Page 500 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

By heaven, it is the same I gave the doctor!

PORTIA
I had it of him. Pardon me, Bassanio,
For by this ring the doctor lay with me.

NERISSA
And pardon me, my gentle Gratiano, [260]
For that same scrubbèd boy, the doctor’s clerk,

In lieu of this last night did lie with me.

GRATIANO
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]

PORTIA
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 returned, I have not yet
Entered 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 chancèd on this letter.

ANTONIO
I am dumb!

BASSANIO
Were you the doctor and I knew you not? [280]