The Merchant of Venice
Act II, Scene 4
Venice. A street.
From: Scene design for Merchant of Venice, probably by Charles Marshall
unknown date
- Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Solanio.
Lorenzo
1 - 3- Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
- Disguise us at my lodging, and return
- All in an hour.
Gratiano
4- We have not made good preparation.
Salerio
5- We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Solanio
6 - 7- ’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered,
- And better in my mind not undertook.
Lorenzo
8 - 10- ’Tis now but four of clock, we have two hours
- To furnish us.
- Enter Launcelot with a letter.
- Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?
Launcelot
11 - 12- And it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to
- signify.
Lorenzo
13 - 15- 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
16- Love-news, in faith.
Launcelot
17- By your leave, sir.
Lorenzo
18- Whither goest thou?
Launcelot
19 - 20- Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with
- my new master the Christian.
Lorenzo
21 - 25- Hold here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica
- I will not fail her, speak it privately.
- Exit Clown.
- Go, gentlemen,
- Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
- I am provided of a torch-bearer.
Salerio
26- Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.
Solanio
27- And so will I.
Lorenzo
28 - 29- Meet me and Gratiano
- At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.
Salerio
30- ’Tis good we do so.
- Exit with Solanio.
Gratiano
31- Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Lorenzo
32 - 42- 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.
Second Folio Title Page of the Merchant of Venice
Thomas Cotes, 1632