What's the meaning of the text in the scroll that the Prince of Arragon finds in the silver casket in Act 2, Scene 9 of The Merchant of Venice?

Question

This is the exact text (*The Merchant of Venice*, Act 2 Scene 9): >Arragon: >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. I have no problems in understanding the text before and after this but I can't seem to 'get' the meaning of this particular extract. I think that these lines roughly translate to : >The following has been tested seven times: >People who consider their judgement seven times >Are never wrong (?). >There are a few people who chase illusions(without digging deeper) and such people only have illusory bliss , ie, they think that they're happy when truly, they're not. I don't if that's correct. I have really incompetent teachers who correct everything I write so, I would really appreciate it if someone could explain to me, where I'm going wrong. Plus, I would really like to know what the deal about the number 'seven' is.

Answer 1

Portia's casket/marriage test has the three caskets (gold, silver, lead) for the suitors to choose from. The previous prince very quickly took the gold casket (which of course was wrong). Aragon's prince thinks more about the process and reasons that the best choice is silver. He is proud (maybe even arrogant) about his seemingly wise choice. The casket's initial inscription about getting what someone deserves intrigues him -- he thinks this is based on merit and that he'll be found very deserving of the price. However, Aragon's prince is offended by the casket's contents and even more so by the scroll. The use of seven in the scroll is symbolic. Seven is the perfect number. Seven times the box had been tested and it works -- the goal is cut out the fools. The whole scroll (with the references to silver hair and silver coins -- not knowing real joy) reinforces the idea that Aragon is a fool despite his seemingly best efforts not to be so.