ACT 1
Scene 2

...for my sake.
Enter Portia with her waiting woman Nerissa.
By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary
of this great world.

...competency lives longer.
Good sentences, and well pronounced.

...if well followed.
If to do were as easy as to know what were
good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor
men’s cottages princes’ palaces. It is a good divine
that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach
twenty what were good to be done than to be one of
the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain
may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper
leaps o’er a cold decree: such a hare is madness the
youth, to skip o’er the meshes of good counsel the
cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion to
choose me a husband. O, me, the word “choose”! I
may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I
dislike. So is the will of a living daughter curbed by
the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that
I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?

...are already come?
I pray thee, overname them, and as thou
namest them, I will describe them, and according
to my description level at my affection.

...the Neapolitan prince.
Ay, that’s a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but
talk of his horse, and he makes it a great appropriation
to his own good parts that he can shoe him
himself. I am much afeard my lady his mother
played false with a smith.

...the County Palatine.
He doth nothing but frown, as who should say
“An you will not have me, choose.” He hears
merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the
weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so
full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had
rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in
his mouth than to either of these. God defend me
from these two!

...Monsieur Le Bon?
God made him, and therefore let him pass for
a man. In truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker,
but he!—why, he hath a horse better than the
Neapolitan’s, a better bad habit of frowning than
the Count Palatine. He is every man in no man. If a
throstle sing, he falls straight a-cap’ring. He will
fence with his own shadow. If I should marry him, I
should marry twenty husbands! If he would despise
me, I would forgive him, for if he love me to
madness, I shall never requite him.

...baron of England?
You know I say nothing to him, for he understands
not me, nor I him. He hath neither Latin,
French, nor Italian; and you will come into the
court and swear that I have a poor pennyworth in
the English. He is a proper man’s picture, but alas,
who can converse with a dumb show? How oddly
he is suited! I think he bought his doublet in Italy,
his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany,
and his behavior everywhere.

...lord, his neighbor?
That he hath a neighborly charity in him, for
he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman,
and swore he would pay him again when he was
able. I think the Frenchman became his surety and
sealed under for another.

...of Saxony’s nephew?
Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober,
and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk.
When he is best he is a little worse than a man, and
when he is worst he is little better than a beast. An
the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift
to go without him.

...to accept him.
Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set
a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary
casket, for if the devil be within and that temptation
without, I know he will choose it. I will do
anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge.

...on the caskets.
If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as
chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner
of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers
are so reasonable, for there is not one among them
but I dote on his very absence. And I pray God
grant them a fair departure!

...Marquess of Montferrat?
Yes, yes, it was Bassanio—as I think so was he
called.

...a fair lady.
I remember him well, and I remember him
worthy of thy praise.

Enter a Servingman.
How now, what news?

...be here tonight.
If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good
heart as I can bid the other four farewell, I should
be glad of his approach. If he have the condition of
a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather
he should shrive me than wive me.
Come, Nerissa. To Servingman.
Sirrah, go before.—
Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the door.
They exit.

ACT 2
Scene 1

...before the day.
Enter the Prince of Morocco, a tawny Moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly, with Portia, Nerissa, and their train.

...my gentle queen.
In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes;
Besides, the lott’ry of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.
But if my father had not scanted me
And hedged me by his wit to yield myself
His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
Yourself, renownèd prince, then stood as fair
As any comer I have looked on yet
For my affection.

...die with grieving.
You must take your chance
And either not attempt to choose at all
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.

...unto my chance.
First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.

...cursed’st among men!
They exit.

Scene 7

...and gone tonight.
Enter Portia with the Prince of Morocco and both their trains.
Go, draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.

A curtain is drawn.
Now make your choice.

...choose the right?
The one of them contains my picture, prince.
If you choose that, then I am yours withal.

...as I may.
There, take it, prince. Handing him the key.
And if my form lie there,
Then I am yours.

...Thus losers part.
A gentle riddance! Draw the curtains, go.
Let all of his complexion choose me so.
They exit.

Scene 9

...his election presently.
Enter the Prince of Arragon, his train, and Portia.
Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince.
If you choose that wherein I am contained,
Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.
But if you fail, without more speech, my lord,
You must be gone from hence immediately.

