[ti:Act II Scene 9: Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight:]
[ar:Antony Sher]
[al:SHAKESPEARE, W.: Merchant of Venice (The) (Unabridged)]
[by:]
[offset:0]
[00:00.00]Act II Scene 9: Quick, quick, I pray thee; draw the curtain straight: - Antony Sher
[00:00.60]Lyrics by：William Shakespeare
[00:00.76]Quick quick I pray thee draw the curtain straight
[00:03.79]The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath
[00:07.47]And comes to his election presently
[00:09.41]
[00:16.51]Behold there stand the caskets noble prince
[00:19.96]
[00:21.10]If you choose that wherein I am contain'd
[00:23.72]
[00:24.74]Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized
[00:26.82]
[00:27.52]But if you fail without more speech my Lord
[00:29.50]
[00:30.07]You must be gone from hence immediately
[00:32.17]
[00:33.20]I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things
[00:36.10]
[00:36.93]First never to unfold to any one
[00:40.26]Which casket 'twas I chose next if I fail
[00:45.08]Of the right casket never in my life
[00:48.03]To woo a maid in way of marriage lastly
[00:53.09]If I do fail in fortune of my choice
[00:55.92]Immediately to leave you and be gone
[00:59.09]
[00:59.96]To these injunctions every one doth swear
[01:02.46]That comes to hazard for my worthless self
[01:04.79]
[01:05.54]And so have I address'd me Fortune now
[01:09.99]
[01:10.71]To my heart's hope Gold silver and base lead
[01:21.90]
[01:24.08]Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath
[01:29.36]
[01:31.63]You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard
[01:35.57]
[01:37.05]What says the golden chest ha let me see
[01:41.20]
[01:43.20]Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire
[01:48.90]
[01:50.90]What many men desire that many may be meant
[01:55.30]By the fool multitude that choose by show
[01:59.11]Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach
[02:02.25]Which prize not to the interior but like the martlet
[02:06.28]Builds in the weather on the outward wall
[02:08.94]Even in the force and road of casualty
[02:11.42]
[02:12.73]I will not choose what many men desire
[02:17.02]Because I will not jump with common spirits
[02:19.86]And rank me with the barbarous multitudes
[02:22.38]
[02:24.46]Why then to thee thou silver treasure-house
[02:30.40]
[02:31.49]Tell me once more what title thou dost bear
[02:35.85]
[02:38.44]Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves
[02:43.70]
[02:45.42]And well said too for who shall go about
[02:48.85]To cozen fortune and be honourable
[02:50.93]Without the stamp of merit
[02:52.25]
[02:53.10]Let none presume
[02:54.47]To wear an undeserved dignity
[02:57.22]
[02:58.19]O that estates degrees and offices
[03:00.95]Were not derived corruptly and that clear honour
[03:04.36]Were purchased by the merit of the wearer
[03:06.30]
[03:07.07]How many then should cover that stand bare
[03:10.47]How many be commanded that command
[03:12.94]
[03:13.63]How much low peasantry would then be glean'd
[03:16.70]From the true seed of honour and how much honour
[03:21.31]Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times
[03:24.07]To be new-varnish'd
[03:25.31]
[03:26.87]Well but to my choice
[03:28.62]
[03:30.37]Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves
[03:35.95]
[03:37.72]I will assume desert
[03:41.23]
[03:42.34]Give me a key for this
[03:43.65]
[03:44.15]And instantly unlock my fortunes here
[03:47.50]
[03:54.99]Too long a pause for that which you find there
[03:57.62]
[03:59.66]What's here the portrait of a blinking idiot
[04:04.88]
[04:05.49]Presenting me a schedule I will read it
[04:09.12]
[04:12.99]How much unlike art thou to Portia
[04:15.85]
[04:16.97]How much unlike my hopes and my deservings
[04:20.40]
[04:21.11]Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves
[04:25.08]Did I deserve no more than a fool's head
[04:27.88]Is that my prize are my deserts no better
[04:30.33]
[04:31.15]To offend and judge are distinct offices
[04:34.71]And of opposed natures
[04:36.38]
[04:37.72]What is here
[04:38.22]
[04:41.06]The fire seven times tried this
[04:43.85]
[04:44.78]Seven times tried that judgment is
[04:47.84]That did never choose amiss
[04:49.57]
[04:50.61]Some there be that shadows kiss
[04:52.67]
[04:53.34]Such have but a shadow's bliss
[04:55.18]
[04:56.00]There be fools alive I wis
[04:58.16]Silver'd o'er and so was this
[05:00.46]
[05:01.16]Take what wife you will to bed
[05:03.37]I will ever be your head
[05:05.30]
[05:06.08]So be gone you are sped
[05:08.95]
[05:12.10]Still more fool I shall appear
[05:14.44]By the time I linger here
[05:16.48]With one fool's head I came to woo
[05:19.01]But I go away with two
[05:20.26]
[05:21.40]Sweet adieu I'll keep my oath
[05:25.32]
[05:26.36]Patiently to bear my wroth
[05:29.33]
[05:34.72]Thus hath the candle singed the moth
[05:37.60]
[05:39.35]O these deliberate fools when they do choose
[05:42.78]They have the wisdom by their wit to lose
[05:45.75]The ancient saying is no heresy
[05:48.51]Hanging and wiving goes by destiny
[05:52.53]Come draw the curtain Nerissa
[05:54.76]Where is my lady
[05:55.87]Here what would my Lord
[05:57.61]Madam there is alighted at your gate
[05:59.64]A young Venetian one that comes before
[06:01.89]To signify the approaching of his Lord
[06:04.02]From whom he bringeth sensible regreets
[06:06.54]To wit besides commends and courteous breath
[06:09.86]Gifts of rich value
[06:11.48]
[06:12.34]Yet I have not seen
[06:13.69]So likely an ambassador of love
[06:15.94]A day in April never came so sweet
[06:18.15]To show how costly Summer was at hand
[06:20.57]As this fore-spurrer comes before his Lord
[06:23.08]No more I pray thee I am half afeard
[06:26.27]Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee
[06:28.66]Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him
[06:30.73]
[06:31.94]Come come Nerissa for I long to see
[06:34.63]Quick Cupid's post that comes so mannerly
[06:37.50]
[06:38.34]Bassanio Lord
[06:41.19]Love if thy will it be