Who did refuse three thousand ducats of me,

And begg'd the ring; the which I did deny him,
And fuffer'd him to go difpleas'd away;

Ev'n he that did uphold the very life

Of my dear friend. What should I fay, fweet lady?
I was inforc'd to send it after him;
I was befet with fhame and courtefie;

My honour would not let ingratitude
So much befmear it. Pardon me, good lady,
And by these bleffed candles of the night,

Had you been there, I think you would have begg'd
The ring of me, to give the worthy doctor.

Por. Let not that doctor e'er come near my house,

Since he hath got the jewel that I lov❜d,

And that which you did fwear to keep for me:
I will become as liberal as you,

I'll not deny him any thing I have,

No, not my body, nor my husband's bed;

Know him I fhall, I am well fure of it.

Lye not a night from home; watch me like Argus:
If you do not, if I be left alone,

Now by mine honour, which is yet my own,

I'll have that doctor for my bedfellow.

Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd

How you do leave me to mine own protection.

Gra. Well, do you fo; let me not take him then ;

For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.

Ant. I am th' unhappy subject of these quarrels.

Por. Sir, grieve not you, you are welcome notwithstanding. Baff. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong.

And in the hearing of these many friends,

I

I swear to thee, ev'n by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I see my self-----

Por. Mark you but that!

In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself,
In each eye one; fwear by your double self,
And there's an oath of credit!

Baff. Nay, but hear me:

Pardon this fault, and by my foul I fwear,
I never more will break an oath with thee.

Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth,
Which but for him that had your husband's ring
Had-quite miscarry'd. I dare be bound again,
My foul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.

Por. Then you fhall be his furety; give him this,
And bid him keep it better than the other.

Ant. Here lord Baffanio, fwear to keep this ring.
Baff. By heav'n it is the fame I gave the doctor.
Por. I had it of him: pardon me, Baffanio;
For by this ring the doctor lay with me.

Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano,
For that fame scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk,
In lieu of this, last night did lye with me.

Gra. Why, this is like the mending of high-ways
In fummer, where the ways are fair enough:
What, are we cuckolds ere we have deferv'd it?
Por. Speak not fo grofly; you are all amaz'd;
Here is a letter, read it at your leisure;

It comes from Padua from Bellario:

There fhall find that Portia was the doctor,

you

Neriffa there her clerk. Lorenzo here,

Shall witness I fet forth as foon as you,

[To Por.

And

And even but now return'd: I have not yet
Enterd my house. Anthonio, you are welcome,
And I have better news in ftore for you

Than you expect; unfeal this letter foon,
There fhall find three of your Argofies

you

Are richly come to harbour fuddenly.

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.

Ball. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow; When I am absent, then lye with my wife.

Ant. Sweet lady, you have giv'n me life and living; For here I read for certain, that my fhips

Are fafely 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 poffess'd of.

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

Por. It is almost morning,

And yet I'm fure you are not fatisfy'd
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there on interrogatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Gra. Let it be so: the first interrogatory
VOL. II.

M

That

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 fhould wish it dark,
'Till I were couching with the doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So fore, as keeping fafe Neriffa's ring.

[Exeunt omnes.

Love's Labour's Loft.

A

COME D Y.

M 2