...and be gone.
To these injunctions everyone doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

...the silver casket.
Too long a pause for that which you find there.

...deserts no better?
To offend and judge are distinct offices
And of opposèd natures.

...bear my wroth.
Thus hath the candle singed the moth.
O, these deliberate fools, when they do choose,
They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.

...goes by destiny.
Come, draw the curtain, Nerissa.

...is my lady?
Here. What would my lord?

...before his lord.
No more, I pray thee. I am half afeard
Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee,
Thou spend’st such high-day wit in praising him!
Come, come, Nerissa, for I long to see
Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.

...will it be!
They exit.

ACT 3
Scene 2

...our synagogue, Tubal.
Enter Bassanio, Portia, and all their trains, Gratiano, Nerissa.
I pray you tarry, pause a day or two
Before you hazard, for in choosing wrong
I lose your company; therefore forbear a while.
There’s something tells me (but it is not love)
I would not lose you, and you know yourself
Hate counsels not in such a quality.
But lest you should not understand me well
(And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought)
I would detain you here some month or two
Before you venture for me. I could teach you
How to choose right, but then I am forsworn.
So will I never be. So may you miss me.
But if you do, you’ll make me wish a sin,
That I had been forsworn. Beshrew your eyes,
They have o’erlooked me and divided me.
One half of me is yours, the other half yours—
Mine own, I would say—but if mine, then yours,
And so all yours. O, these naughty times
Puts bars between the owners and their rights!
And so though yours, not yours. Prove it so,
Let Fortune go to hell for it, not I.
I speak too long, but ’tis to peize the time,
To eche it, and to draw it out in length,
To stay you from election.

...upon the rack.
Upon the rack, Bassanio? Then confess
What treason there is mingled with your love.

...and my love.
Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack
Where men enforcèd do speak anything.

...confess the truth.
Well, then, confess and live.

...and the caskets.
Away, then. I am locked in one of them.
If you do love me, you will find me out.—
Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof.
Let music sound while he doth make his choice.
Then if he lose he makes a swanlike end,
Fading in music. That the comparison
May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream
And wat’ry deathbed for him. He may win,
And what is music then? Then music is
Even as the flourish when true subjects bow
To a new-crownèd monarch. Such it is
As are those dulcet sounds in break of day
That creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear
And summon him to marriage. Now he goes,
With no less presence but with much more love
Than young Alcides when he did redeem
The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy
To the sea-monster. I stand for sacrifice;
The rest aloof are the Dardanian wives,
With blearèd visages, come forth to view
The issue of th’ exploit. Go, Hercules!
Live thou, I live. With much much more dismay
I view the fight than thou that mak’st the fray.

...given a key.
aside
How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts and rash embraced despair,
And shudd’ring fear, and green-eyed jealousy!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy,
In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess!
I feel too much thy blessing. Make it less,
For fear I surfeit.

...ratified by you.
You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand,
Such as I am. Though for myself alone
I would not be ambitious in my wish
To wish myself much better, yet for you
I would be trebled twenty times myself,
A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times
More rich, that only to stand high in your account
I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account. But the full sum of me
Is sum of something, which, to term in gross,
Is an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpracticed;
Happy in this, she is not yet so old
But she may learn; happier than this,
She is not bred so dull but she can learn;
Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours
Is now converted. But now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself
Are yours, my lord’s. I give them with this ring, Handing him a ring.
Which, when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

...Achieved her mistress.
Is this true, Nerissa?

...Sweet Portia, welcome.
So do I, my lord. They are entirely welcome.

...he hath lost.
There are some shrewd contents in yond same paper
That steals the color from Bassanio’s cheek.
Some dear friend dead, else nothing in the world
Could turn so much the constitution
Of any constant man. What, worse and worse?—
With leave, Bassanio, I am half yourself,
And I must freely have the half of anything
That this same paper brings you.

...with poor Antonio.
Is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble?

...breath in Italy.
What sum owes he the Jew?

...three thousand ducats.
What, no more?
Pay him six thousand and deface the bond.
Double six thousand and then treble that,
Before a friend of this description
Shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault.
First go with me to church and call me wife,
And then away to Venice to your friend!
For never shall you lie by Portia’s side
With an unquiet soul. You shall have gold
To pay the petty debt twenty times over.
When it is paid, bring your true friend along.
My maid Nerissa and myself meantime
Will live as maids and widows. Come, away,
For you shall hence upon your wedding day.
Bid your friends welcome, show a merry cheer;
Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear.
But let me hear the letter of your friend.

