_for_] _lest_ Capell (corrected in MS.). 39: _Slubber_] Q1 Ff. _Slumber_ Q2 Q3 Q4. 42: _enter in....of_] _entertain....off_ Jackson conj. _mind of love_] _mind, of love_ Bennet Langton conj. _bond of love_ Staunton conj. See note (V). 43: _employ_] _apply_ Collier (Collier MS.). 52: _embraced_] _enraced_ Warburton. _entranced_ Johnson conj. (withdrawn). _impressed_ Jackson conj. _unbraced_ Anon. ap. Halliwell conj. ~~~~~ SCENE IX. _Belmont. A room in_ PORTIA’S _house_. _Enter_ NERISSA _with a_ Servitor. _Ner._ Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight: The Prince of Arragon hath ta’en his oath, And comes to his election presently. _Flourish of cornets. Enter the_ PRINCE OF ARRAGON, PORTIA, _and their trains._ _Por._ Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain’d, 5 Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized: 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 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, 15 Immediately to leave you and be gone. _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. 20 ‘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 25 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, Even in the force and road of casualty. 30 I will not choose what many men desire, Because I will not jump with common spirits, And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house; Tell me once more what title thou dost bear: 35 ‘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? Let none presume To wear an undeserved dignity. 40 O, that estates, degrees and offices Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! How many then should cover that stand bare! How many be commanded that command! 45 How much low peasantry would then be glean’d From the true seed of honour! and how much honour Pick’d from the chaff and ruin of the times,