ACT II. SCENE IV.
Venice. A street
Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALERIO, and SOLANIO
| LORENZO. | Nay, we will slink away in suppertime,
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.
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| GRATIANO. | We have not made good preparation.
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| SALERIO. | We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
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| SOLANIO. | 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;
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.
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Enter LAUNCELOT, With a letter
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Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
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| LAUNCELOT. | An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem
to signify.
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| LORENZO. | write_ads(1,1)> 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
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.
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| SALERIO. | Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
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| SOLANIO. | And so will I.
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| LORENZO. | Meet me and Gratiano
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
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| SALERIO. | 'Tis good we do so
Exeunt SALERIO and SOLANIO
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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
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
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Exeunt
Next
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