For all the world, like cutler's poetry Ner. What talk you of the posy, or the value? The clerk will ne'er wear hair on his face, that had it. Gra. He will, an if he live to be a man. Ner. Ay, if a woman live to be a man. Gra. Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth,— A kind of boy; a little scrubbed boy, No higher than thyself, the judge's clerk; A prating boy, that begg'd it as a fee; I could not for my heart deny it him. Por. You were to blame, I must be plain with you, To part so slightly with your wife's first gift; And riveted so with faith unto your flesh. I gave my love a ring, and made him swear Never to part with it: and here he stands; I dare be sworn for him, he would not leave it, Bass. Why, I were best to cut my left hand off, And swear, I lost the ring defending it. Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away [Aside. Unto the judge that begg'd it, and, indeed, Por. Bass. If I could add a lie unto a fault, Por. Even so void is your false heart of truth. By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed Until I see the ring. Ner. Nor I in yours, Sweet Portia, Till I again see mine. Bass. If you did know to whom I gave the ring, With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty I'll die for't, but some woman had the ring. Bass. No, by mine honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforc'd to send it after him; I was beset with shame and courtesy; My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it: Pardon me, good lady; 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 swear to keep for me, I'll not deny him any thing I have, No, not my body, nor my husband's bed; Know him I shall, I am well sure of it: Lie 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. Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; You are welcome notwithstanding. Bass. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong: I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Por. Mark but that! you In both my eyes he doubly sees himself: Bass. I never more will break an oath with thee. Had quite miscarried; I dare be bound again, Will never more break faith advisedly. Por. Then you shall be his surety: Give him this; And bid him keep it better than the other. Ant. Here, lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring. For by this ring the doctor lay with me. For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor's clerk, Gra. Why, this is like the mending of highways Por. Speak not so grossly-You are all amaz'd: You shall not know by what strange accident 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. Buss. 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; |