The Bodleian First Folio

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Reference: P1r - Comedies, p. 169

Left Column

The Merchant of Venice. Leon.

Yonder sir he walkes.

Gra.

Signior Bassanio.

Bas.

Gratiano.

Gra.

I haue a sute to you.

Bass.

[715]

You haue obtain'd it.

Gra.

You must not denie me, I must goe with you to

Belmont.

Bass. Why then you must: but heare thee Gratiano, Thou art to wilde, to rude, and bold of voyce,

[720]

Parts that become thee happily enough, And in such eyes as ours appeare not faults; But where they are not knowne, why there they show Something too liberall, pray thee take paine To allay with some cold drops of modestie

[725]

Thy skipping spirit, least through thy wilde behauiour I be misconsterd in the place I goe to, And loose my hopes. Gra. Signor Bassanio, heare me, If I doe not put on a sober habite,

[730]

Talke with respect, and sweare but now and than, Weare prayer bookes in my pocket, looke demurely, Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes Thus with my hat, and sigh and say Amen: Vse all the obseruance of ciuillitie

[735]

Like one well studied in a sad ostent To please his Grandam, neuer trust me more. Bas.

Well, we shall see your bearing.

Gra. Nay but I barre to night, you shall not gage me By what we doe to night. Bas.

[740]

No that were pittie, I would intreate you rather to put on Your boldest suite of mirth, for we haue friends That purpose merriment: but far you well, I haue some businesse. Gra.

[745]

And I must to Lorenso and the rest, But we will visite you at supper time. Exeunt.

[Act 2, Scene 3] Enter Iessica and the Clowne. Ies. I am sorry thou wilt leaue my Father so, Our house is hell, and thou a merrie diuell Did'st rob it of some taste of tediousnesse;

[750]

But far thee well, there is a ducat for thee, And Lancelet, soone at supper shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new Maisters guest, Giue him this Letter, doe it secretly, And so farewell: I would not haue my Father

[755]

see me talke with thee. Clo.

Adue, teares exhibit my tongue, most beautifull

Pagan, most sweete Iew, if a Christian doe not play the

knaue and get thee, I am much deceiued; but adue, these

foolish drops doe somewhat drowne my manly spirit:

[760]

adue.

Exit. Ies. Farewell good Lancelet. Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me To be ashamed to be my Fathers childe, But though I am a daughter to his blood,

[765]

I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo, If thou keepe promise I shall end this strife, Become a Christian, and thy louing wife. Exit.

[Act 2, Scene 4] Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Slarino, and Salanio. Lor.

Nay, we will slinke away in supper time,

Disguise vs at my lodging, and returne all in an houre.

Gra.

[770]

We haue not made good preparation.

Sal.

We haue not spoke vs yet of Torch‑bearers.

Image

[full image]

Right Column

Sol. 'Tis vile vnlesse it may be quaintly ordered, And better in my minde not vndertooke. Lor. 'Tis now but foure of clock, we haue two houres

[775]

To furnish vs; friend Lancelet what's the newes. Enter Lancelet with a Lett er. Lan.

And it shall please you to breake vp this, shall it

seeme to signifie.

Lor. I know the hand, in faith 'tis a faire hand And whiter then the paper it writ on,

[780]

I the faire hand that writ. Gra.

Loue newes in faith.

Lan.

By your leaue sir.

Lor.

Whither goest thou?

Lan.

Marry sir to bid my old Master the Iew to sup

[785]

to night with my new Master the Christian.

Lor. Hold here, take this, tell gentle Iessica I will not faile her, speake it priuately: Go Gentlemen, will you prepare you for this Maske to night, I am prouided of a Torch‑bearer. Exit. Clowne. Sal.

[790]

I marry, ile be gone about it stra t.

Sol.

And so will I.

Lor.

Meete me and Gratiano at Gratianos lodging

Some houre hence.

Sal.

'Tis good we do so.

Exit. Gra.

[795]

Was not that Letter from faire Iessica?

Lor. I must needes tell thee all, she hath directed How I shall take her from her Fathers house, What gold and iewels she is furnisht with, What Pages suite she hath in readinesse:

[800]

If ere the Iew her Father come to heauen, It will be for his gentle daughters sake; And neuer dare misfortune crosse her foote, Vnlesse she doe it vnder this excuse, That she is issue to a faithlesse Iew:

[805]

Come goe with me, pervse this as thou goest, Faire Iessica shall be my Torch‑bearer. Exit.

[Act 2, Scene 5] Enter Iew, and his man that was the Clowne. Iew. Well, thou shall see, thy eyes shall be thy iudge, The difference of old Shylocke and Bassanio; What Iessica, thou shalt not gurmandize

[810]

As thou hast done with me: what Iessica? And sleepe, and snore, and rend apparrell out. Why Iessica I say. Clo.

Why Iessica.

Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Clo.

[815]

Your worship was wont to tell me

I could doe nothing without bidding.

Enter Iessica. Ies.

Call you? what is your will?

Shy. I am bid forth to supper Iessica, There are my Keyes: but wherefore should I go?

[820]

I am not bid for loue, they flatter me, But yet Ile goe in hate, to feede vpon The prodigall Christian. Iessica my girle, Looke to my house, I am right loath to goe, There is some ill a bruing towards my rest,

[825]

For I did dreame of money bags to night. Clo.

I beseech you sir goe, my yong Master

Doth expect your reproach.

Shy.

So doe I his.

Clo.

And they haue conspired together, I will not say

[830]

you shall see a Maske, but if you doe, then it was not for

nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on blacke monday P last,

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[Act 2, Scene 3] Enter Iessica and the Clowne. Ies. I am sorry thou wilt leaue my Father so, Our house is hell, and thou a merrie diuell Did'st rob it of some taste of tediousnesse;

[750]

But far thee well, there is a ducat for thee, And Lancelet, soone at supper shalt thou see Lorenzo, who is thy new Maisters guest, Giue him this Letter, doe it secretly, And so farewell: I would not haue my Father

[755]

see me talke with thee. Clo.

Adue, teares exhibit my tongue, most beautifull

Pagan, most sweete Iew, if a Christian doe not play the

knaue and get thee, I am much deceiued; but adue, these

foolish drops doe somewhat drowne my manly spirit:

[760]

adue.

Exit. Ies. Farewell good Lancelet. Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me To be ashamed to be my Fathers childe, But though I am a daughter to his blood,

[765]

I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo, If thou keepe promise I shall end this strife, Become a Christian, and thy louing wife. Exit.

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   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
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      <l n="762">Alacke, what hainous sinne is it in me</l>
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   <stage rend="italic inline" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
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The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.

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Reference: P1r - Comedies, p. 169