First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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| Enter the Maskers, Gratiano and Salino. | Enter the masquers, Gratiano and Salerio | | MV II.vi.1.1 | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| This is the penthouse vnder which Lorenzo | This is the penthouse under which Lorenzo | penthouse, pent-house (n.) covered way, sloping porch, overhanging roof | MV II.vi.1 | |
| Desired vs to make a stand. | Desired us to make stand. | | MV II.vi.2.1 | |
| Sal. | SALERIO | | | |
| His houre is almost past. | His hour is almost past. | hour (n.)[time of] appointment, engagement, meeting | MV II.vi.2.2 | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| And it is meruaile he out-dwels his houre, | And it is marvel he outdwells his hour, | outdwell (v.)stay beyond | MV II.vi.3 | |
| For louers euer run before the clocke. | For lovers ever run before the clock. | | MV II.vi.4 | |
| Sal. | SALERIO | | | |
| O ten times faster Venus Pidgions flye | O ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly | Venus (n.)Roman goddess of beauty and love | MV II.vi.5 | |
| To steale loues bonds new made, then they are wont | To seal love's bonds new-made than they are wont | wont (v.)be accustomed, used [to], be in the habit of | MV II.vi.6 | |
| To keepe obliged faith vnforfaited. | To keep obliged faith unforfeited! | obliged (adj.)contracted, bound by marriage | MV II.vi.7 | |
| | unforfeited (adj.)unviolated, unbroken | | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| That euer holds, who riseth from a feast | That ever holds. Who riseth from a feast | | MV II.vi.8 | |
| With that keene appetite that he sits downe? | With that keen appetite that he sits down? | | MV II.vi.9 | |
| Where is the horse that doth vntread againe | Where is the horse that doth untread again | untread (v.)retrace, go back upon | MV II.vi.10 | |
| His tedious measures with the vnbated fire, | His tedious measures with the unbated fire | measure (n.)pattern of movement, regular course, routine | MV II.vi.11 | |
| | unbated (adj.)unabated, undiminished, fresh | | |
| That he did pace them first: all things that are, | That he did pace them first? All things that are | | MV II.vi.12 | |
| Are with more spirit chased then enioy'd. | Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. | | MV II.vi.13 | |
| How like a yonger or a prodigall | How like a younger or a prodigal | prodigal (n.)waster, squanderer, spendthrift | MV II.vi.14 | |
| | younger (n.)younger son | | |
| The skarfed barke puts from her natiue bay, | The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, | scarfed (adj.)[unclear meaning] fully decked out; under full sail; [of the hull] well-jointed | MV II.vi.15 | |
| | bark, barque (n.)ship, vessel | | |
| Hudg'd and embraced by the strumpet winde: | Hugged and embraced by the strumpet wind. | strumpet (n.)harlot, prostitute, whore | MV II.vi.16 | |
| How like a prodigall doth she returne | How like the prodigal doth she return, | | MV II.vi.17 | |
| With ouer-wither'd ribs and ragged sailes, | With overweathered ribs and ragged sails, | overweathered (adj.)weather-worn, storm-damaged | MV II.vi.18 | |
| Leane, rent, and begger'd by the strumpet winde? | Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind. | beggar (v.)reduce to beggary, impoverish, make destitute | MV II.vi.19 | |
| Salino. | SALERIO | | | |
| Heere comes Lorenzo, more of this hereafter. | Here comes Lorenzo; more of this hereafter. | | MV II.vi.20 | |
| Enter Lorenzo | | MV II.vi.21.1 | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| Sweete friends, your patience for my long abode, | Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode. | abode (n.)delay, procrastination | MV II.vi.21 | |
| Not I, but my affaires haue made you wait: | Not I but my affairs have made you wait. | | MV II.vi.22 | |
| When you shall please to play the theeues for wiues | When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, | | MV II.vi.23 | |
| Ile watch as long for you then: approach | I'll watch as long for you then. Approach. | watch (v.)keep the watch, keep guard, be on the lookout | MV II.vi.24 | |
| Here dwels my father Iew. Hoa, who's within? | Here dwells my father Jew! Ho! Who's within? | | MV II.vi.25 | |
| Iessica aboue. | Enter Jessica above, in boy's clothes | | MV II.vi.26 | |
| Iess. | JESSICA | | | |
| Who are you? tell me for more certainty, | Who are you? Tell me for more certainty, | | MV II.vi.26 | |
| Albeit Ile sweare that I do know your tongue. | Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. | | MV II.vi.27 | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| Lorenzo, and thy Loue. | Lorenzo, and thy love. | | MV II.vi.28 | |
| Ies. | JESSICA | | | |
| Lorenzo certaine, and my loue indeed, | Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed, | | MV II.vi.29 | |
| For who loue I so much? and now who knowes | For who love I so much? And now who knows | | MV II.vi.30 | |
| But you Lorenzo, whether I am yours? | But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? | | MV II.vi.31 | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| Heauen and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. | Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art. | | MV II.vi.32 | |
| Ies. | JESSICA | | | |
