Enter Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, and their Followers.
Bass. We should hold day with the Antipodes,
If you would walk in absence of the sun. 128
Por. Let me give light, but let me not be light;
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,
And never be Bassanio so for me:
But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord. 132
Bass. I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend:
This is the man, this is Antonio,
To whom I am so infinitely bound.
Por. You should in all sense be much bound to him,
For, as I hear, he was much bound for you. 137
Ant. No more than I am well acquitted of.
Por. Sir, you are very welcome to our house:
It must appear in other ways than words, 140
Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy.
Gra. [To Nerissa.] By yonder moon I swear you do me wrong;
In faith, I gave it to the judge's clerk:
Would he were gelt that had it, for my part, 144
Since you do take it, love, so much at heart.
Por. A quarrel, ho, already! what's the matter?
Gra. About a hoop of gold, a paltry ring
That she did give me, whose poesy was 148
For all the world like cutlers' poetry
Upon a knife, 'Love me, and leave me not.'
Ner. What talk you of the posy, or the value?
You swore to me, when I did give it you, 152
That you would wear it till your hour of death,
127, 128 Cf. n.
132 sort: dispose
141 breathing courtesy: words of welcome
148 poesy: posy on inside of ring
150 Upon a knife: they put mottoes on knives
151 What: why
