TPTT The Merchant of Venice: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
SCENE II. Venice. A street.
SCENE III. The same. A room in SHYLOCK'S house.
SCENE IV. The same. A street.
SCENE V. The same. Before SHYLOCK'S house.
SCENE VI. The same.
SCENE VII. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
SCENE VIII. Venice. A street.
SCENE IX. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
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SCENE IV. The same. A street.
Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO
LORENZO
      Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
      Disguise us at my lodging and return,
      All in an hour.
GRATIANO
      We have not made good preparation.
SALARINO
5     We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
SALANIO
      'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,
      And better in my mind not undertook.
LORENZO
      'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hours
      To furnish us.

Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter

10    Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
LAUNCELOT
      An it shall please you to break up
      this, it shall seem to signify.
LORENZO
      I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
      And whiter than the paper it writ on
15    Is the fair hand that writ.
GRATIANO
      Love-news, in faith.
LAUNCELOT
      By your leave, sir.
LORENZO
      Whither goest thou?
LAUNCELOT
      Marry, sir, to bid my old master the
20    Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
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 tonight?
25    I am provided of a torch-bearer.
SALANIO
      Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
SALANIO
      And so will I.
LORENZO
      Meet me and Gratiano
      At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
SALARINO
30    'Tis good we do so.
Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO
GRATIANO
      Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
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,
35    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,
40    That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
      Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
      Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.
Exeunt
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