_Lor_. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us.-- _Enter_ LAUNCELOT _with a letter_. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? _Lau_. An it shall please you to break up this,[62] it shall seem to signify. _Lor_. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on Is the fair hand that writ. _Gra_. Love-news, in faith. _Lau_. By your leave, sir. _Lor_. Whither goest thou? _Lau_. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. _Lor_. Hold here, take this:--tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her;--speak it privately; go. [_Exit_ LAUNCELOT _into house_. Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. _Salar_. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. _Sal_. And so will I. _Lor_. Meet me and Gratiano At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. _Salar_. 'Tis good we do so. [_Exeunt_ SALARINO _and_ SALANIO. _Gra_. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? _Lor_. 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; Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest: Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. [_Exeunt_. _Enter_ SHYLOCK _and_ LAUNCELOT _from House_. _Shy_. 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! _Lau_. Why, Jessica! _Shy_. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. _Lau_. Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding. _Enter_ JESSICA. _Jes_. Call you? What is your will? _Shy_. I am bid forth to supper,[63] 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:[64]--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 to night. _Lau_. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. _Shy_. So do I his. _Lau_. And they have conspired together,--I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding[65] on Black Monday(B) last, at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon.