X

Gobbo. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say,

to serve

d. Der beat stone
t infection, st

Launcelot. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the

Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall specify, his op

Gobbo. His master and he, saving your worship's ence, are scarce cater-cousins-pulls him back 119

Launcelot. To be brief, the very truth is that the J having done me wrong, doth cause me as my father, being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify unto you

Gobbo. I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow

upon your worship, and my suit is pusher

Launcelot. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet poor man, my father.

Bassanio. One speak for both. What would you?
Launcelot. Serve you, sir.

Gobbo. That is the very defect of the matter, sir.

130

Bassanio. I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit:
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,

And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become

The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Launcelot. The old proverb is very well parted between my mast Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.

139

Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son.
Take leave of thy old master and inquire
My lodging out. Give him a livery out
More guarded than his fellows': see it done.

Launcelot. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here's a simple line of life: here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is

nothing! eleven widows and nine maids is a simple comingin for one man: and then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of feather-bed be in of life with here are simple 'scapes. if Fortune be a woman,

she's a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I'll take → my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. R. 154 [Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo.

Bassanio. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this: These things being bought and orderly bestow'd

Return in haste, for I do feast to-night

My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go.

Leonardo. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

Bass. Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice;

Parts that become thee happily enough

And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;

But where thou art not known, why, there they show 170

Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain

To allay with some cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour
I be misconstrued in the place I go to

And lose my hopes.

Gratiano.

Signior Bassanio, hear me:

If I do not put on a sober habit,

Talk with respect and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,

Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh and say 'amen,'
Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent

To please his grandam, never trust me more.

Bassanio. Well, we shall see your bearing.

180

Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me By what we do to-night.

Bassanio.

No, that were pity:

I would entreat you rather to put on

Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment. But fare you well:
I have some business.

Gratiano. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest:
But we will visit you at supper-time.

190

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The same. A room in Shylock's house.

Jessica.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. Center apart

I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so

Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, an

Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee:

* And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly;

And so farewell: I would not have my father luns away fr

See me in talk with thee.

tiful

Dieu! tears exhibit most sweet Jew, adieu something drown my manly spirit:

9

Jessica. Farewell, good Launcelot.
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,

спуст

[Exit Launcelot. R

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,

Become a Christian and thy loving wife. Rusoff Exit.

SCENE IV. The same. A street.

Came.
SALARI

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO.
GRATIANO,

Lorenzo. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
Disguise us at my lodging and return,

All in an hour.

Gratiano. We have not made good preparation.

Salarino. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. × Salanio. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd, × And better in my mind not undertook.

Lorenzo. 'Tis now but four o'clock we have two hours To furnish us. fo

I quer will have some
Loves in looks at each ove
Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter-well be find d. whe
Friend Launcelot, what's the news is extrench

Launcelot. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify.

Lorenzo. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand, And whiter than the paper it writ on

Is the fair hand that writ.

Gratiano.

Love-news, in faith.

Launcelot. By your leave, sir.

Lorenzo. Whither goest thou?

II

Launcelot. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the jew to

sup to-night with my new master the Christian.

Lorenzo. Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica to for I will not fail her; speak it privately

Go, gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salarino. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
Salanio. And so will I.

Lorenzo.

Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.

Salarino. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt Salarino and Salanio.
Salarino

Gratiano. Was not that letter from fair, Jessica?

Lorenzo. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed

How I shall take her from her father's house,.l 130

What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with,

What page's suit she hath in readiness.

If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,

That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:

Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer. Looking

SCENE V. The same. Before Shylock's house.

Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT.

[Exeunt.

Shylock. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy in The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:bila

✩ What, Jessica!—thou shalt not gormandise, to

As thou hast done with me:-What, Jessica !—

And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out:-
Why, Jessica, I say!

Launcelot.

Why, Jessica! crosses + 8h Lit's tim

Shylock. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Launcelot. Your worship was wont to tell me that I could do nothing without bidding.

Jessica. Call you? what is your will?

Shylock. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica: Cones

There are my keys. But wherefore should I go?

I am not bid for love; they flatter me:

But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon

torol