Lor. Hold, here, take this; tell gentle Jeffica, I will not fail her; fpeak it privately. Go. Gentlemen, will you prepare for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. [Exit. Laun. Sal. Ay, Marry, I'll be gone about it trait. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging fome hour hence. [Exit. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jeffica ? Come, go with me; perufe this, as thou goeft; SCENE VI. [Exeunt. Shylock's houfe. Enter Shylock and Launcelot. Shy. Well, thou fhalt fee, thy eyes fhall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Baffanio. What, Jeffica! -thou fhalt not gormandize, As thou haft done with me- what, Jeflica! And fleep and fnore, and rend apparel out. Why, Jeffica! I fay. Laun. Why, Jeffica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I did not bid thee call. Laun. Your Worthip was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Jeffica. Jef. Call you? what is your will? There are my keys. But wherefore fhould I go ? I am I am not bid for love; they flatter me: Laun. I befeech you, Sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy So do I his. Laun. And they have confpired together, I will not fay you fhall fee a mafque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nofe fell a bleeding on black Monday last, at fix o'clock i' th' morning, falling out that year on Afh-Wednesday was four year in the af ternoon. Shy. What? are there mafques? hear you me, Jeffica Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, And the vile fqueaking of the wry-neck'd fife, Clamber not you up to the cafements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Chriftian fools with varnish'd faces. But flop my houfe's ears; I mean, my cafements; Let not the found of fhallow foppery enter My fober house. By Jacob's ftaff, I fwear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night. But I will go; go you before me, firrah. Say, I will come. Laun. I will go before, Sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this; [Exit. Laun: Shy. What fays that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? Jef. His words were, Farewel, Mistress; nothing elfe. Shy. The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder: Snail-flow in profit, but he fleeps by day More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me, Do, as I bid you. Shut Shut the doors after you: Faft bind, faft find; [Exit. Jef. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft, I have a father, you a daughter, loft. SCENE VII. The Street. Enter Gratiano and Salanio in masquerade. [Exit. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo defired us to make a stand. Sal. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Sal. O, ten times fafter Venus' widgeons fly To feal love's bonds new made, than they are wont To keep obliged faith unforfeited! Gra. That ever holds. Who rifeth from a feast, The fcarfed bark puts from her native bay, Enter Lorenzo. Sal. 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 fhall pleafe to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then come, approach; Here dwells my father Jew. Hoa, who's within ? Jeffica above, in boy's cloaths. Jef. Who are you? tell me for more certainty, Jef. Lorenzo certain, and my love, indeed; For For who love I fo much; and now who knows, [art. Lor. Heav'n and thy thoughts are witness that thou Jef. Here catch this cafket, it is worth the pains. I'm glad, 'tis night, you do not look on me; For I am much afham'd of my exchange; But love is blind, and lovers cannot fee The pretty follies that themfelves commit; For if they could, Cupid himself would blush To fee me thus transformed to a boy. Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Jef. What, must I hold a candle to my fhames? They in themfelves, good footh, are too, too light. Why, 'tis an office of difcovery, love, And I fhould be obfcur'd. Lor. So are you, sweet, Ev'n in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once For the clofe night doth play the run-away, Jef. I will make faft the doors, and gild myfelf With fome more ducats, and be with you ftrait. [Exit from above. Gra. Now by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. For fhe is wife, if I can judge of her; Enter Jeffica, to them. What, art thou come on, Gentlemen, away; Anth. Who's there? Gra. Signior Anthonio, Anth. Fie Gratiano, where are all the reft? 'Tis nine o'clock, our friends all stay for you; To mafque to-night; the wind is come about, Baffanio prefently will go aboard; I have fent twenty out to feek for you. Gra. I'm glad on't; I defire no more delight Than to be under fail, and gone to-night. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Changes to Belmont. Enter Portia with Morochius, and both their trains. Por. Go, draw afide the curtains, and discover Now make your choice. [Three cafkets are difcover'd. Por. The one of them contains my picture, Prince; If you chufe that, then I am your's withal. Mor. Some God direct my judgment! let me fee, Who chufeth me, must give and hazard all he hath. A golden mind ftoops not to fhows of drofs; I. Let's |