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If you do not, if I be left alone,

Now, by mine honour, which is yet my own,
I'll have that Doctor for my bedfellow.

Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advis'd,
How you do leave me to mine own protection.

Gra. Well, do you fo; let me not take him then; For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.

Ant. I am th' unhappy fubject of these quarrels. Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome, notwithstanding.

Baff. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong,
And in the hearing of thefe many friends,

I fwear to thee, ev'n by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I fee myself-

Por. Mark you but that!

In both mine eyes he doubly fees himself;
In each eye, one; fwear by your double self,
And there's an oath of credit!

Baff. Nay, but hear me :

Pardon this fault, and by my foul I fwear,

I never more will break an oath with thee.

Ant. I once did lend my body for his weal; (32) Which but for him, that had your hufband's ring, [To Portia. Had quite mifcarry'd. I dare be bound again, My foul upon the forfeit, that your Lord Will never more break faith advisedly.

Por. Then you fhall be his furety; give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other.

Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio, fwear to keep this ring. Baff. By heav'n, it is the fame I gave the Doctor. Por. I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio; For by this ring the Doctor lay with me.

Ner. And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano,

(32) my body for his wealth ;] I have ventur'd, against the authority of the copies, to fubftitute weal here; i. e. for his welfare, benefit. Wealth has a more confin'd fignification. Tho' I must own, that weal and wealth in our author's time might be in fome measure fynonomous; as they are now in the words, common-real, and commonqwealth.

For that fame fcrubbed boy, the Doctor's clerk,
In lieu of this, last night did lye with me.

Gra. Why, this is like the mending of high-ways In fummer, where the ways are fair enough: What! are we cuckolds, ere we have deferv'd it? Por. Speak not fo grofly; 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;
Neriffa there, her clerk. Lorenzo, here,

Shall witness I fet forth as foon as you,
And even but now return'd: I have not yet
Enter'd my house. Anthonio, you are welcome;
And I have better news in store for you,
Than you expect; unfeal this letter soon,
There you fhall find, three of your Argofies
Are richly come to harbour fuddenly.

You fhall not know by what strange accident
I chanced on this letter.

Ant. I am dumb.

Baff. 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.

Baf. Sweet Doctor, you fhall be my bedfellow; When I am abfent, then lye with my wife.

Ant. Sweet Lady, you have given me life and living: For here I read for certain, that my ships

Are fafely come to road.

Por. How now, Lorenzo ?

My clerk hath fome good comforts too for you.
Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee.

There do I give to you and Jeffica,

From the rich Jew, a fpecial Deed of Gift,
After his death, of all he dies poffefs'd of.
Lor. Fair Ladies, you drop Manna in the
Of starved people.

Por. It is almost morning,

And

yet, I'm fure, you are not satisfy'd Of thefe events at full. Let us go in,

way

VOL. II.

H

And

And charge us there upon interr'gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
Gra. Let it be fo: the first interr'gatory,
That my Nerisa 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 fore, as keeping fafe Neriffa's ring.

[Exeunt omnes.

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HGravelot in & del.

Vol.2 P169.

GVGucht Scul

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