Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/47

The Merchant of Venice, II. vi

To one that I 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:

'Fast bind, fast find,'

A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.

Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost,

I have a father, you a daughter, lost.

Gra. This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo

Desir'd us to make stand.

Salar.His hour is almost past.

Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour,

For lovers ever run before the clock.

Salar. O! ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly

To seal love's bonds new-made, than they are wont

To keep obliged faith unforfeited!

Gra. That ever holds: who riseth from a feast

With that keen appetite that he sits down?

Where is the horse that doth untread again

His tedious measures with the unbated fire

That he did pace them first? All things that are,

Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd.

How like a younker or a prodigal

The scarfed bark puts from her native bay,

Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind!

How like the prodigal doth she return,

 1 penthouse: an attached shed, lean-to

5 Venus' pigeons: doves drew her chariot

7 obliged: contracted

10 untread: retrace

14 younker: eager youth

15 scarfed; cf. n. 