Bass. Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further,

Take some remembrance of us, for a tribute, Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you, Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

Por. You press me far, and therefore I will yield.

Give me your gloves, I'll wear 'em for your sake; 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.

Bass. This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle; I will not shame myself to give you this.

Por. I will have nothing else, but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

Bass. There's more depends on this, than is 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.

Por. 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.
Bass. Good sir, this ring was giv'n me by my

wife,

And when she put it on, she made me vow,
That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.
Por. 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 the ring,
She would not hold out enmity for ever
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!
[exit with Nerissa

Anth. My lord Bassanio, let him have the

ring;

Let his deservings, and my love withal,
Be valu'd 'gainst your wife's commandment.
Bass. Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him,
Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Anthonio'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, Anthonio. [exeunt

SCENE II.a street.

enter PORTIA and NERISSA.

Por. Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,

And let him sign it; we'll away to night,
And be a day before our husbands home :—
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Fair sir, you are well o'er-taken : My lord Bassanio, upon more advice, Hath sent you here this ring, and doth intreat Your company at dinner.

Por. That cannot be.

This ring I do accept most thankfully,
And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,

I

pray you, shew my youth old Shylock's house. Gra. That will I do.

Ner. Sir, I would speak with you :—

I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [to Por. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

Por. Thou may'st, I warrant. We shall have old swearing,

That they did give their rings away to men; But we'll out-face them, and out-swear them,

too.

Away, make haste, thou know'st where I will tarry.

Ner. Come, good sir, will you shew me to this house.

[exeunt

ACT V.

SCENE I-Belmont. Agarden belonging to Portia's house.

Moon-light.

enter LORENZO and JESSICA.

Loren. 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 Trojan wall, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night.

Jes. In such a night,

Did Thisbe fearfully o'er-trip the dew,
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismay'd away.

Lor. In such a night,

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand,
Upon the wild sea-banks, and wav'd her love
To come again to Carthage.

Jes. In such a night,

Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs,
That did renew old Eson.

Lor. In such a night,

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, As far as Belmont.

Jes. And in such a night

Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well; Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one.

Lor. And in such a night,

Did pretty Jessica, (like a little shrew)
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come: But hark, I hear the footing of a man.

enter BALTHAZAR.

Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
Bal. A friend.

Lor. What friend? your name, I pray you, friend?

Bal. Balthazar is my name, and I bring word, My mistress will, before the break of day, Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about, By holy crosses, where she kneels and prays, For happy wedlock hours.

Lor. Who comes with her?

Bal. None but a holy hermit and her maidI pray you is my master yet returned?

Lor. He is not, nor have we yet heard from him :

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

And ceremoniously let us prepare

Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

enter LAUNCELOT.

Laun. Sola, sola, wo, ha, ho, sola, sola!

Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola, did you see master Lorenzo and mistress Lorenzo? sola, sola!

Lor. Leave hollowing, man; here.

Laun. Sola, where? where?

Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him there's post come from my master, with his horn full of good news. My master will be here, ere morning.

Lor. Sweet love, let's in, and there expect their coming:

And yet no matter why should we go in ?
My friend Balthazar, signify, I pray you,
Within the house, your mistress is at hand;
[exit Baltha.
And bring your music forth into the air.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this

bank!

Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music
Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night,
Become the touches of sweet harmony.

Sit, Jessica; look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patterns of bright gold:
There's not the smallest orb, which thou be-
hold'st,

But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still choiring to the young-ey'd cherubim;
Such harmony is in immortal sounds!
But, whilst the musty vesture of decay
Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.
Come, hoa, and wake Diana with a hymn;
With sweetest touches pierce your mistress'

ear,

And draw her home with music.

G