Talke with respect, and sweare but now and than, Weare prayer bookes in my pocket, looke demurely, Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 190 Thus with my hat, and sigh and say Amen:

Use all the observance of civillitie

Like one well studied in a sad ostent

To please his Grandam, never trust me more.
Bas. Well, we shall see your bearing.

Gra. Nay but I barre to night, you shall not gage me By what we doe to night.

Bas. No that were pittie,

I would intreate you rather to put on

Your boldest suite of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: but far you well,

I have some businesse.

Gra. And I must to Lorenso and the rest, But we will visite you at supper time.

200

Exeunt.

[Scene iii.
The same. A room in Shylock's house.]
Enter Jessica and the Clowne [Launcelot].
Jes. I am sorry thou wilt leave my Father so,
Our house is hell, and thou a merrie divell
Did'st rob it of some taste of tediousnesse;
But far thee well, there is a ducat for thee,
And Lancelet, soone at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new Maisters guest,
Give him this Letter, doe it secretly,
And so farwell: I would not have my Father
See me talke with thee.

ΙΟ

Clo. Adue, teares exhibit my tongue, most beautifull

10. me talke: me in talk-QQ.

Pagan, most sweete Jew, if a Christian doe not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived; but adue, these foolish drops doe somewhat drowne my manly spirit: adue.

Jes. Farewell good Lancelet.

Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me
To be ashamed to be my Fathers childe,
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
If thou keepe promise I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

[Scene iv. The same. A street.]

Exit.

20

Exit.

Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Slarino, and Salanio. Lor. Nay, we will slinke away in supper time, Disguise us at my lodging, and returne all in an houre. Gra. We have not made good preparation.

Sal. We have not spoke us yet of Torch-bearers. Sol. "Tis vile unlesse it may be quaintly ordered, And better in my minde not undertooke.

Lor. 'Tis now but foure of clock, we have two houres To furnish us; friend Lancelet what's the newes.

Enter Laucelet with a Lettǝr.

IO

Lan. And it shall please you to breake up this, shall it

seeme to signifie.

12. doe: did-3-4F.

1. Slarino: Salarino-2-4F.

14. somewhat: something-Q0. 3. new 1. at All-CAPELL.

8. of clock: o'clock (a'clock-1Q.3-4F. )-CAPELL. 10. Laucelet: Launcelot-2-4F.

II. And: An-THEOBALD.

II-12. shall it seeme: it shall seem- -Q0.2-4F.

Lor. I know the hand, in faith 'tis a faire hand And whiter then the paper it writ on,

I the faire hand that writ.

Gra. Love newes in faith.

Lan. By your leave sir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Lan. Marry sir to bid my old Master the Jew to sup to night with my new Master the Christian.

Lor. Hold here, take this, tell gentle Jessica

I will not faile her, speake it privately:

20

Go Gentlemen, will you prepare you for this Maske to

night,

I am provided of a Torch-bearer.

Exit. Clowne.

Sal. I marry, ile be gone about it strait.

Sol. And so will I.

Lor. Meete me and Gratiano at Gratianos lodging Some houre hence.

Sal. 'Tis good we do so.

Exit.

30

Gra. Was not that Letter from faire Jessica?
Lor. I must needes tell thee all, she hath directed
How I shall take her from her Fathers house,
What gold and jewels she is furnisht with,
What Pages suite she hath in readinesse:
If ere the Jew her Father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughters sake;
And never dare misfortune crosse her foote,
Unlesse she doe it under this excuse,

That she is issue to a faithlesse Jew:
Come goe with me, peruse this as thou goest,
Faire Jessica shall be

15. I: Is-QQ.

my

28-9. new 1. at At-CAPELL.

40

Torch-bearer.

Exit.

23-4. new 1. at Will-COLLIER.

[Scene v.

The same. Before Shylock's house.]

Enter Few, and his man that was the Clowne.

Jew. Well, thou shall see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylocke and Bassanio;

What Jessica, thou shalt not gurmandize
As thou hast done with me: what Jessica?
And sleepe, and snore, and rend apparrell out.
Why Jessica I say.

Clo. Why Jessica.

Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Clo. Your worship was wont to tell me

I could doe nothing without bidding.

Enter Jessica.

Jes. Call you? what is your will?
Shy. I am bid forth to supper Jessica,

There are my Keyes: but wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love, they flatttr me,
But yet Ile goe in hate, to feede upon
The prodigall Christian.

Jessica my girle,

Looke to my house, I am right loath to goe,
There is some ill a bruing towards my rest,
For I did dreame of money bags to night.
Clo. I beseech you sir goe, my yong Master
Doth expect your reproach.

Shy. So doe I his.

Clo. And they have conspired together, I will not say you shall see a Maske, but if you doe, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on blacke monday

2. sball: shalt-12. 10. tell me: tell me that-IQ. 10-11. prose-1Q. 16. flatttr: flatter-Q0.2-4F. 22-3. prose-1Q.

last, at six a clocke ith morning, falling out that yeere on ashwensday was foure yeere in th'afternoone.

29

Shy. What are their maskes? heare you me Jessica, Lock up my doores, and when you heare the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-neckt Fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the publique streete To gaze on Christian fooles with varnisht faces: But stop my houses eares, I meane my casements, Let not the sound of shallow fopperie enter My sober house. By Jacobs staffe I sweare, I have no minde of feasting forth to night: But I will goe: goe you before me sirra, Say I will come.

Clo. I will goe before sir.

Mistris looke out at window for all this;
There will come a Christian by,

Will be worth a Jewes eye.

40

Shy. What saies that foole of Hagars off-spring?

ha.

50

Jes. His words were farewell mistris, nothing else. Shy. The patch is kinde enough, but a huge feeder: Snaile-slow in profit, but he sleepes by day More then the wilde-cat: drones hive not with me, Therefore I part with him, and part with him To one that I would have him helpe to waste His borrowed purse. Well Jessica goe in, Perhaps I will returne immediately;

Doe as I bid you, shut dores after you, fast binde, fast

finde,

A proverbe never stale in thriftie minde.

Jes. Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,

I have a Father, you a daughter lost.

Exit.

Exit. 60

42-3. prose-Collier.

56-7. new 1. at Fast bind-1Q.