Por. I humbly do 'defire your Grace of pardon; I must away this night toward Padua,

And it is meet I presently set forth.

Duke. I'm forry that your leisure serves you not. Anthonio, gratify this gentleman,

For in my mind you are much bound to him. [Ex. Duke and his train.

SCENE III

Baff. Most worthy gentleman! I and my friend
Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted
Of grievous penalties, in lieu whereof
Three thousand ducats due unto the Jew
We freely cope your courteous pains withal.
Ant. And ftand indebted over and above
In love and service to you evermore.

Por. He is well paid that is well fatisfy'd,
And I deliv'ring you am fatisfy'd,
And therein do account my felf well paid;
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you know me when we meet again,
I wish you well, and fo I take my leave..

Baff. Dear Sir, of force I must attempt you further.
Take fome remembrance of us for a tribute,
Not as a fee: grant me two things; I pray you
Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

Por. You prefs me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your fake,
And for your love I'll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more,.
And you in love shall not deny me this.

Baff. This ring, good Sir, alas it is a trifle;
I will not shame my self to give you this.

Por.

Por. I will have nothing else but only this,
And now methinks I have a mind to it.

Baff. There's more than this depends upon the value.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, ̧
And find it out by proclamation;
Only for this I pray you pardon me.

Por. I fee, Sir, you are liberal in offers;
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar fhould be answer❜d.
Baff. Good Sir, this ring was giv'n me by my wife;
And when she put it on, he made me vow

That I should neither fell, nor give, nor lose it.

Por. That 'scuse serves many men to fave their gifts;
And if your wife be not a mad woman,

And know how well I have deferv'd the ring,
She wou'd not hold out enmity for ever

For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.

Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.

Let his defervings and my love withal
Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandement.
Baff. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring, and bring him if thou can't
Unto Anthonio's house: away, make hafte.
Come, you and I will thither presently,
And in the morning early will we both
Fly toward Belmont; come, Anthonio.

Enter Portia and Neriffa.

[Exit.

[Exit Gra.

:

[Exeunt

Por. Enquire the Jew's houfe out, give him this deed,

And let him fign 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 o'erta'en:

My

My lord Bassanio, upon more advice,

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth intreat
Your company at dinner.

Por. That cannot be.

This ring I do accept most thankfully,
And so I pray you tell him: furthermore,

I pray you shew my Youth old Shylock's house.

Gra. That will I do.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you.

I'll fee if I can get my husband's ring,

Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

[To Por.

Por. Thou may'ft I warrant. We fhall have old swearing,

That they did give the rings away to men;

But we'll out-face them and out-fwear them too:

Away, make haste, thou know'st where I will tarry.

Ner. Come, good Sir, will you fhew me to this house? [Exe.

T

ACT V. SCENE I

BELMONT

Enter Lorenzo and Jeffica.

LORENZO.

HE moon fhines bright: In fuch a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,
And they did make no noise; in fuch a night
Troylus methinks mounted the Trojan wall
And figh'd his foul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Creffeid lay that night.

And saw the lion's fhadow ere himself,

And ran dismay'd away.

Lor. In fuch a night,

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild fea-banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.

Jef. In fuch a night,

Medea gather'd the inchanted herbs
That did renew old Efon.

Lor. In fuch a night,

Did Jessica fteal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice,
As far as Belmont.

Jef. And in such a night,

Did young Lorenzo fwear he lov'd her well,
Stealing her foul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.

Lor. And in fuch a night,

Did pretty Jeffica (like a little fhrew)
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

Jef. I would out-night you did no body come:
But hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Enter Messenger.

Lor. Who comes so fast in filence of the night?
Mef. A friend.

Lor. What friend? your name, I pray you, friend?
Mef. Stephano is my name, and I bring word

My mistress will before the break of day
Be here at Belmont: fhe doth ftray about
By holy croffes, where she kneels and prays
For happy wedlock hours.

Lor. Who comes with her?

Mef.

Mef. None but a holy hermit and her maid.

I pray you is my master yet return'd?

Lor. He is not, nor have we yet 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, fola; wo ha, ho, fola, fola.

Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola, did you see master Lorenzo and mistress Lorenza? fola, fola.

Lor. Leave hollowing, man: here.

Laun. Sola, where? where?

Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him there's a post come from my mafter, with his horn full of good news. My mafter will be here ere morning. Lor. Sweet love, let's in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter: why fhould we go in ? My friend Stephano, fignifie, I pray you, Within the house your mistress is at hand, And bring your musick forth into the air. 'How sweet the moon-light fleeps upon this bank; 'Here will we fit, and let the founds of mufick

< Creep in our ears; soft stilness, and the night

"Become the touches of fweet harmony.

Sit, Jeffica; look how the floor of heav'n

Is thick inlay'd with patterns of bright gold;

'There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st,

• But in his motion like an angel fings,

Still quiring to the young-ey'd cherubims;
Such harmony is in immortal fouls;

VOL. II.

L.

• But