken here for _treachery_ and _knavery_, does not stand for _falsehood_ in general, but for the dishonesty now operating.--JOHNSON.]

[Footnote 35: _--and my usances:_; _Usance_ in our author's time signified _interest of money_.]

[Footnote 36: _A breed of barren metal of his friend?_; A _breed_, that is, interest money bred from the princ.i.p.al. The epithet _barren_ implies that money is a _barren_ thing, and cannot, like corn and cattle, multiply itself.]

[Footnote 37: _Dwell_; Continue.]

[Footnote 38: _--fearful guard_; A guard not to be trusted, but gives cause of fear.]

[Footnote 39: _I like not fair terms_; Kind words--good language.]

SCENE IV.--SALOON OF THE CASKETS IN PORTIA'S HOUSE, AT BELMONT.

_Flourish of Cornets. Enter the_ PRINCE OF MOROCCO, _and his Train_; PORTIA, NERISSA, _and other of her Attendants_.

_Mor_. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery of the burning sun, To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.

Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, And let us make incision for your love, To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.[40]

By love, I swear, I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

I'll try my fortune; E'en though I may (blind fortune leading me) Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving.

_Por_. You must take your chance; And either not attempt to choose at all, Or swear, before you choose,--if you choose wrong, Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.[41]

_Mor_. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my chance.

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 G.o.d direct my judgment! Let me see.

The first, of gold, who this inscription bears:

"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire."

The second, silver, which this promise carries:

"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."

The third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt:[42]

"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath."

One of these three contains her heavenly picture.

Is't like that lead contains her? 'Twere perdition To think so base a thought; Or shall I think in silver she's immur'd, Being ten times undervalued to tried gold?

O sinful thought. Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold.

Deliver me the key; Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

_Por_. There, take it prince, and if my form lie there, Then I am yours.

[_He unlocks the golden casket_.

_Mor_. What have we here?

A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll. I'll read the writing.

"All that glitters is not gold, Often have you heard that told:

"Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgment old, Your answer had not been inscrol'd: Fare you well; your suit is cold."

Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then, farewell, heat; and welcome frost--Portia, adieu! I have too griev'd a heart To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.

[_Exit_.

_Por_. A gentle riddance:--go:-- Let all of his complexion choose me so.

END OF ACT FIRST.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 40: _--whose blood is reddest, his, or mine_.; _Red_ blood is a traditionary sign of courage, as cowards are said to have livers as white as milk. It is customary in the East for lovers to testify the violence of their pa.s.sion by cutting themselves in the sight of their mistresses.--PICART'S RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.]

[Footnote 41: _--therefore be advis'd_.; Therefore be not precipitant; consider well what you are about to do.]

[Footnote 42: _--with warning all as blunt:_; That is, as gross as the dull metal.]

HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT FIRST.

(A) The foundation of Venice is attributed to the inhabitants of the surrounding districts, who fled from the cruelty of Attila, King of the Huns, and took refuge among the islets at the mouth of the Brenta. Here, about the middle of the fifth century, they founded two small towns, called Rivoalto and Malmocco, and, being in a manner shut out from all other modes of employment, naturally devoted themselves to commerce. In this way they soon became prosperous, and their numbers increased so rapidly, that in the year 697 they made application to the Emperor to be elected into a body politic, and obtained authority to elect a chief, to whom they gave the name of Duke or Doge. The town, continuing to increase, gradually extended its buildings to the adjacent islands, and, at the same time, acquired considerable tracts of territory on the mainland, then inhabited by the Veneti, from whence the rising city is supposed to have borrowed its name of Venetia or Venice.