English Class 8 Merchant of Venice

SALERIO My lord, here stays without    A messenger with letters from the doctor, New come from Padua.	SALERIO My lord, a messenger is waiting outside with letters from Bellario. He’s just come from Padua.
	DUKE Bring us the letter. Call the messenger.	DUKE Bring us the letters. Call the messenger in.
	BASSANIO Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.	BASSANIO Cheer up, Antonio! Keep up your courage, man! I’ll give the Jew my flesh, blood, bones, and everything before you lose one drop of blood for me.
115	ANTONIO I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death. The weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. You cannot better be employed, Bassanio, Than to live still and write mine epitaph.	ANTONIO I’m like the one sick sheep in the flock, the one who deserves to die. The weakest fruit drops to the ground first, so let me drop. Bassanio, the best thing you can do is to keep living and write an epitaph for my gravestone.
	Enter NERISSA, disguised as a clerk	NERISSA enters, disguised as a lawyer’s clerk.
120	DUKE Came you from Padua, from Bellario?	DUKE Have you come from Bellario’s office in Padua?
	NERISSA From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace. (gives DUKE a letter)	NERISSA Yes, my lord. Bellario sends his greetings. (she gives the DUKE a letter)
	SHYLOCK sharpens a knife on the bottom of his shoe	SHYLOCK sharpens his knife on the sole of his shoe.
	BASSANIO (to SHYLOCK) Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?	BASSANIO (to SHYLOCK) Why are you sharpening your knife so eagerly? SHYLOCK To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there. SHYLOCK To cut my penalty from that bankrupt man over there. 125 GRATIANO Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou makest thy knife keen. But no metal can— No, not the hangman’s axe—bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee? GRATIANO You’re sharpening that knife not on your sole but on your soul, you cruel Jew. No metal—not even the executioner’s axe—could ever be half as sharp as your hatred. Can’t any prayers reach your heart? SHYLOCK No, none that thou hast wit enough to make. SHYLOCK No, none that you’re smart enough to make. 130 135 140 GRATIANO O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused! Thou almost makest me waver in my faith To hold opinion with Pythagoras That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men. Thy currish spirit Governed a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam Infused itself in thee, for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. GRATIANO Oh, you’re going to hell, you disgusting dog. Killing you would be justice. You almost make me forget that I’m a Christian. You make me want to agree with the philosopher Pythagoras that animal souls are reincarnated in human bodies. Your vicious dog soul used to belong to a wolf that was killed for slaughtering humans. When he died, his cruel soul passed out of his body and went into yours while you were lying in your unholy mother’s womb. That’s why your desires are wolfish, bloody, and ravenous. SHYLOCK Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend’st thy lungs to speak so loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall To cureless ruin. I stand here for law. SHYLOCK Unless your taunts can undo the signature on my contract, you’re just wearing out your lungs by speaking so loud. Be quiet, boy, or you’ll lose your mind. I stand here with the law on my side. 145 DUKE This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learnèd doctor to our court. Where is he? DUKE This letter from Bellario introduces us to a young and well-educated legal expert. Where is he? NERISSA He attendeth here hard by    To know your answer whether you’ll admit him. NERISSA He’s waiting nearby to find out if you’ll invite him in. DUKE With all my heart.—Some three or four of you Go give him courteous conduct to this place.— Meantime the court shall hear Bellario’s letter. (reads) “Your grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome. His name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant. We turned o'er many books together. He is furnished with my opinion, which—bettered with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend—comes with him at my importunity to fill up your grace’s request in my stead.I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.” DUKE With all my heart.—Three or four of you go welcome him.—In the meantime, I’ll read Bellario’s letter out loud. (he reads) “I’ve received your letter but I’m very sick at the moment. As it happened, when your messenger came, a young lawyer from Rome was visiting me. His name is Balthazar. I told him about the case of the Jew and Antonio the merchant, and we consulted many books together. He knows my legal opinions about this matter, and he has his own expert opinions as well. I’m sending him in my place to answer your request for someone to act as judge in this matter. Please don’t underestimate him because he’s so young. I never knew such a young man with such a mature head. I leave him to you. When you put him to the test, you’ll see how wonderful he really is. You hear what the wise and educated Bellario writes.” Enter PORTIA for Balthazar, disguised as a doctor of law PORTIA enters disguised as Balthazar, a lawyer. You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes. And here I take it is the doctor come.— Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario? And this is the legal professor, I take it.—Let me shake your hand. Did old Bellario send you here? PORTIA I did, my lord. PORTIA Yes, my lord. 160 DUKE You are welcome. Take your place.    Are you acquainted with the difference That holds this present question in the court? DUKE Welcome. Please have a seat. Are you familiar with the case currently before the court? PORTIA I am informèd thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? PORTIA Yes, thoroughly. Which one is the merchant? And which one is the Jew? DUKE Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. DUKE Antonio and Shylock, both of you come forward. PORTIA Is your name Shylock? PORTIA Is your name Shylock? SHYLOCK Shylock is my name.     SHYLOCK Shylock is my name. PORTIA Of a strange nature is the suit you follow, Yet in such rule that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.— (to ANTONIO) You stand within his danger, do you not? PORTIA Your case is most unusual, though the Venetian law can’t stop you from proceeding.—(to ANTONIO) He has a claim on you, correct? ANTONIO Ay, so he says. ANTONIO Yes, so he says. PORTIA Do you confess the bond?    PORTIA Do you acknowledge the contract? ANTONIO I do. ANTONIO Yes, I do. PORTIA Then must the Jew be merciful.   