Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied; I pray you, know me, when we meet again; I wish you well, and so I take my leave. Bass. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you further; Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Bass. This ring, good Sir,-alas, it is a trifle, I will not shame myself to give you this. Por. I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. Only for this, I pray you, pardon me. Por. 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 answer'd. Bass. Good Sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And, when she put it on, she made me vow, Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. [Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA. Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; [Exit GRATIANO. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, Gra. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken : Por. That cannot be: This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Ner. Sir, I would speak with you: I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. [TO PORTIA. Por. 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. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this house? ACT V. [Exeunt. SCENE I-Belmont. Avenue to PORTIA's House. Lor. The moon shines bright:-In such a night as this, Jes. In such a night, Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew: And saw the lion's shadow ere himself, And ran dismay'd away. Lor. In such a night, Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and waved her love To come again to Carthage. Jes. In such a night, Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs That did renew old son. Lor. In such a night, Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew: *Reflection. And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, Jes. And in such a night, Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well; Lor. And in such a night, Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come: Enter STEPHANO. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Steph. A friend. Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? Steph. 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 Lor. Who comes with her? Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet return'd? Lor. 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. Enter LAUNCELOT. Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola! Lor. Who calls ? Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo! sola, sola! Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here. Laun. Sola! where? where ? Lor. Here. Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news; my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Exit STEPHANO. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. Sit, Jessica: Look, how the floor of heaven There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, * A small flat dish, used in the administration of the Eucharist. Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn; Jes. I am never merry, when I hear sweet music. Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing loud, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, By the sweet power of music: Therefore, the poet Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Let no such man be trusted.-Mark the music. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, at a distance. Por. 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. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. Ner. It is your music, Madam, of the house. *Put in comparison. [Music. [Music ceases. Lor. That is the voice, Or I am much deceived, of Portia. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckoo, By the bad voice. Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. Por. We have been praying for our husbands' welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they return'd? Lor. Madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before, To signify their coming. Por. 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. [A tucket sounds. Lor. Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet: We are no tell-tales, madam; fear you not. Por. 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. Enter BASSANIO, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, and their Followers. Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun. Por. 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. Bass. I thank you, Madam: give welcome to my friend.— This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. 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.+ [GRATIANO and NERISSA 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, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. Por. A quarrel, ho, already? what's the matter? That she did give me; whose posy was Ner. What talk you of the posy, or the value? † Word civilities. |