SHY. What are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica : Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces : But stop my house's ears,—I mean my casements ; SHY. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring; ha? Perhaps, I will return immediately; Do as I bid you, shut doors after you : Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. [Exit. JES. Farewell; and if my fortune be not cross'd, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. SCENE THE SIXTH.-VENICE. Before Shylock's House. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. GRA. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo Desir'd us to make stand. F. * Simpleton. 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 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? The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, How like a prodigal doth she return; 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. 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, 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. 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? 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 : * The doves of Venus' chariot. But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit; LOR. Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. And I should be obscur'd. LOR. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the run-away, 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, from above. 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; Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come ?-On, gentlemen, away; [Exit, with JESSICA and SALARINO, Enter ANTONIO. ANT. Who's there? GRA. Signior Antonio? ANT. Fie, fie, Gratiano? where are all the rest? 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. SCENE THE SEVENTH. -BELMONT. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and both their Trains. POR. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince : Now make your choice. MOR. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears : If POR. The one of them contains my picture, prince; you choose that, then I am yours withal. MOR. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see. I will survey the inscriptions back again : What says this leaden casket : Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross: |