The Same. | |
| |
Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. | |
| Gra. This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo | |
| Desir’d us to make stand. | 4 |
| Salar. His hour is almost past. | |
| Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, | |
| For lovers ever run before the clock. | |
| Salar. O! ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly | 8 |
| To seal love’s bonds new-made, than they are wont | |
| To keep obliged faith unforfeited! | |
| Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast | |
| With that keen appetite that he sits down? | 12 |
| Where is the horse that doth untread again | |
| His tedious measures with the unbated fire | |
| That he did pace them first? All things that are, | |
| Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d. | 16 |
| How like a younker or a prodigal | |
| The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, | |
| Hugg’d and embraced by the strumpet wind! | |
| How like the prodigal doth she return, | 20 |
| With over-weather’d ribs and ragged sails, | |
| Lean, rent, and beggar’d by the strumpet wind! | |
| Salar. Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter. | |
| |
Enter LORENZO. | 24 |
| Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode; | |
| Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait: | |
| When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, | |
| I’ll watch as long for you then. Approach; | 28 |
| Here dwells my father Jew. Ho! who’s within? | |
| |
Enter JESSICA above, in boy’s clothes. | |
| Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, | |
| Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue. | 32 |
| Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. | |
| Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love indeed, | |
| For whom love I so much? And now who knows | |
| But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? | 36 |
| Lor. Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. | |
| Jes. Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. | |
| I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me, | |
| For I am much asham’d of my exchange; | 40 |
| But love is blind, and lovers cannot see | |
| The pretty follies that themselves commit; | |
| For if they could, Cupid himself would blush | |
| To see me thus transformed to a boy. | 44 |
| Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. | |
| Jes. What! must I hold a candle to my shames? | |
| They in themselves, good sooth, are too-too light. | |
| Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love, | 48 |
| And I should be obscur’d. | |
| Lor. So are you, sweet, | |
| Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. | |
| But come at once; | 52 |
| For the close night doth play the runaway, | |
| And we are stay’d for at Bassanio’s feast. | |
| Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself | |
| With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [Exit above. | 56 |
| Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. | |
| Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily; | |
| For she is wise, if I can judge of her, | |
| And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, | 60 |
| And true she is, as she hath prov’d herself; | |
| And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, | |
| Shall she be placed in my constant soul. | |
| |
Enter JESSICA. | 64 |
| What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away! | |
| Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit with JESSICA and SALARINO. | |
| |
Enter ANTONIO. | |
| Ant. Who’s there? | 68 |
| Gra. Signior Antonio! | |
| Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? | |
| ’Tis nine o’clock; our friends all stay for you. | |
| No masque to-night: the wind is come about; | 72 |
| Bassanio presently will go aboard: | |
| I have sent twenty out to seek for you. | |
| Gra. I am glad on’t: I desire no more delight | |
| Than to be under sail and gone to-night. [Exeunt. | 76 |
