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Gob. "Twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no?

Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot ? [Aside.] Mark me now; 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, Heaven be thanked, well to live.

Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk 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; or, as you would say, in plain terms, gone to heaven.

Gob. Marry, Heaven 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 (Heaven rest his soul!) 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. [Falls on his Knees.] 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. Lord worshipped might he be! what a beard hast thou got thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill horse has on his tail.

Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail 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 thou art changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a pre

sent.

Laun, Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famished 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 Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; If I serve not him, I will run as far as Heaven has any ground.O rare fortune! here comes the man ;-to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO and STEPHANO with LEONARDO.] Bass. You may do so;-See these letters delivered ; put the liveries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [Exit STEPHANO.

Laun. To him, father.

Gob. Heaven bless your worship!

Bass. Gramercy; Wouldst thou aught with me?
Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,-

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 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 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 old man, yet, poor man, my father.

Bass. One speak for both ;-What would you?
Laun. Serve you, sir.

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 preferr'd 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

My lodging out:-Give him a livery

[TO LEONARDO. More guarded than his fellows': see 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 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;

D

and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a featherbed:-here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling [Exeunt LAUNCELOT 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

of an eye.

My best esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.

Enter GRATIÁNO.

Gra. Where is your master?
Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks.
Gra. Signior Bassanio,-
Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a suit to you.
Bass. You have obtained it.
Gra. You must not deny me;

to Belmont.

[Exit LEONARDO.

I must go with you

Bass. Why then you must:-But hear thee, Gra

tiano;

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 show
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 misconstru'd 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,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, Amen;
Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent

To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass. Well, we shall see 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 suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment: But fare you well,
I have some business,

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest;
But we will visit you at supper-time,

[Exeunt BASSANIO and GRATIANO,

SCENE II,

SHYLOCK'S House.

Enter JESSICA, and LAUNCELOT,

father so;

Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee,
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest;
Give him this letter; do it secretly,

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

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 deceived:-But, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

[Exit LAUNCELOT.

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