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I will have nothing else, but only this;
And now, methinks, I have a wish for it.° {I have a mind to it} / I am quite fond of it

—Bassanio
There’s more depends on this than on the value. 219
The dearest° ring in Venice will I give you; > most expensive
And find it out by searching through the city.° 220 {by a public announcement}
Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

—Portia
I see, sir, you are liberal° in offers. 221 / generous
You taught° me first to beg and now methinks / urged
You teach me how a beggar should° be answered. 222 / must

—Bassanio
Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife.
And when she put it on she made me vow
That I would° neither° sell, nor give, nor lose it. {should} / never

—Portia
That ‘scuse° serves° many men to save their gifts. 223 / ploy // helps
And if your wife be not a madwoman, 224
And know how well I have deserved this ring, 225
She would not bear you enmity° forever 226 {hold out enemy}/ hold her angriness
For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

Exeunt Portia and Nerissa

—Antonio
My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. 227

219. This ring has more upon it than its value / This ring holds something more than outer value
220. {And find it out by proclamation}
/ And find it through a public advertisement / And go in search of it both near and far
Bassanio offers to find the most valuable ring in Venice by way of proclamation (making an announcement or
distributing a printed advertisement). This offer suggests the great lengths that Bassanio is willing to go through in
order to find another ring (a much more valuable ring), even to suggest the image of Bassanio standing in a public
square, yelling out (by proclamation) that he seeks to buy the most valuable ring in Venice.
221. > You are liberal (only) in what you offer but not in what you actually give (once the offer is accepted).
222. / You answer me now as you would a beggar
223. / By that excuse, a man may save his gift.
224. / And if your wife be not wrought° with madness / tinged / struck
225. / Should she know how well I deserved this ring
226. {She would not hold out enemy for ever}
hold out enemy: hold you as an enemy; hate you; be angry with you
/ She would not be your enemy forever / She’d not be angry at you forever / She would not hold a long
grudge against you
227. My Lord: a formal term which appeals to Bassanio’s newfound status—and refers to his being lord over his
house and his wife. A more likely expression may have been, ‘My dear Bassanio.’