Upon his death, unto the gentleman

That lately stole his daughter;

Two things provided more, -That, for this favour,

He presently become a Christian;

The other, that he do record a gift,

Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,
Unto his son Lorenzo, and his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant

The pardon, that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew, what dost thou

say?

Shy. I am content.
Por.

Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; I am not well; send the deed after me,

And I will sign it.
Duke.

Get thee gone, but do it.

Gra. In christening thou shalt have two god

fathers;

Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

[Exit SHYLOCK. Duke. Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner. Por. I humbly do desire your grace of pardon; I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet, I presently set forth.

Duke. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman ;

For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

[Exeunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train.

Bass. Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend, Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,

Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,

We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

thou should'st have had ten more,] i. e. a jury of twelve

men, to condemn thee to be hanged.

9

Ant. And stand indebted, over and above,
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied :
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid ;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you, know me, when we meet again;
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt 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 yield. Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake; And, for your love, I'll 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. There's more depends on this, than on the

value.

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, methinks,
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. 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 this ring,
She would not hold out enemy for ever,

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

[Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.

Ant. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring; Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him, Give him the ring; and bring him if thou can'st, Unto Antonio's house :-away, make haste.

[Erit GRATIANO.

Come, you and I will thither presently;
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont: Come, Antonio.

SCENE III.

The same. A Street.

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.

[Exeunt.

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this

deed,

And let him sign it; we'll away to night,
And be a day before our husbands home :

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken :

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice,
Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat

Your company at dinner.

Por.

That cannot be:

This ring I do accept most thankfully,
And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore,

3- upon more advice,] i. e. more reflection.

11

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.

Gra. That will I do.

Ner.

Sir, I would speak with you :ï I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [To PORTIA. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

Por. Thou may'st, I warrant; We shall have old

swearing,

That they did give the rings away to men;
But we'll outface them, and outswear them too.
Away, make haste; thou know'st where I will tarry.
Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this

house?

[Ereunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's House.

Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

Lor. The moon shines bright:-In such a night as this,

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,
And they did make no noise; in such a night,
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.

Jes.

In such a night,

Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew;
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,

And ran dismay'd away.

Lor.

In such a night,

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love

To come again to Carthage.

Jes.

In such a night,

Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs

That did renew old Æson,

Lor.

In such a night,

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew:
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,

As far as Belmont.

Jes.

And in such a night, Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well; Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,

And ne'er a true one.

Lor.

And in such a night,

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

Jes. I would out-night you did no body come: But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Enter STEPHANO.

Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Steph. A friend.

Ler. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray

you, friend?

Steph. Stepháno is my name; and I bring word,

My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont; she doth stray about
By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.

Lor.

Who comes with her?

Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet return'd?

Lor. He is not, nor we have not heard from

him.

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,
And ceremoniously let us prepare

Some welcome for the mistress of the house.