have (6) a fairer table, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune; go to, here's a fimple line of life; here's a small trifle of wives; alas, fifteen wives is nothing, eleven widows and nine maids is a fimple coming-in for one man! and then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed, here are simple 'scapes! well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this geer. Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt Laun. and Gob. Baff. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed, Return in haste, for I do feast to-night My best-eftcem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. [Exit Leonardo. Gra. Where is your master? Leon. Yonder, Sir, he walks. Gra. Signior Baffanio, Baf. Gratiano! Gra. I have a fuit to you. Baf. You have obtain'd it. Gra. You must not deny me, I must go with you to Belmont. Baff. Why, then you must: but hear thee, Gratiano, Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice; Parts, that become thee happily enough, (6) Well, if any Man in Italy have, &c.] The Pofition of the Words makes the Sentence fomewhat obfcure: Their natural Order should be this. Well, if any Man in Italy, which doth offer to fwear upon a Fork, bave a fairer Table, I shall have good Luck. And the Humour of the Paffage seems this. Launcelot, a Joaker, and defignedly a Blunderer, says the very Reverse of what he should do : which is, That if no Man in Italy, who would offer to take bis Oath upon it, batb a fairer Table than be, be shall have good Fortune. The Banter may, partly, be on Chiromancy in general: but it is very much in Character for Launcelot, who is a hungry Serving-man, to confider his Table before his Line of Life, or any other Points of Fortune, And And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults ; Thy fkipping spirit; left, through thy wild behaviour, Gra. Signior Baffanio, hear me. If I do not put on a fober habit, Talk with respect, and fwear but now and then, Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent To please his grandam; never trust me more. Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night, you shall not gage me By what we do to-night. Baff. No, that were pity. I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest fuit of mirth, for we have friends I have fome business. Gra And I muft to Lorenzo and the reft; But we will vifit you at fupper-time. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Shylock's Houfe. Jef. I'M Enter Jeffica and Launcelot. Jef. 'M forry, thou wilt leave my father fo; Laun, Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue; most beautiful Pagan, most sweet Jew! if a Christian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceiv'd; but, adieu! these foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu ! [Exit. Jef. Farewel, good Launcelot. Alack, what heinous fin is it in me, To be asham'd to be my father's child ? I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo, [Exit. Lor. SCENE, the STREET. Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Solarino, and Salanio. hour. N 1 AY, we will flink away in supper-time, dif- Gra. We have not made good preparation. Lor. 'Tis now but four a clock, we have two hours To furnish us. Friend Launcelot, what's the news t Enter Launcelot, with a letter. Laun. An' it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to fignify. Lor. I know the hand; in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper, it writ on, Is the fair hand that writ. Gra. Love-news, in faith.. Laun. By your leave, Sir. Lor. Whither goest thou ? Laun. Marry, Sir, to bid my old master the Jew to fup to-night with my new master the Chriftian. Lor. Hold, here, take this; tell gentle Jeffica, Sal. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it strait. I will not fail her; speak it privately. I am provided of a torch-bearer. Sola. And fo will I. [Exit Laun. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging fome hour hence.. [Exit Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all; the hath directed, How I shall take her from her father's house; What page's fuit she hath in readiness. If e'er the Jew her father come to heav'n, Unless she do it under this excuse, Sky-W SCENE, Shylock's House. Enter Shylock and Launcelot. [Exeunt ELL, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, What, Jeffica! - thou shalt not gormandize, • Laun. Why, Jeffica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I did not bid thee call. Laun. Your Worship was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Jeffica. Jes. Call you? what is your will? Shy. Shy. I am bid forth to fupper, Jeffica Laun. I beseech you, Sir, go; my young mafter doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together, I will, not fay, you shall fee a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on black monday last, at fix a clock i'th' morning, falling out that year on Am-Wednesday was four year in the after noon. 12 Shy. What! are there masques i hear you me, Jessica. Laun. I will go before, Sir. There will come a chriftian by, A : [Exit Laun. Shy. What fays that fool of Hagar's off-spring, ha? Jes. His words were, farewel, mistress; nothing elfe. Shy. The patch is kind enough, but a huge feeder: Snail-flow in profit, but he fleeps by day |