PORTIA Then the Jew must show you mercy. SHYLOCK On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. SHYLOCK Why do I have to do that? Tell me. PORTIA The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes The thronèd monarch better than his crown. His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings, But mercy is above this sceptered sway. It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings. It is an attribute to God himself. And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, PORTIA No one shows mercy because he has to. It just happens, the way gentle rain drops on the ground. Mercy is a double blessing. It blesses the one who gives it and the one who receives it. It’s strongest in the strongest people. It looks better in a king than his own crown looks on him. The king’s scepter represents his earthly power, the symbol of majesty, the focus of royal authority. But mercy is higher than the scepter. It’s enthroned in the hearts of kings, a quality of God himself. Kingly power seems most like God’s power when the king mixes mercy with justice. So although justice is your plea, Jew, consider this. Modern Text Though justice be thy plea, consider this— That in the course of justice none of us Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. Justice won’t save our souls. We pray for mercy, and this same prayer teaches us to show mercy to others as well. I’ve told you this to make you give up this case. If you pursue it, this strict court of Venice will need to carry out the sentence against the merchant there. SHYLOCK My deeds upon my head. I crave the law, The penalty, and forfeit of my bond. SHYLOCK I take all responsibility for my decisions. I want the law, the penalty, and the fulfillment of my contract. PORTIA Is he not able to discharge the money? PORTIA Can’t he pay back the money? BASSANIO Yes, here I tender it for him in the court— Yea, twice the sum. If that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart. If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth.— (to DUKE) And I beseech you,      Wrest once the law to your authority. To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will. BASSANIO Yes. I’m offering to pay it back right this moment—even twice the sum. If that’s not enough, I’ll sign a contract to pay ten times that much, and I’ll give you my hands, my head, and my heart as security. If that’s not enough, then you’re just evil and malicious.—(to the DUKE) I beg you, just this once, use your authority to bend the law. Do a great right by doing a little wrong. Don’t let this devil have his way. PORTIA It must not be. There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree establishèd. 'Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state. It cannot be. PORTIA That can’t happen. There’s no power in Venice that can change an established decree. The change will be recorded as a precedent, and many bad legal decisions will result. That can’t happen. SHYLOCK A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel!— O wise young judge, how I do honor thee! SHYLOCK A has come to judgment, yes, a Daniel!—Oh, wise young judge, I honor you Original Text Modern Text 215 PORTIA I pray you, let me look upon the bond. PORTIA Please, let me review the contract. SHYLOCK (giving PORTIA a document) Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. SHYLOCK (he hands PORTIA a paper) Here it is, judge, here it is. PORTIA Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee. PORTIA Shylock, they’re offering you three times the money you lent. 220 SHYLOCK An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. SHYLOCK But I made an oath, an oath, an oath in heaven. Should I perjure my soul by disobeying it? No, not for all of Venice. 225 PORTIA Why, this bond is forfeit!     And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant’s heart.—Be merciful. Take thrice thy money. Bid me tear the bond. PORTIA The money wasn’t paid back! And so the Jew may lawfully claim a pound of flesh nearest the merchant’s heart, to be cut off by him.—But please have mercy. Take three times your money. Tell me to tear up this contract. 230 SHYLOCK When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge. You know the law. Your exposition Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgment. By my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me. I stay here on my bond. SHYLOCK I’ll tear it up when it’s paid. You seem like a good judge. You know the law. Your explanation has made sense. I urge you to deliver your verdict. I swear that nothing anyone can say will change my mind. I’m sticking to the contract. 235 ANTONIO Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. ANTONIO I beg the court to deliver the verdict. PORTIA Why then, thus it is:     You must prepare your bosom for his knife. PORTIA Well, then, here it is: you must prepare yourself for his knife. SHYLOCK O noble judge! O excellent young man! SHYLOCK Oh, good judge! Oh, you excellent young man! PORTIA For the intent and purpose of the law Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond. PORTIA The law fully authorizes the penalty, which you have to pay according to the contract. SHYLOCK 'Tis very true. O wise and upright judge! How much more elder art thou than thy looks! SHYLOCK Very true. Oh wise judge! You’re so much older than you look! PORTIA (to ANTONIO) Therefore lay bare your bosom. PORTIA (to ANTONIO) So bare your chest. 245 SHYLOCK Ay, his breast.      So says the bond. Doth it not, noble judge? “Nearest his heart”—those are the very words. SHYLOCK Yes, his chest! That’s what the contract says, doesn’t it, judge? “Nearest his heart.”—Those are the very words. PORTIA It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh? PORTIA Yes. Is there a scale here to weigh the flesh? SHYLOCK I have them ready.    SHYLOCK I have it ready. PORTIA Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds lest he do bleed to death. PORTIA Pay a surgeon to stand by and bind his wounds, Shylock, so he doesn’t bleed to death. 250 SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond? PORTIA It is not so expressed, but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity. SHYLOCK I cannot find it. 'Tis not in the bond. PORTIA (to ANTONIO) You, merchant, have you any thing to say? 255 ANTONIO But little. I am armed and well prepared.