Act IIScene VIII
Venice. A street
Enter Salarino and Solanio.
Salarino
Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail;With him is Gratiano gone along;And in their ship I am sure Lorenzo is not.
Solanio
The villain Jew with outcries rais’d the Duke,Who went with him to search Bassanio’s ship.
Salarino
He came too late, the ship was under sail;But there the Duke was given to understandThat in a gondola were seen togetherLorenzo and his amorous Jessica.Besides, Antonio certified the DukeThey were not with Bassanio in his ship.
Solanio
I never heard a passion so confus’d,So strange, outrageous, and so variableAs the dog Jew did utter in the streets.“My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!Justice! the law! my ducats and my daughter!A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,Of double ducats, stol’n from me by my daughter!And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! find the girl,She hath the stones upon her and the ducats.”
Salarino
Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,Crying, his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.
Solanio
Let good Antonio look he keep his dayOr he shall pay for this.
Salarino
Marry, well rememb’red.I reason’d with a Frenchman yesterday,Who told me, in the narrow seas that partThe French and English, there miscarriedA vessel of our country richly fraught.I thought upon Antonio when he told me,And wish’d in silence that it were not his.
Solanio
You were best to tell Antonio what you hear,Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.
Salarino
A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.I saw Bassanio and Antonio part,Bassanio told him he would make some speedOf his return. He answered “Do not so,Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio,But stay the very riping of the time,And for the Jew’s bond which he hath of me,Let it not enter in your mind of love:Be merry, and employ your chiefest thoughtsTo courtship, and such fair ostents of loveAs shall conveniently become you there.”And even there, his eye being big with tears,Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,And with affection wondrous sensibleHe wrung Bassanio’s hand, and so they parted.
Solanio
I think he only loves the world for him.I pray thee, let us go and find him outAnd quicken his embraced heavinessWith some delight or other.
Salarino
Do we so.
Exeunt.