Quote 10
PORTIA
Tarry, Jew.
The law hath yet another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be proved against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state,
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament I say thou stand'st,
For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant, and thou hast incurred
The danger formerly by me rehearsed.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. (4.1.361-378)
Not only does Portia prevent Shylock from shedding "one drop of [Antonio's] Christian blood" (see quote #11), she also points out that, according to the city's laws, anyone who tries to kill a Venetian citizen shall have all his goods seized. Portia is being tough, and we find it a little off-putting that she feels the need to destroy Shylock's whole life when she's already proven her point. On the other hand, we have to wonder whether Shylock would have gone through with killing Antonio or spared him at the last second.
PORTIA
Yes, yes, it was Bassanio—as I think, so was he
called.
NERISSA
True, madam. He, of all the men that ever my
foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a
fair lady.
PORTIA
I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy
praise. (1.2.115-121)
Portia's first mention of Bassanio is measured and calm. She doesn't seem particularly stricken by love, but then again she might be understating. Also, she doesn't sound like a girl who was admiring Mr. Bassanio all over Belmont.
Quote 12
PORTIA
[Aside] How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embrac'd despair,
And shudd'ring fear, and green-ey'd jealousy!
O love, be moderate, allay thy ecstasy,
In measure rain thy joy, scant this excess!
I feel too much thy blessing. Make it less,
For fear I surfeit. (3.2.6)
Portia is again overcome with love, but this time she knows Bassanio will actually be her husband (since he's chosen the right casket), so she tries to temper her love and be a little more practical. We get the hint here that she'll sober up soon enough from the giddy state she was in at the beginning of the scene. As Graziano joked several quotes back, the gloss of new love wears off soon enough. Portia, a very reasonable woman, is already cautioning herself, trying to get her reason and moderation to overcome her passion.