The Merchant of Venice

Why then you are in love.

Antonio

Fie, fie!

Solanio

Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad

Because you are not merry; and ’twere as easy

For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,

Nature hath fram’d strange fellows in her time:

Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,

And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper;

And other of such vinegar aspect

Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

[Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO.]

Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,

Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well;

We leave you now with better company.

Salerio

If worthier friends had not prevented me.

Antonio

Your worth is very dear in my regard.

I take it your own business calls on you,

And you embrace th’ occasion to depart.

Salerio

Bassanio

Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say when.

You grow exceeding strange; must it be so?

Salerio

We’ll make our leisures to attend on yours.

[Exeunt SALERIO and SOLANIO.]

Lorenzo

My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio,

I pray you, have in mind where we must meet.

Bassanio

I will not fail you.

Gratiano

You look not well, Signior Antonio;

You have too much respect upon the world;

Believe me, you are marvellously chang’d.

Antonio

I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano –

A stage, where every man must play a part,

And mine a sad one.

Gratiano

Let me play the fool.

And let my liver rather heat with wine

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.

Why should a man whose blood is warm within

Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,

By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio –

I love thee, and ’tis my love that speaks –