ACT 2, SCENE 1
Flourish of cornets.1 Enter the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly,2 with PORTIA, NERISSA, and their train.3
MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,4 The shadowed livery5 of the burnished6 sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.7 Bring me the fairest creature northward born,8 Where Phoebus’ fire9 scarce thaws the icicles,
And let us make incision for your love To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.10 I tell thee, lady, this aspect11 of mine Hath feared the valiant.12 By my love I swear, The best-regarded virgins of our clime13
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue14 Except to steal your thoughts,15 my gentle queen.
PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.16 Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.17 But if my father had not scanted18 me, And hedged19 me by his wit,20 to yield myself His wife who wins me by that means I told you,21 Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet For my affection.22
MOROCCO Even for that23 I thank you.
Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets To try my fortune. By this scimitar,24 That slew the Sophy25 and a Persian prince
That won three fields26 of Sultan Solyman,27 I would o’erstare the sternest eyes that look, Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, Yea, mock the lion when a28 roars for prey, To win thee, lady.29 But alas the while,
23. compliment 25
24. curved sword 25. Shah (monarch) of Persia
26. battles 27. Turkish ruler
2. of similar dress and appearance 3. attendants
4. the colour of my skin
5. dark clothing/uniform 6. shining 7. a close relative
8. the lightest-skinned person from the North 5
9. the sun’s heat (Phoebus was also known as Apollo, god of the sun.)
10. (lines 4–7) Bring me the lightest-skinned person and let me make a cut in order to draw blood and you will see that my blood is redder than his. (Red blood was seen as a sign of bravery.)
10
11. appearance 12. Has made brave men afraid. 13. The most admired ladies of our region 14. colour 15. gain your affection
1. A fanfare of instruments (resembling trumpets) used to signify the arrival of someone important.
15
16. (lines 13–14) I am not relying only on what I see before me.
17. Prevents me from choosing who I like. 18. limited
20
19. restricted 20. wisdom 21. (lines 18–19) to become the wife of the person who wins me by the method I told you about
22. (lines 20–22) then you would stand as good a chance as any admirer of winning my love
30
28. he
29. (lines 27–31) The Prince of Morocco is listing all the brave things he would do to win Portia.
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