Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum,
And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife,
Clamber not you up to the casements then,
Nor thrust your head into the public street,
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces:
But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements;
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter
My sober house.-By Jacob's staff, I swear,
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night.
But I will go.-Go you before me,
Say, I will come.

Laun.

sirrah ;

I will go before, sir.

Mistress, look out at window, for all this:

There will come a Christian by,
Will be worth a Jewess' eye.

[Exit Laun.

Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring,

ha?

Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing

else.

Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge. feeder,

Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day

More than the wild cat: drones hive not with

me;

Therefore I part with him; and part with him
To one that I would have him help to waste
His borrow'd purse.-Well, Jessica, go in ;
Perhaps, I will return immediately.

Do as I bid you;

Shut doors after you. Fast bind, fast find;
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.

[Exil.

Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not cross'd, I have a father, you a daughter lost.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

The same.

Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO masked.

Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lo

renzo

Desired us to make stand.

Salar.

His hour is almost past.

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

Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly

To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont, To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

Gra. 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 bark1 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!

The vessel decorated with flags.

Enter LORENZO,

Salar. Here comes Lorenzo :—more of this hereafter.

Lor. 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.

Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit. I'll swear that I do know your tongue.

Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love.

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

Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art.

Jes. 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.

Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames ? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light.