READ STUDY GUIDE: Act II, scenes i–iv |
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Act II, Scene iv:
The same. A street
The same. A street
| [Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO.] |
| LORENZO: |
| Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, |
| Disguise us at my lodging, and return |
| All in an hour. |
| GRATIANO: |
| We have not made good preparation. |
| SALARINO: |
| We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. |
| SALANIO: |
| 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd, |
| And better in my mind not undertook. |
| LORENZO: |
| 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours |
| To furnish us. |
| [Enter LAUNCELOT, With a letter.] |
| Friend Launcelot, what's the news? |
| LAUNCELOT: |
| An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem |
| to signify. |
| LORENZO: |
| I know the hand; in faith, 'tis a fair hand, |
| And whiter than the paper it writ on |
| Is the fair hand that writ. |
| GRATIANO: |
| Love news, in faith. |
| LAUNCELOT: |
| By your leave, sir. |
| LORENZO: |
| Whither goest thou? |
| LAUNCELOT: |
| Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to sup |
| to-night with my new master, the Christian. |
| LORENZO: |
| Hold, here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica |
| I will not fail her; speak it privately. |
| Go, gentlemen, |
| [Exit LAUNCELOT] |
| Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? |
| I am provided of a torch-bearer. |
| SALARINO: |
| Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. |
| SALANIO: |
| And so will I. |
| LORENZO: |
| Meet me and Gratiano |
| At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. |
| SALARINO: |
| 'Tis good we do so. |
| [Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO.] |
| GRATIANO: |
| 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-bearer. |
| [Exeunt] |
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