Gra. We have not made a good preparation. Sal. We have not spoke as yet of torch-bearers; Sola, 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered ; And better in my mind not undertook. [hours

Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock, we have two To furnish us.' Friend Launcelot, what's the news?

Enter LAUNCELOT with a Letter. Laun. An't shall pleas e youto break up this, it shall seem to signify.

Lor. I know the hand; in faith'tis a fair
And whiter than the paper it's 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. Go-gentlemen, will you prepare for this mask,

to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. [Exit Laun.

Sal. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight,
Sola. And so will I.

Lor. Meet me and Gratiano,
At Gratiano's lodgings, some hours hence.
Sal. 'Tis good, we do so.

[Exit. 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 Heav'n, 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.

Enter Shylock and LAUNCELOT.
Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.(judge,
What Jessica !-Thou shalt not gormandize,
As thou hast done with me~What Jessica !-
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out,
Why, Jessica! I say

Laun. Why, Jessica !
Shy. Who bid thee call? I did 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:

SI

veco

IO

But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon
The prodigal christian. Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house: I am right loth 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 mask ; 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'th' morning, falling out that year on Ashwednesday, was four years in the afternoon. [sica.

Shy. What ! are there masks: hear you me, Jes-
Lock up the doors; and when you hear the drum,
And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber you not up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street,
To gaze on christian fools with varnished faces;
But stop my house's ears, I mean, my casements.
Let not the sound of shallow foppery, enter
My sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear,
I have no mind of feasting forth, to night:
But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah :
Say I will come.

Laun. I will go before, sir.
Mistress, look out at window, for all this..

There will come christian by,
Will be worth a Jewess eye. [Exit Laun.

Shy. What says that fool of Hagar’soffspring, ha! Jes. His words were, Farewel, mistress; nothing else.

[feeder: Shy. The patch is kind enough, but a huge Snail-slow in profit, but he sleeps by day, More than the wild cat: drones hive not with me, Therefore I part with him; and part with him To one, that I would have him help to waste His borrow'd purse. Well, Jessica, go in, Perhaps I will return immediately; Do as I bid youShut the doors after you ; fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit.

Jes. Farewel; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter lost. Enter GRATIAXO and SALANIO, in Masquerade.

Gra. This is the pent-house, underwhich Lorenzo desired us to make a stand.

Sal. His hour is almost past.

Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock.

Sal. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly,
To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

Gra. That ever holds.
Sal. Herecomes Lorenzo: more of this, hereafter.

ESSIO

.

Enter LORENZO.
Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long

abode;
Not I, but my affairs have made you wait;
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I'll watch as long for you, then; come, approach;
Here dwells my father Jew.
Hoa, who's within ?

Jessica above.
Jes. Who are you? tell me for more certainty,
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue,

Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jes. Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed:
For who love I so much ; and now who knows,
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
Lor. Heav'n and thy thoughts are witness that
thou art.

- [pains. Jes. Here, catch this casket, it is worth the

Lor. But come at once
For the close night doth play the runaway, .
And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast.

Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.

[Exit from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, (39) a Gentile, and no Lor. Beshrew me but I love her heartily, Jew.

(39) Gratiano's bonnet has more the form of a hood, than of a hat,