— Give me your hand, Bassanio. Fare you well. Don’t be sad that this happened because of you, because Lady Luck’s been nicer to me than usual. Usually she makes the unhappy man live on after he loses his wealth, to spend his old age in poverty. But in my case she’s letting me avoid that misery. Send your honorable wife my greetings, and tell her how I died and how I loved you. Speak well of me after I’m dead, and when the tale’s done, ask her to judge whether Bassanio had a friend. Be sad only at the fact that you’ll lose your friend—your friend doesn’t regret that he paid your debt. If the Jew cuts deep enough, I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart. BASSANIO Antonio, I am married to a wife Which is as dear to me as life itself. But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all—ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil—to deliver you. BASSANIO Antonio, I married a woman as dear to me as life itself. But life itself, my wife, and the whole world aren’t more valuable to me than your life is. I’d give it all up—yes, I’d sacrifice them all to this devil here—to save you. PORTIA Your wife would give you little thanks for that If she were by to hear you make the offer. PORTIA Your wife wouldn’t like it if she were here to hear you make that offer. GRATIANO I have a wife, whom I protest I love. I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew. GRATIANO I have a wife I love. I wish she were in heaven so she could appeal to some power to make this dog Jew change his mind. NERISSA 'Tis well you offer it behind her back. The wish would make else an unquiet house. NERISSA It’s nice you’re offering to sacrifice her behind her back. That wish of yours could start quite an argument back at home. SHYLOCK These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter. Would any of the stock of Barabbas Had been her husband rather than a Christian!— We trifle time. I pray thee, pursue sentence. SHYLOCK That’s what you get for marrying Christian husbands. I have a daughter. I wish she’d married any one of descendants instead of a Christian!—We’re wasting time. Please, deliver the sentence. 290 PORTIA A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine. The court awards it, and the law doth give it. PORTIA A pound of this merchant’s flesh is yours. The court awards it and the law authorizes it. SHYLOCK Most rightful judge! SHYLOCK What a righteous judge! PORTIA And you must cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, and the court awards it. PORTIA And you have to cut this flesh from his chest. The law allows it, and the court awards it. 295 SHYLOCK Most learnèd judge, a sentence! Come, prepare. SHYLOCK What a wise judge! Come on, get ready. 300 PORTIA Tarry a little. There is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh, But in the cutting it if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice. PORTIA But wait a moment. There’s something else. This contract doesn’t give you any blood at all. The words expressly specify “a pound of flesh.” So take your penalty of a pound of flesh, but if you shed one drop of Christian blood when you cut it, the state of Venice will confiscate your land and property under Venetian law. GRATIANO O upright judge!—Mark, Jew.—O learnèd judge! GRATIANO Oh, what an upright judge!—Pay attention, Jew.—Oh, what a smart judge! 305 SHYLOCK Is that the law? SHYLOCK Is that the law? PORTIA Thyself shalt see the act. For as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest. PORTIA You can see for yourself. You asked for justice, so rest assured you’ll get more justice than you bargained for. GRATIANO O learnèd judge!—Mark, Jew, a learnèd judge! GRATIANO Oh, what a wise judge!—Pay attention, Jew. A wise judge! 310 SHYLOCK I take this offer then: pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go. SHYLOCK In that case I’ll take their offer. Pay me three times the amount of the loan and let the Christian go. BASSANIO Here is the money.     BASSANIO Here is the money. PORTIA Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste. He shall have nothing but the penalty. PORTIA Wait! The Jew will have justice. Wait, don’t rush! He’s not getting anything except the penalty. 315 GRATIANO O Jew! An upright judge, a learnèd judge! GRATIANO Oh, Jew, what an upright judge this is! What a wise judge! 320 PORTIA Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh. If thou takest more Or less than a just pound, be it but so much As makes it light or heavy in the substance Or the division of the twentieth part Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate. PORTIA So get ready to cut off the flesh. Don’t shed any blood, or cut less or more than exactly a pound of flesh. If you take more or less than exactly a pound, even if it’s just the tiniest fraction of an ounce—if the scale changes by even so much as a hair, you die, and all your property will be confiscated. 325 GRATIANO A second Daniel!—A Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have you on the hip. GRATIANO A second Daniel!—A Daniel, Jew! I’ve got you now, pagan. PORTIA Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. PORTIA Why is the Jew waiting? Take your penalty. SHYLOCK Give me my principal, and let me go. SHYLOCK Give me my money and let me go. BASSANIO I have it ready for thee. Here it is. BASSANIO I have it ready for you. Here it is. PORTIA No, he refused it publicly, in open court. He will have only justice and his penalty. GRATIANO A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!— I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. GRATIANO A Daniel, I keep saying it! A second Daniel!—Thank you, Jew, for teaching me that word. SHYLOCK Shall I not have barely my principal? SHYLOCK I won’t even get the original three thousand ducats back? PORTIA Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture To be so taken at thy peril, Jew. PORTIA You can’t have anything but the penalty, to be taken at your peril, Jew. SHYLOCK Why then, the devil give him good of it! I’ll stay no longer question. SHYLOCK Well, then, I hope he chokes on it! I’m not staying here to argue anymore. PORTIA Tarry, Jew.     The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods. The other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state, And the offender’s life lies in the mercy Of the Duke only 'gainst all other voice. In which predicament I say thou stand’st, For it appears by manifest proceeding That indirectly—and directly too— Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred The danger formerly by me rehearsed. