Bass. 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 be.

haviour
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,
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.

Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing.
Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not

gauge me
By what we do tonight.
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.

210

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, 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.

Laun. Adieu ! tears exhibit my tongue. Most 10 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. Jes. 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.

10. exhibit; a Launcelotism and the first Folio have 'doe,' for express' (what I would say giving a possible, but far less with my tongue).

pointed sense. Get would then 12. did.

Both the Quartos = 'obtain.'

20

VOL. II

161

M

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and

SALANIO.
Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging and return,
All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-

bearers.
Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly

order'd, And better in my mind not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock : we have two

hours To furnish us.

10

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.
Laun. By your leave, sir.
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.

20 a

Go, gentlemen,

[Exit Launcelot
Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
Salan. And so will I.
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, 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. 40

30

SCENE V.

The same.

Before SHYLOCK's house.

Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. Shy. 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;36. And never dere,

Why, Jessica, I say !
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?
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.

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 ableeding on Black-Monday last at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday

year,

in the afternoon. Shy. What, are there masques ?

Hear you me,
Jessica :
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum
And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife,

was four

30