the merchant of venice(威尼斯商人)-第8章
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music sound while he doth make his choice； Then； if he lose； he makes a
swan…like end； Fading in music。 That the comparison May stand more
proper； my eye shall be the stream And wat'ry death…bed for him。 He may
win； And what is music then？ Then music is Even as the flourish when
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
true subjects bow To a new…crowned monarch； such it is As are those
dulcet sounds in break of day That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's
ear And summon him to marriage。 Now he goes； With no less presence；
but with much more love； Than young Alcides when he did redeem The
virgin tribute paid by howling Troy To the sea…monster。 I stand for
sacrifice； The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives； With bleared visages
come forth to view The issue of th' exploit。 Go； Hercules！ Live thou； I live。
With much much more dismay I view the fight than thou that mak'st the
fray。
A SONG
the whilst BASSANIO comments on the caskets to himself
Tell me where is fancy bred； Or in the heart or in the head； How
begot； how nourished？ Reply； reply。 It is engend'red in the eyes； With
gazing fed； and fancy dies In the cradle where it lies。 Let us all ring
fancy's knell： I'll begin it… Ding； dong； bell。 ALL。 Ding； dong； bell。
BASSANIO。 So may the outward shows be least themselves； The
world is still deceiv'd with ornament。 In law； what plea so tainted and
corrupt But； being season'd with a gracious voice； Obscures the show of
evil？ In religion； What damned error but some sober brow Will bless it；
and approve it with a text； Hiding the grossness with fair ornament？ There
is no vice so simple but assumes Some mark of virtue on his outward parts。
How many cowards； whose hearts are all as false As stairs of sand； wear
yet upon their chins The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars； Who；
inward search'd； have livers white as milk！ And these assume but valour's
excrement To render them redoubted。 Look on beauty And you shall see
'tis purchas'd by the weight； Which therein works a miracle in nature；
Making them lightest that wear most of it； So are those crisped snaky
golden locks Which make such wanton gambols with the wind Upon
supposed fairness often known To be the dowry of a second head… The
skull that bred them in the sepulchre。 Thus ornament is but the guiled
shore To a most dangerous sea； the beauteous scarf Veiling an Indian
beauty； in a word； The seeming truth which cunning times put on To
entrap the wisest。 Therefore； thou gaudy gold； Hard food for Midas； I will
none of thee； Nor none of thee； thou pale and common drudge 'Tween man
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and man； but thou； thou meagre lead； Which rather threaten'st than dost
promise aught； Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence； And here
choose I。 Joy be the consequence！ PORTIA。 ＇Aside＇ How all the other
passions fleet to air； As doubtful thoughts； and rash…embrac'd despair； And
shudd'ring fear； and green…ey'd jealousy！ O love； be moderate； allay thy
ecstasy； In measure rain thy joy； scant this excess！ I feel too much thy
blessing。 Make it less； For fear I surfeit。 BASSANIO。 ＇Opening the leaden
casket＇ What find I here？ Fair Portia's counterfeit！ What demi…god Hath
come so near creation？ Move these eyes？ Or whether riding on the balls of
mine Seem they in motion？ Here are sever'd lips； Parted with sugar breath；
so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends。 Here in her hairs The
painter plays the spider； and hath woven A golden mesh t' entrap the hearts
of men Faster than gnats in cobwebs。 But her eyes… How could he see to
do them？ Having made one； Methinks it should have power to steal both
his； And leave itself unfurnish'd。 Yet look how far The substance of my
praise doth wrong this shadow In underprizing it； so far this shadow Doth
limp behind the substance。 Here's the scroll； The continent and summary
of my fortune。 'You that choose not by the view； Chance as fair and choose
as true！ Since this fortune falls to you； Be content and seek no new。 If you
be well pleas'd with this； And hold your fortune for your bliss； Turn to
where your lady is And claim her with a loving kiss。' A gentle scroll。 Fair
lady； by your leave； I come by note； to give and to receive。 Like one of
two contending in a prize； That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes；
Hearing applause and universal shout； Giddy in spirit； still gazing in a
doubt Whether those peals of praise be his or no； So； thrice…fair lady； stand
I even so； As doubtful whether what I see be true； Until confirm'd； sign'd；
