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.
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.
We have not made good preparation.
SALARINO
We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
SALANIO
’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d,
And better in my mind not undertook.
’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.
’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 upb this, it shall seem to signify.
An it shall please you to break upb 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.
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.
Love-news, in faith.
LAUNCELOT
By your leave, sir.
By your leave, sir.
LORENZO
Whither goest thou?
Whither goest thou?
LAUNCELOT
Marry, sir, to bid my old master the
Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
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,
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 tonight?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
SALANIO
Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
SALANIO
And so will I.
And so will I.
LORENZO
At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.
| Meet me and Gratiano |
SALARINO
’Tis good we do so.
’Tis good we do so.
[Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO]
GRATIANO
Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
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.
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]