| Heere, catch this casket, it is worth the paines, | Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains. | | MV II.vi.33 | |
| I am glad 'tis night, you do not looke on me, | I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, | | MV II.vi.34 | |
| For I am much asham'd of my exchange: | For I am much ashamed of my exchange. | exchange (n.)transformation, altered appearance | MV II.vi.35 | |
| But loue is blinde, and louers cannot see | But love is blind, and lovers cannot see | | MV II.vi.36 | |
| The pretty follies that themselues commit, | The pretty follies that themselves commit; | pretty (adj.)clever, ingenious, artful | MV II.vi.37 | |
| For if they could, Cupid himselfe would blush | For if they could, Cupid himself would blush | Cupid (n.)[pron: 'kyoopid] Roman god of love, son of Venus and Mercury; a winged, blindfolded boy with curved bow and arrows | MV II.vi.38 | |
| To see me thus transformed to a boy. | To see me thus transformed to a boy. | | MV II.vi.39 | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. | Descend, for you must be my torchbearer. | | MV II.vi.40 | |
| Ies. | JESSICA | | | |
| What, must I hold a Candle to my shames? | What, must I hold a candle to my shames? | | MV II.vi.41 | |
| They in themselues goodsooth are too too light. | They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. | sooth (n.)truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] | MV II.vi.42 | |
| Why, 'tis an office of discouery Loue, | Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love, | office (n.)role, position, place, function | MV II.vi.43 | |
| | discovery (n.)disclosure, admission, revelation | | |
| And I should be obscur'd. | And I should be obscured. | | MV II.vi.44.1 | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| So you are sweet, | So are you, sweet, | | MV II.vi.44.2 | |
| Euen in the louely garnish of a boy: | Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. | garnish (n.)outfit, adornment, trimming | MV II.vi.45 | |
| but come at once, | But come at once, | | MV II.vi.46 | |
| For the close night doth play the run-away, | For the close night doth play the runaway, | close (adj.)secretive, tight-lipped, uncommunicative | MV II.vi.47 | |
| And we are staid for at Bassanio's feast. | And we are stayed for at Bassanio's feast. | | MV II.vi.48 | |
| Ies. | JESSICA | | | |
| I will make fast the doores and guild my selfe | I will make fast the doors, and gild myself | gild (v.), past forms gilt, gildedsupply with money, enrich | MV II.vi.49 | |
| With some more ducats, and be with you straight. | With some more ducats, and be with you straight. | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | MV II.vi.50 | |
| | ducat (n.)gold (sometimes silver) coin used in several European countries | | |
| Exit above | | MV II.vi.50 | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| Now by my hood, a gentle, and no Iew. | Now by my hood, a gentle and no Jew! | gentle (n.)[polite intimate address] dear one | MV II.vi.51 | |
| | hood (n.)[unclear meaning] head-covering, bonnet, mask | | |
| Lor. | LORENZO | | | |
| Beshrew me but I loue her heartily. | Beshrew me but I love her heartily! | beshrew, 'shrew (v.)curse, devil take, evil befall | MV II.vi.52 | |
| For she is wise, if I can iudge of her, | For she is wise, if I can judge of her, | | MV II.vi.53 | |
| And faire she is, if that mine eyes be true, | And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true, | | MV II.vi.54 | |
| And true she is, as she hath prou'd her selfe: | And true she is, as she hath proved herself; | true (adj.)constant, faithful in love | MV II.vi.55 | |
| And therefore like her selfe, wise, faire, and true, | And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, | | MV II.vi.56 | |
| Shall she be placed in my constant soule. | Shall she be placed in my constant soul. | | MV II.vi.57 | |
| Enter Iessica. | Enter Jessica below | | MV II.vi.58 | |
| What, art thou come? on gentlemen, away, | What, art thou come? On, gentlemen, away! | | MV II.vi.58 | |
| Our masking mates by this time for vs stay. | Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. | | MV II.vi.59 | |
| Exit. | Exit with Jessica and Salerio | | MV II.vi.59 | |
| Enter Anthonio. | Enter Antonio | | MV II.vi.59 | |
| Ant. | ANTONIO | | | |
| Who's there? | Who's there? | | MV II.vi.60 | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| Signior Anthonio? | Signor Antonio? | | MV II.vi.61 | |
| Ant. | ANTONIO | | | |
| Fie, fie, Gratiano, where are all the rest? | Fie, fie, Gratiano! Where are all the rest? | | MV II.vi.62 | |
| 'Tis nine a clocke, our friends all stay for you, | 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you. | | MV II.vi.63 | |
| No maske to night, the winde is come about, | No masque tonight. The wind is come about; | come about (v.)change direction, veer round | MV II.vi.64 | |
| Bassanio presently will goe aboord, | Bassanio presently will go aboard. | presently (adv.)immediately, instantly, at once | MV II.vi.65 | |
| I haue sent twenty out to seeke for you. | I have sent twenty out to seek for you. | | MV II.vi.66 | |
| Gra. | GRATIANO | | | |
| I am glad on't, I desire no more delight | I am glad on't. I desire no more delight | | MV II.vi.67 | |
| Then to be vnder saile, and gone to night. | Than to be under sail and gone tonight. | | MV II.vi.68 | |
| Exeunt | Exeunt | | MV II.vi.68 | |