Por. You should in all sense be much bound to him, For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of. Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house: It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore, I scant this breathing courtesy. [GRA. and NER. seem to talk apart. Gra. By yonder moon, I swear you do me wrong; In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk: Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, Por. A quarrel, ho, already? what's the matter? Ner. What, talk you of the posy, or the value? Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth,— A kind of boy; a little scrubbed boy No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk; I could not for my heart deny it him. Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off, Gra. My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed, [Aside. Deserv'd it too; and then the boy, his clerk, Por. I would deny it; but you see my finger Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. Ner. Till I again see mine. Bass. Nor I in yours Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, When naught would be accepted but the ring, I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring. Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was beset with shame and courtesy: My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady; For by these blessed candles of the night, Had you been there, I think you would have begg'd The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. Por. Let not that doctor e'er come near my house: Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd, And that which you did swear to keep for me, I'll not deny him anything I have, No, not my body, nor my husband's bed: Lie not a night from home; watch me like Argus: Now, by mine honour, which is yet mine own, Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd Gra. Well, do you so: let not me take him then; For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding. Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; And, in the hearing of these many friends, I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Wherein I see myself,- Por. Mark you but that! Bass. Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth; Por. Then you shall be his surety: give him this; And bid him keep it better than the other. Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring. For by this ring the doctor lay with me. Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano; For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk, Gra. Why, this is like the mending of highways Here is a letter, read it at your leisure; It comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you shall find that Portia was the doctor; You shall not know by what strange accident Ant. I am dumb. Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? Gra. Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold? Ner. Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it, Unless he live until he be a man. Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow; When I am absent, then lie with my wife. Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road. Por. How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.-There do I give to you and Jessica, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possess'd of. Por. It is almost morning, Gra. Let it be so:-the first inter❜gatory [Exeunt. |