The Merchant of Venice · Act 4, Scene 2

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Enter PORTIA and NERISSA
Enter PORTIA and NERISSA
Portia

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.

Portia

Find the Jew’s house, give him this deed, And have him sign it: we’ll leave tonight And be a day ahead of our husbands. This deed will be gladly received by Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO
Enter GRATIANO
Gratiano

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.

Gratiano

Good sir, you are very welcome My Lord Bassanio, after more thought, Has sent you this ring and asks For your company at dinner.

Portia

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.

Portia

That can’t be: I gladly accept his ring: And so, please, tell him: also, please, show me the way to old Shylock’s house.

Gratiano

That will I do.

Gratiano

I’ll do that.

Nerissa

Sir, I would speak with you.

Nerissa

Sir, I need to talk to you.

Aside to PORTIA
Aside to PORTIA
Nerissa

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

Nerissa

I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, The one he promised to keep forever.

Portia

[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.

Portia

[Aside to NERISSA] You can, I’m sure. We’ll hear old excuses About how they gave the rings to men; But we’ll face them down, and out-swear them too.

Aloud
Aloud
Portia

Away! make haste: thou knowist where I will tarry.

Portia

Go! hurry up: you know where I’ll wait.

Nerissa

Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

Nerissa

Come on, good sir, will you take me to this house?

Exuent
Exit

End of Act 4, Scene 2

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