Bassanio does not know what to do or what to say. He is thoroughly defeated. Portia, however, teases him further by saying that since he so lightly gave his ring to the lawyer, then she will just as lightly give her body away to that same lawyer (doctor of law): “I’ll have that doctor for my bedfellow” (232). Of course, there is a humorous truth to the line. Portia does, after all, sleep with herself.
Nerissa doubles the humor by telling Graziano that she will likewise sleep with the clerk to whom he gave his ring away.
Bassanio tries once again to explain, and beginsbyswearing to the beautiful eyes of Portia, in which he sees his own reflection. Portia wittily plays on the idea of reflection to tease Graziano further:
In both my eyes he doubly sees himself,
In each eye one. Swear by your double self, And there’s an oath of credit.(243-45)
By “double self” Portia means that Bassanio is double dealing or deceitful. She thus is jokingly asserting that Bassanio is admitting his guilt.
The teasing finally moves toward an end when Antonio intervenes. Antonio supports Graziano’s claim that the ring went to the lawyer who saved him, and the merchant also pledges his own life that Graziano will never be unfaithful to Portia.