Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my mafter Shylock and you,

the wit, fir, and he has the monies.

fir

; you have

Bass. Thou fpeak'ft it well: Go, father, with

thy fon:

Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire

My lodging out: Give him a livery

[To LEONARDO. More guarded than his fellows': fee it done.

Laun. Father, in: I cannot get a service, no ;--I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well, (Looking on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer table, which doth offer to fwear upon a book,-I fhall have a good fortune. Go to, here's a fimple line of life! here's a fmall trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a fimple coming in for one man: and then, to 'fcape drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather bed ;-here are fimple 'fcapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, the's a good wench for this geer.--Father come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt LAUNC. and Old GOBBO.

Bass. 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.

Enter

Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Where is your master?

Leon. Yonder, fir, he walks. [Exit LEON.

Gra. Signor Baffanio.....

Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a fuit to you.

Bass. You have obtained it.

Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont.

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 fuch eyes as ours appear not faults;

But where thou art not known, why, there they

show

Something too liberal ;---pray thee, take pain
T'allay with some cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thy wild behaviour,

I be mifconftru'd in the place I go to,

And lofe my hopes.

Gra. Signor Bassanio, hear me :

If I do not put on a fober habit,

Talk with respect, and fwear but now and then,

Ufe

Use all th' obfervance of civility,

Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent

To please his grandam, never truft me more.
Bass. Well, we shall fee your bearing.

Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not gage me

By what we do to-night.

Bass. No, that were pity;

I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldest fuit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: But fare you well,
I have fome business.

Gra. And I muft to Lorenzo, and the reft
But we will vifit you at fupper-time.

[Exeunt BASS and GRA.

SCENE II.

Shylock's House.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT.

Jes. I'm forry, thou wilt leave my father fo;
Our houfe is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didft rob it of fome taste of tedioufnefs:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, foon at fupper fhalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new mafter's gueft:

Give him this letter --do it fecretly:

And fo farewell; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

Laun. Adieu !---tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful Pagan! moft fweet Jew! if a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! thefe foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly fpirit; adieu!

[Exit LAUN.

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.
Alack, what heinous fin is it in me,
To be asham'd to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promife, I fhall end this ftrife,
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

Exit JEss.

SCENE III.

A Street in Venice.

Enter SALARINO, SOLANIO, GRATIANO and LORENZO.

Lor. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time; Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation. i

Sala.

Sala. We have not spoke as yet of torch-bearers.

Sol. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered;

And better, in my mind, not undertook.

Lar. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours

To furnish us:

Enter LAUNCELOT.

Friend Launcelot, what's the news? -

Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it fhall feem to fignity, (Gives Lorenzo a letter.}

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.

Laun. By your leave, fir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the Chriftian. Lor. Hold here, take this:-tell gentle Jeffica, I will not fail her;-Speak it privately, go.(Exit LAVN.

Gentlemen,
Will you prepare you for this mafque to-night?
I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Sala.