Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice · William Shakespeare
SCENE I.--BELMONT. AVENUE TO PORTIA'S HOUSE.
_Lor_. Leave holloing, man; here. _Lau_. Sola! where? where? _Lor_. Here. _Lau_. Tell him, there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news; my master will be here ere morning. [_Exit_. _Lor_. My friend Balthazar, signify, I pray you, Within the house, your mistress is at hand: And bring your music forth into the air. [_Exit_ BALTHAZAR. How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines[114] of bright gold. There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins: Such harmony is in immortal souls, But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.-- _Enter_ MUSICIANS.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.