The Merchant of Venice — Act 4, Scene 2: The same. A street.

Portia and Nerissa, still disguised, send a deed for the Jew to sign and prepare to leave Venice that night, a day ahead of their husbands. Gratiano arrives with Bassanio’s message, asking the supposed doctor to come to dinner and giving him Bassanio’s ring. Portia accepts the ring politely but refuses the dinner invitation and asks Gratiano to show her to Shylock’s house. After Gratiano agrees, Nerissa privately tells Portia she will try to get her own husband’s ring from Gratiano. Portia approves, and the two women agree to trick the men if needed before hurrying off to the Jew’s house.

Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed

And let him sign it: we'll away to-night

And be a day before our husbands home:

This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Fair sir, you are well o'erta'en

My Lord Bassanio upon more advice

Hath sent you here this ring, and doth entreat

Your company at dinner.

That cannot be:

His ring I do accept most thankfully:

And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,

I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.

That will I do.

Sir, I would speak with you.

I'll see if I can get my husband's ring,

Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

[Aside to NERISSA] Thou mayst, I warrant.

We shall have old swearing

That they did give the rings away to men;

But we'll outface them, and outswear them too.

Away! make haste: thou knowist where I will tarry.

Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?