READ STUDY GUIDE: Act III, scenes iii–v |
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Act III, Scene iv:
Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house.
Belmont. A room in PORTIA's house.
| [Enter PORTIA, NERISSA, LORENZO, JESSICA, and BALTHASAR.] |
| LORENZO: |
| Madam, although I speak it in your presence, |
| You have a noble and a true conceit |
| Of godlike amity, which appears most strongly |
| In bearing thus the absence of your lord. |
| But if you knew to whom you show this honour, |
| How true a gentleman you send relief, |
| How dear a lover of my lord your husband, |
| I know you would be prouder of the work |
| Than customary bounty can enforce you. |
| PORTIA: |
| 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 breath'd 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. |
| LORENZO: |
| Madam, with all my heart |
| I shall obey you in an fair commands. |
| PORTIA: |
| 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. |
| LORENZO: |
| Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you! |
| JESSICA: |
| I wish your ladyship all heart's content. |
| PORTIA: |
| I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas'd |
| To wish it back on you. Fare you well, Jessica. |
| [Exeunt JESSICA and LORENZO.] |
| Now, Balthasar, |
| As I have ever found thee honest-true, |
| So let me find thee still. Take this same letter, |
| And use thou all th' endeavour of a man |
| In speed to Padua; see thou render this |
| Into my cousin's hands, Doctor Bellario; |
| And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, |
| Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin'd 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. |
| BALTHASAR: |
| Madam, I go with all convenient speed. |
| [Exit.] |
| PORTIA: |
| Come on, Nerissa, I have work in hand |
| That you yet know not of; we'll see our husbands |
| Before they think of us. |
| NERISSA: |
| Shall they see us? |
| PORTIA: |
| They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit |
| That they shall think we are accomplished |
| With that we lack. I'll hold thee any wager, |
| When we are both accoutred 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 honourable 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 kill'd them. |
| And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell, |
| That men shall swear I have discontinu'd school |
| About a twelvemonth. I have within my mind |
| A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, |
| Which I will practise. |
| NERISSA: |
| Why, shall we turn to men? |
| PORTIA: |
| 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 to-day. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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