And I, delivering you, am satisfied, you further : 'Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee : grant me two things, I pray you, Not to deny me, and to pardon me. Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yįeld. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I take this ring from you :Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this. 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. 2 And, for your love, I'll take this ring, &c.] That is, either as a proof and pledge of your love, or, for the sake of that love you bear me, as a token of remembrance, to the end I may be grateful for it. E. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value.3 The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation; 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, me thinks, 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, That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. Por. 3 There's more depends on this, than on the value.] Such is the reading of the first quarto and both folios, but for this, Theobald and Hanmer have substituted, “is the value." Probably, none will be at a loss for the meaning of the line, whether we read it in their way, or in this, though all may be inclined to condemn the mode of expressing it: Might not the word on rise out of some defect in the manuscript, or rather blot in it, and the proper reading be this? “ There's more depends on this than the stone's value.” The line is clearer this way, and without fault in the expression. CAPELL. The meaning of the original words as they appear in the text above, undoubtedly is ----More depends on this than on the price it could be supposed to bring, if offered to sale; it is of greater consequence than so much money. E. Por. That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts. An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserv'd the ring, She would not hold out eneny 4 for ever, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you! [Exit with Nerissa. Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring ; Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandement. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou can'st, Unto Anthonio's house :--away, make haste. [Exit Grat. Come, you and I will thither presently ; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: Come, Anthonio. [Exeunt. the press. -hold out enemy for ever,] An error of -Read “ hold out enmity.” J. M. Mason. I believe the reading in the text is the true one, So, in Much ado about nothing, Act l, Scene 1: the messenger says to Beatrice " I will hold “ friends with you, lady:" STEEVENS. « Hold out enmity” is the emendatory reading of Theobald, Hanmer, and Johnson. E. SCENE SCENE II.* The same. A Street before the Court. Enter Portia and Nerissa. Por. Enquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, Enter Gratiano. treat Your company at dinner. Por. That cannot be : His ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him : Furthermore, I pray you, shew my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do. Ner. * Scene II.-Time, a few minutes after the conclusion of the trial and their departure from the court. E. - upon more advice,] i.e. more reflection. So, in Ali's well that ends well : - You never did • lack advice so much." STEEVENS. Ner. Sir, I would speak with you :- [To Portia. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever. Por. Thou may'st, 1 warrant : We shall have old swearing, a That they did give the rings away to men; But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them too. Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry. Ner. Come, good sir, will you shew me to this house? [Exeunt. 2 We shall have old swearing, ] Of this once common augmentative in colloquial language, there are various instances in our author. Thus in the Merry Wives of Windsor : “ Here will be an old “abusing of God's patience, and the king's English.” Again, in K. Henry iv. p. 2: “. here will “ be old utis.” The same phrase also occurs in Macbeth STEEVENS. ACT |