Page 74 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

ACT TWO - Scene Seven 2.7.0

1
Portia’s house at Belmont.
A flourish of cornetts. Enter Portia and the Prince of Morocco, with their attendants

—Portia [to servant]
Go, draw aside the curtains and disclose° {discover} / reveal
The triple° caskets for this noble prince. {several} / choice of

The curtains are drawn aside and three caskets are revealed

Now make your choice.

The Prince examines each one

—Morocco
The first of gold, which° this inscription bears: 2 {who}
‘Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.’
The second, silver, which this promise carries:
‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’
The third, dull lead, with warning all° as blunt: / just
‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’ 3
[to Portia] How shall I know if I do chose the right? ° / right one

—Portia
The one of them contains my picture, Prince;
4
If you choose that, then all of mine is yours.° {then I am yours withal}
—Morocco
Some god direct my judgement. Let me see—
I will inspect° th’inscriptions once° again. {survey} {back}
What says this leaden casket?
‘Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.’
Must give, for what? For lead? Hazard° for lead? / Risk all
This casket threatens: Men that° hazard all / who

1. Some editors, following Capell, add the stage direction here to signify Morocco’s entrance. However, Morocco’s
arrival has already been announced, and he is already in residence. Some editors also add jflourish of cornettsk at
the end of the scene, with Morocco’s exit, which is also unlikely.
2. / The first of gold, which offers° this inscription: / presenting / deliv’ring
3. The inscriptions on the caskets, found in the source story, Gesta Romanorum, (1595), are as follows:
Gold: Who so chooseth me shall find what he deserves.
Silver: Who so chooseth me shall find what his nature desires.
Lead: Who so chooseth me shall find what God has disposed for him. [See Additional Notes, 2.7.9]
4. withal: “with all.” ‘I am yours withal’ = I am all yours, all of what is mine is yours
/ If you chose that, then I am wholly yours