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. PORTIA Wait a minute, Jew. The law has another hold on you. The laws of Venice state that if a foreign resident directly or indirectly attempts to kill any citizen, the person he tried to kill will receive one half of the foreigner’s goods. The other half goes to the state. Whether the offending person lives or dies is up to the duke—there’s no one else to appeal to. In your predicament you’ve earned that punishment, because you’ve clearly contrived indirectly—and directly too—to take the life of the defendant. So get down on your knees and beg mercy from the duke. GRATIANO Beg to be allowed to hang yourself! But if you’ve handed over all your wealth to the state, you don’t even have enough money left to buy a rope. So you’ll be hanged at the state’s expense. DUKE That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s. The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine. DUKE I want you to see the difference between us, so I pardon you even before you ask for a pardon. Half of your wealth goes to Antonio. The other half goes to the state. However, if you show a proper humility, I may reduce this penalty to a fine. PORTIA Ay, for the state, not for Antonio. PORTIA Yes, the state’s half can be reduced, but not Antonio’s. SHYLOCK Nay, take my life and all. Pardon not that. You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house. You take my life When you do take the means whereby I live. SHYLOCK No, go ahead and take my life. Don’t pardon that. You take my house away when you take the money I need for upkeep. You take my life when you take away my means of making a living. PORTIA What mercy can you render him, Antonio? PORTIA What mercy can you show him, Antonio? GRATIANO A halter gratis, nothing else, for God’s sake. GRATIANO A hangman’s rope free of charge. Nothing else, for God’s sake! ANTONIO So please my lord the duke and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use to render it Upon his death unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter. Two things provided more: that for this favor He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift Here in the court, of all he dies possessed, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. ANTONIO If the duke and his court agree to set aside the fine for one half of his property, I’m happy, as long as he lets me have the other half in trust, to give it to the gentleman who recently stole his daughter. I only ask two more things. First, Shylock must immediately become a Christian. Second, he must make a will here in this court that leaves all his property to his son-in-law Lorenzo and his daughter when he dies. DUKE He must do this, or I’ll recant the pardon I just delivered. PORTIA Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? PORTIA Are you satisfied, Jew? What do you say? SHYLOCK I am content. SHYLOCK I’m satisfied. PORTIA (to NERISSA) Clerk, draw a deed of gift.    PORTIA (to NERISSA) Clerk, draw up a document to make his gift official. SHYLOCK I pray you, give me leave to go from hence. I am not well. Send the deed after me, And I will sign it. SHYLOCK Please let me go. I’m not well. Send the deed after me and I’ll sign it. DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.    DUKE Go, but sign the deed. GRATIANO (to SHYLOCK) In christening shalt thou have two godfathers. Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more— To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. GRATIANO (to SHYLOCK) When you’re baptized a Christian, you’ll have two godfathers. If I’d been the judge, you would’ve had ten more—twelve jurors to sentence you to death rather than baptism. Exit SHYLOCK SHYLOCK exits. DUKE (to PORTIA) Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. DUKE (to PORTIA) Sir, please come home with me to dinner. PORTIA I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth. PORTIA I’m very sorry, sir, but I have to go to Padua tonight. I should really leave right away.     DUKE I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.— Antonio, gratify this gentleman, For in my mind you are much bound to him. DUKE I’m sorry you don’t have time.—Antonio, give this gentleman a reward. In my opinion, you owe him a lot   BASSANIO (to PORTIA) Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew We freely cope your courteous pains withal. ANTONIO And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore. ANTONIO And even then we’re still indebted to you. We owe you love and service forever. PORTIA He is well paid that is well satisfied. And I, delivering you, am satisfied, And therein do account myself well paid. My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you, know me when we meet again. I wish you well, and so I take my leave. PORTIA Being satisfied with a job well done is payment enough. In saving you I consider myself well paid. My thoughts were never on money. I hope you’ll recognize me when we meet again. I wish you well. Now, I’ve got to go. BASSANIO Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further. Take some remembrance of us as a tribute, Not as a fee. Grant me two things, I pray you: Not to deny me, and to pardon me. BASSANIO Sir, I really feel the need to give you something. Take some memento from us as a token of our gratitude, not as a fee. Please do two favors for me. First, don’t refuse me, and second, excuse me for insisting. PORTIA You press me far and therefore I will yield. (to ANTONIO) Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for your sake. (to BASSANIO) And for your love, I’ll take this ring from you. Do not draw back your hand. I’ll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this. PORTIA Since you keep insisting, I’ll do as you say. (to ANTONIO) Give me your gloves. I’ll wear them for your sake. (to BASSANIO) And as a souvenir of your appreciation, I’ll take this ring from you. Don’t pull your hand back. I won’t take anything more than this, and you can’t refuse me this. BASSANIO This ring, good sir—alas, it is a trifle. I will not shame myself to give you this. BASSANIO This ring, sir—oh no, it’s nothing. I’d be ashamed to give you this. PORTIA I will have nothing else but only this. And now methinks I have a mind to it. PORTIA I don’t want anything but that. Now that I think about it, I really want it BASSANIO There’s more depends on this than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation. Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. BASSANIO There’s more to this ring than its cash value. I’ll give you the most expensive ring in Venice, and I’ll make a public announcement to help me find it. But as for this ring, please excuse me. 435 PORTIA I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. You taught me first to beg, and now methinks You teach me how a beggar should be answered. PORTIA I see you like to make big offers, sir. First you taught me how to beg, and now I think you’re teaching me how a beggar should be answered. BASSANIO Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife. And when she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell nor give nor lose it. BASSANIO Good sir, this ring was given to me by my wife. When she put it on my finger, she made me swear never to sell it, give it away, or lose it. 440 PORTIA That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a madwoman, And know how well I have deserved the ring, She would not hold out enemy forever For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you. PORTIA Many men use that excuse to avoid giving gifts. If your wife’s not a madwoman, and you tell her how much I deserve this ring, she won’t stay angry at you forever if you give it to me. Well, anyway, goodbye. Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA PORTIA and NERISSA exit. 445 ANTONIO My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Let his deservings and my love withal Be valued against your wife’s commandment. ANTONIO Bassanio, let him have the ring. Consider how much he deserves it, and weigh that, along with my friendship, against your wife’s order. 450 BASSANIO (giving GRATIANO the ring) Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him. Give him the ring and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste. BASSANIO (he gives GRATIANO the ring) Go, Gratiano, run and catch up with him. Give him the ring, and take him to Antonio’s house if you can. Go quickly. Exit GRATIANO GRATIANO exits. Come, you and I will thither presently. And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio. Come on, you and I will go soon. Early in the morning we’ll both rush to Belmont. Come on, Antonio. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, both disguised PORTIA and NERISSA enter, both still in disguise. PORTIA Inquire the Jew’s house out. Give him this deed, And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. PORTIA Find out where the Jew’s house is. Give him this deed and have him sign it. We’ll leave tonight and be home a day before our husbands get back. Lorenzo will be happy with what we’ve done. Enter GRATIANO GRATIANO enters. 5 GRATIANO (giving PORTIA BASSANIO’s ring) Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en. My Lord Bassanio upon more advice Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat Your company at dinner. GRATIANO (he gives PORTIA BASSANIO’s ring) Sir, you’re lucky I caught up with you. Bassanio thought about it some more and sent this ring to you. He would like to invite you to dinner. 10 PORTIA That cannot be.     His ring I do accept most thankfully. And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house. PORTIA I can’t have dinner with him. Please tell him I accept his ring with thanks. And could you please take my servant to old Shylock’s house? GRATIANO That will I do. GRATIANO I’ll do that. 15 NERISSA (to PORTIA) Sir, I would speak with you.    (aside to PORTIA) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. NERISSA (to PORTIA) Sir, may I speak with you? (speaking so that only PORTIAcan hear) I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, which I made him swear to keep forever. 20 PORTIA (aside to NERISSA) Thou mayst, I warrant. We shall have old swearing That they did give the rings away to men. But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too.— PORTIA (to NERISSA) I bet you’ll be able to. They’ll swear they gave the rings to men. But we’ll deny it and outswear them too.— Away, make haste. Thou know’st where I will tarry. Go, hurry. You know where I’ll be waiting. Exit PORTIA She exits. NERISSA (to GRATIANO) Come, good sir. Will you show me to this house? NERISSA (to GRATIANO) Sir, will you show me to Shylock’s house now? Enter LORENZO and JESSICA LORENZO and JESSICA enter. 5 LORENZO The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees And they did make no noise, in such a night Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls And sighed his soul toward the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night. LORENZO The moon’s bright tonight. I think that on a night like this, when the wind blew the trees so gently that they didn’t make a sound, Troilus Troilus was the son of King Priam of Troy. His lover, Cressida, was sent to the Greek camp, where she betrayed him. Troilus climbed up onto the walls of Troy and sighed for Cressida in the Greek camp. JESSICA In such a night      Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself And ran dismayed away. JESSICA On a night like this, Thisbe Thisbe had agreed to meet her lover Pyramus, but was frightened away by a lion. Pyramus killed himself because he thought the lion had eaten her, and Thisbe killed herself when she found Pyramus dead. Thisbe saw the lion’s shadow and ran away in fear. 10 LORENZO In such a night     Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage. LORENZO On a night like this, Dido Dido, the queen of Carthage, was abandoned by her lover Aeneas. Dido stood holding a willow branch on the seashore, begging her lover to come back to her in Carthage. JESSICA In such a night     Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Æson. JESSICA On a night like this,  gathered magic herbs to rejuvenate old Aeson. LORENZO In such a night     Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont. LORENZO On a night like this, Jessica ran away from the wealthy Jew and stole his money. She ran away from Venice all the way to Belmont with her spendthrift lover. 20 JESSICA In such a night    Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one. JESSICA On a night like this, young Lorenzo swore he loved her very much, stealing her heart with vows of love, but not one vow was true. LORENZO In such a night     Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her. LORENZO On a night like this, pretty Jessica, in a bad mood, said outrageously wrong things about her lover, and he forgave her. JESSICA I would outnight you, did nobody come. But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. JESSICA I’d get the better of you in this storytelling game, but somebody’s coming. I hear his footsteps. Enter STEPHANO, a messenger STEPHANO, a messenger, enters. 25 LORENZO Who comes so fast in silence of the night? LORENZO Who are you, coming so fast in this quiet night? STEPHANO A friend. STEPHANO A friend. LORENZO A friend? What friend? Your name, I pray you, friend? LORENZO A friend? What friend? What’s your name, please, friend? 30 STEPHANO Stephano is my name, and I bring word My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours. STEPHANO My name’s Stephano, and I’ve come to tell you my mistress will arrive here at Belmont before sunrise. She’s still at the monastery, kneeling and praying for a happy marriage. LORENZO Who comes with her?     LORENZO Who’s coming with her? STEPHANO None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet returned? STEPHANO No one except her maid and a holy hermit. Has my master returned yet? 35 LORENZO He is not, nor we have not heard from him.— But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house. LORENZO No, he hasn’t, and we haven’t heard from him.—But let’s go in, Jessica. We’ll get ready to welcome the mistress of the house back home. Enter LAUNCELOT the clown LAUNCELOT enters. LAUNCELOT Sola, sola! Wo, ha, ho! Sola, sola! LAUNCELOT Hey, hey! Hey! Yoo-hoo! 40 LORENZO Who calls? LORENZO Who’s shouting? LAUNCELOT Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo? Master Lorenzo, sola, sola! LAUNCELOT Hey! Have you seen Master Lorenzo! Master Lorenzo, hey! Hey! LORENZO Leave holloaing, man. Here. LORENZO Stop hollering, man! I’m here. LAUNCELOT Sola! Where, where? LAUNCELOT Hey! Where, where? LORENZO Here. LORENZO Here. 45 LAUNCELOT Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news. My master will be here ere morning. LAUNCELOT Tell him a messenger has arrived from my master with good news. My master will be here in the morning. Exit LAUNCELOT LAUNCELOT exits. 