ratified by you。 PORTIA。 You see me； Lord Bassanio； where I stand； Such
as I am。 Though for myself alone I would not be ambitious in my wish To
wish myself much better； yet for you I would be trebled twenty times
myself； A thousand times more fair； ten thousand times more rich； That
only to stand high in your account I might in virtues； beauties； livings；
friends； Exceed account。 But the full sum of me Is sum of something
which； to term in gross； Is an unlesson'd girl； unschool'd； unpractis'd；
Happy in this； she is not yet so old But she may learn； happier than this；
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She is not bred so dull but she can learn； Happiest of all is that her gentle
spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed； As from her lord； her
governor； her king。 Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now
converted。 But now I was the lord Of this fair mansion； master of my
servants； Queen o'er myself； and even now； but now； This house； these
servants； and this same myself； Are yours… my lord's。 I give them with this
ring； Which when you part from； lose； or give away； Let it presage the ruin
of your love； And be my vantage to exclaim on you。 BASSANIO。 Madam；
you have bereft me of all words； Only my blood speaks to you in my veins；
And there is such confusion in my powers As； after some oration fairly
spoke By a beloved prince； there doth appear Among the buzzing pleased
multitude； Where every something； being blent together； Turns to a wild of
nothing； save of joy Express'd and not express'd。 But when this ring Parts
from this finger； then parts life from hence； O； then be bold to say
Bassanio's dead！ NERISSA。 My lord and lady； it is now our time That
have stood by and seen our wishes prosper To cry 'Good joy。' Good joy；
my lord and lady！ GRATIANO。 My Lord Bassanio； and my gentle lady； I
wish you all the joy that you can wish； For I am sure you can wish none
from me； And； when your honours mean to solemnize The bargain of your
faith； I do beseech you Even at that time I may be married too。
BASSANIO。 With all my heart； so thou canst get a wife。 GRATIANO。 I
thank your lordship； you have got me one。 My eyes； my lord； can look as
swift as yours： You saw the mistress； I beheld the maid； You lov'd； I lov'd；
for intermission No more pertains to me； my lord； than you。 Your fortune
stood upon the caskets there； And so did mine too； as the matter falls； For
wooing here until I sweat again； And swearing till my very roof was dry
With oaths of love； at last… if promise last… I got a promise of this fair one
here To have her love； provided that your fortune Achiev'd her mistress。
PORTIA。 Is this true； Nerissa？ NERISSA。 Madam； it is； so you stand
pleas'd withal。 BASSANIO。 And do you； Gratiano； mean good faith？
GRATIANO。 Yes； faith； my lord。 BASSANIO。 Our feast shall be much
honoured in your marriage。 GRATIANO。 We'll play with them： the first
boy for a thousand ducats。 NERISSA。 What； and stake down？
GRATIANO。 No； we shall ne'er win at that sport； and stake down… But
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who comes here？ Lorenzo and his infidel？ What； and my old Venetian
friend； Salerio！
Enter LORENZO； JESSICA； and SALERIO； a messenger from
Venice
BASSANIO。 Lorenzo and Salerio； welcome hither； If that the youth
of my new int'rest here Have power to bid you welcome。 By your leave； I
bid my very friends and countrymen； Sweet Portia； welcome。 PORTIA。 So
do I； my lord； They are entirely welcome。 LORENZO。 I thank your
honour。 For my part； my lord； My purpose was not to have seen you here；
But meeting with Salerio by the way； He did entreat me； past all saying
nay； To come with him along。 SALERIO。 I did； my lord； And I have
reason for it。 Signior Antonio Commends him to you。 ＇Gives BASSANIO
a letter＇ BASSANIO。 Ere I ope his letter； I pray you tell me how my good
friend doth。 SALERIO。 Not sick； my lord； unless it be in mind； Nor well；
unless in mind； his letter there Will show you his estate。 ＇BASSANIO
opens the letter＇ GRATIANO。 Nerissa； cheer yond stranger； bid her
welcome。 Your hand； Salerio。 What's the news from Venice？ How doth
that royal merchant； good Antonio？ I know he will be glad of our success：
We are the Jasons； we have won the fleece。 SALERIO。 I would you had
won the fleece that he hath lost。 PORTIA。 There are some shrewd contents
in yond same paper That steals the colour from Bassanio's cheek： Some
dear friend dead； else nothing in the world Could turn so much the
constitution Of any constant man。 What； worse and worse！ With leave；
Bassanio： I am half yourself； And I must freely have the half of anything
That this same paper brings you。 BASSANIO。 O s
