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Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne'er come in your sight

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If you did know to whom I gave the ring,
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring,
And how unwillingly I left the ring,

When nought would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
Por. If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to retain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleas'd to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?
Nerissa teaches me what to believe;

I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring.

Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul,

No woman had it, but a civil doctor,

Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me,
And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him,
And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away;

Even he that had held up the very life

Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?

I was enforc'd to send it after him;

For, by these blessed candles of the night,

Had you been there, I think, you would have begg'd

The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.

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.

Ner. Nor I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd, How you do leave me to mine own protection.

Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding.

Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong;

And, in the hearing of these many friends,

I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
I never more will break an oath with thee.

Ant. [To Portia] I once did lend my body for his wealth;

Which, but for him that had your husband's ring,
Had quite miscarried: I dare be bound again,
My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.

Por. Then you shall be his surety: Give him this; And bid him keep it better than the other.

Ant. Here, lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring.. Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor! Por. I had it of him; pardon me, Bassanio. Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano; For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk, Did give me this.

Gra. Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer, when the ways are fair enough.

Por. 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;
Nerissa there, her clerk.

Antonio, you are welcome ;

And I have better news in store for you

Than you expect: unseal this letter soon;

There you shall find, three of your argosies.
Are richly come to harbour suddenly.

Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?
Gra. Were you the clerk, and yet I knew you not?
Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life, and

living;

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

Por.

It is almost morning,
And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfied
Of these events at full: Let us go in ;
And charge us there upon inter'gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.

[Exeunt

Curtain.

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7/28/14

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