And, when she put it on, she made me vow, An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserv'd this ring, 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 canʼst, Unto Antonio's house: - away, make haste. [Exit GRATIANO Come, you and I will thither presently; [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Street. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA. 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: Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken : My lord Bassanio, upon more advice, 9 Reflection. Hath sent you here this ring; and doth entreat Por. That cannot be : This ring I do accept most thankfully, And so, I pray you, tell him: Furthermore, Ner. 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? [Exeunt. ACT THE FIFTH. 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, Jes. In such a night, Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew; Lor. In such a night, Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love Jes. In such a night, Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs Lor. In such a night, Jes. And in such a night, Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well; 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. Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray you, friend? Steph. Stephano is my name; and I bring word, My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont: she doth stray about Lor. prays 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. Enter LAUNCelot. Laun. Sola, sola, wo ha, ho, sola, sola! Lor. Who calls? Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo, and mistress Lorenzo! sola, sola ! Lor. Leave hollaing, man; here. Laun. Sola! where? where? Lor. Here. Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news; my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Lor. Sweet soul, let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter; Why should we go in ? [Exit STEPHANO. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubins: Enter Musicians. Come, ho, and wake Diana with a hymn; Jes. I am never merry, when I hear sweet musick. [Musick. You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, By the sweet power of musick: Therefore, the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods; Since nought so stockish, hard, and full of rage, Let no such man be trusted. Mark the musick. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA, at a distance. Por. That light we see, is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Ner. When the moon shone, we did not see the candle. Por. So doth the greater glory dim the less: A substitute shines brightly as a king, Until a king be by; and then his state |