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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Next: Act 2 - Scene 5



