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There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor: Nerissa there, her clerk: Lorenzo here

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Shall witness, I set forth as soon as you,
And but even now return'd; I have not yet
Enter'd
my house. 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:
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.

Ant.

I am dumb.

Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me cuckold?

Ner. Ay; but the clerk, that never means to

do it,

Unless he live until he be a man.

Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my

bedfellow;

When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

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.

How now, Lorenzo?

My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. Ner. 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 his death, of all he dies possess'd of.

Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people.

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 intergatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.

Gra. Let it be so: The first intergatory,
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is,
Whether till the next night she had rather stay;
Or go to bed now, being two hours to-day:
But were the day come, I should wish it dark,
That I were couching with the doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring.

[Exeunt.

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Oli.

Act IV. Scene III.
Kindness, nobler ever than revenge,

And nature, stronger than his just occasion,
Made him give battle to the lioness.

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