The Merchant of Venice | Page 18

chooses his meaning chooses you, 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 over-name them; and as thou 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 to his own good parts that he can shoe him himself; I am much afeard my lady his mother play ' d false with a smith.
NERISSA. Then is there the County Palatine.
PORTIA. He doth nothing but frown, as who should say ' An you will not have me, choose.' He hears merry tales and smiles not: I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he 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 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 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
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