My lord Bassanio, upon more advice,1

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat
Your company at dinner.

Por.

That cannot be.

This ring I do accept most thankfully,

And so, I pray you, tell him; farthermore,

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.
Gra. That will I do.

Ner.

Sir, I would speak with you.

I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, [to Portia. Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

Por. Thou mayst, I warrant.

swearing,

We shall have old

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.

Ner. Come, good sir, will you show me to this

Lor. The moon shines bright.--In such a night

as this,

1 Reflection.

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.

Jes.

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

Lor.

In such a night,

Stood Dido with a willow in her hand

Upon the wild sea-banks, and waved her love

To come again to Carthage.

Jes.

Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs

That did renew old son.

Lor.

In such a night,

In such a night.

Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,

And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, As far as Belmont.

Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well;
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.

Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,

Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

Jes. I would out-night you, did nobody come : But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Enter STEPHANO.

Lor. Who comes so fast in silence of the night? Ste. A friend.

Lor. A friend? what friend? your name, I pray

you, friend?

Ste. 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.

Lor.

Who comes with her?

Ste. None but a holy hermit and her maid.

pray you, is my master yet return'd?

Lor. 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,

Enter LAUNCELOT.

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

Lor. Who calls?

Laun. Sola! did you see master Lorenzo and mistress Lorenzo? sola, sola!

Lor. Leave hollaing, man: here.

Laun. Sola! where? where?

Lor. Here.

Laun. Tell him, there's a post come from my