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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Scene III.—: The Same. A Room inShylock'sHouse. - The Merchant of Venice

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Subject Area: Literature
Collection: Banned Books

Scene III.—: The Same. A Room inShylock’sHouse. - William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice [1623]

Edition used:

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare), ed. with a glossary by W.J. Craig M.A. (Oxford University Press, 1916).

Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare)

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Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


Scene III.—

The Same. A Room inShylock’sHouse.

EnterJessicaandLauncelot.

Jes.

I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so:

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,

Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.

But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee:

And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see

Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest:

Give him this letter; do it secretly;

And so farewell: I would not have my father

See me in talk with thee.

Laun.

Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! If a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu!

Jes.

Farewell, good Launcelot.

[ExitLauncelot.

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me

To be asham’d to be my father’s child!

But though I am a daughter to his blood,

I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo!

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,

Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

[Exit.