Something too liberal;-pray thee, take pain Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild behaviour, I be misconstrued in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Like one well studied in a sad ostent To please his grandam, never trust me more. Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not gage me By what we do to-night. Bass. No, that were pity; I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends, That purpose merriment: But fare you well, I have some business. Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A room in SHYLOCK's house. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so; Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness: But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee. And so farewell; I would not have my father Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! [Exit. Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.— If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife; SCENE IV.-The same. A street. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and Lor. Nay, we will slink away at supper-time; All in an hour. [Exit. Gra. We have not made good preparation. And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us : Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. 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.Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. [Exit LAUNCELOT. Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. Salar. 'Tis good we do so. [Exeunt SALAR. and SALAN. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: She hath directed, How I shall take her from her father's house; What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with; And never dare misfortune cross her foot, That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest: [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same. Before SHYLOCK's house. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy 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, 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? But 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 masque; 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 masques? Hear you me, Jes sica: Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at a window, for all this; Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit LAUN. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha! 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; |