Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/44

30  Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;

And whiter than the paper it writ on

Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra.Love news, in faith.

Laun. By your leave, sir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the

Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the

Christian.

Lor. Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica

I will not fail her; speak it privately.

Go, gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.

Salan. And so will I.

Lor.Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.

Salar. 'Tis good we do so. Exit [with Salanio].

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed

How I shall take her from her father's house;

What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with;

What page's suit she hath in readiness.

If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,

It will be for his gentle daughter's sake;

And never dare misfortune cross her foot,

Unless she do it under this excuse,

That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me: peruse this as thou goest.

Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.

Exit [with Gratiano].  38 faithless: without Christian faith 