Portia makes a request to Lorenzo
The scene now shifts to Belmont and Lorenzo is seen praising Antonio. He also praises Portia for sending her husband to help him. Portia feels that it was the right thing to do as he is a very dear friend of her husband. Now, she makes a request to Lorenzo. She asks him and Jessica to take care of their house when she and Nerissa are gone to pray for Antonio. Lorenzo and Jessica agree.
Portia sends a servant to her cousin
After Lorenzo and Jessica leave, Portia asks the servant to go to her cousin in Padua as fast as he can and deliver a letter to him. She tells him to bring the notes and garments that he gives him to the ferry that was to leave for Venice. The servant leaves at one.
Portia has a plan
Portia tells Nerissa that they will be seeing their husbands very soon. However, the husbands will not be able to recognise the two as they will be dressed as men. She even says that she will look better than Nerissa. There is however no time to explain the whole story to Nerissa and Portia promises to tell her the details on the way.
The Merchant of Venice Summary
Act 1 : Scene 1 , Scene 2 , Scene 3
Act 2 : Scene 1 , Scene 2 , Scene 3 , Scene 4 , Scene 5 , Scene 6 , Scene 7 , Scene 8 , Scene 9
Act 3 : Scene 1 , Scene 2 , Scene 3 , Scene 4 , Scene 5
Act 5 : Scene 1