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and by adventuring both I oft found both。 I urge this childhood proof；
Because what follows is pure innocence。 I owe you much； and； like a
wilful youth； That which I owe is lost； but if you please To shoot another
arrow that self way Which you did shoot the first； I do not doubt； As I will
watch the aim； or to find both； Or bring your latter hazard back again And
thankfully rest debtor for the first。 ANTONIO。 You know me well； and
herein spend but time To wind about my love with circumstance； And out
of doubt you do me now more wrong In making question of my uttermost
Than if you had made waste of all I have。 Then do but say to me what I
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should do That in your knowledge may by me be done； And I am prest
unto it； therefore； speak。 BASSANIO。 In Belmont is a lady richly left； And
she is fair and； fairer than that word； Of wondrous virtues。 Sometimes
from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages。 Her name is Portia…
nothing undervalu'd To Cato's daughter； Brutus' Portia。 Nor is the wide
world ignorant of her worth； For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors； and her sunny locks Hang on her temples like a golden
fleece； Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond； And many
Jasons come in quest of her。 O my Antonio； had I but the means To hold a
rival place with one of them； I have a mind presages me such thrift That I
should questionless be fortunate。 ANTONIO。 Thou know'st that all my
fortunes are at sea； Neither have I money nor commodity To raise a
present sum； therefore go forth； Try what my credit can in Venice do； That
shall be rack'd； even to the uttermost； To furnish thee to Belmont to fair
Portia。 Go presently inquire； and so will I； Where money is； and I no
question make To have it of my trust or for my sake。 Exeunt
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SCENE II。 Belmont。 PORTIA'S house
Enter PORTIA with her waiting…woman； NERISSA
PORTIA。 By my troth； Nerissa； my little body is aweary of this great
world。 NERISSA。 You would be； sweet madam； if your miseries were in
the same abundance as your good fortunes are； and yet； for aught I see；
they are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that starve with nothing。
It is no mean happiness； therefore； to be seated in the mean： superfluity
come sooner by white hairs； but competency lives longer。 PORTIA。 Good
sentences； and well pronounc'd。 NERISSA。 They would be better； if well
followed。 PORTIA。 If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do；
chapels had been churches； and poor men's cottages princes' palaces。 It is a
good divine that follows his own instructions； I can easier teach twenty
what were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine
own teaching。 The brain may devise laws for the blood； but a hot temper
leaps o'er a cold decree； such a hare is madness the youth； to skip o'er the
meshes of good counsel the cripple。 But this reasoning is not in the fashion
to choose me a husband。 O me； the word 'choose'！ I may neither choose
who I would nor refuse who I dislike； so is the will of a living daughter
curb'd by the will of a dead father。 Is it not hard； Nerissa； that I cannot
choose one； nor refuse none？ NERISSA。 Your father was ever virtuous；
and holy men at their death have good inspirations； therefore the lott'ry
that he hath devised in these three chests； of gold； silver； and lead…
whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you… will no doubt never be
chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love。 But what
warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that
are already come？ PORTIA。 I pray thee over…name them； and as thou
namest them； I will describe them； and according to my description； level
at my affection。 NERISSA。 First； there is the Neapolitan prince。 PORTIA。
Ay； that's a colt indeed； for he doth nothing but talk of his horse； and he
makes it a great appropriation to his own good parts that he can shoe him
himself； I am much afear'd my lady his mother play'd false with a smith。
NERISSA。 Then is there the County Palatine。 PORTIA。 He doth nothing
but frown； as who should say 'An you will not have me； choose。' He hears
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merry tales and smiles not。 I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher
when he grows old； being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth。 I had
rather be married to a death's…head with a bone in his mouth than to either
of these。 God defend me from these two！ NERISSA。 How say you by the
French lord； Monsieur Le Bon？ PORTIA。 God made him； and therefore let
him pass for a man。 In truth； I know it is a sin to be a mocker； but he… why；
he hath a horse better than the Neapolitan's； a better bad habit of frowning
than the Count Palatine； he is every man in no man。 If a throstle sing he
falls straight a…cap'ring； he will fence with his own shadow； if I should
marry him； I should marry twenty husbands。 If he would despise me； I
would forgive him； for if he love me to madness； I shall never requite him。
NERISSA。 What say you then to Falconbridge； the young baron of
England？ PORTIA。 You know I say nothing to him； for he understands not
me； nor I him： he hath neither Latin； French； nor Italian； and you will
come into the court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth in the
English。 He is a proper man's picture； but alas； who can converse with a
dumb…show？ How oddly he is suited！ I think he bought his doublet in Italy；
his round hose in France； his bonnet in Germany； and his behaviour
everywhere。 NERISSA。 What think you of the Scottish lord； his neighbour？
PORTIA。 That he hath a neighbourly charity in him； for he borrowed a
box of the ear of the Englishman； and swore he would pay him again when
he was able； I think the Frenchman became his surety； and seal'd under for
another。 NERISSA。 How like you the young German； the Duke of
Saxony's nephew？ PORTIA。 Very vilely in the morning when he is sober；
and most vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk。 When he is best； he is a
little worse than a man； and when he is worst； he is little better than a beast。
An the worst fall that ever fell； I hope I shall make shift to go without him。
NERISSA。 If he should offer to choose； and choose the right casket； you
should refuse to perform your father's will； if you should refuse to accept
him。 PORTIA。 Therefore； for fear of the worst； I pray thee set a deep glass
of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket； for if the devil be within and that
temptation without； I know he will choose it。 I will do anything； Nerissa；
ere I will be married to a sponge。 NERISSA。 You need not fear； lady； the
having any of these lords； they have acquainted me with their
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determinations； which is indeed to return to their home； and to trouble you
with no more suit； unless you may be won by some other sort than your
father's imposition； depending on the caskets。 PORTIA。 If I live to be as
old as Sibylla； I will die as chaste as Diana； unless I be obtained by the
manner of my father's will。 I am glad this parcel of wooers are so
reasonable； for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence；
and I pray God grant them a fair departure。 NERISSA。 Do you not
remember； lady； in your father's time； a Venetian； a scholar and a soldier；
that came hither in company of the Marquis of Montferrat？ PORTIA。 Yes；
yes； it was Bassanio； as I think； so was he call'd。 NERISSA。 True； madam；
he； of all the men that ever my foolish eyes look'd upon； was the best
deserving a fair lady。 PORTIA。 I remember him well； and I remember him
worthy of thy praise。
Enter a SERVINGMAN
How now！ what news？ SERVINGMAN。 The four strangers seek for
you； madam； to take their leave； and there i