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| The Merchant of Venice |
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| Merchant of Venice
| Act 2, Scene 4
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Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIOLORENZO
Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,GRATIANO
Disguise us at my lodging and return,
All in an hour.
We have not made good preparation.SALARINO
We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.SALANIO
'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,LORENZO
And better in my mind not undertook.
'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hoursLAUNCELOT
To furnish us.
Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
An it shall please you to break upLORENZO
this, it shall seem to signify.
I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;GRATIANO
And whiter than the paper it writ on
Is the fair hand that writ.
Love-news, in faith.LAUNCELOT
By your leave, sir.LORENZO
Whither goest thou?LAUNCELOT
Marry, sir, to bid my old master theLORENZO
Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Hold here, take this: tell gentle JessicaSALANIO
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.
Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.SALANIO
And so will I.LORENZO
Meet me and GratianoSALARINO
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
'Tis good we do so.GRATIANO
Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO
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-beare r.
Exeunt
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Shakespeare homepage
| Merchant of Venice
| Act 2, Scene 4
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