The Merchant of Venice
Act IV, Scene 2
Venice. A street.
From: The graphic gallery of Shakespeare's heroines
Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.; 1896
- Enter Portia and Nerissa disguised as before.
Portia
1 - 4- 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
5 - 8- 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
9 - 12- 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
13- That will I do.
Nerissa
14 - 16- 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 forever.
Portia
17 - 20- Aside 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
21- Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
- Exeunt.
My Lord Bassanio upon more advice, hath sent you here this ring
Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
1914