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music sound while he doth make his choice； Then； if he lose； he makes a
swan…like end； Fading in music。 That the comparison May stand more
proper； my eye shall be the stream And wat'ry death…bed for him。 He may
win； And what is music then？ Then music is Even as the flourish when
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true subjects bow To a new…crowned monarch； such it is As are those
dulcet sounds in break of day That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's
ear And summon him to marriage。 Now he goes； With no less presence；
but with much more love； Than young Alcides when he did redeem The
virgin tribute paid by howling Troy To the sea…monster。 I stand for
sacrifice； The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives； With bleared visages
come forth to view The issue of th' exploit。 Go； Hercules！ Live thou； I live。
With much much more dismay I view the fight than thou that mak'st the
fray。
A SONG
the whilst BASSANIO comments on the caskets to himself
Tell me where is fancy bred； Or in the heart or in the head； How
begot； how nourished？ Reply； reply。 It is engend'red in the eyes； With
gazing fed； and fancy dies In the cradle where it lies。 Let us all ring
fancy's knell： I'll begin it… Ding； dong； bell。 ALL。 Ding； dong； bell。
BASSANIO。 So may the outward shows be least themselves； The
world is still deceiv'd with ornament。 In law； what plea so tainted and
corrupt But； being season'd with a gracious voice； Obscures the show of
evil？ In religion； What damned error but some sober brow Will bless it；
and approve it with a text； Hiding the grossness with fair ornament？ There
is no vice so simple but assumes Some mark of virtue on his outward parts。
How many cowards； whose hearts are all as false As stairs of sand； wear
yet upon their chins The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars； Who；
inward search'd； have livers white as milk！ And these assume but valour's
excrement To render them redoubted。 Look on beauty And you shall see
'tis purchas'd by the weight； Which therein works a miracle in nature；
Making them lightest that wear most of it； So are those crisped snaky
golden locks Which make such wanton gambols with the wind Upon
supposed fairness often known To be the dowry of a second head… The
skull that bred them in the sepulchre。 Thus ornament is but the guiled
shore To a most dangerous sea； the beauteous scarf Veiling an Indian
beauty； in a word； The seeming truth which cunning times put on To
entrap the wisest。 Therefore； thou gaudy gold； Hard food for Midas； I will
none of thee； Nor none of thee； thou pale and common drudge 'Tween man
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and man； but thou； thou meagre lead； Which rather threaten'st than dost
promise aught； Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence； And here
choose I。 Joy be the consequence！ PORTIA。 ＇Aside＇ How all the other
passions fleet to air； As doubtful thoughts； and rash…embrac'd despair； And
shudd'ring fear； and green…ey'd jealousy！ O love； be moderate； allay thy
ecstasy； In measure rain thy joy； scant this excess！ I feel too much thy
blessing。 Make it less； For fear I surfeit。 BASSANIO。 ＇Opening the leaden
casket＇ What find I here？ Fair Portia's counterfeit！ What demi…god Hath
come so near creation？ Move these eyes？ Or whether riding on the balls of
mine Seem they in motion？ Here are sever'd lips； Parted with sugar breath；
so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends。 Here in her hairs The
painter plays the spider； and hath woven A golden mesh t' entrap the hearts
of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs。 But her eyes… How could he see to
do them？ Having made one； Methinks it should have power to steal both
his； And leave itself unfurnish'd。 Yet look how far The substance of my
praise doth wrong this shadow In underprizing it； so far this shadow Doth
limp behind the substance。 Here's the scroll； The continent and summary
of my fortune。 'You that choose not by the view； Chance as fair and choose
as true！ Since this fortune falls to you； Be content and seek no new。 If you
be well pleas'd with this； And hold your fortune for your bliss； Turn to
where your lady is And claim her with a loving kiss。' A gentle scroll。 Fair
lady； by your leave； I come by note； to give and to receive。 Like one of
two contending in a prize； That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes；
Hearing applause and universal shout； Giddy in spirit； still gazing in a
doubt Whether those peals of praise be his or no； So； thrice…fair lady； stand
I even so； As doubtful whether what I see be true； Until confirm'd； sign'd；
ratified by you。 PORTIA。 You see me； Lord Bassanio； where I stand； Such
as I am。 Though for myself alone I would not be ambitious in my wish To
wish myself much better； yet for you I would be trebled twenty times
myself； A thousand times more fair； ten thousand times more rich； That
only to stand high in your account I might in virtues； beauties； livings；
friends； Exceed account。 But the full sum of me Is sum of something
which； to term in gross； Is an unlesson'd girl； unschool'd； unpractis'd；
Happy in this； she is not yet so old But she may learn； happier than this；
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She is not bred so dull but she can learn； Happiest of all is that her gentle
spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed； As from her lord； her
governor； her king。 Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now
converted。 But now I was the lord Of this fair mansion； master of my
servants； Queen o'er myself； and even now； but now； This house； these
servants； and this same myself； Are yours… my lord's。 I give them with this
ring； Which when you part from； lose； or give away； Let it presage the ruin
of your love； And be my vantage to exclaim on you。 BASSANIO。 Madam；
you have bereft me of all words； Only my blood speaks to you in my veins；
And there is such confusion in my power