Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot-- [Exit JESSICA. SCENE III. A Street in Venice. Enter SALARINO, SALANIO, GRATIANO, and Lor. Nay, we shall slink away in supper time; All in an hour. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Sal. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Sala. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered; And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us: Enter LAUNCELOT, and goes to LORENZO. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. [Gives LORENZO a Letter. Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter, than the paper it writ on, Is the fair hand that writ. Gra. Love news, in faith. Lor. Whither goest thou? Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. Lor. Hold here, take this:-tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her;-Speak it privately, go.[Exit LAUNCELOT, Gentlemen, Sal. Ay, marry, I'll begone about it straight, Lor. Meet me and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. Sala. "Tis good we do so. [Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed, Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest: [Exeunt SCENE 1V. SHYLOCK'S House. SHYLOCK seated, and LAUNCELOT, discovered.—SHYLOCK'S Hat and Cane on the Table. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:- Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you ? What is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica; There are my keys :-But wherefore should I go? The prodigal christian.-Jessica, my girl, Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together,-I will not say, you shall see a mask; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black Monday last, at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What! are there masks? Hear you me, Jes sica: Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, My sober house.-By Jacob's staff, I swear, [Goes for his Hat and Cane.] Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at the window, for all this; Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit LAUN. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? [Coming forward. Jes. His words were, farewell mistress; nothing else. Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder, Snail slow in profit, and he sleeps by day More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me; Do as I bid you; shut doors after you ; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit SHYLOCK Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. SONG JESSICA. Haste, Lorenzo, haste away, [Exit JESSICA. SCENE V. A Street in Venice, before SHYLOCK's House. Enter SALANIO, GRATIANO, and SALARINO, masked. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo Desir'd us to make stand. Sal. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Sala. O ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast, Enter LORENZO, masked. Sala. Here comes Lorenzo;more of this hereafter. Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode; Not I, but my affairs have made you wait: When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then Here dwells my father Jew. SONG-LORENZO. My bliss too long my bride denies; |