Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio
These are close friends of Bassanio. They’re gathered to plan a masque (a masquerade party or entertainment) that’s supposed to happen during the evening feast at Bassanio’s. But the scene has another layer—Lorenzo is also secretly planning to elope with Jessica, Shylock’s daughter.
LORENZO
“Nay, we will slink away in supper time,
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.”
➡️ Lorenzo suggests they sneak out during dinner time, change into disguises at his house, and then come back within an hour.
- “slink away” – implies secrecy and stealth. It shows they’re trying not to draw attention, especially since Lorenzo is planning something private with Jessica.
- “disguise us” – Disguise is a key theme in this play. Here, it shows how appearances can be deceptive and how people hide their true selves or intentions.
- Tone: Lorenzo seems confident and light-hearted, but also calculating beneath the surface.
GRATIANO
“We have not made good preparation.”
➡️ Gratiano points out they haven’t planned the event well.
- This adds a sense of urgency and disorganization. It also shows that their focus may not be entirely on the masque—Lorenzo, in particular, has a more romantic goal in mind.
- Gratiano’s tone is casual but realistic.
SALARINO
“We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.”
➡️ Salarino says they haven’t even decided who will carry the torches.
- In a night event, torchbearers are essential for both light and spectacle. The lack of preparation suggests they’re either distracted or improvising.
- Torchlight can also symbolize truth, love, and guidance—a contrast to the lies and secrets in the scene.
SOLANIO
“’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered,
And better in my mind not undertook.”
➡️ Solanio says the masque will be bad (vile) unless it’s arranged in a stylish or clever way. He suggests it might be better not to do it at all.
- “quaintly ordered” means elegantly or cleverly planned. He’s concerned with how things look—a reflection of the theme of appearance vs. reality.
- Tone: critical and cautious. Solanio is the voice of practicality here.
LORENZO
“’Tis now but four o’clock. We have two hours
To furnish us.”
➡️ Lorenzo says it’s only 4 PM and they still have two hours to get ready.
- “furnish us” means to prepare or equip themselves, likely with costumes and props for the masque.
- Lorenzo’s optimism contrasts with the others’ doubts. His real motive is to use this time to prepare for Jessica’s escape, not just the party.
- Theme: Time is important—this line reminds us that their actions must be timed perfectly.
Enter Lancelet
Lancelet, Shylock’s former servant, now works for Bassanio. He arrives with something secret: a letter from Jessica.
LORENZO
“Friend Lancelet, what’s the news?”
➡️ Lorenzo greets Lancelet warmly and asks if he has any news.
- Shows familiarity and friendliness. The word “Friend” suggests trust.
- Dramatic structure: This is the turning point of the scene, as the letter contains Jessica’s plan to elope and steal from her father.
LANCELET
“An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.”
(Hands over the letter)
➡️ Lancelet speaks in a fancy, confusing way: “If it pleases you to open this, it will reveal its meaning.”
- He’s being humorous and overly formal. This is comic relief.
- “break up” is a pun—it means to open the letter, but could also suggest breaking news or breaking into something forbidden (hinting at Jessica’s theft).
- Technique: wordplay and formal irony—Lancelet enjoys sounding more sophisticated than he is.
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.”
➡️ Lorenzo recognizes Jessica’s handwriting. He compliments her “fair hand” (both her handwriting and her literal hand), saying it’s whiter than the paper.
- “hand” is a pun—refers to both handwriting and her actual hand.
- Imagery and metaphor: He uses romantic imagery to describe Jessica’s beauty and grace.
- Tone: affectionate and admiring.
- Theme: Love and idealization—Lorenzo views Jessica through a romantic lens, idealizing her even through a letter.
GRATIANO
“Love news, in faith!”
➡️ Gratiano teases Lorenzo, guessing rightly that the letter is about love.
- Light-hearted, playful tone.
- Theme: Friendship and love—Gratiano’s teasing shows the close bond between the men, and also the light, youthful view of love and relationships.
LANCELET
“By your leave, sir.”
➡️ Lancelet politely asks permission to leave.
- A sign of respect. Typical servant behavior in Elizabethan drama.
- Tone: formal, but about to lead into something witty again.
LORENZO
“Whither goest thou?”
➡️ Lorenzo asks, “Where are you going?”
- Archaic phrasing like “whither goest” is common in Shakespearean English.
- He’s curious, but also keeping tabs—since plans are being set in motion.
LANCELET
“Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup tonight with my new master the Christian.”
➡️ Lancelet says he’s going to invite Shylock (his old master) to dine with Bassanio (his new master).
