050 Por. God made him, and therefore let him pass for a [051] 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 [054] every man in no man; if a throstle sing, he falls straight a 055 capering: he will 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, [058] I shall never requite him.
[059] Ner. What say you, then, to Falconbridge, the young 060 baron of England?
Por. You know I say nothing to him; for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, [063] nor Italian; and you will come into the court and swear [064] that I have a poor pennyworth in the English. He is a 065 proper man’s picture; but, alas, who can converse with a dumbshow? How oddly he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where.
[069] Ner. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?
070 Por. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him; for he [071] borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again when he was able: I think the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another.
075 Ner. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony’s nephew?
Por. Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, [079] he is little better than a beast: an the worst fall that ever 080 fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.
Ner. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right casket, you should refuse to perform your father’s will, if you should refuse to accept him.
Por. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee, set a 085 deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket; for, if the devil be within and that temptation without, I know [087] he will choose it. I will do any thing, Nerissa, ere I’ll be married to a sponge.
Ner. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these [090] lords: they have acquainted me with their determinations; which is, indeed, to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit, unless you may be won by some [093] other sort than your father’s imposition, depending on the caskets.