Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/25

The Merchant of Venice, I. ii

Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is

sober, and most vilely in the afternoon, when he

is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse

than a man, and when he is worst, he is little

better than a beast. An the worst fall that ever

fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.

Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose

the right casket, you should refuse to perform

your father's will, if you should refuse to accept

him.

Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray

thee, set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the

contrary casket, for, if the devil be within and

that temptation without, I know he will choose

it. I will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be

married to a sponge.

Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any

of these lords: they have acquainted me with

their determinations; which is, indeed, to return

to their home and to trouble you with no more

suit, unless you may be won by some other sort

than your father's imposition depending on the

caskets.

Por. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die

as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the

manner of my father's will. I am glad this

parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there

is not one among them but I dote on his very

absence, and I pray God grant them a fair

departure.

Ner. Do you not remember, lady, in your

father's time, a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier,

 111 sort: lot

112 imposition: injunction

114 Sibylla; cf. n. 