_Jes_. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With some more ducats, and be with you straight. [_Exit from above_. _Gra_. Now, by my hood, a Gentile and no Jew.[71] _Lor_. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily: For she is wise, if I can judge of her; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; And true she is, as she hath prov'd herself; And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true, Shall she be placed in my constant soul. _Enter JESSICA, below_. What, art thou come?--On, gentlemen, away; Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [_Exeunt_ _Enter various parties of Maskers, Revellers, &c_. END OF SECOND ACT. HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT SECOND. (A) Venice occupies 72 islands. There are 306 canals, traversed by innumerable gondolas. The gondolas introduced in this scene are copied from paintings of the same date as when the action of the play is supposed to occur, and are, consequently, rather varied in shape from those now seen in Venice. Besides the great squares of St. Mark, and the adjoining Piazetta before the Doge's Palace, the city has numerous narrow streets, or rather lanes, with small open spaces in front of the churches, or formed by the termination of several alleys, leading to a bridge. It is one of these spaces that is represented in the second act. (B) "Black Monday" is Easter Monday, and was so called on this occasion. In the 34th of Edward III. (1360), the 14th April, and the morrow after Easter Day, King Edward, with his host, lay before the City of Paris, which day was full dark of mist and hail, and so bitter cold that many men died on their horse's backs with the cold.--_Stowe_. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 43: _Khanzir_, Arab, a hog. A cape on the coast of Syria is named _Ras el Khanzir;_ i.e., hog's-head.] [Footnote 44: _--for the heavens_; This expression is simply "a pretty oath." It occurs in Ben Jonson and Decker.] [Footnote 45: _--sand-blind, high-gravel blind_,; Having an imperfect sight, as if there was sand in the eye.--Gravel-blind, a coinage of Launcelot's, is the exaggeration of _sand-blind_.] [Footnote 46: _I will try_ conclusions; Experiments.] [Footnote 47: _--turn down indirectly to the Jew's house_.; This perplexed direction is given to puzzle the enquirer.] [Footnote 48: _--now will I raise the waters.; Id est_, make him weep.] [Footnote 49: --we talk of young master Launcelot. _Gobbo_. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. _Id est, plain_ Launcelot, and not, as you term him, _master_ Launcelot.] [Footnote 50: _--phill horse_,; The horse in the shafts of a cart or waggon. The term is best understood in the Midland Counties.] [Footnote 51: _--the suit is impertinent_; Launcelot is a blunderer, as well as one who can _"play upon a word;"_ here he means _pertinent_.] [Footnote 52: _--a livery more_ guarded; More ornamented.] [Footnote 53: _--a fairer table_; Table is the palm of the hand.]