Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Janelle Jenstad
Not Peer Reviewed

The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

The comciall Historie of
Clowne. I will goe before sir.
Mistres looke out at window for all this,
there will come a Christian by
840will be worth a Iewes eye.
Shyl. What sayes that foole of Hagars ofspring? ha.
Iessica. His words were farewell mistris, nothing els.
Shy. The patch is kinde enough, but a huge feeder,
Snaile slow in profit, and he sleepes by day
845more then the wild-cat: drones hiue not with me,
therefore I part with him, and part with him
to one that I would haue him helpe to wast
his borrowed purse. Well Iessica goe in,
perhaps I will returne immediatlie,
850do as I bid you, shut dores after you, fast bind, fast find.
a prouerbe neuer stale in thriftie minde. Exit.
Ies. Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,
I haue a Father, you a daughter lost. Exit.

Enter the maskers Gratiano and Salerino.
855Grat. This is the penthouse vnder which Lorenzo
desired vs to make stand.
Sal. His howre is almost past.
Gra. And it is meruaile he out-dwells his howre,
for louers euer runne before the clocke.
860Sal. O tenne times faster Venus pidgions flie
to seale loues bonds new made, then they are wont
to keepe obliged faith vnforfaited.
Gra. That euer holds: who riseth from a feast
with that keene appetite that he sits downe?
865where is the horse that doth vntread againe
his tedious measures with the vnbated fire
that he did pace them first: all things that are
are with more spirit chased then enioyd.
How like a younger or a prodigall
870the skarfed barke puts from her natiue bay
hugd and embraced by the strumpet wind,
how like the prodigall doth she returne
with