THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. William Shakespeare

I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon;

       I must away this night toward Padua,

       And it is meet I presently set forth.

       DUKE.

       I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.

       Antonio, gratify this gentleman,

       For in my mind you are much bound to him.

       [Exeunt DUKE, Magnificoes, and Train.]

       BASSANIO.

       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.

       ANTONIO.

       And stand indebted, over and above,

       In love and service to you evermore.

       PORTIA.

       He is well paid that is well satisfied;

       And I, delivering you, am satisfied,

       And therein do account myself well paid:

       My mind was never yet more mercenary.

       I pray you, know me when we meet again:

       I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

       BASSANIO.

       Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further;

       Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,

       Not as fee. Grant me two things, I pray you,

       Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

       PORTIA.

       You press me far, and therefore I will yield.

       [To ANTONIO]

       Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake.

       [To BASSANIO]

       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.

       BASSANIO.

       This ring, good sir? alas, it is a trifle;

       I will not shame myself to give you this.

       PORTIA.

       I will have nothing else but only this;

       And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

       BASSANIO.

       There’s more depends on this than on 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.

       PORTIA.

       I see, sir, you are liberal in offers;

       You taught me first to beg, and now methinks

       You teach me how a beggar should be answer’d.

       BASSANIO.

       Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;

       And, when she put it on, she made me vow

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

       PORTIA.

       That ‘scuse serves many men to save their gifts.

       And if your wife be not a mad-woman,

       And know how well I have deserv’d this ring,

       She would not hold out enemy for ever

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

       [Exeunt PORTIA and NERISSA.]

       ANTONIO.

       My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring:

       Let his deservings, and my love withal,

       Be valued ‘gainst your wife’s commandment.

       BASSANIO.

       Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;

       Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,

       Unto Antonio’s house. Away! make haste.

       [Exit GRATIANO.]

       Come, you and I will thither presently;

       And in the morning early will we both

       Fly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.

       [Exeunt.]

      SCENE II. The same. A street

       [Enter PORTIA and NERISSA.]

       PORTIA.

       Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed,

       And let him sign it; we’ll away tonight,

       And be a day before our husbands home.

       This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

       [Enter GRATIANO.]

       GRATIANO.

       Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en.

       My Lord Bassanio, upon more advice,

       Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat

       Your company at dinner.

       PORTIA.

       That cannot be:

       His ring I do accept most thankfully;

       And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,

       I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.

       GRATIANO.

       That will I do.

       NERISSA.

       Sir, I would speak with you.

       [Aside to PORTIA.]

       I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring,

       Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

       PORTIA.[To NERISSA]

       Thou Mayst, I warrant. We shall have old swearing

       That they did give the rings away to men;

       But we’ll outface them, and outswear them too.

       Away! make haste: thou know’st where I will tarry.

       NERISSA.

       Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

       [Exeunt.]

ACT 5.

       Table of Contents

      SCENE I. Belmont. The avenue to PORTIA’s house.

       [Enter LORENZO and JESSICA.]

       LORENZO.

       The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,

       When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,

       And they did make no noise, in such a night,

       Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls,

       And sigh’d his soul toward the Grecian tents,

       Where Cressid lay that night.

       JESSICA.

       In such a night

       Did Thisby fearfully o’ertrip the dew,