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+Who is a most learnéd doctor of law. 25
He must prepare the books, review the case,
And then instruct me on how to proceed.
We’ll meet this evening., Waste no time in words,
But get thee gone. I shall be there anon. 26

—Bathazar
Madam, I go with all availing° speed. {convenient} / available / possible

Exit

—Portia
Come on, Nerissa. I have work in hand
That you have yet to know.° We’ll see our husbands {That you yet know not of}
Before they think of us. 27

—Nerissa Shall they see us?

—Portia
They shall, Nerissa, but in such a manner° {habit} / garb / in such apparel
That they shall think we are but well-equipped° 28 {accomplishèd}
With what° we lack. I’ll hold° thee any wager 29 {that} // make / stake
That when we’re both accoutered° like young men / attired / in raiments of
30
I’ll prove the more convincing° of the two, {prettier fellow} / bolder fellow

ability to preside over the matter in his stead). A more likely plan would have been for Portia to visit Bellario, where
they could study the case together, and where she could receive expert legal advice, and where she could convince
him to write the necessary letter to the Duke. Portia making such a journey to Padua would have taken the same
amount of travel time as Balthazar, who was instructed to go to Padua, find Bellario, get the items, and then meet
Portia at the ferry landing (on the mainland) where the ferry leaves for Venice. The best plan (though lacking the
necessary dramatic element) would have been for Portia to go to Padua, tell Bellario of the urgency and personal
nature of the matter, and convince him to intervene, as was originally requested by the Duke.) [See Additional
Notes, 3.4.55]
25. A man of gravid legal acumen / One of Italia’s greatest legal minds / Who commands crucial legal acumen /
Who wields considerable legal skill / Who doth possess the greatest legal mind
26. These emended lines introduce a new scenario whereby Portia intends to visit Bellario, and where they will ‘pour
over the books,’ and where she will furnished with his legal opinion with regards to the case. (Such a scenario would
be consistent with logic, efficiency, and with Bellario’s letter to the Duke, where he says: ‘We turned o’er many
books together,’ and ‘He is furnished with my opinion.’ [4.1.154-55])
In terms of a production, realism at this point is not crucial and the audience can be relied upon to forgive
the gaps in Portia’s plan. Thus, the original lines could be preserved without any appreciable loss. In the original, no
meeting takes place: Balthazar is instructed to pick up various books and garments from Bellario (and a letter of
recommendation) and then meet Portia at the ferry port (traject) where the ferry travels back and forth (‘trades’)
between the mainland and Venice. The original reads as follows:
And look° what notes and garments he doth give thee, / take
Bring them, I pray, with all imagined speed
Unto the traject, to the° common ferry / Unto the landing where the
Which trades to Venice.° Waste no time in words / Departs to Venice
But get thee gone. I shall be there before thee.
27. before they think of us: a) before they think about us (being so busy with their own affairs), b) before the think
of seeing us, before they think they will be going to see us (i.e., upon their return to Belmont)
28. / we’re suitably equipped / we are fully equipped / we are but well-endowed
29. / I’ll bet any amount / I’ll bet thee any sum
30. prettier: more pleasing, more gallant, more manly