It must appear in other ways than words; Gra. By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong; In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk. [To Neriffa Would he were gelt that had it, for my part,. Since you do take it, love, fo much at heart. Por. A quarrel, ho, already! what's the matter? Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring, That fhe did give me, whofe poefy was, For all the world, like cutlers poetry Upon a knife: Love me, and leave me not! Ner. What, talk you of the poefy, or the value The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it.. A kind of boy, a little fcrubbed boy, No higher than thyfelf, the judge's clerk; A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee : I could not for my heart deny it him. Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, I gave my love a ring, and made him fwear Baff. Why, I were beft to cut my left hand off, Gra. My Lord Baffanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begg'd it, and indeed Defery'd it too; and then the boy his clerk,› [Afide That took fome pains in writing, he begg'd mine; Lord? Por. What ring gave you, my I would deny it, but you fee my finger gone. Por. Even fo void is your false heart of truth the ring, the ring, And would conceive for what I gave Ball. No, by mine honour, Madam, by my foul,. No woman had it, but a civil Doctor, Who did refufe three thousand ducats of me, And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him, Ev'n he that did uphold the very life Of my dear friend. What fhould I fay, fweet Lady? I was inforc'd to fend it after him ; I was befet with fhame and courtesy; My honour would not let ingratitude So much befmear it. Pardon me, good Lady; Had you been there, I think you would have begg'd Por. Let not that Doctor e'er come near my house, Since he hath got the jewel that I lov'd, And that which you did fwear to keep for me: I'll not deny him any thing I have, No not my body, nor my husband's bed; Lie not a night from home; watch me, like Argus Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own, Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd, Gra. Well, do you fo; let me not take him then :: For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. Ant. I am th' unhappy subject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome, notwith standing. Bal. Portia, forgive me this inforced wrong. Por. Mark you but that! In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself; Ba. Nay, but hear me : Pardon this fault, and by my foul. I fwear Ant. I once did lend my body for his weal`; Por. Then you fhall be his furety; give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other. Ant. Here, Lord Baffanio, fwear to keep this ring. For by this ring the Doctor lay with me. Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, For that fame fcrubbed boy, the Doctor's clerk, In lieu of this, laft night did lie with me. Gra. Why, this is like the mending of high-ways s In fummer, where the ways are fair enough: What are we cuckolds ere we have deferv'd it? Por. Speak not fo grofsly; you are all amaz'd ;; Here is a letter, read it at your leifure; It comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you fhall find, that Portia was the Doctor; You fhall not know by what ftrange accident Ant. I am dumb. Baff. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not? Gra. Were you the clerk that is to make me cuc-· kold? Ner. Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it, Unless he live until he be a man. Baff. Sweet Doctor, you shall be my bedfellow; When I am abfent, then lie with my wife. Ant. Sweet Lady, you have giv'n me life and living; For here I read for certain, that my fhips Are fafely come to road. Por. How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath fome good comforts too for you. Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.. There do I give to you and Jeffica, From the rich Jew, a fpecial deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies poffefs'd of. Lor. Fair Ladies, you drop manna in the way Of ftarved people. Por. It is almost morning, And yet I'm fure you are not fatisfy'd Of these events at full. Let us go in, And charge us there upon interr'gatories, Whether till the next night she had rather stay, So fore, as keeping fafe Neriffa's ring. [Exeunt omnes. |