but give me your bleffing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your fon that is, your child that shall be. GOB. I cannot think, you are my fon. LAUN. I know not what I fhall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am fure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. GOB. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be fworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard haft thou got! thou haft got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin thill-horse has on his tail. my LAUN. It fhould feem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am fure, he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I laft saw him. GOB. Lord, how art thou changed! How doft thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present ; How 'gree you now? up my LAUN. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have fet rest to run away, fo I will not rest till I have run fome ground: my mafter's a very Jew; Give him a prefent! give him a halter: I am famifh'd in his fervice; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your present to one master Baffanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I ferve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground. O rare fortune! here comes the man ;—to him father; for I am a Jew, if I ferve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other followers. BASS. You may do fo;-but let it be so hasted, that fo fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the clock: See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [Exit a SERVANT. LAUN. To him, father. GOB. God blefs your worship! BASS. Gramercy; Would'ft thou aught with me? LAUN. Not a poor boy, fir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, fir, as my father shall specify, GOB. He hath a great infection, fir, as one would say, to ferve LAUN. Indeed, the short and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and I have a defire, as my father shall specify, GOB. His master and he, (faving your worship's reverence,) are scarce cater-coufins: LAUN. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth caufe me, as my father, being I hope an old man, fhall frutify unto you, GOB. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is, LAUN. In very brief, the fuit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honeft old man; and, though I fay it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father. BASS. One speak for both ;-What would you? GOB. This is the very defect of the matter, fir. BASS. I know thee well, thou haft obtain'd thy fuit: Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, And hath preferr'd thee; if it be preferment, of LAUN. The old proverb is very well parted between my mafter Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace God, fir, and he hath enough. BASS. Thou speak'ft it well: Go, father, with thy fon: Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire [to his followers. More guarded than his fellows': See it done. LAUN. Father, in :-I cannot get a fervice, 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 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 'fcape drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-here are fimple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, fhe's a good wench for this geer. Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt LAUNCELOT and old GOBBO. BASS. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Return in hafte, for I do feaft to-night My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. GRA. You must not deny me; I muft go Belmont. BASS. Why, then you must;-But hear thee, Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ; Parts, that become thee hapily 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 To allay with fome cold drops of modesty Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thy wild behaviour, I be misconstrued in the place I go to, And lofe my hopes. GRA. Signior Bassanio, hear me : If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent To please his grandam, never truft me more. 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 suit of mirth, for we have friends GRA. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft; [Exeunt. SCENE III. The fame. A Room in SHYLOCK's House. JES. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father fo; And, Launcelot, foon at fupper fhalt thou fee And fo farewell; I would not have my father LAUN. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! JES. Farewell, good Launcelot.- SCENE IV. The fame. A Street. [Exit. [Exit. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. 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. SALAR. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. SALAN. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd; And better, in my mind, not undertook. LOR. 'Tis now but four a-clock; we have two hours To furnish us': Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? LAUN. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall feem to fignify. |