| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| I am enioynd by oath to obserue three things; | I am enjoined by oath to observe three things: | MV II.ix.9 |
| First, neuer to vnfold to any one | First, never to unfold to anyone | MV II.ix.10 |
| Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I faile | Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail | MV II.ix.11 |
| Of the right casket, neuer in my life | Of the right casket, never in my life | MV II.ix.12 |
| To wooe a maide in way of marriage: | To woo a maid in way of marriage; | MV II.ix.13 |
| Lastly, | Lastly, | MV II.ix.14 |
| if I doe faile in fortune of my choyse, | If I do fail in fortune of my choice, | MV II.ix.15 |
| Immediately to leaue you, and be gone. | Immediately to leave you and be gone. | MV II.ix.16 |
| | | |
| And so haue I addrest me, fortune now | And so have I addressed me. Fortune now | MV II.ix.19 |
| To my hearts hope: gold, siluer, and base lead. | To my heart's hope! Gold, silver, and base lead. | MV II.ix.20 |
| Who chooseth me must giue and hazard all he hath. | Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath. | MV II.ix.21 |
| You shall looke fairer ere I giue or hazard. | You shall look fairer ere I give or hazard. | MV II.ix.22 |
| What saies the golden chest, ha, let me see: | What says the golden chest? Ha, let me see. | MV II.ix.23 |
| Who chooseth me, shall gaine what many men desire: | Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire. | MV II.ix.24 |
| What many men desire, that many may be meant | What many men desire; that ‘ many ’ may be meant | MV II.ix.25 |
| By the foole multitude that choose by show, | By the fool multitude that choose by show, | MV II.ix.26 |
| Not learning more then the fond eye doth teach, | Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach, | MV II.ix.27 |
| Which pries not to th' interior, but like the Martlet | Which pries not to th' interior, but like the martlet | MV II.ix.28 |
| Builds in the weather on the outward wall, | Builds in the weather on the outward wall, | MV II.ix.29 |
| Euen in the force and rode of casualtie. | Even in the force and road of casualty. | MV II.ix.30 |
| I will not choose what many men desire, | I will not choose what many men desire, | MV II.ix.31 |
| Because I will not iumpe with common spirits, | Because I will not jump with common spirits | MV II.ix.32 |
| And ranke me with the barbarous multitudes. | And rank me with the barbarous multitudes. | MV II.ix.33 |
| Why then to thee thou Siluer treasure house, | Why then, to thee, thou silver treasure house. | MV II.ix.34 |
| Tell me once more, what title thou doost beare; | Tell me once more what title thou dost bear. | MV II.ix.35 |
| Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues: | Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. | MV II.ix.36 |
| And well said too; for who shall goe about | And well said too, for who shall go about | MV II.ix.37 |
| To cosen Fortune, and be honourable | To cozen fortune, and be honourable | MV II.ix.38 |
| Without the stampe of merrit, let none presume | Without the stamp of merit? Let none presume | MV II.ix.39 |
| To weare an vndeserued dignitie: | To wear an undeserved dignity. | MV II.ix.40 |
| O that estates, degrees, and offices, | O that estates, degrees, and offices | MV II.ix.41 |
| Were not deriu'd corruptly, and that cleare honour | Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour | MV II.ix.42 |
| Were purchast by the merrit of the wearer; | Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! | MV II.ix.43 |
| How many then should couer that stand bare? | How many then should cover that stand bare, | MV II.ix.44 |
| How many be commanded that command? | How many be commanded that command; | MV II.ix.45 |
| How much low pleasantry would then be gleaned | How much low peasantry would then be gleaned | MV II.ix.46 |
| From the true seede of honor? And how much honor | From the true seed of honour, and how much honour | MV II.ix.47 |
| Pickt from the chaffe and ruine of the times, | Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times | MV II.ix.48 |
| To be new varnisht: Well, but to my choise. | To be new varnished. Well, but to my choice. | MV II.ix.49 |
| Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserues. | Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves. | MV II.ix.50 |
| I will assume desert; giue me a key for this, | I will assume desert. Give me a key for this, | MV II.ix.51 |
| And instantly vnlocke my fortunes here. | And instantly unlock my fortunes here. | MV II.ix.52 |
| | | |
| What's here, the portrait of a blinking idiot | What's here? The portrait of a blinking idiot | MV II.ix.54 |
| Presenting me a scedule, I will reade it: | Presenting me a schedule! I will read it. | MV II.ix.55 |
| How much vnlike art thou to Portia? | How much unlike art thou to Portia! | MV II.ix.56 |
| How much vnlike my hopes and my deseruings? | How much unlike my hopes and my deservings! | MV II.ix.57 |
| Who chooseth me, shall haue as much as he deserues. | Who chooseth me shall have as much as he deserves. | MV II.ix.58 |
| Did I deserue no more then a fooles head, | Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? | MV II.ix.59 |
| Is that my prize, are my deserts no better? | Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? | MV II.ix.60 |
| | | |
| What is here? | What is here? | MV II.ix.62.2 |
| The fier seauen times tried this, | The fire seven times tried this; | MV II.ix.63 |
| Seauen times tried that iudement is, | Seven times tried that judgement is | MV II.ix.64 |
| That did neuer choose amis, | That did never choose amiss. | MV II.ix.65 |
| Some there be that shadowes kisse, | Some there be that shadows kiss; | MV II.ix.66 |
| Such haue but a shadowes blisse: | Such have but a shadow's bliss. | MV II.ix.67 |
| There be fooles aliue Iwis | There be fools alive iwis, | MV II.ix.68 |
| Siluer'd o're, and so was this: | Silvered o'er, and so was this. | MV II.ix.69 |
| Take what wife you will to bed, | Take what wife you will to bed, | MV II.ix.70 |
| I will euer be your head: | I will ever be your head. | MV II.ix.71 |
| So be gone, you are sped. | So be gone; you are sped. | MV II.ix.72 |
| Still more foole I shall appeare | Still more fool I shall appear | MV II.ix.73 |
| By the time I linger here, | By the time I linger here. | MV II.ix.74 |
| With one fooles head I came to woo, | With one fool's head I came to woo, | MV II.ix.75 |
| But I goe away with two. | But I go away with two. | MV II.ix.76 |
| Sweet adue, Ile keepe my oath, | Sweet, adieu. I'll keep my oath, | MV II.ix.77 |
| Patiently to beare my wroath. | Patiently to bear my wroth. | MV II.ix.78 |