Are they return'd? Lor. Madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before, Por. Go in, Nerissa, Give order to my servants, that they take No note at all of our being absent hence ;— 130 Nor you, Lorenzo ; Jessica, nor you. [A Tucket sounds. 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 sick, It looks a little paler; 'tis a day, Such as the day is when the sun is hid. Enter BASSANIO, ANTHONIO, GRATIANO, and their Followers. Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun. Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light; For a light wife doth make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me; 139 But, God sort all!-You are welcome home, my lord. Bass. 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 should in all sense 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: 149 It must appear in other ways than words, ' [GRATIANO and NERISSA seem to talk apart. Gra. By yonder moon, I swear, you do ine wrong; In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk : Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart. Ner. What talk you of the poesy, or the value ? You swore to me, when I did give it you, 160 That you would wear it till your hour of death; And that it should lie with you in your grave : Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, You should have been respective, and have kept it. Gave it a judge's clerk !-but well I know, The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face that had it. Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man. Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy; a little scrubbed boy, No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk; A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee; I could not for my heart deny it him. 170 Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part so slightly with your wife's first gift: A thing stuck on with oaths upon your fir ger, And And riveted with faith unto your flesh. 180 I gave my love a ring, and made him swear Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off, And swear, I lost the ring defending it. [Aside. Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed, Deserv'd it too; and then the boy, his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begg'd mine: And neither man, nor master, 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 see, my finger Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed Until I see the ring. Ner. Nor I in yours, 'Till I again see mine. Bass. Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, 190 200 210 When When nought would be accepted but the ring, Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring, I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring. 220 Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Who did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforced to send it after him; I was beset with shame and courtesy ; So much besmear it: Pardon me, good lady; Had you 230 been there, I think, you would have begg'd The ring of me to give the worthy doctoṛ. 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 swear to keep for me, I will become as liberal as you; I'll not deny him any thing I have, L 240 No, 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, How you do leave me to mine own protection. 249 Gra. Well, do you so; let me not take him then ; For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. Anth. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; You are welcome not, withstanding. Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; Por. Mark you but that! In both mine eyes he doubly sees himself: Bass. Nay, but hear me: Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear, I never more will break an oath with thee. Anth. I once did lend my body for his wealth; Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, 260 [TO PORTIA. Had quite miscarry'd: I dare be bound again, 269 Por. Then you shall be his surety: Give him this; And |