master, with his horn full of good news: my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter;-why should we go in? [Exit Stephano. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica. Look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines1 of bright gold. There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls : But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.— Enter Musicians. Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn ; Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. [music. A patine is the small flat dish or plate used in the administration of the Eucharist.'-Malone. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet floods; Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Let no such man be trusted.-Mark the music. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, at a distance. Por. That light we see is burning in my hall. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less. A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Ner. It is your music, madam, of the house. How many things by season season'd are Lor. [music ceases. That is the voice, Or I am much deceived, of Portia. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckoo, By the bad voice. Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. Por. We have been praying for our husbands' welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Lor. Madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before, To signify their coming. 1 'Not absolutely, but relatively good, as it is modified by circumstances.'-Johnson. Por. Go in, Nerissa; Give order to my servants, that they take [a tucket 1 sounds. Lor. Your husband is at hand; I hear his trumpet: We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not. Por. This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick; It looks a little paler: 'tis a day, Such as the day is when the sun is hid. Enter BASSANIO, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, and their followers. If Bas. We should hold day with the Antipodes, you would walk in absence of the sun. Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light; For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me. But God sort all!-You are welcome home, my lord. Bas. I thank you, madam: give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. Por. You should in all sense be much bound to him, A florish on a trumpet. 2 Reduce to order from a state of confusion. For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of. Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house : It must appear in other ways than words; Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.1 [Gra. and Ner. seem to talk apart Gra. By yonder moon, I swear, you do me wrong; In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk. Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, 2 Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not.' Ner. What talk you of the poesy or the value? You swore to me, when I did give it you, That you would wear it till your hour of death, The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face, that had it. Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. This verbal complimentary form. 2 Knives were formerly inscribed, by means of aqua fortis, ith short sentences in distich. 3 Regardful. |