JESSICA.

Shylock. What! are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica :

Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum,
And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces;
But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements;
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter
My sober house.-By Jacob's staff, I swear,
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night;
But I will go.-Go you before me, sirrah;
Say, I will come.

Launcelot.

Mistress, look out at window for all this;

I will go before, sir.

[Exit LAUNCELOT.

There will come a Christian by,

Will be worth a Jewess' eye.

Shylock. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha?
Jessica. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing else.
Shylock. 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;
Therefore I part with him; and part with him

To one that I would have him help to waste

His borrow'd purse.-Well, Jessica, go in ;
Perhaps, I will return immediately;

Do, as I bid you,

Shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find;

A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.

[Exit.

Jessica. Farewell: and if my fortune be not crost,

I have a father, you a daughter, lost.

[Exit.

MERCHANT OF VENICE.-Act II. Scene V.