If you do not, if I be left alone, Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own, Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd, 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 fubject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome, notwithstanding. Baff. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong, I fwear to thee, ev'n by thine own fair eyes, Por. Mark you but that! In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself; 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 weal; (32) Which but for him, that had your hufband's ring, [To Portia. Had quite mifcarry'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 Bassanio, 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, Bassanio; For by this ring the Doctor lay with me. Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, (32) my body for his wealth ;] I have ventur'd, against the authority of the copies, to fubftitute weal here; i. e. for his welfare, benefit. Wealth has a more confin'd fignification. Tho' I must own, that weal and wealth in our author's time might be in fome measure fynonomous; as they are now in the words, common-real, and commonqwealth. For that fame fcrubbed boy, the Doctor's clerk, 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 you shall find, that Portia was the Doctor; Shall witness I fet forth as foon as you, You fhall not know by what strange accident Ant. I am dumb. Baff. 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. Baf. Sweet Doctor, you fhall be my bedfellow; When I am abfent, then lye with my wife. Ant. Sweet Lady, you have given me life and living: For here I read for certain, that my ships Are fafely come to road. Por. How now, Lorenzo ? My clerk hath fome good comforts too for you. There do I give to you and Jeffica, From the rich Jew, a fpecial Deed of Gift, Por. It is almost morning, And yet, I'm fure, you are not satisfy'd Of thefe events at full. Let us go in, way VOL. II. H And And charge us there upon interr'gatories, [Exeunt omnes. |