Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/21

The Merchant of Venice, I. i

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.

Ant. Thou knowest 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.

 163, 164 fair virtues: beautiful and accomplished

164 sometimes: formerly

166 nothing undervalu'd: in no way inferior

167 Portia; cf. n.

172 Colchos'; cf. n.

175 hold with: make a show equal to

176 thrift: thriving

182 rack'd: strained

184 presently: instantly

186 of my trust, etc.: either on my credit or from some friend 