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. Portia. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a mad-woman, And know how well I have deserved the ring, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! 441 [Exeunt Portia and Nerissa. Antonio. My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring: Let his deservings and my love withal Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. Bassanio. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste. [Exit Gratiano. Come, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio. SCENE II. The same. A street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. 451 [Exeunt. Portia. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed And let him sign it: we'll away to-night And be a day before our husbands home: This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. Enter GRATIANO. Gratiano. Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en: Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat 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. ΙΟ Gratiano. That will I do. Nerissa. 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. Portia. [Aside to Nerissa] Thou may'st, I warrant. shall have old swearing We That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll outface them, and outswear them too. [Aloud] Away! make haste: thou know'st where I will tarry. Nerissa. Come, good sir, will you shew me to this house? [Exeunt. 19 ACT V. SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's house. Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Lor. 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 Jessica. In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew Lorenzo. In such a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea banks and waft her love Jessica. Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs Lorenzo. In such a night In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew ΙΟ And with an unthrift love did run from Venice Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her. Jessica. I would out-night you, did no body come; But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. Lorenzo. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Lorenzo. A friend! what friend? your name, 20 I pray Stephano. Stephano is my name; and I bring word Lorenzo. Who comes with her? Stephano. None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet return'd? 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. Enter LAUNCELOT. Launcelot. Sola, sola! wo ha, ho! sola, sola ! Lorenzo. Who calls? 30 40 Launcelot. Sola! did you see Master Lorenzo? Master Lorenzo, sola, sola! Lorenzo. Leave hollaing, man: here. Launcelot. Sola! where? where? Lorenzo. Here. 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. 50 [Exit Stephano. [Exit. Lor. 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. 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 patines of bright gold: There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st 60 Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. Enter Musicians. Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn: With sweetest touches pierce your mistress' ear [Music. Jessica. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Lorenzo. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: For do but note a wild and wanton herd, 70 Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. 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. 80 90 Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. 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 Nerissa. It is your music, madam, of the house. Nerissa. Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam. The nightingale, if she should sing by day, Lorenzo. ICO [Music ceases. Or I am much deceived, of Portia. |