The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) · chunk 16 of 43
Shakespeare, William · published 1619 · first performed or written 1596 [1596-1598] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 490 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
Here, catch this Casket, 'tis worth the pains, I am glad 'tis night you do not look on me, For I am much ashamed of my exchange: But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit, For if they could, Cupid himself would blush To see me thus transformed to a boy. Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. What, must I hold a Candle to my shames, They in themselves good-sooth are too too light. Why 'tis an office of discovery, love, And I should be obscured. So are you sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy, But come at once, for the close night Doth play the runaway, And we are stayed for at Bassanios feast. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you strait. Now by my hood, a Gentile and no jew. Beshrew me but I love her heartily, For she is wise, if I can judge of her, And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, And true she is, as she hath proo'ud herself, And therefore like herself, wise, fair and true, Shall she be placed in my constant soul. What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, Our masking mates by this time for us stay. Who's there? signor Anthonio. Fie, fie Gratiano, where are all the rest? 'tis nine a clock, our friends all stay for you, No mask to night, the wind is come about, Bassanio presently will go aboard, I am glad on't, I desire no more delight Then to be under sail, & gone to night. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several Caskets to this noble Prince: Now make your choice. The first of gold, who this inscription bears, Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. The second silver, which this promise carries, Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. This third dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. How shall I know if I do choose the right? The one of them contains my picture Prince, If you choose that, than I am yours withal. Some God direct my judgement, let me see, I will survey th'inscriptions back again, What says this leaden Casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath, Must give, for what? for lead, hazard for lead? This Casket threatens men that hazard all, Do it in hope of fair advantages: A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross, I'll then nor give nor hazard aught for lead. What says the silver with her virgin hue? Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. As much as he deserves, pause there Morocho, And weigh thy value with an even hand, If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Here, catch this Casket, tis worth the paines, I am glad tis night you do not looke on me, For I am much aſham'd of my exchange: But loue is blinde, and louers cannot ſee The pretty follies that themſelues commit, For if they could, Cupid himſelfe would bluſh To ſee me thus transformed to a boy. Deſcend, for you muſt be my torch-bearer. What, muſt I hold a Candle to my ſhames, They in themſelues goodſooth are too too light. Why tis an office of diſcouery, Loue, And I ſhould be obſcur'd. So are you ſweete, Euen in the louely garniſh of a boy, But come at once, for the cloſe night Doth play the run-away, And we are ſtaid for at Baſſanios feaſt. I will make faſt the doores, and guild my ſelfe With ſome mo ducats, and be with you ſtraight. Now by my hood, a Gentile and no Iew. Beſhrew me but I loue her hartily, For ſhe is wiſe, if I can iudge of her, And faire ſhe is, if that mine eyes be true, And true ſhe is, as ſhe hath proo'ud herſelfe, And therefore like herſelfe, wiſe, faire and true, Shall ſhe be placed in my conſtant ſoule. What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, Our masking mates by this time for vs ſtay. Who's there? Signior Anthonio. Fie, fie Gratiano, where are all the reſt? Tis nine a clocke, our friends all ſtay for you, No maske to night, the winde is come about, Baſſanio preſently will goe aboard, I am glad on't, I deſire no more delight Then to be vnder ſayle, & gone to night. Goe, draw aſide the Curtaines, and diſcouer The ſeuerall Caskets to this noble Prince: Now make your choiſe. The firſt of gold, who this inſcription beares, Who chooſeth me, ſhall gaine what many men deſire. The ſecond ſiluer, which this promiſe carries, Who chooſeth me, ſhall get as much as he deſerues. This third dull lead, with warning all as blunt, Who chooſeth me, muſt giue and hazard all he hath. How ſhall I know if I do chooſe the right? The one of them containes my picture Prince▪ If you chooſe that, then I am yours withall. Some God direct my iudgement, let me ſee, I will ſuruay th'inſcriptions backe againe, What ſayes this leaden Casket? Who chooſeth me, muſt giue and hazard all he hath, Muſt giue, for what? for lead, hazard for lead? This Casket threatens men that hazard all, Doe it in hope of faire aduantages: A golden minde ſtoopes not to ſhowes of droſſe, Ile then nor giue nor hazard ought for lead. What ſayes the ſiluer with her virgine hue? Who chooſeth me, ſhall get as much as he deſerues. As much as he deſerues, pauſe there Morocho, And weigh thy value with an eeuen hand, If thou beeſt rated by thy eſtimation, Thou doſt deſerue enough, and yet enough