The same. A street.

[Enter Portia and Nerissa.]

PORTIA. Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed

And let him sign it: we’ll away to-night

And be a day before our husbands home:

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

[Enter Gratiano.]

GRATIANO. Fair sir, you are well overta’en

My Lord Bassanio upon more advice

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat

Your company at dinner.

PORTIA. 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.

GRATIANO. That will I do.

NERISSA. Sir, I would speak with you.

[To Portia] I’ll see if I can get my husband’s ring,

Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

PORTIA. 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.

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

[Exeunt.]