The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Read Free Book Online Page A

wild 13 sea banks and waft her love
     To come again to Carthage.
    JESSICA    In such a night
      Medea 16 gathered the enchanted herbs
     That did renew 17 old Aeson.
    LORENZO    In such a night
     Did Jessica steal 19 from the wealthy Jew
     And with an unthrift 20 love did run from Venice
     As far as Belmont.
    JESSICA    In such a night
     Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
     Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
     And ne’er a true one.
    LORENZO    In such a night
     Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew 27 ,
     Slander her love 28 , and he forgave it her.
    JESSICA    I would out-night you 29 , did nobody come.
     But hark, I hear the footing 30 of a man.
    Enter
[
Stephano, a
]
Messenger
    LORENZO    Who comes so fast in silence of the night?
    STEPHANO    A friend.
    LORENZO    A friend? What friend? Your name, I pray you, friend?
    STEPHANO    Stephano is my name, and I bring word
     My mistress will before the break of day
     Be here at Belmont. She doth stray about 36
     By holy crosses 37 , where she kneels and prays
     For happy wedlock hours.
    LORENZO    Who comes with her?
    STEPHANO    None but a holy hermit and her maid.
     I pray you is my master yet returned?
    LORENZO    He is not, nor we have not heard from him.
     But go we in, I pray thee, Jessica,
     And ceremoniously let us prepare
     Some welcome for the mistress of the house.
    Enter Clown
[
Lancelet
]
    LANCELET     Sola 46 , sola! Wo ha, ho! Sola, sola!
    LORENZO    Who calls?
    LANCELET    Sola! Did you see Master Lorenzo?
     And Master Lorenzo, sola, sola!
    LORENZO    Leave hollowing 50 , man! Here.
    LANCELET    Sola! Where, where?
    LORENZO    Here.
    LANCELET    Tell him there’s a post 53 come from my master, with
     his horn 54 full of good news: my master will be here ere
     morning.
    [
Exit
]
    LORENZO    Sweet soul, let’s in 56 , and there expect their coming.
     And yet no matter. Why should we go in?
     My friend Stephano, signify 58 , pray you,
     Within the house, your mistress is at hand,
     And bring your music 60 forth into the air.
    [
Exit Stephano
]
         How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
     Here will we sit and let the sounds of music
     Creep in our ears. Soft stillness and the night
      Become 64 the touches of sweet harmony.
     Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven 65
    They sit
         Is thick inlaid with patens 66 of bright gold.
     There’s not the smallest orb 67 which thou behold’st
     But in his motion 68 like an angel sings,
      Still choiring 69 to the young-eyed cherubins;
     Such harmony is in immortal souls,
     But whilst this muddy vesture of decay 71
     Doth grossly 72 close it in, we cannot hear it.
    [
Enter Musicians
]
         Come, ho, and wake Diana 73 with a hymn!
     With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear,
     And draw her home with music.
    JESSICA    I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
    Play music
    LORENZO    The reason is, your spirits 77 are attentive.
     For do but note a wild and wanton 78 herd
     Or race 79 of youthful and unhandled colts,
      Fetching 80 mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
     Which is the hot condition 81 of their blood.
     If they but 82 hear perchance a trumpet sound,
     Or any air 83 of music touch their ears,
     You shall perceive them make a mutual stand 84 ,
     Their savage eyes turned to a modest gaze
     By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet 86
     Did feign 87 that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods,
     Since nought so stockish 88 , hard and full of rage,
     But music for time doth change