The Merchant of VeniceModern English
The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 2
Original
Modern English
Enter Portia and Nerissa.
Portia and Nerissa come in.
Portia1
Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it, we’ll away tonight, And be a day before our husbands home. This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.
Find out where the Jew's house is, give him this deed, and have him sign it. We'll leave tonight and be home a day before our husbands. This deed will be very welcome to Lorenzo.
Enter Gratiano.
Gratiano comes in.
Gratiano5
Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en. My Lord Bassanio upon more advice, Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat Your company at dinner.
Good sir, I'm glad I caught up with you. My Lord Bassanio, on further thought, has sent you this ring, and asks for your company at dinner.
Portia9
That cannot be; His ring I do accept most thankfully, And so I pray you tell him. Furthermore, I pray you show my youth old Shylock’s house.
That's not possible. I accept his ring most gratefully, and please tell him so. Also, please show my young servant where old Shylock's house is.
Gratiano13
That will I do.
I'll do that.
Nerissa14
Sir, I would speak with you. [Aside to Portia.] I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring, Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.
Sir, I'd like a word with you. [Aside to Portia.] I'll see if I can get my husband's ring, the one I made him swear to keep for ever.
Portia18
[To Nerissa.] Thou mayst, I warrant. We shall have old swearing 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.
[To Nerissa.] You can, I guarantee it. We'll hear plenty of swearing that they gave the rings away to men; but we'll brazen it out, and outswear them too. Off you go! Hurry! You know where I'll be waiting.
Nerissa22
Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?
Come on, good sir, will you show me the way to this house?
Exeunt.
They all leave.
Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1515 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.