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- $Unique_ID{SSP00607}
- $Title{The Merchant of Venice: Act II, Scene IV}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*00600.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
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-
- ACT II
- ................................................................................
-
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- SCENE IV: The same. A street.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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- {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.
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- GRATIANO: We have not made good preparation.
-
- SALARINO: We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
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- SALANIO: 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,
- And better in my mind not undertook.
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- 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?
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- LAUNCELOT: An it shall please you to break up 10
- this, it shall seem to signify.
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- 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.
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- GRATIANO: Love-news, in faith.
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- LAUNCELOT: By your leave, sir.
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- LORENZO: Whither goest thou?
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- LAUNCELOT: Marry, sir, to bid my old master the
- Jew to sup to-night with my new master the
- Christian.
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- LORENZO: Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica 20
- I will not fail her; speak it privately.
- Go, gentlemen,
-
- [Exit Launcelot.]
-
- Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
- I am provided of a torch-bearer.
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- SALANIO: Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
-
- SALANIO: And so will I.
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- LORENZO: Meet me and Gratiano
- At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
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- SALARINO: 'Tis good we do so.
-
- [Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO.]
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- GRATIANO: Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
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- LORENZO: I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed 30
- 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. 40
-
- [Exeunt.]
-