The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: P1v - Comedies, p. 170

Left Column


The Merchant of Venice.

last, at six a clocke ith morning, falling out that yeere on

ashwensday was foure yeere in th'afternoone.

 Shy. What are heir maskes? heare you me Iessica,
[835]
Lock vp my doores, and when you heare the drum And the vile squealing of the wry‑neckt Fife, Clamber not you vp to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the publique streete To gaze on Christian fooles with varnisht faces:
[840]
But stop my houses eares, I meane my casements, Let not the sound of shallow fopperie enter My sober house. By Iacobs staffe I sweare, I haue no minde of feasting forth to night: But I will goe: goe you before me sirra,
[845]
Say I will come. Clo. I will goe before sir, Mistris looke out at window for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Iewes eye. Shy.
[850]
What saies that foole of Hagars off‑spring? ha. Ies. His words were farewell mistris, nothing else. Shy. The patch is kinde enough, but a huge feeder: Snaile‑slow in profit, but he sleepes by day More then the wilde‑cat: drones hiue not with me,
[855]
Therefore I part with him, and part with him To one that I would haue him helpe to waste His borrowed purse. Well Iessica goe in, Perhaps I will returne immediately; Doe as I bid you, shut dores after you, fast binde, fast finde,
[860]
A prouerbe neuer stale in thriftie minde. Exit. Ies. Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost, I haue a Father, you a daughter lost. Exit.
[Act 2, Scene 6] Enter the Maskers, Gratiano and Salino. Gra.

This is the penthouse vnder which Lorenzo

Desired vs to make a stand.

 Sal.
[865]

His houre is almost past.

 Gra. And it is meruaile he out‑dwels his houre, For louers euer run before the clocke. Sal. O ten times faster Venus Pidgions flye To steale loues bonds new made, then they are wont
[870]
To keepe obliged faith vnforfaited. Gra. That euer holds, who riseth from a feast With that keene appetite that he sits downe? Where is the horse that doth vntread againe His tedious measures with the vnbated fire,
[875]
That he did pace them first: all things that are, Are with more spirit chased then enioy'd. How like a yonger or a prodigall The skarfed barke puts from her natiue bay, Hudg'd and embraced by the strumpet winde:
[880]
How like a prodigall doth she returne With ouer‑wither'd ribs and ragged sailes, Leane, rent, and begger'd by the strumpet winde? Enter Lorenzo. Salino.

Heere comes Lorenzo, more of this here­

after.

 Lor.
[885]
Sweete friends, your patience for my long a­ bode, Not I, but my affaires haue made you wait; When you shall please to play the theeues for wiues Ile watch as long for you then: approach

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Right Column


Here dwels my father Iew. Hoa, who's within? Iessica aboue. Iess.
[890]
Who are you? tell me for more certainty, Albeit Ile sweare that I do know your tongue. Lor.

Lorenzo, and thy Loue.

Ies. Lorenzo certaine, and my loue indeed, For who loue I so much? and now who knowes
[895]
But you Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor.

Heauen and thy thoughts are witness that thou

art.

 Ies. Heere, catch this casket, it is worth the paines, I am glad 'tis night, you do not looke on me,
[900]
For I am much asham'd of my exchange: But loue is blinde, and louers cannot see The pretty follies that themselues commit, For if they could, Cupid himselfe would blush To see me thus transformed to a boy. Lor.
[905]

Descend, for you must be my torch‑bearer.

 Ies. What, must I hold a Candle to my shames? They in themselues goodsooth are too too light. Why, 'tis an office of discouery Loue, And I should be obscur'd. Lor.
[910]
So you are sweet, Euen in the louely garnish of a boy: but come at once, For the close night doth play the run‑away, And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. Ies. I will make fast the doores and guild my selfe
[915]
With some more ducats, and be with you straight. Gra. Now by my hood, a gentle, and no Iew. Lor. Beshrew me but I loue her heartily. For she is wise, if I can iudge of her. And faire she is, if that mine eyes be true,
[920]
And true she is, as she hath prou'd her selfe: And therefore like her selfe, wise, faire, and true, Shall she be placed in my constant soule. Enter Iessica. What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, Our masking mates by this time for vs stay. Exit. Enter Anthonio. Ant.
[925]

Who's there?

 Gra.

Signior Anthonio?

Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? 'Tis nine a clocke, our friends all stay for you, No maske to night, the winde is come about,
[930]
Bassanio presently will goe aboord, I haue sent twenty out to seeke for you. Gra. I am glad on't, I desire no more delight Then to be vnder saile, and gone to night. Exeunt.
[Act 2, Scene 7] Enter Portia with Morrocho, and both their traines. Por. Goe, draw aside the curtaines, and discouer
[935]
The seuerall Caskets to this noble Prince: Now make your choyse. Mor. The first of gold, who this inscription beares, Who chooseth me, shall gaine what men desire. The second siluer, which this promise carries,
[940]
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath. How shall I know if I doe choose the right? Por. The

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[Act 2, Scene 7] Enter Portia with Morrocho, and both their traines. Por. Goe, draw aside the curtaines, and discouer
[935]
The seuerall Caskets to this noble Prince: Now make your choyse. Mor. The first of gold, who this inscription beares, Who chooseth me, shall gaine what men desire. The second siluer, which this promise carries,
[940]
Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath. How shall I know if I doe choose the right? This line appears erroneously to have been repeated at the top of this page.How shall I know if I doe choose the right. Por.
[945]
The one of them containes my picture Prince, If you choose that, then I am yours withall. Mor. Some God direct my iudgement, let me see, I will suruay the inscriptions, backe againe: What saies this leaden casket?
[950]
Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath. Must giue, for what? for lead, hazard for lead? This casket threatens men that hazard all Doe it in hope of faire aduantages: A golden minde stoopes not to showes of drosse,
[955]
Ile then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead. What saies the Siluer with her virgin hue? Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues. As much as he deserues; pause there Morocho, And weigh thy value with an euen hand,
[960]
If thou beest rated by thy estimation Thou doost deserue enough, and yet enough May not extend so farre as to the Ladie: And yet to be afeard of my deseruing, Were but a weake disabling of my selfe.
[965]
As much as I deserue, why that's the Lady. I doe in birth deserue her, and in fortunes, In graces, and in qualities of breeding: But more then these, in loue I doe deserue. What if I strai'd no farther, but chose here?
[970]
Let's see once more this saying grau'd in gold. Who chooseth me shall gaine what many men desire: Why that's the Lady, all the world desires her: From the foure corners of the earth they come To kisse this shrine, this mortall breathing Saint.
[975]
The Hircanion deserts, and the vaste wildes Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now For Princes to come view faire Portia. The waterie Kingdome, whose ambitious head Spets in the face of heauen, is no barre
[980]
To stop the forraine spirits, but they come As ore a brooke to see faire Portia. One of these three containes her heauenly picture. Is't like that Lead containes her? 'twere damnation To thinke so base a thought, it were too grose
[985]
To rib her searecloath in the obscure graue: Or shall I thinke in Siluer she's immur'd Being ten times vndervalued to tride gold; O sinfull thought, neuer so rich a Iem Was set in worse then gold! They haue in England
[990]
A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell Stampt in gold, but that's insculpt vpon: But here an Angell in a golden bed Lies all within. Deliuer me the key: Here doe I choose, and thriue I as I may. Por.
[995]
There take it Prince, and if my forme lye there Then I am yours. Mor. O hell! what haue we here, a carrion death, Within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule; Ile reade the writing.
[1000]
All that glisters is not gold, Often haue you heard that told; Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold; Guilded timber doe wormes infold:
[1005]
Had you beene as wise as bold, Yong in limbs, in iudgement old , Your answere had not beene inscrold, Fareyouwell, your suite is cold , Mor. Cold indeede, and labour lost,
[1010]
Then farewell heate, and welcome frost: Portia adew, I haue too grieu'd a heart To take a tedious leaue: thus loosers part. Exit. Por. A gentle riddance: draw the curtaines, go: Let all of his complexion choose me so. Exeunt.
 

