A Common-Place Jotting: The Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene 9

Common-Place or “Locus Communis” — a place to remember

In this scene from The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare has the Prince of Arragon, one of Portia’s many suitors, guess which of the three caskets (gold, silver, lead) contains her portrait. Leading the prince to them, Portia says:

Behold, there stand the caskets, noble Prince.

If you choose that wherein I am contained,

Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.

But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,

You must be gone from hence immediately.

After contemplating all three, the Prince of Arragon chooses the silver chest:

I will not choose what many men desire

Because I will not jump with common spirits

And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.

Why then, to thee, thou silver treasure house.

Tell me once more what title thou dost bear.

“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”

And well said too—for who shall go about

To cozen fortune and be honorable

Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume

To wear an undeservèd dignity.

Oh, that estates, degrees and offices

Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor

Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!

How many then should cover that stand bare!

How many be commanded that command!

How much low peasantry would then be gleaned

From the true seed of honor! And how much honor

Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times

To be new varnished! Well, but to my choice.

“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”

I will assume desert.—Give me a key for this,

And instantly unlock my fortunes here.

Opening the casket, he finds not Portia’s portrait, but a picture of a fool’s head and a letter which reads:

“The fire seven times tried this,

Seven times tried that judgment is,

That did never choose amiss.

Some there be that shadows kiss.

Such have but a shadow’s bliss.

There be fools alive, iwis,

Silvered o’er—and so was this.

Take what wife you will to bed,

I will ever be your head.

So be gone. You are sped.

Still more fool I shall appear”

By the time I linger here.

With one fool’s head I came to woo,

But I go away with two.—

Sweet, adieu. I’ll keep my oath

Patiently to bear my wroth.”