By Heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed Ner. Till I again see mine. If Bass. you Nor I in yours, Sweet Portia, did know to whom I gave the ring, When nought would be accepted but 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, Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? 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 will become as liberal as you; I'll not deny him any thing I have, No, not my body, nor my husband's bed. Lie not a night from home; watch me, like Argus; Now, by mine honour, which is yet mine own, Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd, How you do leave me to mine own protection. Gra. Well, do you so: let not me take him then; For, if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen. 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; Por. Mark you but that! And there's an oath of credit. Bass. Nay, but hear me. Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear, I never more will break an oath with thee. Ant. [to Portia.] I once did lend my body for his wealth; Which, but for him that had your husband's ring, 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, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me. 531 Gra. Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer, when16 the ways are fair enough. What! are we cuckolds, ere we have deserv'd it? Por. Speak not so grossly. 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, You shall not know by what strange accident Ant. I am dumb. 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. Bass. 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; For here I read for certain, that my ships Are safely come to road. Por. How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.There do I give to you, and Jessica, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possess'd of. Por. It is almost morning, And yet, I'm sure, you are not satisfied Of these events at full. Let us go in; [Exeunt. CHISWICK PRESS:-WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS, Now ready, in small foolscap 8vo. BELL AND DALDY'S ELZE VIR SERIES OF STANDARD AUTHORS. ESSRS. BELL AND DALDY, having been favoured with many requests that their Pocket Volumes should be issued in a larger size, so as to be more suitable for Presents and School Prizes, have determined upon printing New Editions in accordance with these suggestions. They will be issued under the general title of "ELZEVIR SERIES," to distinguish them from their other collections. This general title has been adopted to indicate the spirit in which they will be prepared, that is to say, with the greatest possible accuracy as regards text, and the highest degree of beauty that can be attained in the workmanship. They will be printed at the Chiswick Press, on fine paper, with rich margins, and will be issued in tasteful binding at prices varying from 3s. 6d. to 6s. Most of the Volumes already published in the |