William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (222 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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PORTIA
That light we see is burning in my hall.
How far that little candle throws his beams—
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.
NERISSA
When the moon shone we did not see the candle.
PORTIA
So doth the greater glory dim the less.
A substitute shines brightly as a king
Until a king be by, and then his state
Empties itself as doth an inland brook
Into the main of waters. Music, hark.
Until a king be by, and then his state
Empties itself as doth an inland brook
Into the main of waters. Music, hark.
NERISSA
It is your music, madam, of the house.
PORTIA
Nothing is good, I see, without respect.
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.
NERISSA
Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.
PORTIA
The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark
When neither is attended, and I think
The nightingale, if she should sing by day,
When every goose is cackling, would be thought
No better a musician than the wren.
How many things by season seasoned are
To their right praise and true perfection!
When neither is attended, and I think
The nightingale, if she should sing by day,
When every goose is cackling, would be thought
No better a musician than the wren.
How many things by season seasoned are
To their right praise and true perfection!
⌈
She sees Lorenzo and Jessica
⌉
Peace, ho!
⌈
Music ceases
⌉
The moon sleeps with Endymion,
And would not be awaked.
LORENZO ⌈
rising
⌉ That is the voice,
rising
⌉ That is the voice,
Or I am much deceived, of Portia.
PORTIA
He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo—
By the bad voice.
By the bad voice.
LORENZO Dear lady, welcome home.
PORTIA
We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare,
Which speed we hope the better for our words.
Are they returned?
Which speed we hope the better for our words.
Are they returned?
LORENZO Madam, they are not yet,
But there is come a messenger before
To signify their coming.
To signify their coming.
PORTIA Go in, Nerissa.
Give order to my servants that they take
No note at all of our being absent hence;
Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.
No note at all of our being absent hence;
Nor you, Lorenzo; Jessica, nor you.
⌈
A tucket sounds
⌉
LORENZO
Your husband is at hand. I hear his trumpet.
We are no tell-tales, madam. Fear you not.
PORTIA
This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick.
It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day
Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
It looks a little paler. ’Tis a day
Such as the day is when the sun is hid.
Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Graziano, and their followers. Graziano and Nerissa speak silently to one another
BASSANIO
We should hold day with the Antipodes
If you would walk in absence of the sun.
If you would walk in absence of the sun.
PORTIA
Let me give light, but let me not be light;
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,
And never be Bassanio so for me.
But God sort all. You are welcome home, my lord.
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,
And never be Bassanio so for me.
But God sort all. You are welcome home, my lord.
BASSANIO
I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend.
This is the man, this is Antonio,
To whom I am so infinitely bound.
This is the man, this is Antonio,
To whom I am so infinitely bound.
PORTIA
You should in all sense be much bound to him,
For as I hear he was much bound for you.
For as I hear he was much bound for you.
ANTONIO
No more than I am well acquitted of.
PORTIA
Sir, you are very welcome to our house.
It must appear in other ways than words,
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.
GRAZIANO (
to Nerissa
)
to Nerissa
)
By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong.
In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk.
Would he were gelt that had it for my part,
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
PORTIA
A quarrel, ho, already! What’s the matter?
GRAZIANO
About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
That she did give me, whose posy was
For all the world like cutlers’ poetry
Upon a knife—‘Love me and leave me not’.
That she did give me, whose posy was
For all the world like cutlers’ poetry
Upon a knife—‘Love me and leave me not’.
NERISSA
What talk you of the posy or the value?
You swore to me when I did give it you
That you would wear it till your hour of death,
And that it should lie with you in your grave.
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths
You should have been respective and have kept it.
Gave it a judge’s clerk?—no, God’s my judge,
The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.
That you would wear it till your hour of death,
And that it should lie with you in your grave.
Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths
You should have been respective and have kept it.
Gave it a judge’s clerk?—no, God’s my judge,
The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.
GRAZIANO
He will an if he live to be a man.
NERISSA
Ay, if a woman live to be a man.
GRAZIANO
Now by this hand, I gave it to a youth,
A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy
No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk,
A prating boy that begged it as a fee.
I could not for my heart deny it him.
A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy
No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk,
A prating boy that begged it as a fee.
I could not for my heart deny it him.
PORTIA
You were to blame, I must be plain with you,
To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift,
A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger,
And so riveted with faith unto your flesh.
I gave my love a ring, and made him swear
Never to part with it; and here he stands.
I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it,
Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Graziano,
You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief.
An ’twere to me, I should be mad at it.
To part so slightly with your wife’s first gift,
A thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger,
And so riveted with faith unto your flesh.
I gave my love a ring, and made him swear
Never to part with it; and here he stands.
I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it,
Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth
That the world masters. Now, in faith, Graziano,
You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief.
An ’twere to me, I should be mad at it.
BASSANIO (
aside
)
aside
)
Why, I were best to cut my left hand off
And swear I lost the ring defending it.
And swear I lost the ring defending it.
GRAZIANO ⌈
to Portia
⌉
to Portia
⌉
My lord Bassanio gave his ring away
Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed
Deserved it, too, and then the boy his clerk,
That took some pains in writing, he begged mine,
And neither man nor master would take aught
But the two rings.
Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed
Deserved it, too, and then the boy his clerk,
That took some pains in writing, he begged mine,
And neither man nor master would take aught
But the two rings.
PORTIA (
to Bassanio
) What ring gave you, my lord?
to Bassanio
) What ring gave you, my lord?
Not that, I hope, which you received of me.
