 | The Jew of Venice |  |
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ACT V.
Scene I.
Enter Lorenzo and Jessica.Loren.
The Moon shines bright. In such a Night as this
Did pensive Troilus mount the Trojan Wall,
Sighing his Soul towards the Grecian Tents,
Where beauteous Cressid lay—
Jess.
In such a Night—
Sad Dido with a Willow in her Hand
Stood on the wild Sea-Beach, and waft her Love
To come again to Carthage—
Loren.
In such a Night Medea gather'd the inchanted
Herbs, that did renew old Æson.
Jess.
In such a Night,
Did young Lorenzo swear to Jessica
He lov'd her well, and stole away her Soul
With many a Vow, and ne're a true one.
Loren.
In such a Night.
Both together.
Jess.
In such a Night.
I would out-Night you. But hark!
I hear a footing.
Enter Portia and Jessica.
Port.
That Light we see is burning in my Hall.
Loren.
'Tis sure the Voice of Portia.
Port.
He knows me as the Blind Man does the Cuckow,
By the bad Voice. Lorenzo, is it you?
Loren.
Madam, you are most welcome.
Port.
We have been praying for my Lords Success,
Who fares, we hope, the better for our Pray'rs:
Is he return'd?
Loren.
Madam, not yet. But here are Letters from him,
Which give a good Account of his Proceeding,
And that he will be here to Night;
We were walk't out to wait his coming.
Port.
Give Order to my Servants, that they take
No Note at all of our being absent hence;
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So direct as we were here in formal Expectation
Of his return—
This Night methinks is but the Day-light sick;
It looks a little paler. 'Tis a Day,
Such as the Day is when the Sun is hid.
Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and Followers.
Bass.
We should hold day with the Antipodes,
If you would walk in Absence of the Sun?
My Portia, this was kind to meet me thus.
Port.
‘O never more let any Cause of Grief
Divide my Lord and me.
[Gratiano runs to Nerissa, who discourse apart.
Bass.
Nothing can: Here Madam is my Friend,
Let me present him to you: This si Antonio,
Whom, if you love Bassanio, you must love.
Port.
‘I should behold him with a Jealous Eye,
Who has so large a Share in my Lord's Heart.
To Ant.]
‘Having his Leave, you'll not deny me yours,
To make a third in Friendship: I doubly joy
That you are safe and here.
Ant.
I thank you, Madam.
Port.
‘Play all our Instruments of Musick there,
Let nothing now be heard but sounds of Joy,
And let those glorious Orbs that we behold,
Who in their Motions, all like Angels sing,
Still Quiring to the blew-ey'd Cherubims,
Join in the Chorus; that in Heav'n and Earth
One universal Tune may celebrate
This Harmony of Hearts. Soft Stilness, and the Night
Become the Touches of sweet Harmony.
Musick.
Grat.
By yonder Moon and Stars, I swear you wrong me,
By Heav'n, I gave it to the Lawyers Clerk.
Port.
A quarrel! what, already? What's the matter?
Grat.
About a Hoop of Gold, a paltry Ring she gave me,
Whose Poesie was, for all the World, like Cutlers
Poetry upon a Knife, Love me, and leave me not.
Neriss.
No matter for the Poesie, or the Value.
When I gave it you swore never to part with it:
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For your Oath's sake, such vehement Oaths, you
Should have kept it. A Lawyer's Clerk! A fine
Invention! But well, I know the Clerk who had it
Will ne're have Hair upon his Face.
Grat.
He will, if he but live to be Man.
Neriss.
If! If a Woman live to be a Man!
Grat.
Now by this Hand, I gave it to a Youth, a kind
Of Boy; a little scrubbed Boy, no higher
Than thy self; the Judge's Clerk; a prating
Boy, that begg'd it for a Fee.
Port.
You were to blame, I must be plain with you,
To make so slight of the first Gift of Love;
A thing stuck on with Oaths upon your Fingers,
‘And rivited with solemn Protestations
‘Of mutual Faith: A Pledge of Truth between you:
‘Indeed you were to blame.
I gave my Lord a Ring, and made him swear
Never to part with it: And here he stands,
I dare be sworn for him, he would not give it,
Or pluck it from his Finger, for the Wealth
That the whole World contains.
