Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Author:William Shakespeare Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ACT SECOND. —Sceitk L Bdmont. A room in Portia's house. Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince Of Moeooco and his train; Poetia, Nekissa, and othere attending... more ». Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadow'd livery0 of the burnish'd sun, To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. Bring me the fairest creature northward born, Where Phoebus'0 fire scarce thaws the icicles, And let us make incision for your love, To prove whose blood is reddest,0 his or mine. I tell thee, lady, this aspect0 of mine Hath fear'd0 the valiant: by my love, I sweat The best-regarded virgins of our clime Have loved it too: I would not change this hue, Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. Por. In terms of0 choice I am not solely fed By nice0 direction0 of a maiden's eyes; Besides, the lottery of my destiny Bars me the right0 of voluntary choosing: But if my father had not scanted0 me And hedged me by his wit, to yield myself His wife who0 wins me by that means I told you, Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair0 20 As any comer I have look'd on yet For my affection. Mor. Even for that I thank you: Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets, To try my fortune. By this scimitar That slew the Sophy0 and a Persian prince That won three fields0 of Sultan Solyman, I would outstare 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 he roars for prey, 30 To win thee, lady. But, alas the while ! If Hercules0 and Lichas0 play at dice Which is the better0 man, the greater throw May turn by fortune from the weaker hand: So is Alcides beaten by his page; And so may I, blind fortune leading me, Miss that which one unworthier may attain, And die with grieving. Fo...« less