His Christian name and meekly mutter’d vows.

Portia. Nay, Gratiano, question not the heart

Nor rudely draw aside the veil that speech

Hangs ever ’fore the spirit. Who may say

That e’en the best among us keeps a faith

Loyal to every smallest clause, or does

Not slip at whiles amid the thousand small

Requirements of the law. And yet, we do

Implore a gentle sentence on these sins

Of ours, a pardon that shall make us whole.