Bass.
aside.]
Now were I best to cut my Left hand off,
And swear I lost the Ring defending it.
Grat.
My Lord Bassanio gave his Ring away
To the young Smock fac'd Lawyer, who begg'd it,
‘And deserv'd it too: And then the Boy his Clerk,
‘A little importunate Urchin, who took some pains
In Writing, would needs beg mine; and neither
Man nor Master would take any thing but the 2 Rings.
Port.
What Ring gave you, my Lord?
Not that, I hope, which you receiv'd from me?
Bass.
If I could add a Lye to hide a Fault,
I would deny it: But you see my Finger
Has not the Ring upon it; it is gone.
Port.
And even as void is your false Heart of Truth.
By Heav'n! I'll never come within your Bed
Till I have seen this Ring.
Neriss.
Nor I in yours, till I see mine.
Bass.
If you but knew to whom I gave this Ring,
‘For what I gave it, and for whom I gave it;
‘How much compell'd, and how unwillingly,
‘When nothing else would be accepted—
Port.
If you but knew the Virtue of this Ring,
‘If you had valu'd her, who gave this Ring,
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To keep this Ring, you wou'd have dy'd, Bassanio,
E're you had parted from it:
What Man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleas'd to have defended it
With any shew of Zeal, wanted the Modesty
To urge a thing, held as a Ceremony
Sacred to Truth, and to Connubial Love.
Nerissa teaches me what to be believe;
I'll dy for't; but a Woman had this Ring.
Bassa.
No, by my Honour, Madam, by my Soul,
No Woman had it: but a generous Friend,
Even he, who had held up the very Life
Of my best Friend. What shall I say, my Portia?
I was beset with Shame and Courtesie.
Had you been there, you would your self have begg'd
This Ring, to be dispos'd as I dispos'd it.
Port.
Let not that Man, whoe're he is, come near me:
Since he has got the Jewel that I priz'd,
I shall become as liberal as you,
And nothing can deny the Man that has it.
A Ring it was of wondrous Mystery,
And sanctify'd by Charms to rivet Love:
Whoever has it, has the sure Command
Of me, my Person, and of all that's mine:
The dire Enchantment was so strongly wrought;
One Mind directs us, and one Bed must hold us:
Know him I shall, I must; nay, I will know him;
I feel the Effects already. Watch me like Argos,
If you do not, if I be left alone,
Now by my Honour, which is yet entire,
That Man and I are one.
Neriss.
‘Just such a Ring was mine:
Methinks I love that Lawyers Clerk already,
Just as I love my self.
Bassa.
‘Forgive me this first Fault;
I'll trust thy Honour above any Charms:
My Love is built upon Esteem so strong,
As cannot doubt your Virtue.
Grat.
‘I am not quite so liberal of good Thoughts;
But this I'll say, if I can catch this Clerk,
His Pen shall split for't.
Anto.
I am the unhappy Subject of this Quarrel
By my Perswasion—
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Sir, grieve not you;
You're welcome notwithstanding.
[Walks about as in a Passion.
Bass.
‘But hear me, Portia;
‘Pardon this Error; by my Soul, I swear,
‘By what is dearer to me than my Soul,
‘Your precious self—
Ant.
‘I dare be bound for him;
‘My life upon the Forfeit, that your Lord
‘Shall never more break Faith.
Port.
‘You have been of this Surety, and
‘Have paid for't dearly.
Ant.
‘No more than I am well acquitted of.
Port.
‘Then be his Surety still: Here is a Ring,
‘Of the same Virtue, ‘and so qualify'd
‘With equal Spells. This only can retrieve
‘With Counter-Magick what the other lost.
Antonio, give him this: But make him swear
To keep it better.
Ant.
Here, Lord Bassanio: Swear to keep this Ring.
Bass.
By Heav'n!
[Starts.
This is the same I gave the Lawyer.
Port.
Why so it is; I had it from him: ‘You see
‘How quick an Operation is in Magick.
‘We have met already.
Bass.
‘Met! how have you met!
Neriss.
