Love's Labour's Lost (version 2) - Free Audiobook

000 Scene IV. The same. A street.

TMOV II. 4 Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,

Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.

005 Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.

Salan. ’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order’d,

And better in my mind not undertook.

008 Lor. ’Tis now but four o’clock: we have two hours

009 To furnish us.

Enter Launcelot, with a letter.

Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?

010 Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, ’tis a fair hand;

013 And whiter than the paper it writ on

014 Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra.

Love-news, in faith.

015 Laun. By your leave, sir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. 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

020 I will not fail her; speak it privately.

021 Go, gentlemen, [Exit Launcelot.

022 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.

Salan. And so will I.

Lor.

025 Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.

Salar. ’Tis good we do so. [Exeunt Salar. and Salan.

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed

030 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:

035 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-bearer. [Exeunt.