2405Lor. The moone shines bright. In such a night as this,

2406When the sweet winde did gently kisse the trees,

2407And they did make no nnyse, in such a night

2408Troylus me thinkes mounted the Troian walls,

2409And sigh'd his soule toward the Grecian tents

2410Where Cressed lay that night.

2411Ies. In such a night

2412Did Thisbie fearefully ore-trip the dewe,

2413And saw the Lyons shadow ere himselfe,

2414And ranne dismayed away.

2415Loren. In such a night

2416Stood Dido with a Willow in her hand

2417Vpon the wilde sea bankes, and waft her Loue

2418To come againe to Carthage.

2419Ies. In such a night

2420Medea gathered the inchanted hearbs

2421That did renew old Eson.

2422Loren. In such a night

2423Did Iessica steale from the wealthy Iewe,

2424And with an Vnthrift Loue did runne from Venice,

2425As farre as Belmont.

2426Ies. In such a night

2427Did young Lorenzo sweare he lou'd her well,

2428Stealing her soule with many vowes of faith,

2429And nere a true one.

2430Loren. In such a night

2431Did pretty Iessica (like a little shrow)

2432Slander her Loue, and he forgaue it her.

2433Iessi. I would out-night you did no body come:

2434But harke, I heare the footing of a man.

2436Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night?

2437Mes. A friend.

2438Loren. A friend, what friend? your name I pray you (friend?

2439Mes. Stephano is my name, and I bring word

2440My Mistresse will before the breake of day

2441Be heere at Belmont, she doth stray about

2442By holy crosses where she kneeles and prayes

2443For happy wedlocke houres.

2444Loren. Who comes with her?

2445Mes. None but a holy Hermit and her maid:

2446I pray you it my Master yet rnturn'd?

2447Loren. He is not, nor we haue not heard from him,

2448But goe we in I pray thee Iessica,

2449And ceremoniously let vs vs prepare

2450Some welcome for the Mistresse of the house,

2452Clo. Sola, sola: wo ha ho, sola, sola.

2453Loren. Who calls?

2454Clo. Sola, did you see M. Lorenzo, & M. Lorenzo, sola, (sola.

2455Lor. Leaue hollowing man, heere.

2456Clo. Sola, where, where?

2457Lor. Heere?

2458Clo. Tel him ther's a Post come from my Master, with

2459his horne full of good newes, my Master will be here ere

2460morning sweet soule.

2461Loren. Let's in, and there expect their comming.

2462And yet no matter: why should we goe in?

2463My friend Stephen, signifie pray you

2464Within the house, your Mistresse is at hand,

2465And bring your musique foorth into the ayre.

2466How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke,

2467Heere will we sit, and let the sounds of musicke

2468Creepe in our eares soft stilnes, and the night

2469Become the tutches of sweet harmonie:

2470Sit Iessica, looke how the floore of heauen

2471Is thicke inlayed with pattens of bright gold,

2472There's not the smallest orbe which thou beholdst

2473But in his motion like an Angell sings,

2474Still quiring to the young eyed Cherubins;

2475Such harmonie is in immortall soules,

2476But whilst this muddy vesture of decay

2477Doth grosly close in it, we cannot heare it:

2478Come hoe, and wake Diana with a hymne,

2479With sweetest tutches pearce your Mistresse eare,

2480And draw her home with musicke.

2481Iessi. I am neuer merry when I heare sweet musique.

2483Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentiue:

2484For doe but note a wilde and wanton heard

2485Or race of youthful and vnhandled colts,

2486Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,

2487Which is the hot condition of their bloud,

2488If they but heare perchance a trumpet sound,

2489Or any ayre of musicke touch their eares,

2490You shall perceiue them make a mutuall stand,

2491Their sauage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze,

2492By the sweet power of musicke: therefore the Poet

2493Did faine that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods.

2494Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,

2495But musicke for time doth change his nature,

2496The man that hath no musicke in himselfe,

2497Nor is not moued with concord of sweet sounds,

2498Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoyles,

2499The motions of his spirit are dull as night,

2500And his affections darke as Erobus,

2501Let no such man be trusted: marke the musicke.

2503Por. That light we see is burning in my hall:

2504How farre that little candell throwes his beames,

2505So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

2506Ner. When the moone shone we did not see the can (dle?

2507Por. So doth the greater glory dim the lesse,

2508A substitute shines brightly as a King

2509Vntill a King be by, and then his state

2510Empties it selfe, as doth an inland brooke

2511Into the maine of waters: musique, harke. Musicke.