- “Marry” is a mild exclamation, like “Well” or “Indeed.”
- This line highlights the religious contrast between Shylock (Jew) and Bassanio (Christian).
- Lancelet’s use of “the Jew” and “the Christian” also reflects the theme of religious identity and division, which is central to the play.
LORENZO
“Hold here, take this. [Giving him money] Tell gentle Jessica
I will not fail her. Speak it privately.”
➡️ Lorenzo gives Lancelet money and asks him to tell Jessica he won’t let her down. He tells him to deliver the message in secret.
- “gentle Jessica” – “gentle” here means both kind and of noble character. Lorenzo romanticizes her, despite the fact that she’s planning to rob her father.
- The secrecy continues the theme of disguise and deception.
- Giving money is a way of influencing loyalty and keeping the plan quiet.
[Lancelet exits.]
➡️ He leaves to deliver Lorenzo’s message to Jessica.
- His exit marks a turning point—the plan is now officially in motion.
LORENZO
“Go, gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?
I am provided of a torchbearer.”
➡️ Lorenzo tells his friends to go get ready for the masquerade. He already has a torchbearer.
- His torchbearer will be Jessica in disguise—again playing with the idea of appearances vs. reality.
- Masques were symbolic and dramatic in Shakespeare’s time. They often included hidden identities, love, and secrets.
SALARINO
“Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.”
➡️ Salarino agrees and says he’ll get on with preparations right away.
- Tone: Energetic and cooperative. Everyone’s onboard now.
- “Marry” again is just a mild exclamation.
SOLANIO
“And so will I.”
➡️ Solanio also agrees to leave and prepare.
- Very brief, but confirms group agreement.
LORENZO
“Meet me and Gratiano
At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.”
➡️ Lorenzo tells them to meet him and Gratiano at Gratiano’s place in about an hour.
- He’s coordinating timing carefully—emphasizing the need for precise action.
- Theme of time: the plan depends on tight scheduling.
SALARINO
“’Tis good we do so.”
➡️ He agrees—it’s a good plan.
- Shows quick support, no objections—everyone is aligned.
[Salarino and Solanio exit.]
➡️ They leave to carry out the masque preparations.
GRATIANO
“Was not that letter from fair Jessica?”
➡️ Gratiano asks if the letter Lancelet gave Lorenzo was from Jessica.
- “fair Jessica” – repeated admiration. “Fair” means beautiful, pure.
- Tone: Curious and teasing—he suspects what’s going on.
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 furnished with,
What page’s suit she hath in readiness.”
➡️ Lorenzo admits it: Jessica’s letter explains how he should help her escape from her father, what valuables she’s bringing, and that she has a boy’s costume ready to wear.
- “page’s suit” – a pageboy outfit. She plans to dress as a boy—adding to the theme of disguise and gender roles.
- Jessica is not just running away for love; she’s robbing her father, which introduces moral ambiguity.
- Language technique: the list (“how… what… what”) builds suspense and detail.
**“If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake;”**
➡️ Lorenzo says if Shylock ever gets into heaven, it will be thanks to Jessica’s goodness.
- Irony and prejudice: Lorenzo’s anti-Semitic attitude is clear here. He insults Shylock’s religion while praising Jessica for distancing herself from it.
- Reflects the theme of religious tension, especially between Christians and Jews.
**“And never dare misfortune cross her foot
Unless she do it under this excuse,
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.”**
➡️ He says misfortune should never touch her—unless it’s because she was born to a “faithless Jew.”
- Harsh judgment: calling Shylock “faithless” suggests both lack of Christian faith and moral corruption.
- Again, Jessica is idealized, while her father is demonized.
- Theme: identity and prejudice. Jessica’s Jewish birth is portrayed as something she must escape or be punished for.
“Come, go with me. Peruse this as thou goest;”
(Hands him the letter.)
➡️ Lorenzo tells Gratiano to come with him and read Jessica’s letter as they walk.
- “Peruse” means read carefully.
- There’s an eagerness in Lorenzo’s tone—he’s excited and confident about the plan.
“Fair Jessica shall be my torchbearer.”
➡️ Jessica, in disguise, will carry a torch at the masque.
- Symbolism: As a torchbearer, she literally brings light—but also metaphorically represents the light of love, or perhaps enlightenment escaping from Shylock’s household.
- Irony: She will be in disguise, helping Lorenzo hide their act under the cover of a celebration.
[They exit.]
➡️ Lorenzo and Gratiano leave to finalize the plan.
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