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The Merchant of VENICE.

165

dear friend. What fhould I fay, sweet lady?
nforc'd to fend it after him;
efet with fhame and courtefie;
our would not let ingratitude

n befmear it. Pardon me, good lady,
thefe bleffed candles of the night,

been there, I think, you would have begg'd g of me, to give the worthy Doctor.

Let not that Doctor e'er come near my house, e hath got the jewel that I lov'd,

at which you did fwear to keep for me: ecome as liberal as you;

deny him any thing I have,

my body, nor my husband's bed;

im I fhall, I am well fure of it.

a night from home; watch me, like Argus: do not, if I be left alone,

by mine honour, which is yet my own, e that Doctor for my bedfellow.

And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd, ou do leave me to mine own protection. Well, do you fo; let me not take him then; I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. I am th' unhappy fubject of thefe quarrels. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome, notwithnding.

Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong. the hearing of these many friends, to thee, ev'n by thine own fair eyes,

in I fee my felf.

Mark you but that!

hmine eyes he doubly fees him felf;

eye, one; fwear by your double self, mere's an oath of credit!

Nay, but hear me:

this fault, and by my foul I fwear, er more will break an oath with thee. - I once did lend my body for his weal; but for him, that had your husband's ring, [To Portia.

Had

Had quite mifcarry'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.

Ant. Here, lord Bassanio, fwear to keep this ring Bal. By heav'n, it is the fame I gave the Docto Por. I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio; 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 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 fo grofsly; you are all amaz'd; Here is a letter, read it at your leisure;

It comes from Padua, from Bellario:

There you fhall find, that Portia was the Doctor;
Neriffa there, her clerk. Lorenzo, here,
Shall witnefs 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 ftore for you,
Than you expect; unfeal this letter foon,
There you fhall find, three of your Argofies
Are richly come to Harbour fuddenly.

You fhall 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 abfent, 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?

M

My clerk hath fome good comforts too for you.
Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.
There do I give to you and effica,
From the rich Jew, a fpecial Deed of Gift,
After his death, of all he dies poffefs'd of.
Lor. Fair ladies, you drop Manna in the way
Of ftarved people.

Por. It is almoft morning,

And yet, I'm fure, you are not fatisfy'd
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon interr'gatories,
And we will anfwer all things faithfully.

Gra. Let it be fo: the first interr'gatory,
That my Neriffa fhall be fworn on, is,
Whether 'till the next night she had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.
But were the day come, I fhould wish 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 fafe Neria's ring.

[Exeunt omnes.

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