No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 5, Scene 1, Page 11
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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.
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PORTIA
Don’t let that lawyer ever come near my house! Since he has the jewel I loved,
which you swore you’d keep forever, I’ll be as generous as you were to
him. I won’t deny him anything of mine, including my own body and my
husband’s bed. I’ll recognize him all right, I’m sure of it. So
don’t spend one night away from this house. Watch me like a hawk. If you
don’t, if I’m left alone, I swear I’ll have that legal expert as
my bedfellow.
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NERISSA
(to GRATIANO) And I his
clerk. Therefore be well advised
How you do leave me to mine own protection.
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NERISSA
(to GRATIANO) And
I’ll have his clerk as mine. So be careful when you leave me to my own
devices.
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GRATIANO
Well, do you so, let not me take him then.
For if I do I’ll mar the young clerk’s pen.
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GRATIANO
Well, go ahead. But don’t let me catch him, because if I do I’ll
break that clerk’s pen.
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ANTONIO
I am th' unhappy subject of these quarrels.
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ANTONIO
All these quarrels are about me.
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PORTIA
Sir, grieve not you. You are welcome notwithstanding.
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PORTIA
Don’t be upset. You’re welcome in our home in spite of everything
that’s going on.
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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—
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BASSANIO
Portia, forgive me for this mistake that I had to make. All these friends are my
witnesses, so I swear to you, I swear by your beautiful eyes, in which I see myself
reflected—
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245 |
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!
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PORTIA
Did you hear that! He sees himself in my two eyes, so there’s two of him. He
should swear by his two-faced self, and that’s an oath I’ll
believe!
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