Act 5, Scene 1 — The Merchant of Venice

The argument At moonlit Belmont, Lorenzo and Jessica exchange lover's banter, Portia and Nerissa return from Venice, and the ring comedy plays out until Portia reveals the disguise and Antonio learns his ships are safe.

Enter Lorenzo and Jessica.

LORENZO ≋ verse

The moon shines bright. In such a night as this,

When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,

And they did make no noise, in such a night,

Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls,

And sigh’d his soul toward the Grecian tents

Where Cressid lay that night.

The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise, in such a night, Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls, And sigh’d his soul toward the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night.

The moon shines bright In such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise, in such a night, Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls, And sigh’d his soul toward the Grecian tents Where Cressid lay that night

"Troilus methinks mounted the Trojan walls" Lorenzo opens a game: each names a lover who suffered in the night. But his examples — Troilus (betrayed), Thisbe (killed in error), Dido (abandoned), Medea (became a murderer) — are all tragic. The game is romantic but the stories are cautionary, which the play may be warning us about.

↩ Callback to 1-1 Lorenzo's catalogue of tragic lovers — Troilus, Thisbe, Dido, Medea — echoes the play's opening, where Antonio's mysterious sadness was set against the mercantile bustle of Venice; here, romantic mythology provides the play's final backdrop.

JESSICA ≋ verse

In such a night

Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew,

And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself,

And ran dismay’d away.

In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew, And saw the lion’s shadow before himself, And ran dismay’d away.

In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully o’ertrip the dew, And saw the lion’s shadow before himself, And ran dismay’d away

LORENZO ≋ verse

In such a night

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love

To come again to Carthage.

In such a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage.

In such a night Stood Dido with a willow in her hand Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love To come again to Carthage

JESSICA ≋ verse

In such a night

Medea gathered the enchanted herbs

That did renew old Æson.

In such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Æson.

In such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs That did renew old Æson

LORENZO ≋ verse

In such a night

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice

As far as Belmont.

In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont.

In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont

"unthrift love" Literally 'spendthrift love' — reckless, improvident love that gives without counting the cost. Lorenzo means it as a compliment, but Jessica's theft of her father's money and jewels was also, literally, unthriftiness.

JESSICA ≋ verse

In such a night

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,

Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,

And ne’er a true one.

In such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne’er a true one.

In such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne’er a true one

LORENZO ≋ verse

In such a night

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,

Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

In such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

In such a night Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, Slander her love, and he forgave it her

JESSICA ≋ verse

I would out-night you did no body come;

But hark, I hear the footing of a man.

I would out-night you did no body come; But hark, I hear the footing of a man.

I would out-night you did no body come; But hark, I hear the footing of a man

Enter Stephano.

LORENZO

Who comes so fast in silence of the night?

Who comes so fast in silence of the night

STEPHANO

A friend.

A friend

LORENZO

A friend! What friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?

A friend What friend Your name, I pray you, friend

STEPHANO ≋ verse

Stephano is my name, and I bring word

My mistress will before the break of day

Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about

By holy crosses where she kneels and prays

For happy wedlock hours.

Stephano is my name, and I bring word My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont. She does stray about By holy crosses where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours.

Stephano is my name, and I bring word My mistress will before the break of day Be here at Belmont She does stray about By holy crosses where she kneels and prays For happy wedlock hours

LORENZO

Who comes with her?

Who comes with her

STEPHANO ≋ verse

None but a holy hermit and her maid.

I pray you is my master yet return’d?

None but a holy hermit and her maid. I pray you is my master yet return’d?

None but a holy hermit and her maid I pray you is my master yet return’d

LORENZO ≋ verse

He is not, nor we have not heard from him.

But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,

And ceremoniously let us prepare

Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

He is not, nor we have not heard from him. But go we in, I pray you, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house.

