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• The Merchant of Venice: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Venice. a Street.
• Scene II.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Scene III.—: Venice. a Public Place.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Scene II.—: Venice. a Street.
• Scene III.—: The Same. a Room Inshylock’shouse.
• Scene IV.—: The Same. a Street.
• Scene V.—: The Same. Beforeshylock’shouse.
• Scene VI.—: The Same.
• Scene VII.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Scene VIII.—: Venice. a Street.
• Scene IX.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: Venice. a Street.
• Scene II.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Scene III.—: Venice. a Street.
• Scene IV.—: Belmont. a Room Inportia’shouse.
• Scene V.—: The Same. a Garden.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Venice. a Court of Justice.
• Scene II.—: The Same. a Street.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: Belmont. the Avenue Toportia’shouse.

Scene IV.—

The Same. A Street.

EnterGratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino,andSalanio.

Lor.

Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,

Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in an hour.

Gra.

We have not made good preparation.

Salar.

We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.

Salan.

’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d,

And better, in my mind, not undertook.

Lor.

’Tis now but four o’clock: we have two hours

To furnish us.

EnterLauncelot,with a letter.

Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?

Laun.

An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.

Lor.

I know the hand: in faith, ’tis a fair hand;

And whiter than the paper it writ on

Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra.

Love news, in faith.

Laun.

By your leave, sir.

Lor.

Whither goest thou?

Laun.

Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the Christian.

Lor.

Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica

I will not fail her; speak it privately.

Go, gentlemen,

[ExitLauncelot.

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salar.

Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.

Salan.

And so will I.

Lor.

Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.

Salar.

’Tis good we do so.

[ExeuntSalarinoandSalanio.

Gra.

Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

Lor.

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;

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,

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.