Read "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
[Enter the maskers, GRATIANO and SALERIO].
GRATIANO: This is the pent-house under which Lorenzo Desired us to make stand. SALERIO: His hour is almost past. GRATIANO: And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. SALERIO: O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly To seal love's bonds new made than they are wont To keep obliged faith unforfeited! GRATIANO: That ever holds: who riseth from a feast With that keen appetite that he sits down? Where is the horse that doth untread again His tedious measures with the unbated fire That he did pace them first? All things that are Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed. How like a younker or a prodigal The scarfed bark puts from her native bay, Hugg'd and embraced by the strumpet wind; How like the prodigal doth she return, With over-weather'd ribs and ragged sails, Lean, rent, and beggar'd by the strumpet wind!