Merchant of Venice

201 The Merchant of Venice ACT 5. SC. 1

GRATIANO

FTLN 2689 Why, this is like the mending of highways
FTLN 2690
FTLN 2691 In summer, where the ways are fair enough!

FTLN 2692 What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it?

FTLN 2693 PORTIA
FTLN 2694
FTLN 2695 Speak not so grossly.—You are all amazed. 285
FTLN 2696 290
FTLN 2697 She hands a paper to Bassanio. 295
FTLN 2698 300
FTLN 2699 Here is a letter; read it at your leisure.
FTLN 2700 305
FTLN 2701 It comes from Padua from Bellario.

FTLN 2702 There you shall find that Portia was the doctor,
FTLN 2703
FTLN 2704 Nerissa there, her clerk. Lorenzo here
FTLN 2705
FTLN 2706 Shall witness I set forth as soon as you,

FTLN 2707 And even but now returned. I have not yet

FTLN 2708 Entered my house.—Antonio, you are welcome,

FTLN 2709 And I have better news in store for you
FTLN 2710
Than you expect. Unseal this letter soon.
FTLN 2711
FTLN 2712 Handing him a paper.

FTLN 2713 There you shall find three of your argosies
FTLN 2714
FTLN 2715 Are richly come to harbor suddenly.

You shall not know by what strange accident

I chancèd on this letter.

ANTONIO I am dumb.

BASSANIO

Were you the doctor and I knew you not?

GRATIANO

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.

BASSANIO, to Portia

Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.

When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

ANTONIO

Sweet lady, you have given me life and living;

For here I read for certain that my ships

Are safely come to road.

203 The Merchant of Venice ACT 5. SC. 1

FTLN 2716 PORTIA How now, Lorenzo?
FTLN 2717
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. 310
FTLN 2718
NERISSA 315
FTLN 2719 320
FTLN 2720 Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee. 325
FTLN 2721
Handing him a paper.
FTLN 2722
FTLN 2723 There do I give to you and Jessica,
FTLN 2724
FTLN 2725 From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
FTLN 2726
FTLN 2727 After his death, of all he dies possessed of.
FTLN 2728
LORENZO
FTLN 2729
FTLN 2730 Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way
FTLN 2731
FTLN 2732 Of starvèd people.
FTLN 2733
FTLN 2734 PORTIA It is almost morning,
FTLN 2735
FTLN 2736 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.

GRATIANO

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.

They exit.