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The Merchant of Venice - Act 2, scene 8
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The Merchant of Venice - Act 2, scene 8Act 2, scene 8
⌜Scene 8⌝
Synopsis:
In Venice Solanio and Salarino discuss the latest news: Shylock’s torment over the loss of his daughter and the treasures that she took; the destruction of an Italian ship in the English Channel; Antonio’s sadness at the departure of Bassanio.
Enter Salarino and Solanio.SALARINO
1059 Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail;
1060 With him is Gratiano gone along;
1061 And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
SOLANIO
1062 The villain Jew with outcries raised the Duke,
1063 5 Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
SALARINO
1064 He came too late; the ship was under sail.
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1065
But there the Duke was given to understand1066 That in a gondola were seen together
1067 Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica.
1068 10 Besides, Antonio certified the Duke
1069 They were not with Bassanio in his ship.
SOLANIO
1070 I never heard a passion so confused,
1071 So strange, outrageous, and so variable
1072 As the dog Jew did utter in the streets.
1073 15 “My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter!
1074 Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!
1075 Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter,
1076 A sealèd bag, two sealèd bags of ducats,
1077 Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter,
1078 20 And jewels—two stones, two rich and precious
1079 stones—
1080 Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl!
1081 She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.”
SALARINO
1082 Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
1083 25 Crying “His stones, his daughter, and his ducats.”
SOLANIO
1084 Let good Antonio look he keep his day,
1085 Or he shall pay for this.
SALARINO 1086 Marry, well remembered.
1087 I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday
1088 30 Who told me, in the Narrow Seas that part
1089 The French and English, there miscarrièd
1090 A vessel of our country richly fraught.
1091 I thought upon Antonio when he told me,
1092 And wished in silence that it were not his.
SOLANIO
1093 35 You were best to tell Antonio what you hear—
1094 Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
SALARINO
1095 A kinder gentleman treads not the Earth.
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83
1096
I saw Bassanio and Antonio part.1097 Bassanio told him he would make some speed
1098 40 Of his return. He answered “Do not so.
1099 ⌜Slubber⌝ not business for my sake, Bassanio,
1100 But stay the very riping of the time;
1101 And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me,
1102 Let it not enter in your mind of love.
1103 45 Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
1104 To courtship and such fair ostents of love
1105 As shall conveniently become you there.”
1106 And even there, his eye being big with tears,
1107 Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
1108 50 And with affection wondrous sensible
1109 He wrung Bassanio’s hand—and so they parted.
SOLANIO
1110 I think he only loves the world for him.
1111 I pray thee, let us go and find him out
1112 And quicken his embracèd heaviness
1113 55 With some delight or other.
SALARINO 1114 Do we so.
They exit.