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Storgy

The Merchant of VeniceModern English

The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 2

The same. A street.

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Which text to show for Act 4, Scene 2

Original

Modern English

  1. Enter Portia and Nerissa.

    Portia and Nerissa come in.

  2. 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 document, and have him sign it. We'll leave tonight, and get home a day before our husbands. This document will be very welcome to Lorenzo.

  3. Enter Gratiano.

    Gratiano comes in.

  4. 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've caught up with you. My Lord Bassanio, on further thought, has sent you this ring, and asks you to have dinner with him.

  5. 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 impossible. I accept his ring most gratefully, and please tell him so. Besides that, please show my young man where old Shylock's house is.

  6. Gratiano13

    That will I do.

    I'll do that.

  7. 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, which I made him swear to keep for ever.

  8. 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 promise you. There'll be plenty of swearing that they gave the rings away to men; but we'll brazen it out against them, and out-swear them too. Off you go! Hurry! You know where I'll be waiting.

  9. Nerissa22

    Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

    Come along, good sir, will you show me the way to this house?

  10. Exeunt.

    They all leave.

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Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1515 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.