The Merchant of Venice

Go to, here’s a simple line of life: here’s a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man: and then to ’scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here are simple scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, she’s a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo. Bassanio

I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this:
These things being bought and orderly bestow’d,
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night
My best-esteem’d acquaintance: hie thee, go.

Leonardo My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter Gratiano. Gratiano Where is your master? Leonardo Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit. Gratiano Signior Bassanio! Bassanio Gratiano! Gratiano I have a suit to you. Bassanio You have obtain’d it. Gratiano You must not deny me: I must go with you to Belmont. Bassanio

Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice;
Parts that become thee happily enough
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
But where thou art not known, why, there they show
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior
I be misconstrued in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes.

Gratiano

Signior Bassanio, hear me:
If I do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh and say “amen,”
Use all the observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent
To please his grandam, never trust me more.

Bassanio Well, we shall see your bearing. Gratiano

Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me
By what we do to-night.

Bassanio

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.

Gratiano

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.
Jessica	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, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest: Give him this letter; do it secretly; And so farewell: I would not have my father See me in talk with thee.
Launcelot	Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! if a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But, adieu: these foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit: adieu.
Jessica	Farewell, good Launcelot. Exit Launcelot. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to be my father’s child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, Become a Christian and thy loving wife. Exit.

Scene IV

The same. A street.

	Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.
Lorenzo	Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging and return, All in an hour.
Gratiano	We have not made good preparation.
Salarino	We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Salanio	’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d, And better in my mind not undertook.
Lorenzo	’Tis now but four o’clock: we have two hours To furnish us.
	Enter Launcelot, with a letter.
	Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?
Launcelot	An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.
Lorenzo	I know the hand: in faith, ’tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ.
Gratiano	Love-news, in faith.
Launcelot	By your leave, sir.
Lorenzo	Whither goest thou?
Launcelot	Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Lorenzo	Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her; speak it privately. Go, gentlemen, Exit Launcelot. Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer.
Salarino	Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
Salanio	And so will I.
Lorenzo	Meet me and Gratiano At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.
Salarino	’Tis good we do so. Exeunt Salarino and Salanio.
Gratiano	Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Lorenzo	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, What page’s suit she hath in readiness. If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake: And never dare misfortune cross her foot, Unless she do it under this excuse, That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest: Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. Exeunt.

Scene V

The same. Before Shylock’s house.

	Enter Shylock and Launcelot.
Shylock	Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:⁠— What, Jessica!⁠—thou shalt not gormandise, As thou hast done with me:⁠—What, Jessica!⁠— And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out;⁠— Why, Jessica, I say!
Launcelot	Why, Jessica!
Shylock	Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
Launcelot	Your worship was wont to tell me that I could do nothing without bidding.
	Enter Jessica.
Jessica	Call you? what is your will?
Shylock	I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: There are my keys. But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, Look to my house. I am right loath to go: There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream of money-bags to-night.
Launcelot	I beseech you, sir, go: my young master doth expect your