Page 401 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

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

PORTIA
I pray thee overname them, and as thou [35] namest them I will describe
them, and according to my description level at my affection.

NERISSA
First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

PORTIA
Ay, that’s a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk of his horse, and he
makes it a great appropriation [40] to his own good parts that he can shoe
him himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother played false with a smith.

NERISSA
Then is there the County Palatine.

PORTIA

He doth nothing but frown, as who should [45] say, ‘An you will not have me,
choose’. He hears merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the
weeping philosopher when be grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness
in his youth. I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his [50]
mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!

NERISSA
How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon?

PORTIA
God made him and therefore let him pass for [55] a man. In truth, I know it is
a sin to be a mocker, but he! why he hath a horse better than the
Neapolitan’s, a better bad habit of frowning than the Count Palatine; he is

every man in no man; if a throstle sing, he falls straight a-capering; he will
[60] fence with his own shadow. If I should marry him, I should marry twenty
husbands. If he would despise me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to
madness, I shall never requite him.