...not my letter.
O love, dispatch all business and begone!

...’twixt us twain.
They exit.

Scene 4

...I care not.
Enter Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo, Jessica, and Balthazar, a man of Portia’s.

...can enforce you.
I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now; for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together,
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;
Which makes me think that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord. If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestowed
In purchasing the semblance of my soul
From out the state of hellish cruelty!
This comes too near the praising of myself;
Therefore no more of it. Hear other things:
Lorenzo, I commit into your hands
The husbandry and manage of my house
Until my lord’s return. For mine own part,
I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow
To live in prayer and contemplation,
Only attended by Nerissa here,
Until her husband and my lord’s return.
There is a monastery two miles off,
And there we will abide. I do desire you
Not to deny this imposition,
The which my love and some necessity
Now lays upon you.

...all fair commands.
My people do already know my mind
And will acknowledge you and Jessica
In place of Lord Bassanio and myself.
So fare you well till we shall meet again.

...all heart’s content.
I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased
To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica.
Now, Balthazar,
As I have ever found thee honest true,
So let me find thee still: take this same letter,
And use thou all th’ endeavor of a man
In speed to Padua. See thou render this
Into my cousin’s hands, Doctor Bellario. She gives him a paper.
And look what notes and garments he doth give thee,
Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed
Unto the traject, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words,
But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.

...all convenient speed.
Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand
That you yet know not of. We’ll see our husbands
Before they think of us.

...they see us?
They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit
That they shall think we are accomplishèd
With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutered like young men,
I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
And speak between the change of man and boy
With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride, and speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies
How honorable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died—
I could not do withal!—then I’ll repent,
And wish, for all that, that I had not killed them.
And twenty of these puny lies I’ll tell,
That men shall swear I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind
A thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks
Which I will practice.

...turn to men?
Fie, what a question’s that,
If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!
But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device
When I am in my coach, which stays for us
At the park gate; and therefore haste away,
For we must measure twenty miles today.
They exit.

ACT 4
Scene 1

...what he writes.
Enter Portia for Balthazar, disguised as a doctor of laws, with Attendants.

...from old Bellario?
as Balthazar
I did, my lord.

...in the court?
as Balthazar
I am informèd throughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here? And which the Jew?

...both stand forth.
as Balthazar
Is your name Shylock?

...is my name.
as Balthazar
Of a strange nature is the suit you follow,
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
To Antonio.
You stand within his danger, do you not?

...so he says.
as Balthazar
Do you confess the bond?

... I do.
as Balthazar
Then must the Jew be merciful.

...Tell me that.
as Balthazar
The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptered sway.
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God Himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this:
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.

...of my bond.
as Balthazar
Is he not able to discharge the money?

...of his will.
as Balthazar
It must not be. There is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree establishèd;
’Twill be recorded for a precedent
And many an error by the same example
Will rush into the state. It cannot be.

...do honor thee!
as Balthazar
I pray you let me look upon the bond.

...here it is.
Handing Portia a paper.
as Balthazar
Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee.

...not for Venice!
as Balthazar
Why, this bond is forfeit,
And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant’s heart.—Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

...give the judgment.
as Balthazar
Why, then, thus it is:
You must prepare your bosom for his knife—

...excellent young man!
as Balthazar
For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,
Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

...than thy looks!
as Balthazar, to Antonio
Therefore lay bare your bosom—

...the very words.
as Balthazar
It is so.
Are there balance here to weigh the flesh?

...have them ready.
as Balthazar
Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,
To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

...in the bond?
as Balthazar
It is not so expressed, but what of that?
’Twere good you do so much for charity.

...in the bond.
as Balthazar
You, merchant, have you anything to say?

...to deliver you.
aside
Your wife would give you little thanks for that
If she were by to hear you make the offer.

...thee, pursue sentence.
as Balthazar
A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine:
The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

...Most rightful judge!
as Balthazar
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:
The law allows it, and the court awards it.

