Original: They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit,
Modern: They will, Nerissa, but dressed in such a way,

Original: That they shall think we are accomplished
Modern: That they’ll think we’re skilled and experienced

Original: With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager,
Modern: In things we don’t actually have. I’ll bet you anything,

Original: When we are both accoutred like young men,
Modern: When we’re both dressed up like young men,

Original: I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two,
Modern: I’ll turn out to be the more handsome guy of the two of us,

Original: And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
Modern: And carry my sword with more confident style,

Original: And speak between the change of man and boy
Modern: And talk in that voice that’s between a man’s and a boy’s,

Original: With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps
Modern: With a thin, high voice, and change my small, delicate steps

Original: Into a manly stride, and speak of frays
Modern: Into a confident, masculine walk, and talk about fights

Original: Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies,
Modern: Like a smooth, boastful young man, and tell clever lies,

Original: How honourable ladies sought my love,
Modern: About how respectable ladies pursued me romantically,

Original: Which I denying, they fell sick and died;
Modern: And when I rejected them, they got lovesick and died;

Original: I could not do withal; then I’ll repent,
Modern: I couldn’t help it; then I’ll act sorry about it,

Original: And wish for all that, that I had not killed them;
Modern: And wish, despite everything, that I hadn’t caused their deaths;

Original: And twenty of these puny lies I’ll tell,
Modern: And I’ll tell twenty of these ridiculous lies,

Original: That men shall swear I have discontinued school
Modern: So convincingly that men will swear I’ve been out of school

Original: Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind
Modern: For more than a year. I have stored in my mind

Original: A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks,
Modern: A thousand crude tricks of these show-off guys,

Original: Which I will practise.
Modern: Which I’m going to use.

In Act III, Scene 4 of “The Merchant of Venice,” Portia and Nerissa are at Belmont, where Portia entrusts the management of her household to Lorenzo while she and Nerissa retreat to a monastery for prayer and contemplation until their husbands return. She explains to Lorenzo that she and Nerissa will live in prayer and contemplation, away from the company of men, until Bassanio and Gratiano come back. Lorenzo promises to faithfully oversee her estate and wishes her well in her spiritual retreat.

After Lorenzo and Jessica depart, Portia reveals her true plan to Nerissa. She sends Balthasar, her servant, to Padua with a letter for her cousin, Doctor Bellario, instructing him to bring certain legal documents and clothing to the ferry that crosses to Venice. Portia then discloses to Nerissa that they will disguise themselves as young men and travel to Venice ahead of their husbands. She describes how they will transform their appearance, adopting masculine mannerisms, speech, and clothing to pass as young gentlemen. Portia promises to explain the full purpose of their deception during their journey to Venice.

The Merchant of Venice centers on Bassanio, a young Venetian gentleman who needs money to court the wealthy heiress Portia in Belmont. His friend Antonio, a merchant, agrees to help but has no ready cash since his ships are at sea. Antonio borrows 3,000 ducats from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, with the unusual condition that if the loan isn’t repaid within three months, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Meanwhile, Shylock’s daughter Jessica elopes with the Christian Lorenzo, taking her father’s money and jewels.

In Belmont, Portia’s deceased father has decreed that her suitors must choose correctly among three caskets—gold, silver, and lead—to win her hand. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon both choose incorrectly and depart. When Bassanio arrives and selects the lead casket, he wins Portia, while his friend Gratiano wins her maid Nerissa. Their celebrations are interrupted by news that Antonio’s ships have been lost and Shylock demands his pound of flesh.

Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as a lawyer and clerk and travel to Venice for Antonio’s trial. In court, Portia grants Shylock his legal right to the flesh but warns he may take no blood and must cut exactly one pound—an impossible task. Defeated, Shylock loses his bond and, under Venetian law, must forfeit half his wealth and convert to Christianity. The disguised Portia requests Bassanio’s wedding ring as payment, which he reluctantly gives. Back in Belmont, Portia playfully scolds her husband for giving away his ring before revealing her disguise. The play concludes with news that Antonio’s ships have safely returned, restoring his fortune.