The Merchant of Venice
 Act 2, Scene 6

Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued
Gratiano
This is the pent-house under which Lorenzo
Desired us to make stand.

Salarino
His hour is almost past.

Gratiano
And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
For lovers ever run before the clock.

Salarino
O, ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new-made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

Gratiano
That ever holds: who riseth from a feast
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
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.
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,
With over-weather’d ribs and ragged sails,
Lean, rent and beggar’d by the strumpet wind!

Salarino
Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter.

Enter LORENZO
Lorenzo
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
Jessica
Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.

Lorenzo
Lorenzo, and thy love.

Jessica
Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed,
For who love I so much? And now who knows
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?

Lorenzo
Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.

Jessica
Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.
I am glad ‘tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange:
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.

Lorenzo
Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.

Jessica
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;
And I should be obscured.

Lorenzo
                         So are you, sweet,
Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.
But come at once;
For the close night doth play the runaway,
And we are stay’d for at Bassanio’s feast.

Jessica
I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
Exit above

Gratiano
Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew.

Lorenzo
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,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself,
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.
Enter JESSICA, below
What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away!
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
Exit with Jessica and Salarino

Enter ANTONIO
Antonio
Who’s there?

Gratiano
Signior Antonio!

Antonio
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;
Bassanio presently will go aboard:
I have sent twenty out to seek for you.

Gratiano
I am glad on’t: I desire no more delight
Than to be under sail and gone to-night.

Exeunt

The Merchant of Venice
 Act 2, Scene 6

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

This is the willshake edition of The Merchant of Venice, a play written by William Shakespeare, probably some time between 1596 and 1597, when he was about 32 years old. timeline of The Merchant of Venice
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