BASSANIO
If I could add a lie unto a fault
I would deny it; but you see my finger
Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone.
I would deny it; but you see my finger
Hath not the ring upon it. It is gone.
PORTIA
Even so void is your false heart of truth.
By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed
Until I see the ring.
Until I see the ring.
NERISSA (
to Graziano
) Nor I in yours
to Graziano
) Nor I in yours
Till I again see mine.
BASSANIO Sweet Portia,
If you did know to whom I gave the ring,
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring,
And how unwillingly I left the ring
When naught would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
If you did know for whom I gave the ring,
And would conceive for what I gave the ring,
And how unwillingly I left the ring
When naught would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
PORTIA
If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleased to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?
Nerissa teaches me what to believe.
I’ll die for’t but some woman had the ring.
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honour to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleased to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?
Nerissa teaches me what to believe.
I’ll die for’t but some woman had the ring.
BASSANIO
No, by my honour, madam, by my soul,
No woman had it, but a civil doctor
Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me,
And begged the ring, the which I did deny him,
And suffered him to go displeased away,
Even he that had held up the very life
Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?
I was enforced to send it after him.
I was beset with shame and courtesy.
My honour would not let ingratitude
So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady,
For by these blessèd candles of the night,
Had you been there I think you would have begged
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
No woman had it, but a civil doctor
Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me,
And begged the ring, the which I did deny him,
And suffered him to go displeased away,
Even he that had held up the very life
Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?
I was enforced to send it after him.
I was beset with shame and courtesy.
My honour would not let ingratitude
So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady,
For by these blessèd candles of the night,
Had you been there I think you would have begged
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
PORTIA
Let not that doctor e’er come near my house.
Since he hath got the jewel that I loved,
And that which you did swear to keep for me,
I will become as liberal as you.
I’ll not deny him anything I have,
No, not my body nor my husband’s bed.
Know him I shall, I am well sure of it.
Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus.
If you do not, if I be left alone,
Now by mine honour, which is yet mine own,
I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
Since he hath got the jewel that I loved,
And that which you did swear to keep for me,
I will become as liberal as you.
I’ll not deny him anything I have,
No, not my body nor my husband’s bed.
Know him I shall, I am well sure of it.
Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argus.
If you do not, if I be left alone,
Now by mine honour, which is yet mine own,
I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
NERISSA (
to Graziano
)
to Graziano
)
And I his clerk, therefore be well advised
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
GRAZIANO
Well, do you so. Let not me take him then,
For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
ANTONIO
I am th’unhappy subject of these quarrels.
PORTIA
Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.
BASSANIO
Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong,
And in the hearing of these many friends
I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I see myself—
And in the hearing of these many friends
I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I see myself—
PORTIA Mark you but that?
In both my eyes he doubly sees himself,
In each eye one. Swear by your double self,
And there’s an oath of credit.
In each eye one. Swear by your double self,
And there’s an oath of credit.
BASSANIO Nay, but hear me.
Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear
I never more will break an oath with thee.
I never more will break an oath with thee.
ANTONIO (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
I once did lend my body for his wealth
Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring,
Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again,
My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.
Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring,
Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again,
My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord
Will never more break faith advisedly.
PORTIA
Then you shall be his surety. Give him this,
And bid him keep it better than the other.
And bid him keep it better than the other.
ANTONIO
Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.
BASSANIO
By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!
PORTIA
I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio,
For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.
For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.
NERISSA
And pardon me, my gentle Graziano,
For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk,
In lieu of this last night did lie with me.
For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk,
In lieu of this last night did lie with me.
GRAZIANO
Why, this is like the mending of highways
In summer where the ways are fair enough I
What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?
In summer where the ways are fair enough I
What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?
PORTIA
Speak not so grossly. You are all amazed.
Here is a letter. Read it at your leisure.
It comes from Padua, from Bellario.
There you shall find that Portia was the doctor,
Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here
Shall witness I set forth as soon as you,
And even but now returned. I have not yet
Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome,
And I have better news in store for you
Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon.
There you shall find three of your argosies
Are richly come to harbour suddenly.
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.
Nerissa there her clerk. Lorenzo here
Shall witness I set forth as soon as you,
And even but now returned. I have not yet
Entered my house. Antonio, you are welcome,
And I have better news in store for you
Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon.
There you shall find three of your argosies
Are richly come to harbour suddenly.
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.
ANTONIO I am dumb!
BASSANIO (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
Were you the doctor and I knew you not?
GRAZIANO (
to Nerissa
)
to Nerissa
)
Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?
NERISSA
Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it
Unless he live until he be a man.
Unless he live until he be a man.
BASSANIO (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.
When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
When I am absent, then lie with my wife.
ANTONIO (
to Portia
)
to Portia
)
Sweet lady, you have given me life and living,
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road.
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road.
PORTIA How now, Lorenzo?
My clerk hath some good comforts, too, for you.
NERISSA
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 possessed of.
From the rich Jew a special deed of gift,
After his death, of all he dies possessed of.
LORENZO
Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way
Of starved people.
Of starved people.
PORTIA It is almost morning,
And yet I am sure you are not satisfied
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon inter’gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon inter’gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
GRAZIANO
Let it be so. The first inter’gatory
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is
Whether till the next night she had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.
But were the day come, I should wish it dark
Till I were couching with the doctor’s clerk.
Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing
So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.
Exeunt
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on is
Whether till the next night she had rather stay,
Or go to bed now, being two hours to day.
But were the day come, I should wish it dark
Till I were couching with the doctor’s clerk.
Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing
So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.
Exeunt
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