50 LORENZO Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter. Why should we go in?— My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand. And bring your music forth into the air. LORENZO My dear, let’s go inside and wait for them to arrive. But I guess it doesn’t matter. Why should we go in?—Stephano, tell the household staff that your mistress is about to arrive, and bring some musicians outside here.   How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold. There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still choiring to the young-eyed cherubins. Such harmony is in immortal souls, But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. How beautiful the moonlight’s shining on this bank! Let’s sit here and let the music fill our ears. Stillness and nighttime are perfect for beautiful music. Sit down, Jessica. Look at the stars, see how the floor of heaven is inlaid with small disks of bright gold. Stars and planets move in such perfect harmony that some believe you can hear music in their movement. If you believe this, even the smallest star sings like an angel in its motion. Souls have that same kind of harmony. But because we’re here on earth in our earthly bodies, we can’t hear it. Enter musicians Musicians enter. 65 Come ho, and wake Diana with a hymn! With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear, And draw her home with music. Wake up the moon goddess with a hymn! Get her attention and draw her home with music. Play music Music plays. JESSICA I am never merry when I hear sweet music. JESSICA I’m never in the mood to laugh when I hear sweet music. 70 75 LORENZO The reason is your spirits are attentive. For do but note a wild and wanton herd, Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood— If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music. LORENZO That’s because your soul is paying attention to the music. Take a wild herd of animals, or young untrained colts, leaping around like crazy, roaring and neighing loudly, which they have to do because it’s in their blood—but if they happen to hear a trumpet, or any kind of music, they all stand still. Sweet music makes their wild eyes peaceful. That’s why the poet Ovid wrote that the great musician Orpheus could make Therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But music for the time doth change his nature. The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music. trees, stones, and rivers come to him by playing music. There’s nothing in the world that can resist music. The man who can’t be moved by the harmonious melodies is fit only for treason, violence, and pillage. His soul is as dull as night and dark as the underworld. Nobody like that should be trusted. Pay attention to the music. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA PORTIA and NERISSA enter. PORTIA That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. PORTIA That light we see is coming from my hall. Look how far that little candle sends its light! That’s the way a good deed shines in a naughty world. 90 NERISSA When the moon shone we did not see the candle. NERISSA While the moon was shining we didn’t even notice the candle. 95 PORTIA So doth the greater glory dim the less. A substitute shines brightly as a king Until a king be by, and then his state Empties itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music, hark. PORTIA Well, brighter lights always dim the smaller ones. A governor shines as brightly as a king until a king is near by, and the governor suddenly looks like a nobody. Music, listen! NERISSA It is your music, madam, of the house. NERISSA It’s your music, madam, from your house. PORTIA Nothing is good, I see, without respect. Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. PORTIA Now I see that you can’t call anything good except in right context. I think that music sounds much better at night than it does during the day. NERISSA Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. NERISSA The night’s silence makes it sound better. 100 105 PORTIA The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark When neither is attended, and I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day When every goose is cackling, would be thought No better a musician than the wren. How many things by season seasoned are To their right praise and true perfection! Peace! How the moon sleeps with Endymion And would not be awaked. PORTIA The crow sings as well as the lark when no one’s listening. If the nightingale sang during the day, when every goose is honking, nobody would think it sang any better than a wren. How many things in life seem good to us because of when they happen! Quiet now! Look how the moon seems to be sleeping with its lover and can’t be awoken! Music ceases Music ceases. LORENZO That is the voice,      Or I am much deceived, of Portia. LORENZO If I’m not mistaken, that’s Portia’s voice. 110 PORTIA He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo— By the bad voice. PORTIA He recognizes me like a blind man recognizes a cuckoo—by its bad voice. LORENZO Dear lady, welcome home. LORENZO Dear lady, welcome home. 115 PORTIA We have been praying for our husbands' welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they returned? PORTIA We’ve been praying for our husbands' welfare. We hope they’re better off because of our prayers. Have they come back? LORENZO Madam, they are not yet,    But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming. LORENZO No, ma'am, they haven’t. But a messenger came ahead to tell us they were on their way. 120 PORTIA Go in, Nerissa.     Give order to my servants that they take No note at all of our being absent hence.— Nor you, Lorenzo.—Jessica, nor you. PORTIA Go inside, Nerissa. Tell my servants not to mention that we were gone. You must not, either, Lorenzo—or you, Jessica. A tucket sounds A trumpet sounds. LORENZO Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet. We are no tell-tales, madam. Fear you not. LORENZO Your husband’s near. I hear his trumpet. We’re not tattle-tales, madam, don’t worry. 125 PORTIA This night methinks is but the daylight sick. It looks a little paler. 'Tis a day Such as the day is when the sun is hid. PORTIA I think this night is just like sick daylight. It only looks a little paler. It looks like a day when the sun is hidden. Enter BASSANIO, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, and their followers GRATIANO and NERISSA move aside and talk BASSANIO, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, and their followers enter. GRATIANO and NERISSA move aside and talk. BASSANIO (to PORTIA) We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun. BASSANIO (to PORTIA) If you walked outside at night, it would be daylight here at the same time as on the other side of the world. 