Enter Nerissa and a Servitor. NERISSA
Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight.
The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath
And comes to his election presently. Enter the Prince of Arragon, his train, and Portia. PORTIA
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince.
If you choose that wherein I am contained, 5
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately. ARRAGON
I am enjoined by oath to observe three things:
First, never to unfold to anyone 10
Which casket ’twas I chose; next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life
To woo a maid in way of marriage;
Lastly, if I do fail in fortune of my choice,
Immediately to leave you, and be gone. 15 PORTIA
To these injunctions everyone doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self. | At Portia's house in Belmont, yet another suitor, the Prince of Arragon (not Aragorn, sadly), has come to try his hand at the casket game. Portia welcomes the man half-heartedly, and all are reminded that this particular recreation has some rules. The Prince of Arragon lists the rules so we all know what's up: first, he can never tell anyone which casket he chose; second, if he picks the wrong casket, he can never woo a woman in the way of marriage; and third, if he picks the wrong casket, he has to go away immediately. No sticking around to cry about it—and no stalking either! |
ARRAGON
And so have I addressed me. Fortune now
To my heart’s hope! Gold, silver, and base lead.
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 20
hath.”
You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard.
What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see:
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men
desire.” 25
What many men desire—that “many” may be
meant
By the fool multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet 30
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. 35
Why, then, to thee, thou silver treasure house.
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear.
“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he
deserves.”
And well said, too; for who shall go about 40
To cozen fortune and be honorable
Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume
To wear an undeservèd dignity.
O, that estates, degrees, and offices
Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor 45
Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover that stand bare?
How many be commanded that command?
How much low peasantry would then be gleaned
From the true seed of honor? And how much honor 50
Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times,
To be new varnished? Well, but to my choice.
“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he
deserves.”
I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, 55 He is given a key. And instantly unlock my fortunes here. He opens the silver casket. | The Prince goes through a line of reasoning like the Prince of Morocco's. Arragon says the lead casket needs to be better-looking before he'd risk anything for it. He then rules out the gold casket as something that would only appeal to those deceived into valuing appearances more than actual value. Next, he hems and haws about the silver casket's reference to getting what he deserves. He says if people were better at judging what was deserved, some great men would be knocked down, and some poor men raised up. Still, he's weighed it and decided he deserves Portia—so he picks the silver casket. |
PORTIA
Too long a pause for that which you find there. ARRAGON
What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot
Presenting me a schedule! I will read it.—
How much unlike art thou to Portia! 60
How much unlike my hopes and my deservings.
“Who chooseth me shall have as much as he
deserves”?
Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head?
Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? 65 PORTIA
To offend and judge are distinct offices
And of opposèd natures. ARRAGON What is here? He reads. :The fire seven times tried this;
Seven times tried that judgment is 70
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss;
Such have but a shadow’s bliss.
There be fools alive, iwis,
Silvered o’er—and so was this. 75 Take what wife you will to bed,
I will ever be your head.
So begone; you are sped.
Still more fool I shall appear
By the time I linger here. 80
With one fool’s head I came to woo,
But I go away with two.
Sweet, adieu. I’ll keep my oath,
Patiently to bear my wroth. He exits with his train. PORTIA
Thus hath the candle singed the moth. 85
O, these deliberate fools, when they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. NERISSA
The ancient saying is no heresy:
Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. PORTIA Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. 90 Enter Messenger. MESSENGER
Where is my lady? PORTIA Here. What would my
lord? MESSENGER
Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before 95
To signify th’ approaching of his lord,
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets;
To wit (besides commends and courteous breath),
Gifts of rich value; yet I have not seen
So likely an ambassador of love. 100
A day in April never came so sweet,
To show how costly summer was at hand,
As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. PORTIA
No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, 105
Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him!
Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly. NERISSA
Bassanio, Lord Love, if thy will it be! They exit. | Loser number two, please step forward. Yep. Arragon choses wrong. There's a picture of a fool's head inside the silver casket along with a note calling him (you guessed it) a fool. Portia and Nerissa are glad to see him go. A messenger enters and says that a man has arrived to announce that his lord is en route to court Portia. This "advance scout" seems very promising if the messenger does say so himself. He's awfully sweet and has brought some really great gifts. Portia teases the messenger for being full of such high praise, essentially saying, "Is this guy your brother or something?" Still, she rushes Nerissa out to take a look at the guy. Nerissa hopes this means Bassanio is on his way. |