SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny

That you lock all my doors tonight;
That, my daughter, under no pretext shall you go out;
And as soon as from outside the drum is heard
Announcing, escorted by fifes with twisted necks,
To Christians their impure masquerades,
By your order let our servant make sure
That all is well shut up in my strict house,
And that the sound of their orgy cannot be heard.
Especially, don't go lean out the window
To see them. I cannot forbid it to you enough.
By Jacob, many Jews find themselves punished
For having seen these fools with lacquered faces.
Go in and lock the door.
SHYLOCK The Merchant of Venice By Alfred de Vigny
JESSICA: (aside) And that will, I hope,
Be to reopen it soon.
SHYLOCK: Good evening.
JESSICA: Goodbye, father.
(Shylock leaves by the left. Lorenzo and Gratiano return from the
right; after a moment Jessica reenters, then remains in the half−
opened doorway with a man's hat on her head and a cloak. Night has
come.)
LORENZO: My Jewish father−in−law has decamped— Follow me.
I promise, Gratiano, to do as much for you
If an elopement takes your fancy.
And for the one that your heart has chosen
I shall be look−out as much as you like,
Short ladder, ambush and whatever it takes.
GRATIANO: I shan't be slow to put you to the test.
It's not a novel thing for a Venetian,
For a woman to adventure dressed as a dandy,
And close to the house. I am going to keep a lookout.
ACT I 17