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The Merchant of Venice
<br>Act 3, Scene 2
<br>BASSANIO
<br>So may the outward shows be least themselves:
<br>The world is still deceived with ornament.
<br>In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
<br>But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
<br>Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
<br>What damned error, but some sober brow
<br>Will bless it and approve it with a text,
<br>Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?
<br>There is no vice so simple but assumes
<br>Some mark of virtue on his outward parts:
<br>How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
<br>As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
<br>The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
<br>Who, inward search'd, have livers white as milk;
<br>And these assume but valour's excrement
<br>To render them redoubted! Look on beauty,
<br>And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight;
<br>Which therein works a miracle in nature,
<br>Making them lightest that wear most of it:
<br>So are those crisped snaky golden locks
<br>Which ...