The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Page A

loved,
     And that which you did swear to keep for me,
     I will become as liberal 239 as you.
     I’ll not deny him anything I have,
     No, not my body nor my husband’s bed.
      Know 242 him I shall, I am well sure of it.
     Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus 243 .
     If you do not, if I be left alone,
     Now, by mine honour 245 , which is yet mine own,
     I’ll have the doctor for my bedfellow.
    NERISSA    And I his clerk: therefore be well advised 247
     How you do leave me to mine own protection.
    GRATIANO    Well, do you so. Let not me take 249 him, then.
     For if I do, I’ll mar 250 the young clerk’s pen.
    ANTONIO    I am th’unhappy 251 subject of these quarrels.
    PORTIA    Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome
       notwithstanding.
    BASSANIO    Portia, forgive me this enforcèd wrong,
     And in the hearing of these many friends,
     I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
     Wherein I see myself—
    PORTIA    Mark you but that!
     In both my eyes he doubly sees himself 258 .
     In each eye, one. Swear by your double 259 self,
     And there’s an oath of credit 260 .
    BASSANIO    Nay, but hear me.
     Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear
     I never more will break an oath with thee.
    ANTONIO    I once did lend my body for thy wealth,—
    To Bassanio
         Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring,
    To Portia
         Had quite miscarried 266 . I dare be bound again,
     My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
     Will never more break faith advisedly 268 .
    PORTIA    Then you shall be his surety 269 . Give him this
    She gives Antonio the ring
         And bid him keep it better than the other.
    ANTONIO    Here, Lord Bassanio. Swear to keep this ring.
    BASSANIO    By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!
    PORTIA    I had it of him. Pardon, Bassanio,
     For, by this ring, the doctor lay with 274 me.
    NERISSA    And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano,
     For that same scrubbèd boy, the doctor’s clerk,
     In lieu of 277 this last night did lie with me.
    Shows her ring
    GRATIANO    Why, this is like the mending of highways
     In summer, where the ways are fair 279 enough.
     What, are we cuckolds 280 ere we have deserved it?
    PORTIA    Speak not so grossly 281 . You are all amazed.
     Here is a letter, read it at your leisure.
    She gives a letter
         It comes from Padua, from Bellario.
     There you shall find that Portia was the doctor,
     Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here
     Shall witness I set forth as soon as you,
     And but e’en 287 now returned. I have not yet
     Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome,
     And I have better news in store for you
     Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon.
    Gives him a letter
         There you shall find three of your argosies
     Are richly 292 come to harbour suddenly:
     You shall not know by what strange accident
     I chancèd on this letter.
    ANTONIO    I am dumb 295 .
    BASSANIO    Were you the doctor and I knew you not?
    GRATIANO    Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?
    NERISSA    Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it,
     Unless he live until he be a man.
    BASSANIO    Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.
     When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
    ANTONIO    Sweet lady, you have given me life and living 302 ;
     For here I read for certain that my ships
     Are safely come to road 304 .
    PORTIA    How now, Lorenzo?
     My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.
    NERISSA    Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.
     There do I give to you and Jessica,
     From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
     After