The Merchant of Venice


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The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl,  
Look to my house. I am right loath to go:  
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest,  
For I did dream of money-bags to-night.  
LAUNCELOT  
I beseech you, sir, go: my young master doth expect  
your reproach.  
SHYLOCK  
So do I his.  
LAUNCELOT  
An they have conspired together, I will not say you  
shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not  
for nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on  
Black-Monday last at six o'clock i' the morning,  
falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four  
year, in the afternoon.  
SHYLOCK  
What, are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica:  
Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum  
And the vile squealing of the wry-neck'd fife,  
Clamber not you up to the casements then,  
Nor thrust your head into the public street  
To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces,  
But stop my house's ears, I mean my casements:  
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter  
My sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear,  
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night:  
But I will go. Go you before me, sirrah;  
Say I will come.  
LAUNCELOT  
I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at  
window, for all this, There will come a Christian  
boy, will be worth a Jewess' eye.  
Exit  
SHYLOCK  
What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha?  
JESSICA  
His words were 'Farewell mistress;' nothing else.  
SHYLOCK  
The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder;  
Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day  
More than the wild-cat: drones hive not with me;  
Therefore I part with him, and part with him  
To one that would have him help to waste  
His borrow'd purse. Well, Jessica, go in;  
Perhaps I will return immediately:  
Do as I bid you; shut doors after you:  


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24 25 26 27 28

Quick Jump
1 20 40 59 79