He is not, nor we have not heard from him But go we in, I pray you, Jessica, And ceremoniously let us prepare Some welcome for the mistress of the house

Enter Launcelet.

LAUNCELET. Sola, sola! wo ha, ho! sola, sola!

LORENZO

Who calls?

Who calls

LAUNCELET

Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo? Master Lorenzo! Sola, sola!

Sola Did you see Master Lorenzo Master Lorenzo Sola, sola

LORENZO

Leave holloaing, man. Here!

Leave holloaing, man Here

LAUNCELET

Sola! Where, where?

Sola Where, where

LORENZO

Here!

Here

LAUNCELET

Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good

news. My master will be here ere morning.

Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news. My master will be here before morning.

Tell him there’s a post come from my master with his horn full of good news My master will be here before morning

[_Exit._]

LORENZO ≋ verse

Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming.

And yet no matter; why should we go in?

My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you,

Within the house, your mistress is at hand,

And bring your music forth into the air.

Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming. And yet no matter; why should we go in? My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand, And bring your music forth into the air.

Sweet soul, let’s in, and there expect their coming And yet no matter; why should we go in My friend Stephano, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand, And bring your music forth into the air

[_Exit Stephano._]

How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!

Here will we sit and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night

Become the touches of sweet harmony.

Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven

Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold.

There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st

But in his motion like an angel sings,

Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;

Such harmony is in immortal souls,

But whilst this muddy vesture of decay

Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.

Enter Musicians.

Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn.

With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear,

And draw her home with music.

[_Music._]

JESSICA

I am never merry when I hear sweet music.

I am never merry when I hear sweet music

Why it matters Jessica's aside is small but strange. She has just escaped her father's house, won a rich husband, and is waiting at a moonlit estate — and music makes her sad. It may be the most honest thing she says in the play.

LORENZO ≋ verse

The reason is, your spirits are attentive.

For do but note a wild and wanton herd

Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,

Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,

Which is the hot condition of their blood,

If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,

Or any air of music touch their ears,

You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,

Their savage eyes turn’d to a modest gaze

By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet

Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods,

Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage,

But music for the time doth change his nature.

The man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;

The motions of his spirit are dull as night,

And his affections dark as Erebus.

Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

The reason is, your spirits are attentive. For do but note a wild and wanton herd Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn’d to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods, Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But music for the time does change his nature. The man that has no music in himself, Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

The reason is, your spirits are attentive For do but note a wild and wanton herd Or race of youthful and unhandled colts, Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud, Which is the hot condition of their blood, If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound, Or any air of music touch their ears, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Their savage eyes turn’d to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods, Since naught so stockish, hard, and full of rage, But music for the time does change his nature The man that has no music in himself, Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus Let no such man be trusted Mark the music

"The man that hath no music in himself" One of the most quoted lines from Act 5 — but it carries weight beyond its beauty. In a play where Shylock is associated with silence, locked gates, and the absence of music ('stop my house's ears'), Lorenzo's speech is an oblique portrait of what the play calls monstrousness.

Why it matters Lorenzo's speech on music is the play's clearest statement of its value system: harmony, responsiveness, openness to beauty. It prepares the audience for the shift from Venice's mercenary world to Belmont's grace.

Enter Portia and Nerissa.

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

Why it matters One of the play's most famous small aphorisms — arriving unexpectedly, not as a speech but as a passing observation. 'So shines a good deed in a naughty world' is Portia in two lines: idealist, confident, slightly wry.

NERISSA

When the moon shone we did not see the candle.

When the moon shone we did not see the candle

PORTIA ≋ verse

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!

So does 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 does an inland brook Into the main of waters. Music! hark!

So does 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 does an inland brook Into the main of waters Music hark

NERISSA

It is your music, madam, of the house.

It is your music, madam, of the house

PORTIA ≋ verse

Nothing is good, I see, without respect.

Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day.

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

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

NERISSA

Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.

Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam

PORTIA ≋ verse

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 season’d are

To their right praise and true perfection!

Peace! How the moon sleeps with Endymion,

And would not be awak’d!

The crow does 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 season’d are To their right praise and true perfection! Peace! How the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awak’d!

The crow does 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 season’d are To their right praise and true perfection Peace How the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awak’d

[_Music ceases._]

LORENZO ≋ verse

That is the voice,

Or I am much deceiv’d, of Portia.

That is the voice, Or I am much deceiv’d, of Portia.

That is the voice, Or I am much deceiv’d, of Portia

PORTIA ≋ verse

He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo,

By the bad voice.

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

He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo, By the bad voice

LORENZO

Dear lady, welcome home.

Dear lady, welcome home

PORTIA ≋ verse

We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare,

Which speed, we hope, the better for our words.

Are they return’d?

We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words. Are they return’d?

We have been praying for our husbands’ welfare, Which speed, we hope, the better for our words Are they return’d

LORENZO ≋ verse

Madam, they are not yet;

But there is come a messenger before

To signify their coming.

madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming.

madam, they are not yet; But there is come a messenger before To signify their coming

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

[_A tucket sounds._]

LORENZO ≋ verse

Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet.

We are no tell-tales, madam, fear you not.

Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet. We are no tell-tales, madam, fear you not.

Your husband is at hand, I hear his trumpet We are no tell-tales, madam, fear you not

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano and their Followers.

BASSANIO ≋ verse

We should hold day with the Antipodes,

If you would walk in absence of the sun.

We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun.

We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

Let me give light, but let me not be light, For a light wife does make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me. But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord.

Let me give light, but let me not be light, For a light wife does make a heavy husband, And never be Bassanio so for me But God sort all You are welcome home, my lord

"a light wife doth make a heavy husband" Portia is making a bawdy pun that the audience understands immediately — she is the 'light wife' who has just acquired the ring by being the 'light' doctor. The irony is exquisite.

BASSANIO ≋ verse

I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend.

This is the man, this is Antonio,

To whom I am so infinitely bound.

I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend. This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound.

I thank you, madam Give welcome to my friend This is the man, this is Antonio, To whom I am so infinitely bound

PORTIA ≋ verse

You should in all sense be much bound to him,

For, as I hear, he was much bound for you.

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

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

ANTONIO

No more than I am well acquitted of.

No more than I am well acquitted of

PORTIA ≋ verse

Sir, you are very welcome to our house.

It must appear in other ways than words,

Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.

sir, you are very welcome to our house. It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.

sir, you are very welcome to our house It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy

[_To Nerissa_.] By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong,

GRATIANO ≋ verse

In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk.

Would he were gelt that had it, for my part,

Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.

In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk. Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.

In faith, I gave it to the judge’s clerk Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, Since you do take it, love, so much at heart

PORTIA

A quarrel, ho, already! What’s the matter?

A quarrel, ho, already What’s the matter

GRATIANO ≋ verse

About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring

That she did give me, whose posy was

For all the world like cutlers’ poetry

Upon a knife, “Love me, and leave me not.”

About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring That she did give me, whose posy was For all the world like cutlers’ poetry Upon a knife, “Love me, and leave me not.”

About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring That she did give me, whose posy was For all the world like cutlers’ poetry Upon a knife, “Love me, and leave me not ”

NERISSA ≋ verse

What talk you of the posy, or the value?

You swore to me when I did give it you,

That you would wear it till your hour of death,

And that it should lie with you in your grave.

Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,

You should have been respective and have kept it.

Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge,

The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.

What talk you of the posy, or the value? You swore to me when I did give it you, That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave. Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, You should have been respective and have kept it. Gave it a judge’s clerk! No, God’s my judge, The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it.

