When every goofe is cackling, would be thought Lor. That is the voice, Or I am much deceiv'd, of Portia. [Mufick ceafes. Por. He knows me, as the blind man knows the cuckow, By the bad voice. Lor. Dear lady, welcome home. Por. We have been praying for our hufbands' healths, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they return'd? Lor. Madam, they are not yet; But there is come a meffenger before, Por. Go, Neriffa, Give order to my fervants, that they take [A Tucket founds. 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 day-light fick; It looks a little paler; 'tis a day, Such as the day is when the fun is hid. Enter Baffano, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their followers. Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light; But God fort all!-You're welcome home, my lord. There is fcarcely any word delights to trifle as with light, with which Shakespear fo much in its various fignifications. Baff. Baff. I thank you, Madam. Give welcome to my friend. -This is the man, this is Anthonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound. Por. You fhould in all fenfe be much bound to him; For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. Anth. 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 fcant this breathing courtesy. [Gratiano and Neriffa feem to talk apart. Gra. By yonder moon, I fwear, you do me wrong; In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk. Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, Ner. What talk you of the poefy, or the value? Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy-a little fcrubbed boy, No higher than thyfelf-the Judge's clerk- I could not for my heart deny it him. Per. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part fo flightly with your wife's first gift; A thing ftuck on with oaths upon your finger, And And riveted with taith unto your flesh. 1 gave my love a ring, and made him fwear Never to part with it; and here he stands, I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it, [Afide. Baf. Why, I were beft to cut my left hand off, And fwear, I loft the ring defending it. Gra. My lord Baffanio gave his ring away Unto the Judge that begg'd it, and, indeed, Deferv'd it too. And then the boy, his clerk,. That took fome pains in writing, He begg'd mine; And neither man, nor mafter, would take aught But the two rings. Por. What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you receiv'd of me. I would deny it; but you fee my finger Por. Even fo void is your falfe heart of truth. Ner. Nor I in yours, 'Till I again fee mine. Baff. Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, When nought would be accepted but the ring, * I. II. III. IV. contain. What What man is there fo much unreasonable, Neriffa teaches me what to believe I'll die for't, but fome woman had the ring. Baff. No, by mine honour, Madam-by my foulNo woman had it, but a Civil Doctor, Who did refuse three thousand ducats of me, Ev'n he, that did uphold the very life Of my dear friend. What fhould I say, sweet lady? I was befet with fhame and courtesy; 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. Know him I fhall, I am well fure of it. Lie not a night from home; watch me, like Argus: If you do not, if I be left alone, Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own, I'll have that Doctor for my bedfellow. Ner. And I his clerk How you do leave me to therefore be well advis'd, mine own protection. wanted the What man could have so little modefly, or wanted modefty fo much as to urge the demand of a thing kept on an account in fome fortreligious. 7 What manmodefty To urge the thing held as a ceremony?] This is very licentioufly expreffed. The fente is, Gra. Gra. Well, do you fo; let me not take him then; For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. Anth. I am th'unhappy fubject of thefe quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome, notwithstanding. Ball. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong. Por. Mark you but that! In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself; Ball. Nay, but hear me: Pardon this fault, and by my foul I swear, Anth. I once did lend my body for his wealth Por. Then you fhall be his furety. Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other. Anth. Here, lord Baffanio, fwear to keep this ring. Baff. By heav'n, it is the fame I gave the Doctor. Por. I had it of him-pardon me, Baffanio; 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, last night did lie with me. Gra. Why, this is like the mending of high ways 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--term oppofite to adverfity, or calamity. 8 for his wealth.] For his advantage; to obtain his happinefs. Wealth was, at time, the Here |