ACT 1, SCENE 2


PORTIA If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do,12 chapels had been13 churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine14 that follows his own instructions.15 I can easier teach twenty what


were good to be done than to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may devise laws for the blood,16 but a hot temper leaps o’er a cold decree.17 18 Such a hare is madness, the youth, to skip o’er the meshes19 of good counsel,20 the


cripple.21 But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband. O me, the word ‘choose’! I may neither choose who I would22 nor refuse who I dislike; so is the will23 of a living daughter curbed24 by the will25 of a dead father. Is it not hard,


Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?


NERISSA Your father was ever26 virtuous,27 and holy men at their death have good inspirations; therefore the lottery, that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver and lead, whereof28 who chooses his meaning chooses


you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one who shall rightly love.29 But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?30


PORTIA I pray thee, over-name them, and as thou namest


them I will describe them; and, according to my description, level31 at my affection.


NERISSA First, there is the Neapolitan32 prince.


PORTIA Ay, that’s a colt33 indeed, for he doth34 nothing but talk of his horse, and he makes it a great


appropriation35 to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith.36


35 31. guess


13. would be 14. clergyman 15. teaching


15 20


19. snares/traps 20. good advice 21. (lines 19–21) Young people are like hares trying to avoid the traps of good advice put there by their elders.


22. who I would = who I would like 25


23. wish 24. controlled/restricted 25. testament


16. emotions/passions 17. law/judgement 18. (lines 17–19) While our mind tries to control our emotions, there are times when these emotions overtake our reason.


12. It is easier to know what should be done than to actually do it


26. always 27. good/moral


30


30. (lines 32–34) Tell me what you think about those noble suitors who have come already.


28. whereby 29. (lines 30–32) the correct chest or casket will only be chosen by one that truly loves you (Nerissa is assuring Portia that her father has arranged this in her best interest, confident that the man who succeeds will be the most suitable match for his daughter.)


32. from Naples


40


33. a foolish young man 34. does


35. addition


36. (lines 42–43) I suspect his mother had an affair with a blacksmith (who made horse shoes).


Junior Cycle English 17


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