2517When neither is attended: and I thinke

2518The Nightingale if she should sing by day

2519When euery Goose is cackling, would be thought

2520No better a Musitian then the Wren?

2521How many things by season, season'd are

2522To their right praise, and true perfection:

2523Peace, how the Moone sleepes with Endimion,

2524And would not be awak'd.

2526Lor. That is the voice,

2527Or I am much deceiu'd of Portia.

2528Por. He knowes me as the blinde man knowes the

2529Cuckow by the bad voice?

2530Lor. Deere Lady welcome home?

2531Por. We haue bene praying for our husbands welfare

2532Which speed we hope the better for our words,

2533Are they return'd?

2534Lor. Madam, they are not yet:

2535But there is come a Messenger before

2536To signifie their comming.

2537Por. Go in Nerrissa,

2538Giue order to my seruants, that they take

2539No note at all of our being absent hence,

2540Nor you Lorenzo, Iessica nor you.

2542Lor. Your husband is at hand, I heare his Trumpet,

2543We are no tell-tales Madam, feare you not.

2544Por. This night methinkes is but the daylight sicke,

2545It lookes a little paler, 'tis a day,

2546Such as the day is, when the Sun is hid.

2549Bas. We should hold day with the Antipodes,

2550If you would walke in absence of the sunne.

2551Por. Let me giue light, but let me not be light,

2552For a light wife doth make a heauie husband,

2553And neuer be Bassanio so for me,

2554But God sort all: you are welcome home my Lord.

2555Bass. I thanke you Madam, giue welcom to my friend

2556This is the man, this is Anthonio,

2557To whom I am so infinitely bound.

2558Por. You should in all sence be much bound to him,

2559For as I heare he was much bound for you.

2560Anth. No more then I am wel acquitted of.

2561Por. Sir, you are verie welcome to our house:

2562It must appeare in other waies then words,

2563Therefore I scant this breathing curtesie.

2564Gra. By yonder Moone I sweare you do me wrong,

2565Infaith I gaue it to the Iudges Clearke,

2566Would he were gelt that had it for my part,

2567Since you do take it Loue so much at hart.

2568Por. A quarrel hoe alreadie, what's the matter?

2569Gra. About a hoope of Gold, a paltry Ring

2570That she did giue me, whose Poesie was

2571For all the world like Cutlers Poetry

2572Vpon a knife; Loue mee, and leaue mee not.

2573Ner. What talke you of the Poesie or the valew:

2574You swore to me when I did giue it you,

2575That you would weare it til the houre of death,

2576And that it should lye with you in your graue,

2577Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,

2578You should haue beene respectiue and haue kept it.

2579Gaue it a Iudges Clearke: but wel I know

2580The Clearke wil nere weare haire on's face that had it.

2581Gra. He wil, and if he liue to be a man.

2582Nerrissa. I, if a Woman liue to be a man.

2583Gra. Now by this hand I gaue it to a youth,

2584A kinde of boy, a little scrubbed boy,

2585No higher then thy selfe, the Iudges Clearke,

2586A prating boy that begg'd it as a Fee,

2587I could not for my heart deny it him.

2588Por. You were too blame, I must be plaine with you,

2589To part so slightly with your wiues first gift,

2590A thing stucke on with oathes vpon your finger,

2591And so riueted with faith vnto your flesh.

2592I gaue my Loue a Ring, and made him sweare

2593Neuer to part with it, and heere he stands:

2594I dare be sworne for him, he would not leaue it,

2595Nor plucke it from his finger, for the wealth

2596That the world masters. Now in faith Gratiano,

2597You giue your wife too vnkinde a cause of greefe,

2598And 'twere to me I should be mad at it.

2599Bass. Why I were best to cut my left hand off,

2600And sweare I lost the Ring defending it.

2601Gra. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring away

2602Vnto the Iudge that beg'd it, and indeede

2603Deseru'd it too: and then the Boy his Clearke

2604That tooke some paines in writing, he begg'd mine,

2605And neyther man nor master would take ought

2606But the two Rings.

2607Por. What Ring gaue you my Lord?

2608Not that I hope which you receiu'd of me.

2609Bass. If I could adde a lie vnto a fault,

2610I would deny it: but you see my finger

2611Hath not the Ring vpon it, it is gone.

2612Por. Euen so voide is your false heart of truth.

2613By heauen I wil nere come in your bed

2614Vntil I see the Ring.

2615Ner. Nor I in yours, til I againe see mine.

2616Bass. Sweet Portia,

2617If you did know to whom I gaue the Ring,

2618If you did know for whom I gaue the Ring,

2619And would conceiue for what I gaue the Ring,

2620And how vnwillingly I left the Ring,

2621When nought would be accepted but the Ring,

2622You would abate the strength of your displeasure?

2623Por. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring,

2624Or halfe her worthinesse that gaue the Ring,

2625Or your owne honour to containe the Ring,

2626You would not then haue parted with the Ring:

2627What man is there so much vnreasonable,

2628If you had pleas'd to haue defended it

2629With any termes of Zeale: wanted the modestie

2630To vrge the thing held as a ceremonie:

2631Nerrissa teaches me what to beleeue,

2632Ile die for't, but some Woman had the Ring?

2633Bass. No by mine honor Madam, by my soule

2634No Woman had it, but a ciuill Doctor,

2635Which did refuse three thousand Ducates of me,

2636And beg'd the Ring; the which I did denie him,

2637And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away:

2638Euen he that had held vp the verie life

2639Of my deere friend. What should I say sweete Lady?

2640I was inforc'd to send it after him,

2641I was beset with shame and curtesie,

2642My honor would not let ingratitude

2643So much besmeare it. Pardon me good Lady,

2644And by these blessed Candles of the night,

2645Had you bene there, I thinke you would haue beg'd

2646The Ring of me, to giue the worthie Doctor?

Q2 Por.