ACT 3, SCENE 4
Above a twelvemonth.33 I have within my mind A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks34 Which I will practise.
NERISSA Why, shall we turn to men?35
PORTIA Fie, what a question’s that If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!36
But come, I’ll tell thee all my whole device37 When I am in my coach, which stays38 for us At the park gate; and therefore haste away, For we must measure39 twenty miles today.
Exeunt. OVERVIEW OF ACT 3, SCENE 4 l
Lorenzo commends (praises) Portia on showing great generosity of spirit for helping Antonio. He assures Portia that if she knew Antonio, ‘How true a gentleman you send relief’ (line 6), she would be extraordinarily proud of herself. Portia replies that she has never regretted doing a favour and she will not regret it now:
I never did repent for doing good, Nor shall not now (lines 10–11)
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She imagines that as Antonio and Bassanio are such close friends, they must resemble each other and be similar in terms ‘Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit’ (line 15). Portia dismisses her part in helping Antonio, showing a certain modesty (humility) in her nature:
This comes too near the praising of myself, Therefore no more of it. (lines 22–23)
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Next, Portia tells Lorenzo that she and Nerissa have decided to go to a monastery and ‘live in prayer and contemplation’ (line 28) until Bassanio returns. Portia asks Lorenzo and Jessica to take charge of the running of her house. Lorenzo agrees to her request.
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When Lorenzo and Jessica leave, Portia asks her loyal servant, Balthasar, to deliver a letter as quickly as he possibly can to her cousin who lives in Padua. The letter asks for assistance in the form of ‘notes and garments’ (line 51) or legal documents and clothing that Portia wishes to use in Venice. She asks Balthasar to bring these items to the ferry where she will cross to Venice.
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Portia now reveals the plan to Nerissa. They will disguise themselves as men and, she jokes, put on ‘a reed voice’ (line 67) and walk in a ‘manly stride’ (line 68). She jests that she will boast and brag about all the ladies who have pined to death over ‘him’. Portia wants to leave immediately; her coach is waiting to take them away and they must leave without delay.
Junior Cycle English 147 35. turn into men 34. boastful young men
33. (lines 75–76) that I have left school over a year ago
80
37. plan 38. is waiting
39. travel
36. (lines 79–80) That would be a very rude thing to say. (Portia is deliberately misinterpreting Nerissa, pretending that Nerissa is being rude when she said ‘turn to’ as this had a sexual meaning.)
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