Give me one kiss, I'll give it to thee again; and one for interest, if thou wilt have twain

Give me one kiss, I'll give it to thee again; and one for interest, if thou wilt have twain

The line "Give me one kiss, I'll give it to thee again; and one for interest, if thou wilt have twain" is from William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice." This line is spoken by the character Portia in Act 3, Scene 2. In this scene, Portia is disguised as a male lawyer and is trying to help her friend Bassanio win a legal case.

The line is a clever play on words that reflects the wit and charm of Portia's character. In this context, Portia is using her charm and intelligence to outsmart the villainous Shylock and save Bassanio from losing his case. By offering to give a kiss and then another one for "interest," Portia is using a playful and flirtatious tone to manipulate the situation in her favor.

The use of the word "interest" in this line is particularly interesting. In Shakespeare's time, the word "interest" was often used to refer to a financial term, meaning a fee or charge for borrowing money. By using this word in a romantic context, Portia is cleverly blending the worlds of finance and love, highlighting the power dynamics at play in the scene.

Furthermore, the line also reflects the theme of deception and disguise that runs throughout "The Merchant of Venice." Portia's disguise as a male lawyer allows her to manipulate the situation and ultimately save the day. This line is just one example of how Portia uses her intelligence and wit to outsmart those around her.

Overall, the line "Give me one kiss, I'll give it to thee again; and one for interest, if thou wilt have twain" is a clever and playful expression of Portia's character in "The Merchant of Venice." It showcases Shakespeare's skill at crafting witty and engaging dialogue that continues to captivate audiences centuries after it was written.