Sal.
Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail;
With him is Gratiano gone along;

And in their ship, I'm sure, Lorenzo is not.

Sola.
The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the Duke,
Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.

Sal.
He came too late, the ship was under sail;
But there the Duke was given to understand,
That in a Gondola were seen together
Lorenzo and his am'rous Jessica:
Besides, Anthonio certify'd the Duke,
They were not with Bassanio in his ship.

Sola.
I never heard a passion so confus'd,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets;
My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter,
Fled with a christian? O my christian ducats!
Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stoll'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels too, stones, rich and precious stones,
Stoll'n by my daughter! justice! find the girl;
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.

Sal.
Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
Crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.

Sola.
Let good Anthonio look, he keep his day;
Or he shall pay for this.

Sal.
Marry, well remember'd.
I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday,
Who told me, in the narrow seas, that part
The French and English, there miscarried
A vessel of our country richly fraught:
I thought upon Anthonio, when he told me,
And wish'd in silence, that it were not his.

Sola.
You were best to tell Anthonio what you hear,
Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.

Sal.
A kinder Gentleman treads not the earth.
I saw Bassanio and Anthonio part.
Bassanio told him, he would make some speed
Of his return: he answer'd, do not so,

Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio.
But stay the very riping of the time;
And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me,
Let it not enter in your mind of love:
Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
To courtship, and such fair ostents of love,
As shall conveniently become you there.
And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wond'rous sensible
He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted.

Sola.
I think, he only loves the world for him.
I pray thee, let us go and find him out,
And quicken his ^{9 note}

Sal.
Do we so. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section