Get this No Fear to go!
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
|
25 |
LORENZO
Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode.
Not I but my affairs have made you wait.
When you shall please to play the thieves for wives,
I’ll watch as long for you then. Approach.
Here dwells my father Jew.—Ho! Who’s within?
|
LORENZO
My dear friends, thanks for your patience. I had business that made me late. When you
have to steal your own wives some day, I’ll wait for you just as long. Come over
here. My future father-in-law, the Jew, lives here.—Hey! Who’s in
there?
|
Enter JESSICA above, disguised as a boy |
JESSICA appears above, disguised as a
boy. |
|
|
|
JESSICA
Who are you? Tell me for more certainty,
Albeit I’ll swear that I do know your tongue.
|
JESSICA
Who are you? Tell me so I can be sure, though I swear I recognize your voice.
|
|
LORENZO
Lorenzo, and thy love.
|
LORENZO
I’m Lorenzo, your love.
|
|
|
30 |
JESSICA
Lorenzo certain, and my love indeed—
For who love I so much? And now who knows
But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?
|
JESSICA
Lorenzo, that’s for sure, and I’m also sure you’re my
love—who else do I love so much? And now who but you knows whether I’m
yours?
|
|
LORENZO
Heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art.
|
LORENZO
As God is my witness, you know you’re mine.
|
|
|
35 |
JESSICA
Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains.
I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange.
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit,
For if they could Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformèd to a boy.
|
JESSICA
Here, catch this box. It’ll be worth your while. I’m glad
it’s nighttime and you can’t see me. I’m ashamed of my disguise.
But love is blind, and lovers can’t see the silly things they do around each other.
If they could, Cupid himself would be embarassed to see me dressed up as a boy.
|
|
40 |
LORENZO
Descend, for you must be my torchbearer.
|
LORENZO
Come down here. You have to be my torchbearer for the masquerade.
|
|
|
JESSICA
What, must I hold a candle to my shames?
They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light.
Why, ’tis an office of discovery, love.
And I should be obscured.
|
JESSICA
What, I have to hold a candle up so people can see what I’m doing? The truth
is, I’m behaving like a loose woman. The torchbearer is supposed to bring light and
love, but I should be hidden away in the dark.
|
Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more.
Ask a question or post an answer.
Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand. In print and ebook at BN.com
...according to Dan Bergstein
November 20, 2009
Dating is hard, what with the necessity of making conversation....
November 20, 2009
Last week, you guys voted on how to spell the...
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter