First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Morochus a | Flourish of cornets. Enter the Prince of Morocco, a | | MV II.i.1.1 | |
| tawnie Moore all in white, and three or foure followers | tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers | | MV II.i.1.2 | |
| accordingly, with Portia, Nerrissa, and their traine. Flo. Cornets. | accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train | | MV II.i.1.3 | |
| Mor. | MOROCCO | | | |
| Mislike me not for my complexion, | Mislike me not for my complexion, | mislike (v.) dislike, be displeased with | MV II.i.1 | |
| The shadowed liuerie of the burnisht sunne, | The shadowed livery of the burnished sun, | shadowed (adj.)shaded, darkened; also [heraldry]: faintly drawn | MV II.i.2 | |
| | livery (n.)badge, token, recognizable image | | |
| To whom I am a neighbour, and neere bred. | To whom I am a neighbour and near bred. | | MV II.i.3 | |
| Bring me the fairest creature North-ward borne, | Bring me the fairest creature northward born, | | MV II.i.4 | |
| Where Phoebus fire scarce thawes the ysicles, | Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles, | Phoebus (n.)[pron: 'feebus] Latin name for Apollo as the sun-god; also called Phoebus Apollo | MV II.i.5 | |
| And let vs make incision for your loue, | And let us make incision for your love | | MV II.i.6 | |
| To proue whose blood is reddest, his or mine. | To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine. | | MV II.i.7 | |
| I tell thee Ladie this aspect of mine | I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine | aspect (n.)[of a human face] look, appearance, expression | MV II.i.8 | |
| Hath feard the valiant, (by my loue I sweare) | Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear, | fear (v.)frighten, scare, terrify, daunt | MV II.i.9 | |
| The best regarded Virgins of our Clyme | The best-regarded virgins of our clime | clime (n.)land, region, realm | MV II.i.10 | |
| Haue lou'd it to: I would not change this hue, | Have loved it too. I would not change this hue, | | MV II.i.11 | |
| Except to steale your thoughts my gentle Queene. | Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen. | gentle (adj.)well-born, honourable, noble | MV II.i.12 | |
| Por. | PORTIA | | | |
| In tearmes of choise I am not solie led | In terms of choice I am not solely led | solely (adv.)wholly, entirely, altogether | MV II.i.13 | |
| | term (n.)respect, consideration, form | | |
| By nice direction of a maidens eies: | By nice direction of a maiden's eyes. | nice (adj.)fine, precise, particular, subtle | MV II.i.14 | |
| | direction (n.)instruction, guidance, counsel | | |
| Besides, the lottrie of my destenie | Besides, the lott'ry of my destiny | | MV II.i.15 | |
| Bars me the right of voluntarie choosing: | Bars me the right of voluntary choosing. | | MV II.i.16 | |
| But if my Father had not scanted me, | But if my father had not scanted me, | scant (v.)limit, restrict, constrain | MV II.i.17 | |
| And hedg'd me by his wit to yeelde my selfe | And hedged me by his wit to yield myself | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | MV II.i.18 | |
| His wife, who wins me by that meanes I told you, | His wife who wins me by that means I told you, | | MV II.i.19 | |
| Your selfe (renowned Prince) than stood as faire | Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair | | MV II.i.20 | |
| As any commer I haue look'd on yet | As any comer I have looked on yet | | MV II.i.21 | |
| For my affection. | For my affection. | | MV II.i.22.1 | |
| Mor. | MOROCCO | | | |
| Euen for that I thanke you, | Even for that I thank you. | | MV II.i.22.2 | |
| Therefore I pray you leade me to the Caskets | Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets | | MV II.i.23 | |
| To trie my fortune: By this Symitare | To try my fortune. By this scimitar | scimitar (n.)short curved sword with a single edge, from the East | MV II.i.24 | |
| That slew the Sophie, and a Persian Prince | That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince | Sophy (n.)[pron: 'sohfee] shah of Persia, possibly Abbas the Great, 16th-c | MV II.i.25 | |
| That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, | That won three fields of Sultan Solyman, | field (n.)field of battle, battleground, field of combat | MV II.i.26 | |
| | Solyman (n.)Suleiman, 16th-c sultan who fought against Persia | | |
| I would ore-stare the sternest eies that looke: | I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look, | overstare (v.)outstare, face down | MV II.i.27 | |
| Out-braue the heart most daring on the earth: | Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, | outbrave (v.)surpass in bravery, outdo in daring | MV II.i.28 | |
| Plucke the yong sucking Cubs from the she Beare, | Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, | | MV II.i.29 | |
| Yea, mocke the Lion when he rores for pray | Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, | | MV II.i.30 | |
| To win the Ladie. But alas, the while | To win thee, lady. But alas the while, | | MV II.i.31 | |
| If Hercules and Lychas plaie at dice | If Hercules and Lichas play at dice | Lichas (n.)[pron: 'liykas] companion to Hercules, who brought him a poisoned tunic; after wearing it, Hercules in agony threw Lichas into the sky | MV II.i.32 | |
| | Hercules (n.)[Roman form of Heracles] proverbial for his mythical physical strength and miraculous achievements | | |
| Which is the better man, the greater throw | Which is the better man, the greater throw | | MV II.i.33 | |
| May turne by fortune from the weaker hand: | May turn by fortune from the weaker hand. | | MV II.i.34 | |
| So is Alcides beaten by his rage, | So is Alcides beaten by his page, | rage (n.)folly, rashness, mad jest | MV II.i.35 | |
| | Alcides (n.)[pron: al'siydeez] original name of Hercules, after his grandfather Alceus | | |
| And so may I, blinde fortune leading me | And so may I, blind Fortune leading me, | Fortune (n.)Roman goddess, shown as a woman at a spinning-wheel, or controlling a rudder, and as blind | MV II.i.36 | |
| Misse that which one vnworthier may attaine, | Miss that which one unworthier may attain, | | MV II.i.37 | |
| And die with grieuing. | And die with grieving. | | MV II.i.38.1 | |
| Port. | PORTIA | | | |
| You must take your chance, | You must take your chance, | | MV II.i.38.2 | |
| And either not attempt to choose at all, | And either not attempt to choose at all | | MV II.i.39 | |
| Or sweare before you choose, if you choose wrong | Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong | | MV II.i.40 | |
| Neuer to speake to Ladie afterward | Never to speak to lady afterward | | MV II.i.41 | |
| In way of marriage, therefore be aduis'd. | In way of marriage. Therefore be advised. | | MV II.i.42 | |
| Mor. | MOROCCO | | | |
| Nor will not, come bring me vnto my chance. | Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance. | chance (n.)fortune, lot, destiny | MV II.i.43 | |
| Por. | PORTIA | | | |
| First forward to the temple, after dinner | First, forward to the temple; after dinner | | MV II.i.44 | |
| Your hazard shall be made. | Your hazard shall be made. | hazard (n.)[gambling] chance, fortune; throw [of dice] | MV II.i.45.1 | |
| Mor. | MOROCCO | | | |
| Good fortune then, | Good fortune then, | | MV II.i.45.2 | |
| To make me blest or cursed'st among men. | To make me blest or cursed'st among men. | | MV II.i.46 | |
| Cornets. Exeunt. | Flourish of cornets. Exeunt | | MV II.i.46 | |