Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

Act 2 - Scene 4

The same. A street.

Lorenzo : Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, [p]Disguise us at my lodging
and return, [p]All in an hour.

Gratiano : 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, [p]And better in my mind
not undertook.

Lorenzo : 'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hours [p]To furnish
us. [p][Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter] [p]Friend Launcelot, what's
the news?

Launcelot Gobbo : An it shall please you to break up [p]this, it shall seem to signify.

Lorenzo : I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; [p]And whiter than the
paper it writ on [p]Is the fair hand that writ.

Gratiano : Love-news, in faith.

Launcelot Gobbo : By your leave, sir.

Lorenzo : Whither goest thou?

Launcelot Gobbo : Marry, sir, to bid my old master the [p]Jew to sup to-night with my
new master the Christian.

Lorenzo : Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica [p]I will not fail her;
speak it privately. [p]Go, gentlemen, [p][Exit Launcelot] [p]Will you
prepare you for this masque tonight? [p]I am provided of a
torch-bearer.

Salanio : Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.

Salanio : And so will I.

Lorenzo : Meet me and Gratiano [p]At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.

Salarino : 'Tis good we do so.

Gratiano : Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

Lorenzo : I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed [p]How I shall take her
from her father's house, [p]What gold and jewels she is furnish'd
with, [p]What page's suit she hath in readiness. [p]If e'er the Jew
her father come to heaven, [p]It will be for his gentle daughter's
sake: [p]And never dare misfortune cross her foot, [p]Unless she do it
under this excuse, [p]That she is issue to a faithless Jew. [p]Come,
go with me; peruse this as thou goest: [p]Fair Jessica shall be my
torch-bearer.

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