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Where is the horse that doth untread again

His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.

Enter LORENZO.

Sal. Here comes Lorenzo.

Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode: Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait:

When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you then.-

Here dwells my father Jew:

GLEE.26

O happy fair!

Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue sweet air
More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear

When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear !27

Ho! who's within?

Enter JESSICA, above.

Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue.
Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed;

For who love I so much? And now who knows

But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?

Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.

Lor. Come, come at once;

For the close night doth play the run-away,

And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast.

Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself

With some more ducats, and be with you straight.

[Exit from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew.28

26 Sung by Miss POOLE, Miss LEFFLER, and Mr. WALLWORTH. 27 The words are from Midsummer Night's Dream, Act i., Scene 1. a Gentile and no Jew.] A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which signifies both a Heathen, and one well-born.

28

Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily:
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, below.

What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away;
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.

[Exeunt Enter various parties of Maskers, Revellers, &c.

DANCE.

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT SECOND.

(A) Venice occupies 72 islands. There are 306 canals, traversed by innumerable gondolas. The gondolas introduced in this scene are copied from paintings of the same date as when the action of the play is supposed to occur, and are, consequently, rather varied in shape from those now seen in Venice. Besides the great squares of St. Mark, and the adjoining Piazetta before the Doge's Palace, the city has numerous narrow streets, or rather lanes, with small open spaces in front of the churches, or formed by the termination of several alleys, leading to a bridge. It is one of these spaces that is represented in the second act.

(B) "Black Monday" is Easter Monday, and was so called on this occasion. In the 34th of Edward III. (1360), the 14th April, and the morrow after Easter Day, King Edward, with his host, lay before the City of Paris, which day was full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horse's backs with the cold.-Stowe.

ACT III.

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

Enter NERISSA, with SERVANTS.

Ner. The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, And comes to his election presently.

Music. Enter the PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, and their Trains.

If

Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince; choose that wherein I am contain❜d,

you

Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd;

But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

Arr. 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

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.

Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.
Arr. And so have I address'd me:1 Fortune now
Το
my heart's hope!-Gold, silver, and base lead.

'Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.' What says the golden chest? ha! let me see:

1

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

-so have I address'd me: :] To address is to prepare-id est I have prepared myself by the same ceremonies.

What many men desire.-That many may be meant2
By the fool multitude,3 that choose by show,
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
To cozen fortune, and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit!

O, that estates, degrees, and offices,

Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour
Were purchas'd by the merit of the wearer!
How many then should cover that stand bare?
How many be commanded that command ?
And how much honour

Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times,

To be new varnish'd? 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,
And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there.
Arr. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot,
Presenting me a schedule? I will read it.

Some there be that shadows kiss ;

Such have but a shadow's bliss:

There be fools alive, I wis,4

Silver'd o'er; and so was this.'

Still more fool I shall appear

By the time I linger here:

With one fool's head I came to woo,

But I go away with two.

2 That many may be meant] Many modes of speech were familiar in Shakespeare's age that are now no longer used. ““May be meant," id est, meaning by that, &c.

3

the fool multitude] The foolish multitude.

4 -I wis,] I know.

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