In such a night - William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

Act 5, Scene 1

SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to PORTIA'S house.

Enter LORENZO and JESSICA

LORENZO

The moon shines bright: in such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees
And they did make no noise, in such a night
Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.

JESSICA

In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself
And ran dismay'd away.

LORENZO

In such a night
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea banks and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.

JESSICA

In such a night
Medea gather'd the enchanted herbs
That did renew old AEson.

LORENZO

In such a night
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice
As far as Belmont.

JESSICA

In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith
And ne'er a true one.

LORENZO

In such a night
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.

JESSICA

I would out-night you, did no body come;
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Notes:

Troilus: a prince of Troy, son of King Priam

Cressid: beloved of Troilus, daughter of Priest Calchas

Thisbe: Beloved of Pyramus who is a character in Ovid's Metamorphoses

Dido: founder queen of Carthage city state, sister of Pygmalion. She mounts a pyre to prove her faithfulness to her dead husband.

Medea: daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis and wife of the mythical hero Jason

Aeson: Jason's father whom Medea saves with magical herbs