The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, Scene 8


           Enter SALERIO and SOLANIO.

      SALERIO
  1   Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail:
  2   With him is Gratiano gone along;
  3   And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.

      SOLANIO
  4   The villain Jew with outcries raised the duke,
  5   Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship.

      SALERIO
  6   He came too late, the ship was under sail:
  7   But there the duke was given to understand
  8   That in a gondola were seen together
9. amorous: loving.
  9   Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica:
 10   Besides, Antonio certified the duke
 11   They were not with Bassanio in his ship.

      SOLANIO
12. passion: passionate outburst.
 12   I never heard a passion so confused,
 13   So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
 14   As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:
 15   "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!
 16   Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!
 17   Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter!
 18   A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
 19   Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter!
 20   And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,
 21   Stolen by my daughter! Justice! find the girl;
 22   She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats."

      SALERIO
 23   Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,
 24   Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.

      SOLANIO
25. look he keep his day: see to it that he repays his loan on time.
 25   Let good Antonio look he keep his day,
 26   Or he shall pay for this.



27. reason'd: talked.
28‑29. the narrow . . . English: i.e., the English Channel . . . more 29. miscarried: perished.
      SALERIO
 26                                         Marry, well remember'd.
 27   I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday,
 28   Who told me, in the narrow seas that part
 29   The French and English, there miscarried
30. fraught: freighted.
 30   A vessel of our country richly fraught:
 31   I thought upon Antonio when he told me;
 32   And wish'd in silence that it were not his.

      SOLANIO
 33   You were best to tell Antonio what you hear;
34. suddenly: without preparation.
 34   Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.

      SALERIO
 35   A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
 36   I saw Bassanio and Antonio part:
 37   Bassanio told him he would make some speed
 38   Of his return: he answer'd, "Do not so;
39. Slubber: do hastily and badly, in a slovenly manner.
 39   Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio
40. But stay . . . time: i.e., take as long as needed for the time to be just right (to propose marriage to Portia). 41. for: as for.
 40   But stay the very riping of the time;
 41   And for the Jew's bond which he hath of me,
42. enter in your mind of love: i.e., intrude into your thoughts of love.
 42   Let it not enter in your mind of love:
 43   Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughts
44. ostents: expressions, shows.
 44   To courtship and such fair ostents of love
45. conveniently: properly.
 45   As shall conveniently become you there."
 46   And even there, his eye being big with tears,
 47   Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
48. sensible: strongly evident, intense.
 48   And with affection wondrous sensible
 49   He wrung Bassanio's hand; and so they parted.

      SOLANIO
50. for him: on his account.
 50   I think he only loves the world for him.
 51   I pray thee, let us go and find him out
52. quicken his embraced heaviness: lighten the sorrow he has embraced.
 52   And quicken his embraced heaviness
 53   With some delight or other.

      SALERIO
 53                                               Do we so.

           Exeunt.