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As any comer° I have looked on yet° / suitor // I’ve yet looked upon
For my affection.° / To win my favor

—Morocco Even for that I thank you.
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets
22
To try my fortune. By this scimitar / Arab(ian) sword
That slew a Sultan° and a Persian Prince, {Sophy} / Emp’ror / great Shah
That thrice defeated the great Suleiman,° 23 / the Sultan of Turkey
I would o’er-stare the sternest° eyes that look, / harshest
24
Outbrave the boldest heart that e’er did beat;
Pluck° the young suckling cubs from the she-bear, / Snatch / grab
Yea, mock° the lion when it° roars for prey, 25 / Defy {he}
To win thee, lady. But alas the while,
If Hercules and his servant play dice, 26
27
The hand of chance decides the better man° / determines the victor / winner
Which may grant victory° to the weaker hand: / fortune / triumph
So is the hero beaten° by his page. 28 {bested}
29 30
And so may I, blind fortune° leading me, / with mere chance
Miss that which one of lesser worth° attains— 31 {one unworthier may}
And die with° grieving. / from

—Portia You must take your chance,°
And either not attempt to chose at all, 32
Or swear before you choose,° if you choose wrong, / beforehand, that

that Morocco has as fair (equal) a chance of winning her (and her affection) as any suitor she has thus far looked
upon.
22. scimitar: a curved, single-edged sword. In a possible staging, Morocco could draw and flourish his scimitar
(much to the surprise of Portia’s attendants). This would make clear the reference his sword (for those who are not
familiar with the term scimitar.). A blander, yet more recognizable term for scimitar could be Arab sword, faithful
sword, constant sword, etc.
23. {That won three fields of Sultan Suleiman} / That won three battles against Suleiman.
24. {Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth}
25. / And grab the prey from a hungry lion
26. {If Hercules and Lichas play at dice}
Lichas: Hercules’s (somewhat low-minded) servant. Lichas was thrown into the sea by Hercules after he
(Lichas) unwitting brought Hercules a poisoned shirt which killed him (Hercules).
27. / A throw by chance / A random throw / A chancéd toss
28. {So is Alicides beaten by his rage}
Alicides: Hercules
rage: wanton behavior, wild folly, anger. Although Hercules was known to display rage, the notion of him being
defeated by his rage—with respect to the chance drawing of the lottery—does not really fit. Pope emends rage with
page, which is similar to the emendation of rogue (derived from roge.) Both apply to a servant of Hercules, one who
is weaker and a lesser man. Hence, the intended meaning would be that Hercules is beaten by his page or his
rogue— which is possible when the competition is based upon a pure chance throw of the dice, rather than skill.
29. / And so may I, led forth by blinded° luck / simple
30. Add line: +And not the prowess held by mine own hand , +And not the skillful means of mine own hand° , /
endeavors / own effort
31. / And I, now being led by blind fortune, | May miss the prize that lesser ones may win.
32. / And either vacate all your rights to choose