130 PORTIA Let me give light, but let me not be light. For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me. But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. PORTIA I’ll give light “Light” could mean having loose morals. light to men, but I’ll never be light or unchaste. An unfaithful wife makes a husband worry, and I’ll never let Bassanio worry if I can help it. I hope God figures it all out! Welcome home, my husband. BASSANIO I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. BASSANIO Thank you, darling. I’d like to introduce you to my friend. This is Antonio, my dearest friend. We are closely tied. 135 PORTIA You should in all sense be much bound to him. For as I hear he was much bound for you. PORTIA You should be tied to him, since he tied himself up so much for you. ANTONIO No more than I am well acquitted of. ANTONIO But I’ve been paid back well. 140 PORTIA Sir, you are very welcome to our house. It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. PORTIA Sir, welcome to our house. But action speaks louder than words, so I’ll cut short these polite words. GRATIANO (to NERISSA) 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, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. GRATIANO (to NERISSA) I swear by that moon over there that you’re doing me wrong! I’m telling the truth! I gave it to the judge’s clerk. I wish the guy I gave it to had been castrated, since you’re getting so upset about it. 145 PORTIA A quarrel, ho, already? What’s the matter? PORTIA What, an argument already? What’s the matter? GRATIANO About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring That she did give me, whose posy was For all the world like cutler’s poetry Upon a knife, “Love me and leave me not.” GRATIANO We’re arguing about a hoop of gold, a cheap little ring she gave me, that had a little inscription on it, nothing more than a knife-maker’s attempt at poetry. It said, “Love me and don’t leave me.” 150 155 NERISSA What talk you of the posy or the value? You swore to me when I did give it you That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave. Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, You should have been respective and have kept it. Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge. The clerk will ne'er wear hair on ’s face that had it. NERISSA How can you talk about the quality of the poem or the value of the ring? You swore to me when I gave it to you that you would wear it till you died, and that it would be buried with you. If you didn’t want to take care of it for my sake, you should have just because you made so many vows that you’d take care of it. And now you claim you gave it to a judge’s clerk! No, I swear to God that clerk will never grow a beard on his face. GRATIANO He will, an if he live to be a man. GRATIANO He will if he lives long enough to become a man. NERISSA Ay, if a woman live to be a man. NERISSA Yes, if a woman grows up to be a man. 160 GRATIANO Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy, a little scrubbèd boy No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk, A prating boy that begged it as a fee. I could not for my heart deny it him. GRATIANO I swear I gave it to a youth, a kind of boy, a little stunted boy, no taller than yourself. He was the judge’s clerk, a chatty boy who wanted it as a fee. I didn’t have the heart to say no to him. 165 PORTIA You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift, A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger And so riveted with faith unto your flesh. PORTIA I have to be honest with you. You were wrong to give away your wife’s first gift so thoughtlessly, a thing you swore to keep on your finger and bound faithfully to your body I gave my love a ring and made him swear Never to part with it. And here he stands. I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth That the world masters. Now in faith, Gratiano, You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief. An ’twere to me, I should be mad at it. I gave my lover a ring and made him swear never to lose it or give it away. And here he is. I’d swear he wouldn’t leave it behind, or even take it off his finger, for all the money in the world. To tell the truth, Gratiano, you’re giving your wife a valid reason to get upset. If it were me, I’d be very upset too. BASSANIO (aside) Why, I were best to cut my left hand off And swear I lost the ring defending it. BASSANIO (to himself) Maybe I should cut off my left hand and swear I lost the ring defending it. 180 GRATIANO My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begged it and indeed Deserved it too. And then the boy, his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begged mine. And neither man nor master would take aught But the two rings. GRATIANO Bassanio gave his ring to the judge who asked for it, and deserved it too. And then his clerk, who went to a lot of trouble with the writing, begged for mine. Neither of them would take anything but the two rings. PORTIA What ring gave you my lord?    Not that, I hope, which you received of me. PORTIA Which ring did you give away, my lord? Not the one I gave you, I hope. 185 BASSANIO If I could add a lie unto a fault I would deny it. but you see my finger Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone. BASSANIO If I could make things better by lying, I’d deny it. But you see my finger doesn’t have the ring on it. It’s gone. 190 PORTIA Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed Until I see the ring. PORTIA Just as there’s no ring on your finger, there’s no truth in your heart. I swear I’ll never get into your bed until I see the ring again! NERISSA (to GRATIANO) Nor I in yours    Till I again see mine. NERISSA (to GRATIANO) Me neither, until I see mine again! ASSANIO Sweet Portia,     If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And would conceive for what I gave the ring, And how unwillingly I left the ring When naught would be accepted but the ring, You would abate the strength of your displeasure. BASSANIO My dear Portia, if you knew who I gave the ring to, for whose sake I gave the ring to him, why I gave it to him, and how unwilling I was to leave it when he wouldn’t accept anything but the ring, you wouldn’t be so angry.   