_Por._ Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding. _Bass._ Portia, forgive me this enforced wrong; 240 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, 245 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; Which, but for him that had your husband’s ring, 250 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. 255 _Ant._ Here, Lord Bassanio; swear to keep this ring. _Bass._ By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor! _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; 260 For that same scrubbed boy, the doctor’s clerk, In lieu of this last night did lie with me. _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? 265 _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; 275 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 _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. 285 _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.