Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say ‘Amen’,

Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent

To please his grandam, never trust me more.

BASSANIO Well, we shall see your bearing.

GRAZIANO

Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me

By what we do tonight.

BASSANIO No, that were pity.

I would entreat you rather to put on

Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends

That purpose merriment. But fare you well.

I have some business.

GRAZIANO

And I must to Lorenzo and the rest.

But we will visit you at supper-time. Exeunt severally

2.3 Enter Jessica and Lancelot., the clown

JESSICA

I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,

Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.

But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee.

And, Lancelot, soon at supper shalt thou see

Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.

Give him this letter, do it secretly;

And so farewell. I would not have my father

See me in talk with thee.

LANCELOT Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan; most sweet Jew; if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu.

JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelot. Exit Lancelot

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me

To be ashamed to be my father’s child!

But though I am a daughter to his blood,

I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,

If thou keep promise I shall end this strife,

Become a Christian and thy loving wife. Exit

2.4 Enter Graziano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Salanio LORENZO

Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,

Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in an hour.

GRAZIANO

We have not made good preparation.

SALERIO

We have not spoke as yet of torchbearers.

SOLANIO

’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered,

And better in my mind not undertook.

LORENZO

‘Tis now but four o’clock. We have two hours

To furnish us.

Enter Lancelot with a letter

Friend Lancelot, what’s the news?

LANCELOT (presenting the letter) An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. 11

LORENZO (taking the letter)

I know the hand. In faith, ’tis a fair hand,

And whiter than the paper it writ on

Is the fair hand that writ.

GRAZIANO Love-news, in faith.

LANCELOT ⌈to Lorenzo⌉ By your leave, sir.

LORENZO Whither goest thou?

LANCELOT Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the Christian.

LORENZO

Hold, here, take this. (Giving money) Tell gentle Jessica

I will not fail her. Speak it privately.

Go. Exit Lancelot

Gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?

I am provided of a torchbearer.

SALERIO

Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.

SOLANIO

And so will I.

LORENZO Meet me and Graziano

At Graziano’s lodging some hour hence.

SALERIO ’Tis good we do so. Exit with Solanio

GRAZIANO

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 furnished 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.

He gives Graziano the letter

Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer. Exeunt

2.5 Enter Shylock the Jew and his man that was, Lancelot the clown

SHYLOCK

Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.

(Calling) What, Jessica! (To Lancelot) Thou shalt not

gormandize

As thou hast done with me. (Calling) What, Jessica!

(To Lancelot) And sleep and snore and rend apparel

out.

(Calling) Why, Jessica, I say!

LANCELOT (calling) Why, Jessica!

SHYLOCK

Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.

LANCELOT Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.

Enter Jessica

JESSICA (to Shylock) Call you? What is your will?

SHYLOCK

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,

But yet I’ll go in hate, to feed upon

The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, 15

Look to my house. I am right loath to go.

There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest,

For I did dream of money-bags tonight.

LANCELOT I beseech you, sir, go. My young master doth

expect your reproach.

SHYLOCK So do I his.

LANCELOT And they have conspired together. I will not say you shall see a masque, 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 Ash Wednesday was four year in th’afternoon.

SHYLOCK

What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica,

Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum

And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife,

Clamber not you 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.