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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 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 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 Bassanio who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.-0 rare fortune! here comes the man; to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.

Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other

followers.

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!

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 specify,

Gab. His master and he, (saving your worship's reverence,) are searce cater-cousins:

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my fa

Shaft-horse.

ther, being, I hope, on 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 God, Sir, and he hath enough.

[son:

Bass. Thou speak'st it well: go, father, with thy 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 t, 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 perif of my life with the edge of a feather-bed; 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 [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

an eye.

My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Where is your master ?

• Ornamented.

The palm of the hand extended,

[Exit Leonardo.

Leon. Yonder, Sir, he walks.

Gra. Signior Bassanio,-
Bass. Gratiano!

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

shew

Something too liberal-pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild be haviour,

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,
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 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.

[me

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The same.-A Room in SHYLOCK'S

House.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT.

Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so

Gross, licentious.

Show of staid and serious demeanour.
Carriage, deportment.

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. Adien !-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 iny manly spirit; adieu!

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.-
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
To be ashamed to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,

[Exit.

I am not to his manners; O Lorenzo,

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.-The same.-A Street.

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SA

LANIO.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-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 o'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 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.

Laun. By your leave, Sir.
Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. Marry, Sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.

Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her;-speak it privately; go.Gentlemen, [Exit Launcelot. 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. Salan. And so will I.

Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano,

At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.

Salar. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt Salar. and Salan.

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica?

Lor. I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed,

How I shall take her from her father's house;
What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with;
What pages' suit she hath in readiness.

If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless she do it under this excuse,-
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest;
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The same.-Before SHYLOCK's House. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT.

Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:-
What, Jessica!-Thou shalt not gormandize,
As thou hast done with me ;-What, Jessica!-
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out ;-
Why, Jessica, I say!

Laun. Why, Jessica!

Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding.

Enter JESSICA.

Jes. Call you? What is your will?

Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jessica;
There are my keys :-But wherefore should I go?
I am not bid for love; they flatter me:
But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon

The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl,
Look to my house :-I am right loth to go;

Invited.

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