1

!

body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious Ant. Most heartily I do beseech the court
acreptance, whose trial shall better publish his com- To give the judgment.
mendation.

Por. Why then, thus it is.
Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he Yon must prepare your bosom for his knife:
writes :

Shy. O noble judge ! O excellent young man! And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

Por. Por the intent and purpose of the law

Hath full relation to the penalty,
Enter PORTLA, dress'd like a Doctor of Laus.

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.
Give me your hand : Came you from old Bellario? Shy. 'Tis very true : 0) wise and upright judge
Por. I did, my lord.

How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Duke. You are welcome : take your place.

Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
Are you acquainted with the difference

Shy. Ay, his breast :
That holds this present question in the court? So says the bond:-Doth it not, noble judge ?-

Por. I am informed throughly of the cause. Nearest his heart, those are the very words,
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Por. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh

Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. The flesh?
Por. Is your name Snylock ?

Shy. I have them ready.
Shy. Shylock is my name.

Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your Por. Oľ a strange nature is the suit you follow;

charge, Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. Cannot impugn* you, as you do proceed

Shy. Is it so nominated in the hond? You stand within his dangert, do you not?

Por. It is not so express'd; But what of that?

[Tb Antonio. 'Twere good, you do so much for charity. Ant. Ay, so he says.

Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond. Por. Do you coniess the bond?

Por. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? Ant. I do.

Ant. But little ; I am arm’d, and well prepared. Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well!
Shy. On what compulsion must I ? Tell me that. Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you ;

Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd: For herein iortune shews herself more kind
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven

Than is her custom: it is still her use,
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; To let the wretched man out-live his wealth,
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes : To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow,
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes

An age of poverty ; from which lingering penance
The throned monarch better than his crown : Of such a nisery doth she cut me off.
His sceptre shews the force of temporal power, Commend me to your honourable wife :
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Tell her the process of Antonio's end,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; Say, how I loved you, speak me fair in death;
But mercy is above this scepler'd sway,

And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
It is an attribute to God himself;

Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And earthly power doth then shew likest God's, And he repents not that he pays your debt;
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this, I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.
That, in the course of justice, none of us

Buss. Antonio, I am married to a wife,
Should see salvation : we do pray for mercy;. Which is as dear to me as lite itself;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render But life itself, my wife, and all the world,
The deeds of inercy. I have spoke thus much, Are not with me esteem'd above tlıy lite :
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all
Which it thou follow, this strict court of Venice Here to this devil, to deliver you.
Must needs give sentence'gainst the merchant there. Por. Your wife would give you little thanks for
Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,

that, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

If she were by, to hear you make the offer.
Por. Is he not able to discharge the money? Gra. I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love ;

Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; I would she were in heaveu, so she could
Yea, lwice the sum : if that will not suffice,

Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.
I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,

Ner. 'Tis well you offer it behind her back : On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart : The wish would make else an unquiet house. If this will not sutlice, it niust appear

Shy. These be the Christian husbands: I have a That malice bears down truth. “And I beseech you,

daughter: Wrest once the law to your authority:

'Would any of the stock of Barrabas To do a great right, do a little wrong;

Had been her husband, rather than a Christian! And curb this cruel devil of his will.

(A side. Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice We trifle time; I pray thee, pursue sentence. Can alter a decree established :

Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is Twill be recorded for a precedent;

thine; And many an error, by the same example,

The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Will rush' into the state : it cannot be.

Shy. Most rightful judge! Shy. A Daniel come to judgment ! yea, a Da- Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his niel !-

breast;
O wise yoang judge, how do I honour thee! The law allows it, and the court awards it.

Por. I pray you let me look upon the bund. Shy. Most learned judge !-A sentence; come,
Shy. Here'tis most reverend doctor, here it is.

prepare.
Por. Shylock, thore's thrice thy money offer'd Por. Tarry a little ;-there is something else.
thee.

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; Shy: An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven : The words expressly are, a pound of flesh: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul ?

Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; No, not for Venice.

But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed Por. Why, this bond is forfeit;

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

Are, by the laws of Venice, contiscate
A pound of flesh, to be by him cat off

Unto the state of Venice.
Nearest the merchant's heart :-Be inerciful; Gra. O upright judge !—Mark, Jew :-0 learned
Take thrice thy inoney ; bid me tear the bond.

judge 1
Shy. When it is paid according to the tenour.-. Shy. Is that the law ?
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge ;

Por. Thyself shalt see the act:
You know the law, your exposition

For, as thou urgest justice, be assured,
Hath been most sound: I charge you by the law, Thor shalt have justice, more than thou desir'št.
Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,

Gra. O learned judge !-Mark, Jew; a learned
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,

judge! There is no power in the tongue of man

Shy. I take this offer then :-Pay the bond thrice, To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

And let the Christian go.

Bass. Here is the money. + "Reach or control. Por. Soft

• Oppose.

not

The Jew shall have all justice ;-soft!-no haste;- Por. I hunbly do desire your grace of pardon;
he shall have nothing but the penalty.

I must away this night toward Padua,
Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge! And it is meet, I presently set forth.

Por. Therefore, prepare thee tv cut off the flesh. Duke. I am surry that your leisure serves you
Shed thou no blood; nor culthou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Antonio, gratify this gentleinan:
Or less, than a just pound,- be it but so much For, in my mind you are much bound to him.
As makes it light or heavy, in the substance,

(Estunt Duke, Mugnifiioes and Trais, Or the division of the twentieth part

Bass. Most worthy gentlemall, I and my friend,
Of one poor scruple; nay, if the scale do turn Have by your wisdom, been this day acquilled
But in the estimation of a hair,-

Ot grievous penalties ; in lieu whereof,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Three thousand ducals, due unto the Jew,
Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew !

We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Now, intidel, I have thee on the hip.

Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
Por. Why doth the Jew pause ? Take thy forfei. In love and service to you evermore.
ture.

Por. He is well paid, that is well satisfied;
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. And I, delivering you, am satistied,
Bass. I have it ready for thee : here it is. And therein do account mysely well paid ;
Por. He hath refused it in the open court; My mind was never yet more mercenary.
He shall have merely justice, and his hond. I pray you know me, when we meet again ;

Gra. A Daniel, still say I ; a second Daniel! I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word. Bass. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you fur.
Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal ?

ther;
Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

Not as a fee : grant me two things I pray you,
Shy. Why then the devil give him good of it! Not to ceny me, and to pardon me.
I'll stay no longer question.

Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Por. Tarry, Jew;

Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for our sabe; The law hath yet another hold on you.

And, ior your love, I'll take this ring from you:It is enacted in the laws of Venice,

Do not draw back your hand ; l'll take no more;
If it be proved against an alieli,

And you in love shall not deny me this.
That by direct, or indirect attempts,

bąus. Thuis ring, good Sir,- Alas, it is a trifle ; He seek the life of any citizen,

I will not shame myself to give you this.
The party, 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Por. I will have nothing else but only this ;
Sbali seize one half his goods; the other half And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.
Comes to the privy coffer of the state ;

Buss. There's more depends on this, than on the
And the offender's life lies in the mercy

value.
of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.

The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,
In which predicament, I say, thou stand’st: And tind it out by proclamation;
For it appears by manifest proceeding,

Only tor this, I pray you, pardon me.
Thal, indirectly, and directly too,

Por. I see, Sir, you are liberal in offers :
Thou hast contrived against the very life

You taught ine first to beg; and now methinks, of the defendant; and thou hast incurru

You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd, The danger formerly by me rehearsed.

Bass. Good Sir, this ring was given me by my
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.

wife;
Gra. Beg, that thou may'st have leave to hang And, when she put it on she made me vow,
thyself:

That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their
Thou hast not left the value of a cord;

gifts.
Therefore, thou must be hang'd at the state's charge. An if your wife be not a mad woman,
Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our And know how well I have deserved this ring,
spirit,

She would not hold out enemy for ever,
I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;

(Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. The other half comes to the general state,

Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring;
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Por. Ay, for the state ; not for Antonio.

Be valued 'gainst your wire's commandement.
Shy. Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that: Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
You take my house, when you do take the prop Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst,
That doth sustain my house ; you take my life, Unto Antonio's house :- Away, make haste.
When you do take the means whereby I live.

(Exit Gratiano.
Por. What mercy can you render him, Antonio ? Come, you and I will thither presently;
Gra. A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake. And in the morning early will we both
Ant. So please my lord, the duke, and all the Fly toward Belinout : come, Antonio. (Exeunt.

cuurt,
To quit the fine for one half of his goods;

SCENE II.-The same.-A Street,
I am content, so he will let me have

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.
The other half in use, to render it,
Upon liis death, unto the gentleman

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this
That lately stole his daughter.

deed,
Two thing provided more,—That, for this favour, And let him sign it ; we'll away to night,
He presently become a Christian ;

And be a day before our husbands liome :
The other, that he do record a gift,

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Here in the court, of all he dies possessid,
Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

Enter GRATIANO.
Duke. He shall do this ; or else I do recant Gra. Fair Sir, you are well overtaken:
The pardon, that I late pronounced here.

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice
Por. Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou Hath sent you here this ring; and doth intreat

Your company at dinner.
Shy. I am content.

Por. That cannot be :
Por. Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

This ring I do accept most thankfully,
Shy. I pray you give me leave to go from hence ; And so, I pray you tell him : furthermore
I am not well ; send the deed after me,

I pray you, shew iny youth old Shylock's house.
And I will sign it.

Gra. That will I do.
Duke. Get thee gone, but do it.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you :-
Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god- I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, (To Portia.
fathers;

Which I did make him sv, ear to keep for ever. Had I been judge, thou shonldst have had ten Por. Thou may'st, I warrant; we shal! have old more,

swearing, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

That they did give the rings away to men :

(Exit Shylock. Duke. Sir, I intreat you home with me to dinner.

• Reflection.

say !

!

But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. But, whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-
tarry.

Enter MUSICIANS.
Ner. Come, good Sir, will you shew me to this
house?

[Exeunt. Come ho, and wake Diana with a hymn;

With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear,
ACT V.

And draw her hoine with music.

Jes. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. SCENE I.-Belmont.--Avenue to Portia's House.

[iusie.

Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive :
Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

For do but note a wild and wanton berd, Lor. The moon shines bright:-In such a night as Or race of youthful and unhandled colls, this,

Fetching mad bounds, bellowing, and neighing
When the sweet did gently kiss the trees,

loud,
And they did make no noise; in such a night, Which is the hot condition of their blood;
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, If they but hear perchance a truinpet sound,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Or any air of music touch their ears,
Where Cressid lay that night.

You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Jes. In such a night,

Their savage eyes turu'd to a modest gaze, Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew;

By the sweet power of music :--Therefore, the poet And saw the lion's shadow ere himseit,

Did reign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and And ran dismay'd away.

floods; Lor. In such a night,

Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

But inusic for the time doth change his nature:
Upon the wild sea-banks, and waved her love The man that hath no music in himself,
To come again to Carthage.

Nor is not moved with concurd of sweet suunas,
Jes. In such a night,

Is tit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs

The motions of his spirit are dull as night, That did renew old son.

And his affections dark as Ercbus:
Lor. In such a night,

Let no such man be trusted.-Mark the music.
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew;
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,

Enter Portia and Nerissa, at a distance.
As far as Belmont.

Por. That light we see is burning in my hall. Jes. And in such a night,

How far that little candle throw, his cams! Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well; So shines a good deed in a naughty word. Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,

Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the And ne'er a true one.

candle. Lor. And in such a night,

Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less : Did pretty Jessica like a little shrew,

A substitute shines brightly as a king, Slander her love, and he forgave it lier.

Until a king be by, and then his state Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come : Empties itself, as doth an inland brook But hark, I hear the tooting of a man.

Into the main of waters. Music! hark!

Nor. It is your music, maciami, of ihe house.
Enter STEPHANO.

Por. Nothing is good, I see, without respect;
Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Methinks it sounds louch sweeter than by dily.
Steph. A friend.

Ner. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. Lor. A friend? What friend! Your name,

Por. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, you, friend ?

When neither is attended; and, I think, Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word, The nightingale, if she should sing by day, My mistress will before the break of day

When every goose is cackling, would be thought
Be here al Belmont : she doth stray about

No better a musician than the wren.
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays How many things by season season'd are
Por happy wedlock hours.

To their right praise and true pertection !--
Lor. Who comes with her!

Peace, hoa! the moon sleeps with Endymion, Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. And would not be awaked!

[Music ceases. I pray you, is my master yet return’a ?

Lor. That is the voice,
Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from him. Or I am much deceived, of Portia.
But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the
And ceremoniously let us prepare

cuckoo, Some welcome for the mistress of the house. By the bad voice.

Lor. Dear lady, welcome home,
Enter LAUNCELOT.

Por. We have been praying for our husband's
Luun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola!

welfare, Lor. Who calls ?

Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Laun. Sola! Did you see master Lorenzo, and Are they return'd 3 niistress Lorenzo! Sola, sola!

Lor. Madam, they are not yet; Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here.

But there is coine a messenger before, Laun. Sola! Where? Where?

To signity their coming. Lor. Here.

Por. Go in, Verissa, Laun. Tell him there's a post come from my mas. Give order to my servants, that they take ter, with his horn full of good news; my inaster No wote at all oi our being absent lience ;will be here ere morning.

(Exit. Nor you, Lorenzo ;-Jessica, nor you. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their

tucket. sounds.
coming

Lor. Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpel:
And yet no matter ;-Why should we go in ? We are no tell-lales, madam ;' fear you not.
My friend Stephano, signify I pray you,

Por. This night, methinks, is but the day-light
Within the house, your mistress is at hand;

sick, And bring your music forth into the air.

It looks a little paler; 'tis a day,

(Exit Stephano. Such as the day is wlien the sun is hid. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! Here will we set, and let the sounds of music

Enter BASSANO, ANTONIO, GTITIANO, and their Creep in our ears ; soft stillness and the night,

followers. Becomes the touches of sweet harmony.

Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, şit, Jessica : look how the floor of heaven

If you would walk in absence of the sun.
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold;

Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light;
There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'sl, For a light wite doth make a heavy husband,
But in his motion like an angel sings,

And never be Bassanio so for me;
Still quiring to the young eyed cherubims :

But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. Such harmony is in immortal souls ;

Bass. I thank you, madam: give welcome to my

friend.• A small flat dish, used in the administration of

A flourislı 'on a trumpet.

I pray

the Eucharist.

This the man, this 18 Antonio,

I was beset with shame and courtesy;
To whom I am so infinitely bound.

My honour would not let ingratitude
Por. You should in all sense be much bound to So much besmear it :-Pardon me, good lady;
him,

For, by these blessed candles of the night,
For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. Had you been there, I think, you would have
Ant. No more than I am well acquiited of.

begg'd
Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house : The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
It must appear in other ways than words,

Por. Let not that doctor e'er come near my
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesyo.

house :
(Gratiano and Nerissa seem to talk apart. Since he hath got the jewel that I loved,
Gra. By yonder moon, I swear you do me And that which you did swear to keep for me,
wrong i

I will become as liberal as you ;
In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk :

l'll not deny him any thing I have,
Would he were gell that had it, for my part, No, not my body, nor my husband's bed :
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. Know him I shall, I am well sure of it :
Por. A quarrel, ho, already? What's the matter ? Lie not a night from honie; watch me, like Argus:
Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring

If you do not, if I be left alone,
That she did give me ; whose posy was

Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own,
For all the world, like cutler's poetry

I'll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
Upon a knife, Love me, and leave me not.

Ner. And I his clerk ; therefore be well ad-
Ner. What talk you of the posy, or the value?

vised, You swore to me, when I did give it you,

How you do leave me to mine own protection.
That you would wear it till your hour of death; Gra. Well, do you so : let not me take him
And that it should lie with you in your grave:

then;
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.
You should have been respectivet, and have kept it. Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quar-
Gave it a judge's clerk ! But well I know,

rels.
The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face, that Por. Sir, grieve not you ; you are welcome vot-
had it.

with standing. Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man.

Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man.

And, in the hearing of these many friends,
Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
A kind of boy ; a little scrubbed boy,

Wherein I see myself,-
No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk;

Por. Mark you but that!
A prating boy, thai begg'd it as a fee ;

In both my eyes he doubly sees himself :
I could not for my heart deny it him.

In each eye, une :-Swear by your double self,
Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you;

And there's an oath of credit.
To part so slightly with your wife's tirst gilt;

Buss. Nay, but hear me :
A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger, Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear,
And riveted so with faith unto your flesh.

I never more will break an oath with thee.
I gave my love a ring, and made him swear Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth;
Never to part with it ; and here he stands;

Which, but for him that had your husband's ring.
I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it,

[To Portia. Nor pluck it from his finger, for the wealth

Had quite miscarried : I dare be bound again,
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Gratiano, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
You give your wife too unkind a cause of griet; Will never more break faith advisedly.
An 'twere to me I should be mad at it.

Por. Then you shall be his surety: give hin
Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off,

this:
And swear,

I lost the ring defending it. (Aside. And bid bim keep it better than the other.
Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away

Ant. Here, lord Bassanio ; swear to keep this
Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed,

ring. Deserv'd it too; and then the boy, his clerk,

Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the That took some pains in writing, he begged mine :

doctor!
And neither inan, nor master, would take augut Por. I bad it of him : pardon me, Bassanio ;
But the two rings.

For by this ring the doctor lay with me.
Por. What ring gave you, my lord?

Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano;
Not that, I hope, which you received of me. For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk,
Buss. If I could add a lie unto a fault,

In lieu of this, last night did lie with non
I would deny it; but you see, my finger

Gra. Why, this is like the mendmg of high
Hath not the ring upon it, it is gone.

ways Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth, In summer, where the ways are fair enough : By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed

What! are we cuckolds, ere we have deserved it! Until I see the ring.

Por: Speak not so grossly.—You are all amazed:
Ner. Nor I in yours,

Here is a letter, read it at your leisure ;
Till I again see mine.

It comes from Padua, from Bellario:
Bass. Sweet Portia,

There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor;
If you did know to whom I gave the ring,

Nerissa there, her clerk : Lorenzo here
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,

Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring, And but even now relurn'd; I have not yet
And how unwillingly I left the ring,

Enter'd my house.-Antonio, you are welcome ;
When naught would be accepted but the ring, And I have better news in store for you,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure. Than you expect : unseal this letter soon ;

Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring, There you shall find, three of your argosies
Or half that worthiness that gave the ring,

Are richly come to harbour suddenly:
Or your own honour to contain the ring,

You shall not know by what strange accident
You would not then have parted with the ring. I chanced on this letter.
What man is there so much unreasonable,

Ant. I am dumb.
If you had pleased to have defended it

Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty

not? To urge the thing held as a ceremony ?

Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me Nerissa teaches me what to believe

cuckold ? I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring.

Ner. Ay; but the clerk that never means to Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul,

do it,
No woman had it, but a civil doctor,

Unless he live until he be a man.
Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow;
And begg'd the ring ; tbe which I did deny him, When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
And suffer'd him to go displcased away ;

Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life, and
Even he that had held up the very lite

living;
Of iny dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? For here I read for certain, that my ships
I was enforced to send it after him;

Are safely come to road.
• Verbal complimentary form. Regardfal.

• Advantage.

Por. How now, Lorenzo ?

And charge us there upon intergatories, My clerk hath some good comforts too for

you.

And we will answer all things faithfully? Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.- Gra. Let it be so : The first intergatory, There do I give to you, and Jessica,

That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,

Whether till the next night she had rather stay ;
After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.

Or go to bed now, being two hours to-day;
Lor. Pair ladies, you drop manna in the way But were the day come, I should wish it dark,
Of starved people.

That I were couching with the doctor's clerk,
Por. It is almost morning,

Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing And yet, I am sure, your are not satisfied

So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. (Exeunt. Of these events at rull: let us go in;