ACT 2
[Enter NERISSA with a Servitor]
NERISSA
Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight:
Quick, quick, I tell you; draw the curtains closed.
The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath,
The Prince of Arragon has sworn his oath,
And comes to his election presently.
And soon he will be here to make his choice.
[Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their trains]
PORTIA
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince:
Behold, there are the boxes, noble prince.
If you choose that wherein I am contained,
If you select the one that holds my picture,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized:
Then right away we’ll sign our bonds of marriage.
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
But if you fail, without a single word,
You must be gone from hence immediately.
You have to leave from here immediately.
ARRAGON
I am enjoined by oath to observe three things:
I’ve sworn by oath to honour these three things:
First, never to unfold to any one
First, never to reveal to anyone
Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail
Which box I chose; and second, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life
To pick the right box, never in my life
To woo a maid in way of marriage: Lastly,
Woo any maid to marry me. And lastly,
If I do fail in fortune of my choice,
If my luck fails me and I choose the wrong box,
Immediately to leave you and be gone.
I’ll leave immediately and I’ll be gone.
PORTIA
To these injunctions every one doth swear
These are the bonds that everyone must take
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
If they will chance their luck on poor old me.
ARRAGON
And so have I addressed me. Fortune now
That’s what I’ve told myself. And now, good fortune,
To my heart's hope! Gold; silver; and base lead.
Fulfil my wishes! Gold, silver and base lead.
'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.'
“Whoever chooses me must give and risk his all.”
You shall look fairer, ere I give or hazard.
You’d need to be more cute to take on that risk.
What says the golden chest? Ha! Let me see:
What’s written on the golden box? Let’s see:
'Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.'
“Whoever chooses me gets what most men desire.”
What many men desire! That 'many' may be meant
“Gets what most men desire”! That “most” may mean
By the fool multitude, that choose by show,
The multitude who choose based on appearance
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach;
Without researching more than what they see,
Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet,
Not learning what’s inside, but, like the swallow
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
That builds its nest on outward-facing walls,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
Despite the risk of danger from the wind.
I will not choose what many men desire,
I won’t select like most men tend to do,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
Because I don’t agree with common folk,
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
Belittling myself with uncouth people.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
Let’s move to you then, silver treasure chest;
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear:
Tell me again the words engraved on you:
'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves:'
“Whoever chooses me gets all that he deserves.”
And well said too; for who shall go about
Well said, indeed! For who is able to
To cozen fortune and be honourable
Deceive their luck, remaining honourable
Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
Unless they do deserve it? No one should
To wear an undeserved dignity.
Be given such unworthy recognition.
O, that estates, degrees and offices
If only land, credentials and employment
Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour
Were not achieved corruptly, and the honour
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
Were won by merit by the one who won them!
How many then should cover that stand bare!
How many stood bareheaded should be crowned!
How many be commanded that command!
How many giving orders should be ordered!
How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
How many people would be turned to peasants
From the true seed of honour! And how much honour
Who currently are gentry! And who’d be honoured,
Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times
From those discarded in these awful times,
To be new-varnished! Well, but to my choice:
To newly shine! Well, let me now decide:
'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.'
“Whoever chooses me gets all that he deserves.”
I will assume desert. Give me a key for this,
I’ll claim what I deserve. Give me this key,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.
And instantly unlock my lucky box.
[He opens the silver casket]
PORTIA
Too long a pause for that which you find there.
You’ve paused too long for what you’ve found inside.
ARRAGON
What's here? The portrait of a blinking idiot,
What’s this? A portrait of a silly fool
Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.
Who’s handing me a note! Here, let me read it.
How much unlike art thou to Portia!
You look completely different to Portia!
How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!
It’s not what I had wanted nor deserved!
'Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves.'
“Whoever chooses me gets all that he deserves.”
Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?
Am I just worth a painting of a fool?
Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better?
Is that my prize? Aren’t I worth something better?
PORTIA
To offend, and judge, are distinct offices
I don’t want to offend, but if I judge you,
And of opposed natures.
I fear you’ll be offended.
ARRAGON
What is here?
What is this?
[Reads]
“The fire seven times tried this:
“The box, burnt seven times, tried this:
Seven times tried that judgment is,
Quizzed seven times, your judgement is
That did never choose amiss.
Fine if your choices weren’t amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Just shadows lonely people kiss
Such have but a shadow's bliss:
Will merely get a shadow’s bliss:
There be fools alive, I wis,
These folk are fools, do not dismiss,
Silvered o'er; and so was this.
Whose hair is silver-white as this.
Take what wife you will to bed,
Choose any wife to take to bed,
I will ever be your head:
I always will be in your head.
So be gone: you are sped.
So leave now; time that you were fled.”
Still more fool I shall appear
I’ll look more foolish if I stay
By the time I linger here
Instead of quickly going away;
With one fool's head I came to woo,
I came with one fool’s head to woo,
But I go away with two.
But, with this painting, I’ve got two.
Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath,
Now, fond farewell; I’ll keep my vow,
Patiently to bear my wroth.
And take my anger with me now.
[Exeunt Arragon and train]
PORTIA
Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
The candle burns the moth: ciao ciao.
O, these deliberate fools! When they do choose,
These overthinking fools! When they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.
They’re smart, but common sense they seem to lose.
NERISSA
The ancient saying is no heresy,
In old times, they said this epiphany:
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.
Your death and love is set by destiny.
PORTIA
Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.
Come, close the curtain, Nerissa.
[Enter a Servant]
SERVANT
Where is my lady?
Where is my lady?
PORTIA
Here: what would my lord?
Here: what do you want?
SERVANT
Madam, there is alighted at your gate
Someone has just arrived outside your gate;
A young Venetian, one that comes before
A young Venetian man, who’s ran ahead
To signify the approaching of his lord;
To tell us that his lord is on the way here.
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets,
He brings from him some warm and tender greetings,
To wit, besides commends and courteous breath,
As well, besides the compliments and kindness,
Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen
Expensive gifts. Yet I have never seen
So likely an ambassador of love:
A man more likely that you’re going to love:
A day in April never came so sweet,
There’s never been a finer day in April
To show how costly summer was at hand,
That shows that summertime is almost here,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord.
Than as this man preceding his own lord.
PORTIA
No more, I pray thee: I am half afeard
Enough now, please: I’m feeling quite afraid
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
That you’ll soon say he’s one of your relations,
Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.
Because you spend all day endorsing him.
Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see
Let’s go Nerissa. I can’t wait to see
Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly.
This lovely man that Cupid’s sent to me.
NERISSA
Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be!
Oh Cupid, send Bassanio; that’s my plea!
[Exeunt]
