Episode 9

Everyone in the court was very happy. Bassanio and Antonio walked over to Portia and Nerissa. Gratiano was with them.

“You saved my friend!” Bassanio said, “How can I ever thank you?”

“It is not necessary to thank me,” Portia said. “It is my job.”

“But I must pay you for saving my friend’s life,” Bassanio said. “Here, please take this bag of gold.”

“No, no, I do not want your gold,” Portia said.

“But let me give you some small thing,” said Bassanio. “So you can remember Antonio's trial in Venice.”

“Very well,” said Portia. “You can give me your ring.”

I would give you anything, except that,” Bassanio said. “This is my wedding ring, a gift from my wife. I promised her I would never take it off.

Portia smiled, and she and Nerissa left the court.

“Bassanio, my friend, let him have the ring,” Antonio said. “He deserves it. Think of what he did. It is a very small payment for my life.”

“Antonio is right,” said Bassanio. “Gratiano, take this ring and give it to the lawyer with my thanks.”

Bassanio took the ring off his finger and gave it to Gratiano, who ran after Portia and Nerissa. He stopped them and gave Portia the ring. Portia smiled when she saw it. Nerissa smiled too.

“I will see if I can get my husband’s ring,” she whispered to Portia.

“Lord Gratiano, I am sure you are pleased with our work,” said Nerissa. “Do you want to thank me, too?”

‘Yes, of course,” Gratiano replied. “But what can I give you?”

“Your ring will be a good payment for me,” Nerissa said with a smile.

Gratiano didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to give away his wedding ring, because he had promised Nerissa that he would never take it off. But he wanted to repay the young man. He took off the ring and gave it to Nerissa.

“Please, take the ring, and all my thanks,” he said.

When Gratiano had gone, Portia laughed.

“Our husbands will tell us that they gave their rings to men,” she said. “See how easily they have broken their promises! Now I think we can have some fun with them,”