Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. Salar. Do we so. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Enter NERISSA, with a Servant. Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight; The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, 2 Slubber not-] To slubber is to do any thing carelessly, imperfectly. › And even there, his eye being big with tears, Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, &c.] So curious an observer of nature was our author, and so minutely had he traced the operation of the passions, that many passages of his works might furnish hints to painters. It is indeed surprizing that they do not study his plays with this view. In the passage before us, we have the outline of a beautiful picture. MALONE. embraced heaviness-] The heaviness which he indulges, and is fond of. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, PORTIA, and their Trains. If Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: you choose that wherein I am contain'd, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately. Ar. 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 Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Ar. And so have I address'd me: Fortune now To my heart's hope!-Gold, silver, and base lead. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he 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. 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 the interior, but, like the martlet, Builds in the weather on the outward wall, 5 6 7 And so have I address'd me:] To address is to prepare. Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house; Without the stamp of merit! Let none presume O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times, Por. Too long a pause for that which you find there. Ar. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot, Presenting me a schedule? I will read it. How much unlike art thou to Portia? 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? Por. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices, And of opposed natures. How much low peasantry would then be glean'd From the true seed of honour?] The meaning is, How much meanness would be found among the great, and how much greatness among the mean. Ar. What is here? The fire seven times tried this; Still more fool I shall appear 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. [Exeunt Arragon, and Train. Por. Thus hath the candle sing'd the moth. Por. Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa. Enter a Servant. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate To wit, besides commends, and courteous breath, A day in April never came so sweet, Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afeard, ACT III. SCENE I. Venice. A Street. Enter SALANIO and SALarino. Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto? Salar. Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the narrow seas; the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word. Salan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knapp'd ginger, or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband: But it is true, without any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain high-way of talk,-that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company! Salar. Come, the full stop. |