...A sentence!—Come, prepare.
as Balthazar
Tarry a little. There is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood.
The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.”
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are by the laws of Venice confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.

...that the law?
as Balthazar
Thyself shalt see the act.
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st.

...is the money.
as Balthazar
Soft! The Jew shall have all justice. Soft, no haste!
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

...a learnèd judge!
as Balthazar
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
But just a pound of flesh. If thou tak’st more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

...on the hip.
as Balthazar
Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

...Here it is.
as Balthazar
He hath refused it in the open court.
He shall have merely justice and his bond.

...barely my principal?
as Balthazar
Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

...begins to exit.
as Balthazar
Tarry, Jew.
The law hath yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be proved against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party ’gainst the which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state,
And the offender’s life lies in the mercy
Of the Duke only, ’gainst all other voice.
In which predicament I say thou stand’st,
For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred
The danger formerly by me rehearsed.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.

...unto a fine.
as Balthazar
Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

...whereby I live.
as Balthazar
What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

...late pronouncèd here.
as Balthazar
Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say?

...I am content.
as Balthazar
Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

...me to dinner.
as Balthazar
I humbly do desire your Grace of pardon.
I must away this night toward Padua,
And it is meet I presently set forth.

...to you evermore.
as Balthazar
He is well paid that is well satisfied,
And I, delivering you, am satisfied,
And therein do account myself well paid.
My mind was never yet more mercenary.
I pray you know me when we meet again.
I wish you well, and so I take my leave.
She begins to exit.

...to pardon me.
as Balthazar
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them for your sake—
And for your love I’ll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.

...give you this.
as Balthazar
I will have nothing else but only this.
And now methinks I have a mind to it.

...you pardon me.
as Balthazar
I see, sir, you are liberal in offers.
You taught me first to beg, and now methinks
You teach me how a beggar should be answered.

...nor lose it.
as Balthazar
That ’scuse serves many men to save their gifts.
And if your wife be not a madwoman,
And know how well I have deserved this ring,
She would not hold out enemy forever
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you.
Portia and Nerissa exit.

Scene 2

...toward Belmont.—Come, Antonio.
Enter Portia and Nerissa, still in disguise.
Inquire the Jew’s house out; give him this deed
And let him sign it. She gives Nerissa a paper.
We’ll away tonight,
And be a day before our husbands home.
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

...company at dinner.
He gives her a ring.
as Balthazar
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.

...to keep forever.
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.—
Away, make haste! Thou know’st where I will tarry.
She exits.

ACT 5
Scene 1

...Mark the music.
Enter Portia and Nerissa.
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.

...see the candle.
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!

...of the house.
Nothing is good, I see, without respect.
Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.

...on it, madam.
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!
Peace—how the moon sleeps with Endymion
And would not be awaked!

...deceived, of Portia.
He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo,
By the bad voice.

...lady, welcome home.
We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare,
Which speed we hope the better for our words.
Are they returned?

...signify their coming.
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.

...fear you not.
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.

...of the sun.
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.

...so infinitely bound.
You should in all sense be much bound to him,
For as I hear he was much bound for you.

...well acquitted of.
Sir, you are very welcome to our house.
It must appear in other ways than words;
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.

...much at heart.
A quarrel ho, already! What’s the matter?

...deny it him.
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, Gratiano,
You give your wife too unkind a cause of grief.
An ’twere to me I should be mad at it.

...the two rings.
What ring gave you, my lord?
Not that, I hope, which you received of me.

...It is gone.
Even so void is your false heart of truth.
By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed
Until I see the ring!

...of your displeasure.
If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor 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!

...the worthy doctor.
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 honor, which is yet mine own,
I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.

...of these quarrels.
Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.

...I see myself—
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.

...break faith advisedly.
Then you shall be his surety. Give him this, Giving Antonio a ring.
And bid him keep it better than the other.

...gave the doctor!
I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio,
For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.

...have deserved it?
Speak not so grossly.—You are all amazed. She hands a paper to Bassanio.
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. Handing him a paper.
There you shall find three of your argosies
Are richly come to harbor suddenly.
You shall not know by what strange accident
I chancèd on this letter.

...come to road.
How now, Lorenzo?
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.

...Of starvèd people.
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.

...safe Nerissa’s ring.
They exit.