Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Janelle Jenstad
Not Peer Reviewed

The Merchant of Venice (Quarto 1, 1600)

The comicall Historie of
Enter Gratiano.
Grati. Faire sir, you are well ore-tane:
My L. Bassanio vpon more aduice,
2310hath sent you heere this ring, and doth intreate
your company at dinner.
Por. That cannot be;
his ring I doe accept most thankfully,
and so I pray you tell him: furthermore,
2315I pray you shew my youth old Shylockes house.
Gra. That will I doe.
Ner. Sir, I would speake with you:
Ile see if I can get my husbands ring
which I did make him sweare to keepe for euer.
2320Por. Thou maist I warrant, we shal haue old swearing
that they did giue the rings away to men;
but wele out-face them, and out-sweare them to:
away, make hast, thou knowst where I will tarry.
Ner. Come good sir, will you shew me to this house.
2325Enter Lorenzo and Iessica.
Lor. The moone shines bright. In such a night as this,
when the sweet winde did gently kisse the trees,
and they did make no noyse, in such a night
Troylus me thinks mounted the Troian walls,
2330and sigh'd his soule toward the Grecian tents
where Cressed lay that night.
Iessi. In such a night
did Thisbie fearefully ore-trip the dewe,
and saw the Lyons shadow ere him selfe,
2335and ranne dismayed away.
Loren. In such a night
stoode Dido with a willow in her hand
vpon the wilde sea banks, and waft her Loue
to come againe to Carthage.
2340Iessi. In such a night
Medea gathered the inchanted hearbs
that did renew old Eson.
Loren. In such a night
did