2512Ner. It is your musicke Madame of the house.

2513Por. Nothing is good I see without respect,

2514Methinkes it sounds much sweeter then by day?

2515Ner. Silence bestowes that vertue on it Madam.

2516Por. The Crow doth sing as sweetly as the Larke

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.

2647Por. Let not that Doctor ere come neere my house,

2648Since he hath got the iewell that I loued,

2649And that which you did sweare to keepe for me,

2650I will become as liberall as you,

2651Ile not deny him any thing I haue,

2652No, not my body, nor my husbands bed:

2653Know him I shall, I am well sure of it.

2654Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argos,

2655If you doe not, if I be left alone,

2656Now by mine honour which is yet mine owne,

2657Ile haue the Doctor for my bedfellow.

2658Nerrissa. And I his Clarke: therefore be well aduis'd

2659How you doe leaue me to mine owne protection.

2660Gra. Well, doe you so: let not me take him then,

2661For if I doe, ile mar the yong Clarks pen.

2662Ant. I am th' vnhappy subiect of these quarrels.

2663Por. Sir, grieue not you,

2664You are welcome notwithstanding.

2665Bas. Portia, forgiue me this enforced wrong,

2666And in the hearing of these manie friends

2667I sweare to thee, euen by thine owne faire eyes

2668Wherein I see my selfe.

2669Por. Marke you but that?

2670In both my eyes he doubly sees himselfe:

2671In each eye one, sweare by your double selfe,

2672And there's an oath of credit.

2673Bas. Nay, but heare me.

2674Pardon this fault, and by my soule I sweare

2675I neuer more will breake an oath with thee.

2676Anth. I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth,

2677Which but for him that had your husbands ring

2678Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound againe,

2679My soule vpon the forfeit, that your Lord

2680Will neuer more breake faith aduisedlie.

2681Por. Then you shall be his suretie: giue him this,

2682And bid him keepe it better then the other.

2683Ant. Heere Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.

2684Bass. By heauen it is the same I gaue the Doctor.

2685Por. I had it of him: pardon Bassanio,

2686For by this ring the Doctor lay with me.

2687Ner. And pardon me my gentle Gratiano,

2688For that same scrubbed boy the Doctors Clarke

2689In liew of this, last night did lye with me.

2690Gra. Why this is like the mending of high waies

2691In Sommer, where the waies are faire enough:

2692What, are we Cuckolds ere we haue deseru'd it.

2693Por. Speake not so grossely, you are all amaz'd;

2694Heere is a letter, reade it at your leysure,

2695It comes from Padua from Bellario,

2696There you shall finde that Portia was the Doctor,

2697Nerrissa there her Clarke. Lorenzo heere

2698Shall witnesse I set forth as soone as you,

2699And but eu'n now return'd: I haue not yet

2700Entred my house. Anthonio you are welcome,

2701And I haue better newes in store for you

2702Then you expect: vnseale this letter soone,

2703There you shall finde three of your Argosies

2704Are richly come to harbour sodainlie.

2705You shall not know by what strange accident

2706I chanced on this letter.

2707Antho. I am dumbe.

2708Bass. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not?

2709Gra. Were you the Clark that is to make me cuckold.

2710Ner. I, but the Clark that neuer meanes to doe it,

2711Vnlesse he liue vntill he be a man.

2712Bass. (Sweet Doctor) you shall be my bedfellow,

2713When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

2714An. (Sweet Ladie) you haue giuen me life & liuing;

2715For heere I reade for certaine that my ships

2716Are safelie come to Rode.

2717Por. How now Lorenzo?

2718My Clarke hath some good comforts to for you.

2719Ner. I, and Ile giue them him without a fee.

2720There doe I giue to you and Iessica

2721From the rich Iewe, a speciall deed of gift

2722After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.

2723Loren. Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the way

2724Of starued people.

2725Por. It is almost morning,

2726And yet I am sure you are not satisfied

2727Of these euents at full. Let vs goe in,

2728And charge vs there vpon intergatories,

2729And we will answer all things faithfully.

2730Gra. Let it be so, the first intergatory

2731That my Nerrissa shall be sworne on, is,

2732Whether till the next night she had rather stay,

2733Or goe to bed, now being two houres to day,

2734But were the day come, I should wish it darke,

2735Till I were couching with the Doctors Clarke.

2736Well, while I liue, Ile feare no other thing

2737So sore, as keeping safe Nerrissas ring.

2739 FINIS.