Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/33

The Merchant of Venice, II. i 

Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadow'd livery of the burnish'd sun,

To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

Where Phœbus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And let us make incision for your love,

To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.

I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine

Hath fear'd the valiant: by my love, I swear

The best regarded virgins of our clime

Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue,

Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

Por. In terms of choice I am not solely led

By nice direction of a maiden's eyes;

Besides, the lottery of my destiny

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing:

But if my father had not scanted me

And hedg'd me by his wit, to yield myself

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,

Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair

As any comer I have look'd on yet

For my affection.

Mor.Even for that I thank you:

 Scene One S. d. accordingly: in similar dress

2 shadow'd: dark

7 reddest; cf. n.

9 fear'd: frightened

11, 12 I would not, etc.; cf. n.

14 nice: captious

17 scanted: restricted

18 wit: intelligence 