Met—why by Art Magick, to lie together:
‘Ask that same scrubbed Boy, the Lawyers Clerk.
Grat.
‘Why this is worse and worse.
Bass.
‘Antonio! this was your doing.
[Angrily.
Ant.
‘Take your Revenge, and kill me.
Bass.
‘I am answer'd—Is it then true?
‘And can it be? That by the Secret Workings
‘Of Mystick Words, and Spells, and dire Compounds,
‘Potions and Invocations horrible,
‘Nature can be so led? What then is Virtue?
‘And what Security has Love or Reason,
‘Thus subjected to every Hell born Hagg,
‘Who, by such Conjurations can dis-join
‘United Hearts? uniting the Averse!
‘How, wretched Man! how can'st thou boast free Will?
‘If this in very deed be true. I'll not suppos't—
‘But then that Ring! How could she have it: 'tis Witch-craft!
‘Damn'd, damn'd Witchcraft: And I will fathom Hell,
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‘The Devil that has done this.
[Portia and Nerissa laugh
Port., Neriss.
Ha, ha, ha.
Grat.
‘Is this true, Nerissa! are we then two Scurvy
‘Cuckcolds by Art Magick!
Port.
‘Ha, ha, ha. Well; since you grow so serious,
‘I will be serious too: Read this Bassanio,
‘The Adventures writ at large: Look not so sullen, Lord,
‘But read it. Lorenzo here and Jessica
Can witness for me: I set out almost
Assoon as you. And am but even now return'd,
‘I have not yet enter'd my House: But
‘For farther proof, Clerk, give Lorenzo
‘The Writings sign'd by Shylock.
Neriss.
I'll give 'em without Fee: Here Lorenzo,
Here is a Deed of Gift to you and Jessica,
Of all the Jew, your Father, dies possess'd of.
Loren.
See Jessica, is this his Hand?
Jess.
‘'Tis his own signing.
Loren.
‘What prodigy is this?
Bass.
‘I am struck dumb with wonder.
Grat.
‘Was Portia then the little Smerking Lawyer,
‘And Nerissa the Clerk: I'll never forgive such a
‘Trick. Art-Magick do you call it?
Neriss.
Nay, but Gratiano.
Grat.
‘Away, away.
[Dispute aside.
Port.
Antonio! Here are Letters too for you;
Ask me not yet, by what strange Accident
They fell into my Hands—but read 'em.
Bass.
‘Amazement has bereft me of all Words.
Ant.
Why here I read, for certain, that my scatter'd Ships,
Are safely all arriv'd at Rhodes,
With their whole Cargo.
Port.
Doubt it not, Antonio. 'Tis most true.
‘Virtue like yours; such Patience in Adversity,
‘And in Prosperity such Goodness,
‘Is still the Care of Providence.
Ant.
‘My Life and Fortunes have been all your Gift;
‘Dispose 'em, and command 'em, Madam,
‘As you please.
[Grat. and Neriss. advance.
Neriss.
What can you bear no Jests, but of your own
‘Making?
Grat.
‘You have so scar'd me with your Art-Magick,
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‘But therein ly my Revenge: And so shake
‘Hands from this Day forwards.
‘As the most precious of all Gems, I swear!
‘Nerissa's Ring shall be Gratiano's Care.
Port.
‘All look amaz'd, in every Face I see
‘A thousand Questions: 'Tis time we should go in,
‘There will I answer all: Cease your astonishment,
‘My Lord; by these small Services to you
‘And to your Friends, I hope I may secure
‘Your Love; which, built upon meer Fancy,
‘Had else been subjected to Alteration.
‘With Age and Use the Rose grown Sick and Faint,
‘Thus mixt with friendly Sweets, secures it's Scent.
Bass.
‘The sweets of Love shall here for ever blow;
‘I needs must Love, remembring what I owe.
‘Love, like a Meteor, shows a short-liv'd Blaze,
‘Or treads thro' various Skies, a wond'ring Maze;
‘Begot by Fancy, and by Fancy led,
‘Here in a Moment, in a Moment fled:
‘But fixt by Obligations, it will last;
‘For Gratitude's the Charm that binds it fast.
[Exeunt Omnes.
| The Jew of Venice | |