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; or, as you would say, in plain terms, gone to heaven. 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, (God 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. 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. Iknow 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 worshipp'd might he be! what a beard hast thou got thou hast got more 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 art thou chang'd! 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 Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve 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 serve the Jew any longer. I 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 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. Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son: Take leave of thy old master, and enquire My lodging out!-Give him a livery [To his Followers. 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; 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 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 haste, for I do feast to-night My best estem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go! Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Where is your master? Leon. Youder, sir, he walks. Gra. Signior Bassanio,Bass. Gratiano! [Exit Leonardo. Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. You have obtain'd 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 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 misconstrued in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Use all the observance of civility, Like one well studied in a sad ostent To please his grandam, never trust me more. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not gage me What page's suit she hath in readiness. 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. SCENE III.-The same. Aroom in Shylock's house. Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so; And so 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 somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot!- SCENE IV.-The same. A street. If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, [Exeunt. Jes. Call you? What is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica; There are my keys. But wherefore should I go? [Exit. I am not bid for love; they flatter me: [Exit. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Lor. "Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christiau.-Jessica, my girl, Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. 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, fallng out that year on Ash-Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. you Shy. What! are there masques? Hear me,Jessica: Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall My sober house.-By Jacob's staff I swear, 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. Laun. By your leave, sir! Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. I have no mind of feasting forth to-night: Laun. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this; There will come a Christian by, [Exit Laun. Shut doors after you; Fast bind, fast find; Salar."Tis good we do so.[Exeunt Salar. and Salan. A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. Exit. [Exit. Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. Jes. Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost. SCENE VI.-The same. Enter GRATIANO and SALARINO, masqued. 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 Gra. That ever holds: Who riseth from a feast, Enter LORENZO, Salar. Here comes Lorenzo; more of this hereafter. Enter JESSICA above, in boy's clothes. Jes. Lorenzo, certain; and my love, indeed; 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 obscured. Lor. So are you, sweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once; For the close night doth play the run-away, Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, 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 prince:Now make your choice! Mor. The first of gold, who this inscription bears ;- Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, 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. Stamped in gold; but that's insculp'd upon. Por. There, take it, prince; and if my form lie there, Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. Mor. O hell! what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye All that glisters is not gold, But Often have you heard that told: Cold, indeed; and labour lost; Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. SCENE VIII.-Venice. A street. Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter! Salar. Marry, well remember'd. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. SCENE IX.-Belmont. A room in Portia's house. Enter NERISSA, with a Servant. Ner. Quick, quick, I pray thee, draw the curtain straight! 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 Por. To these injunctions every one doth swear, Ar. And so have I address'd 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:Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire. What many men desire? That many may By the fool multitude, that choose by show, Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach; Which pries not to the interior, but, like the martlet, Builds in the weather on the outward wall, Even in the force and road of casualty. be meant I will not choose what many men desire, O, that estates, degrees, and offices, To be new varnish'd? Well, but to my choice: Por. Too long a pause for that, which you find there. Who chooseth me, shall have as much as he deserves. Ar. What is here? The fire seven times tried this; Seven times tried that judgement is,. Still more fool I shall appear With one fool's head I came to woo, [Exeunt Arragon, and Train. Enter a Servant. Serv. Where is my lady? Por. Here; what would my lord? Serv. Madam, there is alighted at your gate To wit, besides commends, and courteous breath, To show how costly summer was at hand, As this fore-spurrer comes before his lord. Por. No more, I pray thee; I am half afeard, Thou wilt say anon, he is some kin to thee, Thou spend'st such high-day wit in praising him.-Come, come, Nerissa; for I long to see Quick Cupid's post, that comes so mannerly. Ner. Bassanio, lord Love, if thy will it be! [Exeunt. АСТ III SCENE I.-Venice. A street. Salan. Now, what news on the Rialto? Salar. Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd, that Antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreck'd on the narrow scas: the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word. Salan. I would she were as lying a gossip in that, as ever knapp'd ginger, or made her neighbours believe she wept for the death of a third husband: but it is true--without any slips of prolixity, or crossing the plain high-way of talk,--that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio,----O that I had a title good enough to keep his name company!- Salar. Come, the full stop! Salan. Ha,--what say'st thou ?--Why, the end is, he hath lost a ship! Salar. I would it might prove the end of his losses! Salan. Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer; for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew.Enter SHYLOCK. How now, Shylock? what news among the merchants? Shy. You knew, none so well, none so well as yon, of my daughter's flight. Salar. That's certain; I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal. Salan. And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was fledg'd; and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. Shy. She is damn'd for it. Salar. That's certain, if the devil may be her judge. Shy. My own flesh and blood to rebel! Salan. Out upon it, old carrion! rebels it at these years? Shy. I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood. Salar.There is more difference between thy flesh and hers, than between jet and ivory: more between your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenishBut tell us, do you hear, whether Antonio have had any loss at sea, or no? Shy. There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that used to come so smug upon the mart; let him look to this bond: he was wont to call me usurer; let him look to his bond: he was wont to lend money for a Christian courtesy ;—let him look to his bond! Salar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt no take his flesh; what's that good for? Shy. To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me of half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew: hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed ? if you tickle us, do we not langh? if you poison us, do we not die? and, if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? if we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? revenge: if a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? why, revenge. The villainy, you teach me, I will execute; and it shall go hard, but I will better the in struction. Enter a Servant. Serv. Gentlemen, my master Antonio is at his honse, and desires to speak with you both. Salar. We have been up and down to seek him. Enter TUBAL. Salan. Here comes another of the tribe; a third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew. [Exeunt Salan. Salar. and Servant. Shy. How now, Tabal, what news from Genoa? hast thou found my daughter? Tub. I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her. Shy. Why there, there, there, there! a diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfort! The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now:-two thousand ducats in that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would, my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear! 'would she were hears'd at my foot, and the ducats in her |