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<div type="scene" n="7" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 7]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Portia with Morrocho, and both their traines.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="934">Goe, draw aside the curtaines, and discouer</l>
      <l n="935">The seuerall Caskets to this noble Prince:</l>
      <l n="936">Now make your choyse.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="937">The first of gold, who this inscription beares,</l>
      <l n="938">Who chooseth me, shall gaine what men desire.</l>
      <l n="939">The second siluer, which this promise carries,</l>
      <l n="940">Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues.</l>
      <l n="941">This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt,</l>
      <l n="942">Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.</l>
      <l n="943">How shall I know if I doe choose the right?</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0191-0.jpg" n="171"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="944">
         <note type="editorial" resp="#LMC">This line appears erroneously to have been repeated at the top of this page.</note>How shall I know if I doe choose the right.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="945">The one of them containes my picture Prince,</l>
      <l n="946">If you choose that, then I am yours withall.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="947">Some God direct my iudgement, let me see,</l>
      <l n="948">I will suruay the inscriptions, backe againe:</l>
      <l n="949">What saies this leaden casket?</l>
      <l n="950">Who chooseth me, must giue and hazard all he hath.</l>
      <l n="951">Must giue, for what? for lead, hazard for lead?</l>
      <l n="952">This casket threatens men that hazard all</l>
      <l n="953">Doe it in hope of faire aduantages:</l>
      <l n="954">A golden minde stoopes not to showes of drosse,</l>
      <l n="955">Ile then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead.</l>
      <l n="956">What saies the Siluer with her virgin hue?</l>
      <l n="957">Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserues.</l>
      <l n="958">As much as he deserues; pause there<hi rend="italic">Morocho</hi>,</l>
      <l n="959">And weigh thy value with an euen hand,</l>
      <l n="960">If thou beest rated by thy estimation</l>
      <l n="961">Thou doost deserue enough, and yet enough</l>
      <l n="962">May not extend so farre as to the Ladie:</l>
      <l n="963">And yet to be afeard of my deseruing,</l>
      <l n="964">Were but a weake disabling of my selfe.</l>
      <l n="965">As much as I deserue, why that's the Lady.</l>
      <l n="966">I doe in birth deserue her, and in fortunes,</l>
      <l n="967">In graces, and in qualities of breeding:</l>
      <l n="968">But more then these, in loue I doe deserue.</l>
      <l n="969">What if I strai'd no farther, but chose here?</l>
      <l n="970">Let's see once more this saying grau'd in gold.</l>
      <l n="971">Who chooseth me shall gaine what many men desire:</l>
      <l n="972">Why that's the Lady, all the world desires her:</l>
      <l n="973">From the foure corners of the earth they come</l>
      <l n="974">To kisse this shrine, this mortall breathing Saint.</l>
      <l n="975">The Hircanion deserts, and the vaste wildes</l>
      <l n="976">Of wide Arabia are as throughfares now</l>
      <l n="977">For Princes to come view faire<hi rend="italic">Portia</hi>.</l>
      <l n="978">The waterie Kingdome, whose ambitious head</l>
      <l n="979">Spets in the face of heauen, is no barre</l>
      <l n="980">To stop the forraine spirits, but they come</l>
      <l n="981">As ore a brooke to see faire<hi rend="italic">Portia</hi>.</l>
      <l n="982">One of these three containes her heauenly picture.</l>
      <l n="983">Is't like that Lead containes her? 'twere damnation</l>
      <l n="984">To thinke so base a thought, it were too grose</l>
      <l n="985">To rib her searecloath in the obscure graue:</l>
      <l n="986">Or shall I thinke in Siluer she's immur'd</l>
      <l n="987">Being ten times vndervalued to tride gold;</l>
      <l n="988">O sinfull thought, neuer so rich a Iem</l>
      <l n="989">Was set in worse then gold! They haue in England</l>
      <l n="990">A coyne that beares the figure of an Angell</l>
      <l n="991">Stampt in gold, but that's insculpt vpon:</l>
      <l n="992">But here an Angell in a golden bed</l>
      <l n="993">Lies all within. Deliuer me the key:</l>
      <l n="994">Here doe I choose, and thriue I as I may.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="995">There take it Prince, and if my forme lye there</l>
      <l n="996">Then I am yours.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="997">O hell! what haue we here, a carrion death,</l>
      <l n="998">Within whose emptie eye there is a written scroule;</l>
      <l n="999">Ile reade the writing.</l>
      <lg rend="center">
         <l n="1000">
            <hi rend="italic">All that glisters is not gold</hi>,</l>
         <l n="1001">
            <hi rend="italic">Often haue you heard that told</hi>;</l>
         <l rend="italic" n="1002">Many a man his life hath sold</l>
         <l n="1003">
            <hi rend="italic">But my outside to behold</hi>;</l>
         <l rend="italic" n="1004">Guilded timber doe wormes infold:</l>
         <l n="1005">
            <hi rend="italic">Had you beene as wise as bold</hi>,</l>
         <l n="1006">
            <hi rend="italic">Yong in limbs</hi>,<hi rend="italic">in iudgement old</hi>,</l>
         <l n="1007">
            <hi rend="italic">Your answere had not beene inscrold</hi>,</l>
         <l n="1008">
            <hi rend="italic">Fareyouwell</hi>,<hi rend="italic">your suite is cold</hi>,</l>
      </lg>
   </sp>
   <cb n="2"/>
   <sp who="#F-mv-mor">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mor.</speaker>
      <l n="1009">Cold indeede, and labour lost,</l>
      <l n="1010">Then farewell heate, and welcome frost:</l>
      <l n="1011">
         <hi rend="italic">Portia</hi>adew, I haue too grieu'd a heart</l>
      <l n="1012">To take a tedious leaue: thus loosers part.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-mv-por">
      <speaker rend="italic">Por.</speaker>
      <l n="1013">A gentle riddance: draw the curtaines, go:</l>
      <l n="1014">Let all of his complexion choose me so.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

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