What talk you of the posy, or the value You swore to me when I did give it you, That you would wear it till your hour of death, And that it should lie with you in your grave Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths, You should have been respective and have kept it Gave it a judge’s clerk No, God’s my judge, The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it

"The clerk will ne'er wear hair on's face that had it" Nerissa is hinting — for those who look closely — that the clerk was not a man. A clerk who'll 'never wear hair on his face' is either a boy or a woman. The hint is broadly placed for the audience's benefit.

GRATIANO

He will, and if he live to be a man.

He will, and if he live to be a man

NERISSA

Ay, if a woman live to be a man.

Ay, if a woman live to be a man

GRATIANO ≋ verse

Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth,

A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy,

No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk,

A prating boy that begg’d it as a fee,

I could not for my heart deny it him.

Now, by this hand, I gave it to a youth, A kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy, No higher than thyself, the judge’s clerk, A prating boy that begg’d it as a fee, I could not for my heart deny it him.

🎭 Dramatic irony Gratiano describes the clerk who took his ring as 'no higher than thyself' — talking to Nerissa, who IS that clerk. He is describing his wife's height to his wife's face.

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

🎭 Dramatic irony Portia tells Bassanio that she 'dares swear for him he would not leave' his ring — while knowing perfectly well she just extracted it from him. She is performing confidence in her husband that the ring plot is designed to test.

[_Aside._] Why, I were best to cut my left hand off,

BASSANIO

And swear I lost the ring defending it.

And swear I lost the ring defending it

GRATIANO ≋ verse

My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away

Unto the judge that begg’d it, and indeed

Deserv’d it too. And then the boy, his clerk,

That took some pains in writing, he begg’d mine,

And neither man nor master would take aught

But the two rings.

My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begg’d it, and indeed Deserv’d it too. And then the boy, his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begg’d mine, And neither man nor master would take aught But the two rings.

My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away Unto the judge that begg’d it, and indeed Deserv’d it too And then the boy, his clerk, That took some pains in writing, he begg’d mine, And neither man nor master would take aught But the two rings

PORTIA ≋ verse

What ring gave you, my lord?

Not that, I hope, which you receiv’d of me.

What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you receiv’d of me.

What ring gave you, my lord Not that, I hope, which you receiv’d of me

BASSANIO ≋ verse

If I could add a lie unto a fault,

I would deny it, but you see my finger

Hath not the ring upon it, it is gone.

If I could add a lie unto a fault, I would deny it, but you see my finger has not the ring upon it, it is gone.

If I could add a lie unto a fault, I would deny it, but you see my finger has not the ring upon it, it is gone

PORTIA ≋ verse

Even so void is your false heart of truth.

By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed

Until I see the ring.

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

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

NERISSA ≋ verse

Nor I in yours

Till I again see mine!

Nor I in yours Till I again see mine!

Nor I in yours Till I again see mine

BASSANIO ≋ verse

Sweet Portia,

If you did know to whom I gave the ring,

If you did know for whom I gave the ring,

And would conceive for what I gave the ring,

And how unwillingly I left the ring,

When nought would be accepted but the ring,

You would abate the strength of your displeasure.

Sweet Portia, If you did know to whom I gave the ring, If you did know for whom I gave the ring, And would conceive for what I gave the ring, And how unwillingly I left the ring, When nought would be accepted but the ring, You would abate the strength of your displeasure.

PORTIA ≋ verse

If you had known the virtue of the ring,

Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,

Or your own honour to contain the ring,

You would not then have parted with the ring.

What man is there so much unreasonable,

If you had pleas’d 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.

If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honour to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring. What man is there so much unreasonable, If you had pleas’d 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.

If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honour to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring What man is there so much unreasonable, If you had pleas’d 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

BASSANIO ≋ verse

No, by my honour, madam, by my soul,

No woman had it, but a civil doctor,

Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me,

And begg’d the ring, the which I did deny him,

And suffer’d him to go displeas’d away,

Even he that had held up the very life

Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?

I was enforc’d to send it after him.

I was beset with shame and courtesy.

