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No Fear Shakespheare

The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare

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Act 2, Scene 5

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Enter SHYLOCK the Jew and his man LAUNCELOT that was the clown
SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT enter





5
 SHYLOCK
Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.—
What, Jessica!—Thou shalt not gormandize
As thou hast done with me.—What, Jessica!—
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out—
Why, Jessica, I say!
 SHYLOCK
Well, you’ll see it with your own eyes. You’ll see the difference between working for Shylock and working for Bassanio.—(calling for his daughter) Jessica!—You won’t eat like a pig like you used to do at my place.—Jessica!—And sleep, and snore, and wear your clothes out.—Jessica, I’m calling you!

LAUNCELOT
   Why, Jessica!
 LAUNCELOT
Jessica!

SHYLOCK
Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.
 SHYLOCK
Who asked you to call her? I’m not asking you to call her.


LAUNCELOT
Your worship was wont to tell me that I could do nothing
without bidding.
 LAUNCELOT
You always loved to tell me I couldn’t do anything without being told.
Enter JESSICA
JESSICA enters.

10		 JESSICA
Call you? What is your will?
 JESSICA
Did you call me? Do you need something?





15


 SHYLOCK
I am bid forth to supper, Jessica.
There are my keys.—But wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love. They flatter me.
But yet I’ll go in hate to feed upon
The prodigal Christian.—Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house. I am right loath to go.
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest,
For I did dream of money bags tonight.
 SHYLOCK
I’ve been invited to supper, Jessica. Here are my keys.—But why should I go? I wasn’t invited because they like me. They’re just flattering me. But I’ll go out of spite, to feed off the wasteful Christian.—Jessica, my girl, watch the house. I don’t feel like going. Things aren’t going my way right now. I know because I dreamed of money bags last night.
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