Page 82 - William_Shakespeare_-_The_Merchant_of_Venice_191

ACT TWO - Scene Nine 2.9.0

Belmont. Enter Nerissa and a Servant

—Nerissa
1
Quickly, I pray thee—draw the curtain straight.° / now
The Prince of Arragon has ta’en his oath
2
And comes at once to make his choice of caskets.
A servant draws back the curtain, revealing the three caskets.
jA flourish of cornetts.k
Enter the Prince of Arragon, Portia, and attendants

—Portia
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince.
If you chose that wherein my picture’s found,° 3 {I am contained}
Straightaway shall we take° our nuptial vows. 4 / Then straightaway we’ll take
But should you fail, without another word,° / more speech, my lord
5
My lord, you must depart° from hence at once.° / be gone

—Arragon
I am enjoined° by oath to observe three things: / obliged > obligated, bound
First, never to disclose° to anyone {unfold} / reveal
Which casket ‘twas I chose. Next, if I fail
Of the right casket, never in my life 6
To join° a maid by way of marriage. Lastly, {woo}
If I do fail° in fortune of my choice,
To leave at once° and forever be gone. 7 / forthwith

—Portia
To these injunctions° everyone doth swear 8 / conditions
9
Who comes to hazard for my worthless° self. / lowly

—Arragon

1. / Quick, quick, draw back the curtain straight away / Quick, I pray, draw the curtain straight away
straight: right away / straight away
2. {And comes to his election presently}
3. / And should you choose the one containing me
4. {Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized} / Straight shall we go to church and there be married
5. / You must be gone from hence immediately
6. / To chose the right casket, ne’er in my life
7. {Immediately to leave you and be gone.}
8. / These are the terms to which all men must swear
9. / Who chance to win my less than worthy self / Who chance to win my undeserving self
worthless: insignificant, less than worthy (when compared to the worth of these great suitors). This is a false
show of modesty.