The duke then said to Shylock, “That you may see the difference of our Christian spirit, I pardon you your life before you ask it; half your wealth belongs to Anthonio, the other half comes to the state.”

The generous Anthonio then said, that he would give up his share of Shylock’s wealth, if Shylock would sign a deed to make it over at his death to his daughter and her husband; for Anthonio knew that the Jew had an only daughter, who had lately married against his consent to a young Christian, named Lorenzo, a friend of Anthonio’s, which had so offended Shylock, that he had disinherited her.

The Jew agreed to this; and being thus disappointed in his revenge, and despoiled of his riches, he said, “I am ill.  Let me go home; send the deed after me, and I will sign over half my riches to my daughter.”  “Get thee gone, then,” said the duke, “and sign it; and if you repent your cruelty and turn Christian, the state will forgive you the fine of the other half of your riches.”

The duke now released Anthonio, and dismissed the court.  He then highly praised the wisdom and ingenuity of the young counsellor, and invited him home to dinner.  Portia, who meant to return to Belmont before her husband, replied, “I humbly thank your grace, but I must away directly.”  The duke said he was sorry he had not leisure to stay and dine with him; and turning to Anthonio, he added, “Reward this gentleman; for in my mind you are much indebted to him.”

The duke and his senators left the court; and then Bassanio said to Portia, “Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Anthonio have by your wisdom been this day acquitted of grievous penalties, and I beg you will accept of the three thousand ducats due unto the Jew.”  “And we shall stand indebted to you over and above,” said Anthonio, “in love and service evermore.”

Portia could not be prevailed upon to accept the money; but upon Bassanio still pressing her to accept of some reward, she said, “Give me your gloves; I will wear them for your sake:”  and then Bassanio taking off his gloves, she espied the ring which she had given him upon his finger:  now it was the ring the wily lady wanted to get from him to make a merry jest when she saw her Bassanio again, that made her ask him for his gloves; and she said, when she saw the ring, “And for your love I will take this ring from you.”  Bassanio was sadly distressed, that the counsellor should ask him for the only thing he could not part with, and he replied in great confusion, that he could not give him that ring, because it was his wife’s gift, and he had vowed never to part with it:  but that he would give him the most valuable ring in Venice, and find it out by proclamation.  On this Portia affected to be affronted, and left the court, saying, “You teach me, sir, how a beggar should be answered.”