Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/23

The Merchant of Venice, I. ii

hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor

refuse none?

Ner. Your father was ever virtuous, and holy

men at their death have good inspirations;

therefore, the lottery 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?

Por. I pray thee, over-name them, and as

thou namest them, I will describe them; and,

according to my description, level at my affection.

Ner. First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

Por. 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 afeard

my lady his mother played false with a smith.

Ner. Then is there the County Palatine.

Por. He doth nothing but frown, as who

should say, 'An you will not have me, choose.'

He hears 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!

Ner. How say you by the French lord,

Monsieur Le Bon?

 34 his meaning: the chest he meant

41 level: aim

43 colt: brainless youth

45 appropriation: peculiar merit

48 County Palatine: a count possessing royal privileges

50 An: if

choose; cf. n.

52 weeping philosopher: Heraclitus

57 by: concerning 