The Merchant of Venice, Act 2 Scene 4 runs 42 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 140 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of The Merchant of Venice.
Full Dialogue
Lorenzo ♂
Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging and return,
All in an hour.
Disguise us at my lodging and return,
All in an hour.
Gratiano ♂
We have not made good preparation.
Salarino ♂
We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
Salanio ♂
'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,
And better in my mind not undertook.
And better in my mind not undertook.
Lorenzo ♂
'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hours
To furnish us.
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
To furnish us.
Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
Launcelot ♂
An it shall please you to break up
this, it shall seem to signify.
this, it shall seem to signify.
Lorenzo ♂
I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
And whiter than the paper it writ on
Is the fair hand that writ.
And whiter than the paper it writ on
Is the fair hand that writ.
Gratiano ♂
Love-news, in faith.
Launcelot ♂
By your leave, sir.
Lorenzo ♂
Whither goest thou?
Launcelot ♂
Marry, sir, to bid my old master the
Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
Lorenzo ♂
Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica
I will not fail her; speak it privately.
Go, gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
I will not fail her; speak it privately.
Go, gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.
Salanio ♂
Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
And so will I.
And so will I.
Lorenzo ♂
Meet me and Gratiano
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
Salarino ♂
'Tis good we do so.
Gratiano ♂
Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
Lorenzo ♂
I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed
How I shall take her from her father's house,
What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with,
What page's suit she hath in readiness.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-beare r.
How I shall take her from her father's house,
What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with,
What page's suit she hath in readiness.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-beare r.
42 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo | 28 | 66.7% |
| Launcelot | 5 | 11.9% |
| Salanio | 4 | 9.5% |
| Gratiano | 3 | 7.1% |
| Salarino | 2 | 4.8% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 28 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 8 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 4 of 9 in Act 2 of The Merchant of Venice.
Scene length vs. play average
At 42 lines, this scene is shorter than the The Merchant of Venice average scene in The Merchant of Venice (~140 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 3 · Next: Act 2 Scene 5