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.

Por. 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 any thing I have,

No, not my body nor my husband's bed:
Know him I shall, I am well sure of it :

220

Lie not a night from home; watch me like Argus: 230
If you do not, if I be left alone,

Now, by mine honour, which is yet mine own,
I'll have that doctor for my bedfellow.

Ner. And I his clerk; therefore be well advised
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
Gra. Well, do you so: let not me take him, then;
For if I do, I'll mar the young clerk's pen.
Ant. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels.
Por. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome not-
withstanding.

Bass. 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-

Por.

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.

Bass.

Nay, but hear me :

Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear
I never more will break an oath with thee.
Ant. I once did lend my body for his wealth;

240

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.

Por. Then you shall be his surety. Give him

this

And bid him keep it better than the other.

Ant. Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring.

Bass. By heaven, it is the same I gave the

doctor!

250

Por. I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio;

For, by this ring, the doctor lay with me.

Ner. 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.

260

Gra. Why, this is like the mending of highways In summer, where the ways are fair enough: What, are we cuckolds ere we have deserved it ? Por. Speak not so grossly. You are all amazed : 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

270

Shall witness I set forth as soon as you
And even but now return'd; I have not yet
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.

Ant.

I am dumb.

Bass. Were you the doctor and I knew you not? 280

262. In lieu of this, in consideration of this (ring).

Gra. Were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold?

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

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

Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and living :

For here I read for certain that my ships

Are safely come to road.

Por.

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

Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee. 290

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.

Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way

Of starved people.

Por.

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.

Gra. 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,
That 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.

[Exeunt.

300

THE

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

The confusion of time, due apparently to compression, is discussed in the Introduction. Mr. Daniel proposes the

following arrangement as 'in accordance with the obvious intention of the author':

Day 1. I. 1.-4.

2. II. 1.-3., III. 1.-4., and the Quickly portion of 5.

3. The Ford portion of III. 5., IV., V.