Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; hat would, sir, as my father shall specify Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew; and I have a desire, as my father shall specifyGob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-cousins. Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall fructify unto you Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow apon your worship; and my suit is Laun. In very grief, the suit is impertinent to myself, is your worship shall know by this honest old man ; and, though I say 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, sir. Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suit: Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, And hath preferred thee; if it be preferment, To leave a rich Jew's service to become The follower of so poor a gentleman. Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of heaven, sir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speak'st it well: go, father, with thy son: Take leave of thy old master, and inquire [To Leonardo. More guarded than his fellows; see it done. [Bassanio retires up the Stage with Leonardo,— Old Gobbo goes in L. U. E. Laun. (c.) Father, in: [Crosses to L.] 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 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 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 C Father, woman, she's a good wench, for this gear. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; Gra. (R. C.) Where is your master? Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. Gra. Signior Bassanio. Bass. (L.) Gratiano! Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. (L. C.) You have obtain❜d it. [Exit, R. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Bass.(c) 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 shew 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. 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 studied in a sad ostent 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. Bass. No, that were pity; I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends I have some business. [Exit. L. Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; SCENE II.-Shylock's House. [Exit, R. Jess. (c.) And so farewell; I would not have my father Laun. (R. C.) Adieu !-tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful Pagan, most sweet Jew! (R.) If a Christian did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceiv'd:-but, adieu: these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! Jess. (R. C.) Farewell, good Launcelot.- [Exit, R. If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife; [Exit, L SCENE III. A Street in Venice. Enter SALARINO, SOLANIO, GRATIANO, and LOREnzo, r. Lor. (R.) Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour. Gra. (c.) We have not made good preparation. Sol. (c.) We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Sal. (R. C.) 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered; And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. "Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us: Enter LAUNCELOT, L. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall [Gives Lorenzo a letter ;-retires, L. seem to signify. 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. [Crossing. Laun. (R.) Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the Christian. Lor. (R. C.) Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her; (R.) speak it privately, go. Gentlemen, [Turns round-exit Launcelot, R. Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? Sol. (L.) Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. (c.) Meet me and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence. Sal. (L.) 'Tis good we do so. [Exeunt Salurino and Solanio, L. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed, SCENE IV.-Shylock's House. [Exeunt, R. SHYLOCK sitting at a Table and LAUNCELOT attending, discovered. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio :— What, Jessica!-thou shalt not gormandize, Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? [Rising.] I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA, L. [Goes back. Jess. (L. c.) Call you? What is your will? The prodigal Christian.—Jessica, my girl, Laun. [Advances, R. c.] I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. (R. C.) And they have conspired together, I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-monday last, at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What! are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica: Lock up my doors: and when you hear the drum, And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife, Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd faces : But stop my house's ears, I mean, my casements; Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house. By Jacob's staff, I swear, I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: But I will go.-Go you before me, sirrah ;Say, I will come. Laun. (R.) I will go before, sir.Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, Will be worth a Jewess' eye. [Exit. R. Shy. What says that fool of Hagar's offspring, ha? Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; nothing else. Shy. (R.) The patch is kind enough; but a huge feeder, Snail slow in profit, and he sleeps by day More than the wild cat; drones hive not with me; |