PORTIA If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honor to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring. What man is there so much unreasonable, If you had pleased to have defended it With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty To urge the thing held as a ceremony? Nerissa teaches me what to believe. I’ll die for ’t but some woman had the ring. BASSANIO No, by my honor, madam, by my soul, No woman had it but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me And begged the ring, the which I did deny him And suffered him to go displeased away— Even he that did uphold the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforced to send it after him. I was beset with shame and courtesy. My honor would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady, For by these blessèd candles of the night, Had you been there I think you would have begged The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. PORTIA Speak not so grossly.—You are all amazed. (takes out a letter) Here is a letter. Read it at your leisure. It comes from Padua, from Bellario. There you shall find that Portia was the doctor, Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here Shall witness I set forth as soon as you, And even but now returned. I have not yet Entered my house.—Antonio, you are welcome. And I have better news in store for you Than you expect. (gives ANTONIO another letter) Unseal this letter soon.    There you shall find three of your argosies Are richly come to harbor suddenly. You shall not know by what strange accident I chancèd on this letter. PORTIA Don’t be crass.—You all look confused. (she takes out a letter) Here’s a letter. Read it at your leisure. It comes from Padua, from Bellario. You’ll find out that Portia was the lawyer, and Nerissa was her clerk. Lorenzo here will testify that I left the house right when you did, and just returned. I haven’t yet entered my house.—Antonio, welcome. I have better news than you expect in store for you. (she gives ANTONIO another letter) Open this letter. You’ll find out that three of your ships have suddenly arrived in the harbor loaded with a great deal of wealth. You’ll never guess what a strange coincidence it was that I came across this letter.   ANTONIO I’m speechless. BASSANIO (to PORTIA) You were the doctor, and I didn’t even recognize you? GRATIANO (to NERISSA) Were you the clerk with whom my wife’s going to cheat on me? NERISSA Yes, but the clerk will never do it, unless he grows up to be a man. BASSANIO (to PORTIA) My sweet lawyer, you’ll be my bedfellow. When I’m not there, you can sleep with my wife. ANTONIO Madam, you’ve given me life and given me a living too. I’ve read in this letter that my ships have safely come to harbor. PORTIA How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. PORTIA How are you, Lorenzo? My clerk has some comforting news for you, too. BASSANIO (to PORTIA) Sir, thanks to you my friend and I have been freed from paying some awful penalties today. Instead of giving the Jew the three thousand ducats he’s owed, we give it to you in gratitude for y PORTIA Let not that doctor e'er come near my house! Since he hath got the jewel that I loved, And that which you did swear to keep for me, I will become as liberal as you. I’ll not deny him anything I have, No, not my body, nor my husband’s bed. Know him I shall, I am well sure of it. Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus. If you do not, if I be left alone, Now, by mine honor—which is yet mine own— I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow. PORTIA Don’t let that lawyer ever come near my house! Since he has the jewel I loved, which you swore you’d keep forever, I’ll be as generous as you were to him. I won’t deny him anything of mine, including my own body and my husband’s bed. I’ll recognize him all right, I’m sure of it. So don’t spend one night away from this house. Watch me like a hawk. If you don’t, if I’m left alone, I swear I’ll have that legal expert as my bedfellow. 235 NERISSA (to GRATIANO) And I his clerk. Therefore be well advised How you do leave me to mine own protection. NERISSA (to GRATIANO) And I’ll have his clerk as mine. So be careful when you leave me to my own devices. GRATIANO Well, do you so, let not me take him then. For if I do I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen. GRATIANO Well, go ahead. But don’t let me catch him, because if I do I’ll break that clerk’s pen. ANTONIO I am th' unhappy subject of these quarrels. ANTONIO All these quarrels are about me. PORTIA Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding. PORTIA Don’t be upset. You’re welcome in our home in spite of everything that’s going on. 240 BASSANIO Portia, forgive me this enforcèd wrong, And in the hearing of these many friends I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes Wherein I see myself— BASSANIO Portia, forgive me for this mistake that I had to make. All these friends are my witnesses, so I swear to you, I swear by your beautiful eyes, in which I see myself reflected— 245 PORTIA Mark you but that!     In both my eyes he doubly sees himself— In each eye, one. Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit! PORTIA Did you hear that! He sees himself in my two eyes, so there’s two of him. He should swear by his two-faced self, and that’s an oath I’ll believe! BASSANIO Nay, but hear me.      Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with thee. BASSANIO No, just listen to me. If you forgive my mistake, I swear I’ll never break an oath with you again. 250 ANTONIO I once did lend my body for his wealth, Which but for him that had your husband’s ring Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly. ANTONIO I lent my body once to make him rich. If it hadn’t been for the gentleman who now owns your husband’s ring, my body would’ve been lost. I’d be the guarantee again, promising my soul this time as penalty, if your husband ever breaks a vow again knowingly. 255 PORTIA (giving ANTONIO a ring) Then you shall be his surety. Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other. PORTIA (she gives ANTONIO a ring) Then you’ll be my guarantee. Give him this. And tell him to hold on to it better than the other one. ANTONIO (giving BASSANIO PORTIA's ring) Here, Lord Bassanio. Swear to keep this ring. ANTONIO (he gives BASSANIO PORTIA’s ring) Here, Bassanio, swear that you’ll keep this ring. BASSANIO By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor! BASSANIO My God, it’s the same one I gave the judge! 260 PORTIA I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio, For by this ring, the doctor lay with me. PORTIA I got it from him. I’m sorry, Bassanio, but the legal expert slept with me in    exchange for this ring. 265 NERISSA (taking out a ring) And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, For that same scrubbèd boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me. NERISSA (she takes out a ring) And I’m sorry too, Gratiano, but that stunted lawyer’s clerk slept with me last night in exchange for this ring. GRATIANO Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer where the ways are fair enough! What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it? gratiano This is like fixing roads in the summer when they don’t need to be fixed! What, did you cheat on us before we deserved it? our kind efforts.