That she is issue to a faithless Jew. SCENE V. [Exeunt. The same. Before SHYLOCK's House. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio :What, Jessica!--thou shalt not gormandize, As thou hast done with me ;-What, Jessica!And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ;Why, Jessica, I say! Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you? What is your will? Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together,-I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on BlackMonday last, at six o'clock i' th' morning, falling out [1] That bid was used for invitation, may be seen in St. Luke's Gospel, xiv. 24: " none of those which were bidden shall taste of my supper." HARRIS. [2] Shylock forgets his resolution. In a former scene he declares he will neither eat, drink, nor pray with Christians. Of this circumstance the poet was aware, and meant only to heighten the malignity of the character, by making him depart from his most settled resolve, for the prosecution of his revenge. STEEVENS.. [3] "Black-Monday is Easter-Monday, and was so called on this occasion: in the 34th of Edward III. (1360) the 14th of April, and the morrow after Easter-day, King Edward, with his host, lay before the city of Paris; which day was full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold, that many men died on their horses' backs with the cold. Wherefore, unto this day, it hath been called the Blacke-Monday." Stowe, p. 264-6. GREY. that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the after noon. Shy. What! art there masques? Hear you me, Jessica; Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, And the vile squeaking 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; Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house. - By Jacob's staff, I swear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah; Say, I will come. [Exit LAUN. Laun. I will go before, sir.Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Jewess' eye. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing else. Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder, Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me; Do, as I bid you, Shut doors after you: Fast bind, fast find; [Exit. Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. [Exit. SCENE VI. The same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo Desir'd us to make stand. 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 flyt [4] Lovers have in poetry been called Turtles or Doves, which in lower language may be pigeons. JOHNSON To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont, Gra. That ever holds: Who riseth from a feast, The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, Enter LORENZO. Salar. Here comes Lorenzo; -more of this hereafter 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; 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 who 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. I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, To see me thus transformed to a boy. [5] Mr. Gray (dropping the particularity of allusion to the parable of the prodigal) seems to have caught from this passage the imagery of the following. "Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows, "Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm; The grim-repose, however, was suggested by Thomson's Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Lor. So are you, sweet, For the close night doth play the run-away, Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself [Exit, from above. Gra. Now by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew." For she is wise, if I can judge of her; Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit with Jes. and SALAR. Enter ANTΟΝΙΟ. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio ? Ant. Fye, fye, 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, 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. SCENE VII. [Exeunt. Belmont. A Room in PORTIA'S House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the Prince of Morrocco, and both their Trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince : [7] A jest arising from the ambiguity of Gentile, which signifies both Heathen, and one well born. JOHNSON. Vol. II. Now make your choice. Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears ;Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. The second, silver, which this promise carries ;Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt ;Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.How shall I know if I do choose the right? Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; If you choose that, then I am yours withal. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; |