SCENE II. The same. A street.

ACT IV

[Enter Portia and Nerissa.]

PORTIA

Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed,

And let him sign it, we’ll away tonight,

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

[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.

NERISSA

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

[Exeunt.]