Go, draw aside the curtains and discover 1 The several caskets to this noble prince.
< Scene 7 >
Enter Portia with < the Prince of > Morocco and both their trains .
PORTIA
Go, draw aside the curtains and discover 1
The several caskets to this noble prince. 2
< A curtain is drawn. >
Now make your choice. 3
MOROCCO
This first, of gold, who this inscription bears, 4
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men 5
desire”; 6
The second, silver, which this promise carries, 7
“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he 8
deserves”; 9
This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt , 10
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he 11
hath.” 12
How shall I know if I do choose the right? 13
PORTIA
The one of them contains my picture, prince. 14
If you choose that, then I am yours withal . 15
[Act 2 Scene 7]
Footnotes
2.7 At Belmont the Prince of Morocco attempts to choose the right chest and win Portia. He picks the gold one and finds in it a skull and a warning not to choose on the basis of appearances. He leaves in disappointment.
0 SD . trains: retinues, attendants
1 . discover: reveal
2 . several: various
4 . who: which
10 . all as blunt: i.e., as blunt (straightforward) as lead is blunt (dull)
15 . withal: i.e., together with the picture
17 . back again: i.e., again
