Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next | nio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your serve not him, I will run as far as there is any left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no ground.- O rare fortune! here comes the man ;hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew Gob. 'Twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell any longer. me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? Laun Talk you of young master Launcelot ?Mark me now; [Aside.] now will I raise the waters: - Talk you of young master Launcelot ? Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live. Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot. Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings, the sisters three, and such branches of learning, is indeed deceased. Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, or a prop? Do you know me, father? Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman; but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy alive or dead? Laun. Do you not know me, father? Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not. Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father, that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's son may; but, in the end, truth will out. Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my boy. Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. Gob. I cannot think, you are my son. Laun. I know not what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and, I am sure, Margery, your wife, is my mother. Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. What a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other Bass. You may do so;—but let it be so hasted, that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock: See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [Exit a Servant. Laun. To him, father Gob. God bless your worship! Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify,Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve ——— Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall specify, Gob. 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 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 suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though an old man, yet, poor man, my father. What would you? Bass. One speak for both; 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, Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have grace, sir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with thy son: Take leave of thy old master, and enquire 6 [To his Followers. More guarded than his fellows': See it done. Laun. Father, in:-I cannot get a service, no; Laun. It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail-I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well, father, grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present; How 'gree you now? Laun. Well, well; but for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have run some ground: my master's a very Jew: Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famish'd in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me your present to one master Bassa5 Shaft-horse. come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt LAUNCELOT and old GORBO. Bass. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; Gra. Where is your master? Gra. Signior Bassanio, Yonder. sir, he walks. [Exit LEONARDO. 6 Ornamented. Bass. Why, then you must; I be misconstrued in the place I go to, Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: Like one well studied in a sad ostent 8 To please his grandam, never trust me more. Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not By what we do to-night. No, that were pity; Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; Enter JESSICA and LAUNCElot. Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so; Laun. Adieu! -tears exhibit my tongue. [Eait. Disguise us at my lodging, and return 177 Gra. We have not made good preparation. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two Love-news, in faith. Lor. Whither goest thou? Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian. - tell gentle Jessica, Lor. Hold here, take this: I will not fail her; speak it privately; go. [Exit LAUNCELot. Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer. Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, [Exeunt SALAR. and Salan. Look to my house: - I am right loth to go; Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. 1 Invited. N Laun. 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. Shy. What are there masques? Hear you me, Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, - SCENE VI. The same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masked. Gra. This is the pent-house, under which Lorenzo Desir'd us to make stand. Salar. His hour is almost past. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, For lovers ever run before the clock. Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly To seal love's bonds new made, than they are wont, To keep obliged faith unforfeited! Gra. That ever holds: Who riseth from a feast, With that keen appetite that he sits down? Where is the horse that doth untread again His tedious measures with the unbated fire That he did pace them first? All things that are, Are with more spirit chased than enjoy'd. How like a younker, or a prodigal, The scarfed bark puts from her native bay. How like the prodigal doth she return; With over-weather'd ribs, and ragged sails. Enter JESSICA, above, in Boy's clothes. Jes. Who are you? Tell me, for more certainty, Albeit I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lor. Lorenzo, and thy love. Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; For who love I so much? And now who knows, But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours? Lor. Heaven, and thy thoughts, are witness that thou art. Jes. Here, catch this casket, it is worth the pains. I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, For I am much asham'd of my exchange : But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit: For if they could, Cupid himself would blush To see me thus transformed to a boy. Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my shames? They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. Why, 'tis an office of discovery, love; And I should be obscur'd. Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the run-away, SCENE VII. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA, with the Prince of Morocco, and both their Trains. Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble princeNow make your choice. Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription SCENE VII. MERCHANT OF VENICE. Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, I will survey the inscriptions back again : What says this leaden casket? Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath, A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; One of these three contains her heavenly picture. upon; Was set in worse than gold. They have in England may! there, [He unlocks the golden casket. All that glisters not gold, cold. Cold, indeed; and labour lost: Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. - 2 Enclosc. Por. A gentle riddance: 179 Draw the curtains [Exeunt. Let all of his complexion choose me so. Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. Salar. Why, man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along ; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail · Salan. I never heard a passion so confus'd, She hath the stone upon her, and the ducats Marry, well remember'd: Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. 5 Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: Bassanio told him, he would make some speed Of his return; he answer'd- Do not so. Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, But stay the very riping of the time; And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, Let it not enter in your mind of love: Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts To courtship, and such fair ostents of love As shall conveniently become you there: And even there, his eye being big with tears, Turning his face, he put his hand behind him, And with affection wondrous sensible He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. Salan. I think he only loves the world for him. I pray thee, let us go, and find him out, And quicken his embraced heaviness 7 With some delight or other. [Exit. 4 Conversed. 3 Engraven. 6 Shows, tokens. 5 To slubber is to do a thing carelessly 7 The heaviness he is fond of N 2 The prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath, And comes to his election presently. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the Prince of Arragon, PORTIA, and their Trains. Por. Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince: If you choose that wherein I am contain❜d, Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemniz'd; But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, You must be gone from hence immediately. Ar. I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things: First, never to unfold to any one Which casket 'twas I chose; next, if I fail Of the right casket, never in my life To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly, Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, That comes to hazard for my worthless self. Ar. And so have I address'ds me: Fortune now To my heart's hope! - Gold, silver, and base lead. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath: You shall look fairer, ere I give, or hazard. What says the golden chest? ha! let me see: - O, that estates, degrees, and offices, Were not deriv'd corruptly! and that clear honour Ar. What's here? the portrait of a blinking idiot, The fire seven times tried this: Still more fool I shall appear, By the time I linger here: With one fool's head I came to woo, go away with two. Sweet, adieu! I'll keep my oath, [Exeunt Arragon, and Train. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. - Here; what would my lord? A day in April never came so sweet. Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afeard, there. - [Excunt. |