Iswear to thee, ev'n by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I fee myself

Por. Mark you but that!
In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself;
In each eye, one; fwear by your double self,
And there's an oath of credit!

Baff. Nay, but hear me:
Pardon this fault, and by my foul I swear,
I never more will break an oath with thee.
Ant. I once did lend my body for his weal;
Which but for him, that had your husband's ring,
[To Portia.

Had quite miscarry'd. I dare be bound again,
My foul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.

Por. Then you shall be his furety; give him this,

And bid him keep it better than the other.

ト

Ant. Here, lord Baffanio, swear 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 same scrubbed boy, the Doctor's clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lye 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 deserv'd it? Por. Speak not so grossly; you are all amaz'd; Here is a letter, read it at your leisure; It comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you shall find, that Portia was the Doctor; Neriffa there, her clerk. Lorenzo, here, Shall witness I fet forth as foon as you, And even but now return'd: I have not yet Enter'd my house. Anthonio, you are welcome;

And I have better news in store for you,

১

Than

Than you expect; unseal this letter soon,
There you shall find, three of your Argofies
Are richly come to Harbour suddenly.
You shall not know by what strange accident

I chanced on this letter.

Ant. I am dumb.

Baff. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not? Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me cuckold?

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 absent, then lye with my wife.

Ant. Sweet lady, you have giv'n me life and living;

For here I read for certain, that my ships
Are fafely come to road.

Por. How now, Lorenzo?

My clerk hath some 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 special Deed of Gift,

After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.

Lor. Fair ladies, 4 you drop Manna in the way

Of starved people.

Por. It is almost morning,
And yet, I'm sure, you are not fatisfy'd
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon interr'gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Gra. Let it be so: the first interr'gatory,
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is,

4-you drop Manna in the way

Of starved people.] Shakespear is not more exact in any thing, than in adapting his images with propriety to his speakers; of which he has here given an instance in making the young Jewess call good fortune, Manna.

Whether

Whether 'till the next night the had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.
But were the day come, I should with it dark,
*Till I were couching with the Doctor's clerk...
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So fore, as keeping safe Neriffa's ring.

[Exeunt omnes.

LOVE'S

LOVE'S LABOUR'S loft.

A

COMEDY

Dramatis Personæ.

*FERDINAND, King of Navarre.

Biron,

Longaville,

Dumain,

Boyet,

Macard,

}

three Lords, attending upon the King in his retirement.

} Lords, attending upon the Princes of

Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard.

Nathaniel, a Curate,

Dull, a Constable.

Holofernes, a Schoolmaster.

Costard, a Clown.

Moth, Page to Don Adriano de Armado,
A Forester.

Princess of France.
Rosaline,

Maria,
Catharine,

}

Ladies, attending

on

the Princefs.

Jaquenetta, a Country Wench.

Officers, and others, Attendants upon the King and

Princess.

SCENE, the King of Navarre's Palace, and the Country near it.