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My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away

Gratiano
My Lord Bassanio gave his ring away
Unto the judge that begged it, and indeed
Deserved it, too. And then the boy, his clerk,
That took some pains in writing, he begged mine,
And neither man nor master would take aught
But the two rings.
Portia
What ring gave you, my lord?
Not that, I hope, which you received of me.

If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.

Bassanio
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.
Portia
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, to Gratiano
Nor I in yours
Till I again see mine!
Bassanio
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 naught would be accepted but the ring,
You would abate the strength of your displeasure.
Portia
If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleased 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
No, by my honor, madam, by my soul,
No woman had it, but a civil doctor,
Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me
And begged the ring, the which I did deny him
And suffered him to go displeased away,
Even he that had held up the very life
Of my dear friend. What should I say, sweet lady?
I was enforced to send it after him.
I was beset with shame and courtesy.
My honor would not let ingratitude
So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady,
For by these blessèd candles of the night,
Had you been there, I think you would have begged
The ring of me to give the worthy doctor.
Portia
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 honor, which is yet mine own,
I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow.
Nerissa
And I his clerk. Therefore be well advised
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
Gratiano
Well, do you so. Let not me take him, then,
For if I do, I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
Antonio
I am th’ unhappy subject of these quarrels.
Portia
Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.
Bassanio
Portia, forgive me this enforcèd wrong,
And in the hearing of these many friends
I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes,
Wherein I see myself—
Portia
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.
Bassanio
Nay, but hear me.
Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear
I never more will break an oath with thee.
Antonio
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
Then you shall be his surety. Give him this,
  Giving Antonio a ring.
And bid him keep it better than the other.
Antonio
Here, Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring.
Bassanio
By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!

Source:
Act 5
Scene 1
Line 192

Source Type:

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