My honour would not let ingratitude

So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady;

For by these blessed candles of the night,

Had you been there, I think you would have begg’d

The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.

No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begg’d the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffer’d him to go displeas’d away, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady? I was enforc’d to send it after him. I was beset with shame and courtesy. My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady; For by these blessed candles of the night, Had you been there, I think you would have begg’d The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.

No, by my honour, madam, by my soul, No woman had it, but a civil doctor, Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me, And begg’d the ring, the which I did deny him, And suffer’d him to go displeas’d away, Even he that had held up the very life Of my dear friend What should I say, sweet lady I was enforc’d to send it after him I was beset with shame and courtesy My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it Pardon me, good lady; For by these blessed candles of the night, Had you been there, I think you would have begg’d The ring of me to give the worthy doctor

PORTIA ≋ verse

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 honour which is yet mine own,

I’ll have that doctor for mine bedfellow.

Let not that doctor e’er come near my house, Since he has 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 honour which is yet mine own, I’ll have that doctor for mine bedfellow.

Let not that doctor e’er come near my house, Since he has 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 honour which is yet mine own, I’ll have that doctor for mine bedfellow

NERISSA ≋ verse

And I his clerk. Therefore be well advis’d

How you do leave me to mine own protection.

And I his clerk. Therefore be well advis’d How you do leave me to mine own protection.

And I his clerk Therefore be well advis’d How you do leave me to mine own protection

GRATIANO ≋ verse

Well, do you so. Let not me take him then,

For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.

Well, do you so. Let not me take him then, For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.

Well, do you so Let not me take him then, For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen

"I'll mar the young clerk's pen" A crude pun: 'pen' is both the writing instrument and a sexual innuendo for the clerk's anatomy. Gratiano defaults to bawdiness when he's rattled.

ANTONIO

I am th’ unhappy subject of these quarrels.

I am th’ unhappy subject of these quarrels

PORTIA

Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.

sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.

sir, grieve not you You are welcome notwithstanding

BASSANIO ≋ verse

Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong,

And in the hearing of these many friends

I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,

Wherein I see myself—

Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong, And in the hearing of these many friends I swear to you, even by your own fair eyes, Wherein I see myself—

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

Mark you but that! In both my eyes he doubly sees himself, In each I one. Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit.

Mark you but that In both my eyes he doubly sees himself, In each I one Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit

BASSANIO ≋ verse

Nay, but hear me.

Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear

I never more will break an oath with thee.

no, but hear me. Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with you.

no, but hear me Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with you

ANTONIO ≋ verse

I once did lend my body for his wealth,

Which but for him that had your husband’s ring

Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again,

My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord

Will never more break faith advisedly.

I once did lend my body for his wealth, Which but for him that had your husband’s ring Had quite miscarried. I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly.

I once did lend my body for his wealth, Which but for him that had your husband’s ring Had quite miscarried I dare be bound again, My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Will never more break faith advisedly

PORTIA ≋ verse

Then you shall be his surety. Give him this,

And bid him keep it better than the other.

Then you shall be his surety. Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other.

Then you shall be his surety Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other

ANTONIO

Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.

Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring

BASSANIO

By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!

By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor

PORTIA ≋ verse

I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio,

For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.

I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio, For by this ring, the doctor lay with me.

I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio, For by this ring, the doctor lay with me

Why it matters The revelation speech — Portia gives him back his own ring and pretends to confess to exactly the infidelity she knows she hasn't committed. The joke is perfect because he must either believe it or realize the truth.

NERISSA ≋ verse

And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano,

For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk,

In lieu of this, last night did lie with me.

And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me.

And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this, last night did lie with me

GRATIANO ≋ verse

Why, this is like the mending of highways

In summer, where the ways are fair enough.

What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserv’d it?

Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer, where the ways are fair enough. What, are we cuckolds before we have deserv’d it?

Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer, where the ways are fair enough What, are we cuckolds before we have deserv’d it

PORTIA ≋ verse

Speak not so grossly. You are all amaz’d.

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 return’d. I have not yet

Speak not so grossly. You are all amaz’d. 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 return’d. I have not yet

Speak not so grossly You are all amaz’d 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 return’d

↩ Callback to 4-1 Portia's revelation that she was the doctor closes the loop on the 'quality of mercy' speech: the woman who argued for mercy most beautifully was also the woman who applied the law most mercilessly — and she is standing in front of her husband as herself.

Enter’d my house. Antonio, you are welcome,

And I have better news in store for you

Than you expect: unseal this letter soon.

There you shall find three of your argosies

Are richly come to harbour suddenly.

You shall not know by what strange accident

I chanced on this letter.

ANTONIO

I am dumb.

I am dumb

BASSANIO

Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?

Were you the doctor, and I knew you not

GRATIANO

Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?

Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold

NERISSA ≋ verse

Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it,

Unless he live until he be a man.

Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it, Unless he live until he be a man.

Ay, but the clerk that never means to do it, Unless he live until he be a man

BASSANIO ≋ verse

Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.

When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow. When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow When I am absent, then lie with my wife

ANTONIO ≋ verse

Sweet lady, you have given me life and living;

For here I read for certain that my ships

Are safely come to road.

Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road.

Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read for certain that my ships Are safely come to road

Why it matters Antonio's 'I am dumb' — then this — is Shakespeare's way of giving the play's financial plot its resolution without fanfare. Antonio has been the shadow over the comedy from the first scene; here the shadow lifts.

PORTIA ≋ verse

How now, Lorenzo!

My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.

How now, Lorenzo! My clerk has some good comforts too for you.

How now, Lorenzo My clerk has some good comforts too for you

NERISSA ≋ verse

Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.

There do I give to you and Jessica,

From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,

After his death, of all he dies possess’d of.

Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee. There do I give to you and Jessica, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possess’d of.

Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee There do I give to you and Jessica, From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift, After his death, of all he dies possess’d of

↩ Callback to 4-1 The deed of gift to Lorenzo and Jessica — Antonio's condition in the trial — is now delivered by Nerissa; what was imposed on Shylock in the courtroom lands as a gift here at Belmont.

LORENZO ≋ verse

Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way

Of starved people.

Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people.

Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people

PORTIA ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

GRATIANO ≋ verse

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.

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.

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

"keeping safe Nerissa's ring" The play ends on a pun: 'ring' as wedding ring, and 'ring' as bawdy slang for female anatomy — a crude double meaning that Gratiano makes explicit. Shakespeare gives the last word to the most vulgar character, which is its own kind of comment on the play's romantic idealism.

Why it matters The final couplet gives the comedy to Gratiano — the play's most tactless voice — which is either a joke at the expense of romance or a reminder that even the noblest events end in someone making a dirty joke.

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

After the violence of the trial scene, the play insists on beauty. Lorenzo and Jessica fill the dark with poetry about doomed lovers and music that tames wild things. Then the ring argument — which could be cruel — turns out to be a game Portia is playing from a position of total security, not a test she fears. The revelations arrive in quick succession: Portia was the doctor; Nerissa was the clerk; Antonio's ships are safe. The play resolves into joy so completely that what happened in that Venice courtroom feels — for a moment — very far away.

If this happened today…

Two couples at a lakeside estate waiting for the others to return. The host couple sits outside under stars trading inside jokes about mythological lovers going badly wrong — it's their version of banter. A messenger arrives saying the ladies are coming. Then there's a reckoning about who gave away what ring, a lot of competitive swearing, and then the bombshell: your wife was the lawyer who saved your best friend. He just handed her her own wedding ring as a thank-you gift. The good news doesn't stop there — three investment funds that everyone assumed had failed have just been confirmed profitable. It is, by any measure, a very good night.