What man is there so much unreasonable, JIO [She stops suddenly and faces him. Nerissa teaches me what to believe : I'll die for 't, but some woman had the ring. Bassanio. No, by mine honour, 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, Even he that had held up the very life 115 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 honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it. Pardon me, good lady; 121 125 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, 130 I will become as liberal as you; I'll not deny him anything I have. Antonio. I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels. Portia. Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding. Bassanio. Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; 135 And, in the hearing of these many friends, I swear to thee, even by thine own fair eyes, Portia. Mark you but that! In both my eyes he doubly sees himself; Bassanio. I never more will break an oath with thee. 140 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, 145 My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord Portia. Then you shall be his surety. [She puts the ring into his hand.] Give him this, And bid him keep it better than the other. 150 Antonio [giving it]. Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring. Bassanio. By heaven! it is the same I gave the doctor! Portia. I had it of him. [Nerissa restores Gratiano's ring.] 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, 155 160 [Antonio opens the letter. Bassanio. Were you the doctor and I knew you not? Antonio. Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read that certain of my ships Are safely come to road. 165 How now, Lorenzo ! Portia. My clerk hath some good comforts too for you. Nerissa. Aye, and I'll give them him without a fee. [She puts the deed into his hands. There 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. Lorenzo. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way Of starved people. Portia. It is almost morning, And yet I am sure you are not satisfied Of these events at full. Let us go in. 170 175 Gratiano. Well, while I live I'll fear no other thing So sore as keeping safe Nerissa's ring. [They all go merrily into the house. XVI. TANNER AND KING BY THOMAS HEYWOOD SCENE I. A ROYAL GUEST. King Edward IV, in disguise, has met John Hobs, the honest tanner of Tamworth, and for a jest has promised to sup with him as Ned, the King's butler. Enter Hobs and his daughter Nell. Hobs. Come, Nell! come, daughter. Is your hands and your face washed ? Nell. Aye, forsooth, father. Hobs. Ye must be cleanly, I tell ye; for there comes a courtnol hither to-night, the King's mastership's 5 butler, Ned, a spruce youth; but beware ye be not in love nor overtaken by him, for courtiers be slippery lads. Nell. No, forsooth, father. Hobs. God's blessing on thee! That half-year's schooling at Lichfield was better to thee than house and 10 land. It has put such manners into thee-Aye, forsooth, and No, forsooth, at every word. You have a clean smock I like your apparel well. Is supper ready? Nell. Aye, forsooth, father. on. Hobs. Have we a good barley bag-pudding, a piece of 15 fat bacon, a god cow-heel, a hard cheese, and a brown loaf ? Nell. All this, forsooth, and more. Ye shall have a posset; but indeed the rats have spoiled your hard cheese. Hobs. Now, the devil choke them! So they have eat me a farthing candle the other night. Dudgeon [within]. What, master, master! Hobs. How now, knave ? what say'st thou, Dudgeon ? Dudgeon. Here 's guests come. Where's Helen ? Hobs. What guests be they? Dudgeon. A courtnol; one Ned, the King's butcher, he says, and his friend too. 20 25 Hobs. Ned, the King's butcher? Ha, ha! the King's butler. Take their horses and walk them, and bid them 30 come near house. Nell, lay the cloth and clap supper o' the board. [Exit Nell. Enter King Edward and Sellenger. Mass, here's Ned, indeed, and another misproud ruffian. Welcome, Ned! I like thy honesty; thou keepest promise. King. I' faith, honest tanner, I'll ever keep promise with thee. Prithee, bid my friend welcome. Hobs. By my troth, ye are both welcome to Tamworth. Friend, I know not your name. Sellenger. My name is Tom Twist. Hobs. Believe, ye that list. But ye are welcome both; and I like you both well but for one thing. Sellenger. What's that? 35 40 Hobs. Nay, that I keep to myself; for I sigh to see 45 and think that pride brings many one to extruction. King. Prithee, tell us thy meaning. Hobs. Troth, I doubt ye ne'er came truly by all these gay rags. 'Tis not your bare wages and thin fees ye have of the King can keep ye thus fine; but either ye 50 must rob the King privily, or his subjects openly, to maintain your prodigality. Sellenger. Think'st thou so, tanner? Hobs. 'Tis no matter what I think. Come, let's go to supper. What Nell! What Dudgeon! Where be 55 these folks? Enter Nell and Dudgeon, with a table covered. Daughter, bid my friends welcome. Nell. Ye are welcome, gentlemen, as I may say. [They both kiss her. King. A pretty wench, by my fay! Hobs. How likest her, Ned? King. I like her so well, I would you would make me your son-in-law. бо Hobs. And I like thee so well, Ned, that, hadst thou an occupation (for service is no heritage: a young courtier 65 and an old beggar), I could find in my heart to cast her away upon thee; and if thou wilt forsake the court and turn tanner, or bind thyself to a shoemaker in Lichfield, I'll give thee twenty nobles ready money with my Nell, and trust thee with a dicker of leather to set up 70 thy trade. Sellenger. Ned, he offers you fair, if you have the grace to take it. King. He does, indeed, Tom; and hereafter I'll tell him more. Hobs. Come, sit down to supper: [aside] go to, Nell; no more sheep's eyes; ye may be caught, I tell you. Nell [aside]. I warrant you, father; yet in truth Ned is a very proper man, and tother may serve ; but Ned's a pearl in my eye. Hobs. Daughter, call Dudgeon and his fellows. We'll have a three-man's song, to make our guests merry. [Exit Nell. Nails, what courtnols are ye? ye'll neither talk nor eat. What news at court? Do somewhat for your meat. King. Heavy news there: King Henry is dead. King. But how will the commons take it? Sellenger. Shrewdly spoken, tanner, by my fay! 75 80 85 90 95 King. Yes, Tom shall be my surety, tanner; I will 100 know thee. Sellenger. If thou dost not, Ned, by my troth, I beshrew thee. King. I drink to my wife that may be. Sellenger. Faith, Ned, thou mayest live to make her 105 a lady. King. Tush, her father offers nothing, having no more children but her. Hobs. I would I had not, condition she had all. But I have a knave to my son; I remember him by you; even 110 |