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Modern Text |
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PORTIA How now, Lorenzo?
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.
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PORTIA How are you, Lorenzo? My clerk has some comforting news for you, too.
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NERISSA Ay, and I’ll give them him without a fee.
(gives LORENZO
a document)
300There do I give to you and Jessica,
From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,
After his death of all he dies possessed of.
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NERISSA Yes, and I’ll give it to him for free.
(she gives LORENZO a document)
This is from the rich Jew, for you and Jessica. It’s a special testament. After he
dies, you’ll inherit everything he owns.
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LORENZO Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way
Of starvèd people.
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LORENZO Ladies, you’re dropping bread from the heavens to starving people.
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PORTIA It is almost morning,
305And yet I am sure you are not satisfied
Of these events at full. Let us go in,
And charge us there upon interr'gatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.
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PORTIA It’s almost morning, but I’m sure you’re not fully satisfied
about what happened. Let’s go inside and we’ll answer all your questions
truthfully.
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GRATIANO Let it be so. The first interr'gatory
310That 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.
315Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing
So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.
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GRATIANO All right, then. My first question for Nerissa is whether she’d rather wait
till tomorrow night or go to bed now, since there are only two more hours till morning. When
the day comes, I’ll wish it were nighttime, so I could sleep with the legal
expert’s clerk. In any case, I won’t worry about anything for the rest of
my life more than keeping Nerissa’s ring safe.
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Exeunt
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They exit.
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