The Merchant of Venice: Act 4, Scene 2

comedy

The same. A street.

Scene Summary

Portia and Nerissa, still disguised, are given Shylock's deed by Gratiano. Portia tells Gratiano to give 'Balthazar' the ring Bassanio received from Portia — the ring he promised never to give away. Bassanio, reluctantly, sends it after them.

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.

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.

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.

GRATIANO

That will I do.

NERISSA

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 for ever.

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.

Aloud

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

NERISSA

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

Exeunt