Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more; 1 To bring thee to the gallows, not to 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. [Excunt Duke, Magnificoes, and Train. Por. He is well paid that is well satisfied; Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you fur ther; Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as a fee. Grant me two things, I pray you, Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Bass. This ring, good sir,-alas, it is a trifle; 1 i. e. a jury of twelve men to condemn him. Bass. There's more depends on this, than on the value. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, Por. I see, sir, you are liberal in offers. wife; 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 deserved this ring, [Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA. Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house ;-away, make haste. [Exit GRATIANO. Come, you and I will thither presently; [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. 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. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo. Enter GRATIano. Gra. Fair sir, you are well overtaken. 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, pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do. I Ner. Sir, I would speak with you.I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [To PORTIA. Which I did make him swear to keep forever. Por. Thou mayst, I warrant. swearing, We shall have old 2 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 V. SCENE 1. Belmont. Avenue to Portia's House. Enter LORENZO and JESSICA. Lor. The moon shines bright.-In such a night as When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, 1 i. e. more reflection. 2 of this once common augmentative in colloquial language there are various instances in the plays of Shakspeare, in the sense of abundant, frequent. 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 waved her love Jes. Medea gathered the enchanted herbs Lor. In such a night, 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. In such a night, Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well; Lor. 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 nobody come. But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. Enter STEPHANO. Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? 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 By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours.1 1 So in the Merry Devil of Edmonton: "But there are crosses, wife: here's one in Waltham, At Ceston; and 'tis ominous to pass And this is a reason assigned for the delay of a wedding. Lor. Who comes with her? Steph. None, but a holy hermit, and her maid. I pray you, is my master yet returned? 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. 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 There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls; 1 A small, flat dish or plate, used in the administration of the Eucharist; it was commonly of gold, or silver-gilt. |