letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. Laun. To him, father. Gob. God bless your worship! Baff. Gramercy; Would't thou aught with me? Laun. Not a poor boy, fir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, fir, as my father shall specify, Gob. He hath a great infection, fir, as one would say, to ferve Laun. Indeed, the fhort and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a defire, as my father shall specify, Gob. His master and he, (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-coufins : Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth caufe me, as my father, being I hope an old man, fhall frutify unto you, Gob. I have here a difh of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my fuit is,—— Laun. In very brief, the fuit is impertinent to myself, as your worship fhall know by this honeft old man: and, though I fay it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father. Baff. One speak for both ;-What would you? Laun. Serve you, fir. Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, fir. Baff. I know thee well, thou haft obtain'd thy fuit: Shylock, thy mafter, spoke with me this day, And hath preferr'd thee; if it be preferment, To leave a rich Jew's fervice to become The follower of fo poor a gentleman. Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my fcarce cater-coufins :]-upon very indifferent terms. mafter master Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace of God, fir, and he hath enough. Bass. Thou speak'st it well: Go, father, with thy fon: Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire My lodging out :-give him a livery [To his followers. More guarded than his fellows: fee it done. d с Laun. Father, in :-I cannot get a fervice, no ;— I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well: [looking on bis palm] if any man in Italy have a fairer table—which doth offer to fwear upon a book, I fhall have good fortune. Go to, here's a fimple line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a fimple 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 fimple 'fcapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, fhe's a good wench for this geer.-Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [Exeunt Launcelot and old Gobbo. My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. d Enter Gratiano. Gra. Where is your mafter? Leon. Yonder, fir, he walks. Gra. Signior Bassanio, guarded-ornamented with lace, or fringe. [Exit Leonardo. a fairer table-which doth offer to fwear upon a book, I shall have good fortune.]-a more promifing palm-nay 'tis ready to kifs the book, in confirmation of the affurance it gives me of good fortune. faith the edge of a feather-bed;]-upon the confines of matrimony. for this geer.]-for providing thus amply for me. Baff. Baff Gratiano! Gra. I have a fuit to you. Baff. You have obtain❜d it. Gra. You must not deny me; I must Belmont. Baff. Why, then you muft;-But hear thee, Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;Parts, that become thee happily enough, And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults; But where thou art not known, why, there they fhew To allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping spirit; left, through thy wild behaviour, I be mifconftru'd in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. Gra. Signior Baffanio, hear me: If I do not put on a fober habit, Talk with refpect, and fwear but now and then, Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent To please his grandam, never trust me more. Baff. Well, we shall fee 'your bearing. m Gra. Nay, but I " bar to night; you fhall not "gage me By what we do to-night. Baff. No, that were pity; I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldeft fuit of mirth, for we have friends. Something too liberal ;]—impertinently forward, licentious. 1 your bearing.]-how you'll acquit yourself. mbar]-except. n gage me]-judge of me. That That purpose merriment: But fare I have fome business. you well, Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft; But we will visit you at fupper-time. SCENE III. Shylock's Houfe. Enter Feffica and Launcelot. Jef. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father so; And so farewel; I would not have my father Laun. Adieu!-tears 'exhibit my tongue. [Exeunt. Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! if a Christian did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceiv'd: but, adieu! these foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly fpirit; adieu! Jef. Farewel, good Launcelot.- • tafte]-portion. • exhibit my tongue.]-express what I cannot utter. [Exit. {Exit. SCENE Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio. Lor. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time; Difguife us at my lodging, and return All in an hour. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Sol. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Sala. 'Tis vile, unlefs it may be ' quaintly ordered; And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four a-clock; we have two hours To furnish us : Enter Launcelot with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? S Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall feem to fignify. 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. Lor. Whither goest thou? Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the Chriftian. Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jeffica, I will not fail her;-Speak it privately; go. Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this mafque to-night? Spoke us yet of]-yet bespoke us; Spoke as yet of. |