Act+II,+Scene+4

**ACT II,** **SCENE IV**

//Lorenzo is asking his friends to join him in a masque to help him steal Jessica away from Shylock, her father. Then, Lancelot comes with a letter from Jessica and leaves to invite Shylock to have dinner with Bassanio. Finally, Lorenzo's friends leave the meeting convinced to take part in the masquerade even though they disapproved of it first. Lorenzo says his torch-bearer for the masque shall be Jessica, who he hopes to marry.//

//Enter// Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, //and// Solanio**
 * //Venice: A street outside Shylock's house//

** Lorenzo: ** Nay, we will slink away in suppertime, Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour.
 * Gratiano:** We have not made good preparation.


 * Salarino: ** We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. 5

And better in my mind not undertook.
 * Solanio: ** 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;

To furnish us.
 * Lorenzo: ** 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours

//Enter// Lancelot, //With a letter//

Friend Lancelot, what's the news? media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Venice,+Italy&sll=39.198205,21.005859&sspn=16.154418,28.168945&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Venice,+Veneto,+Italy&ll=49.296472,14.501953&spn=14.234487,28.168945&z=5&iwloc=A&output=embed" width="435" height="359" align="right" to signify.
 * Lancelot: ** And it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem 10

**Lorenzo:** I know the hand; in faith, 'tis a fair hand, And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ.


 * Gratiano: ** Love-news, in faith!


 * Lancelot: ** By your leave, sir. 15


 * Lorenzo: ** Whither goest thou?

**Lancelot**: Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the Christian.

I will not fail her; speak it privately. 20 [//Exit// Lancelot Go, gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer.
 * Lorenzo: ** Hold, here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica[[image:Jessica_and_Lancelot.jpg width="291" height="165" align="right" caption="Lancelot getting the letter from Jessica and saying good-bye to her just before he leaves Shylock and goes looking for Bassanio, his new master, and Lorenzo" link="@http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hotflick.net/flicks/2004_The_Merchant_of_Venice/Thumb/004TMV_Zuleikha_Robinson_008.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hotflick.net/movies/2004_The_Merchant_of_Venice.html&usg=__r7J_IvgOZ4rF2w8enrM-2Mlh0wA=&h=150&w=266&sz=12&hl=en&start=16&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=nKOFm4GW4qh7BM:&tbnh=64&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMackenzie%2BCrook%2Bin%2Bthe%2BMerchant%2Bof%2BVenice%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26um%3D1"]]


 * Salarino: ** Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.


 * Solanio: ** And so will I. 25

At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. [//Exeunt// Salarino //and// Solanio Gratiano: ** Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
 * Lorenzo: ** Meet me and Gratiano
 * Salarino:** 'Tis good we do so. media type="youtube" key="PxKUmdIYuJo" height="344" width="425" align="right"

How I shall take her from her father's house; 30 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, 35 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. [//Exeunt// //All// media type="custom" key="5308069" width="255" height="122" align="left"media type="custom" key="5308095" width="183" height="183" align="left"
 * Lorenzo: ** I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed