ACT 2
[Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued]
GRATIANO
This is the pent-house under which Lorenzo
This is the porch roof under which Lorenzo
Desired us to make stand.
Asked us to wait.
SALARINO
His hour is almost past.
And soon he will be late.
GRATIANO
And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,
It will be quite surprising if he’s late,
For lovers ever run before the clock.
For lovers always tend to turn up early.
SALARINO
O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly
The doves of Venus, God of Love, fly faster
To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont
To seal a new relationship than they do
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!
To keep an old relationship together!
GRATIANO
That ever holds: who riseth from a feast
That’s always true: who gets up after dinner
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
With greater appetite than when he sat down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
Show me the horse that, when retracing tracks,
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
Does so with all the fire within its belly
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
As first time when it made them. Everything
Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.
Has more zeal in pursuit than satiated.
How like a younker or a prodigal
How like a youth or over-generous person
The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,
A sailing ship departs from its home port,
Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind!
Close-hauled and tacking on the gusty wind!
How like the prodigal doth she return,
How, when returning, it’s all beaten up,
With over-weathered ribs and ragged sails,
With damaged timbers, ripped and ragged sails,
Lean, rent and beggared by the strumpet wind!
Bent, broke and twisted by the gusty wind!
SALARINO
Here comes Lorenzo: more of this hereafter.
Here comes Lorenzo: let’s discuss more later.
[Enter LORENZO]
LORENZO
Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode;
Dear friends, thanks for your patience as I’m late.
Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait:
It wasn’t me: my jobs have made you wait.
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
When you are trying to win yourself a wife,
I'll watch as long for you then. Approach;
I’ll wait as long for you then. Come here;
Here dwells my father Jew. Ho! Who's within?
This is my future Jewish in-law’s house. Who’s there?
[Enter JESSICA, above, in boy's clothes]
JESSICA
Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty,
Who are you? Tell me, so I can be sure,
Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue.
Although I’m sure I recognise your voice.
LORENZO
Lorenzo, and thy love.
Lorenzo, and your lover.
JESSICA
Lorenzo, certain, and my love indeed,
Lorenzo, you are certainly my lover;
For who love I so much? And now who knows
Could I love someone else as much? Who knows
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
Except for you, Lorenzo, that I’m yours?
LORENZO
Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
Just heaven and your thoughts know that it’s true.
JESSICA
Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.
Here, catch this box: it will be worth your while.
I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
I’m glad it’s night so that you cannot see me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange:
For I’m ashamed how different I appear:
But love is blind and lovers cannot see
But love is blind and lovers do not see
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
The silly actions love makes them commit,
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
For if they could, the God of Love would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.
To see me now transformed into a boy.
LORENZO
Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.
Come down, for you must hold my torch tonight.
JESSICA
What, must I hold a candle to my shames?
What, hold a candle, showing my disgrace?
They in themselves, good-sooth, are too too light.
My shames themselves are light and unrestrained.
Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love;
A torchbearer shines light so others see
And I should be obscured.
But I should be obscured.
LORENZO
So are you, sweet,
You are obscured, dear,
Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.
By being dressed up as a humble boy.
But come at once;
But come at once,
For the close night doth play the runaway,
Because the dark of night will soon be over,
And we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast.
And, at Bassanio’s feast, they’re waiting for us.
JESSICA
I will make fast the doors, and gild myself
I’ll lock the doors, and then I will collect
With some more ducats, and be with you straight.
Some more gold coins, and then I’ll come to you.
[Exit above]
GRATIANO
Now, by my hood, a gentle and no Jew.
I swear she is a gentile, not a Jew.
LORENZO
Beshrew me but I love her heartily;
Well damn me, but I love her heartily,
For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
For she is wise, if I can be her judge,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And she’s attractive, if I’m seeing right,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself,
And she is truthful, as she’s proved to herself,
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,
And so, this lady, truthful, wise, attractive,
Shall she be placed in my constant soul.
Will always hold a place within my soul.
[Enter JESSICA, below]
What, art thou come? On, gentlemen; away!
Have you just got here? Gentlemen, let’s go!
Our masquing mates by this time for us stay.
Our fellow masqueraders wait for us!
[Exit with Jessica and Salarino]
[Enter ANTONIO]
ANTONIO
Who's there?
Who’s there?
GRATIANO
Signior Antonio!
Signior Antonio!
ANTONIO
Fie, fie, Gratiano! Where are all the rest?
It’s you, Gratiano! Where are all the others?
'Tis nine o'clock: our friends all stay for you.
It’s nine o’clock: our friends are waiting for you.
No masque to-night: the wind is come about;
There’ll be no masquerade tonight; it’s windy.
Bassanio presently will go aboard:
Bassanio soon will go aboard his ship;
I have sent twenty out to seek for you.
I sent out twenty men to look for you.
GRATIANO
I am glad on't: I desire no more delight
That is good news. I take no more delight
Than to be under sail and gone to-night.
Than, under sail, to leave this place tonight.
[Exeunt]
