ne

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!
Bal. Gramercy; Would'st 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 have a desire, as my father shall specify,

Gob. His master and he, (saving your worship’s reve. rence) are o 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 fuit 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.

Bal. One speak for both ;-What would you ?
Laun. Serve you, sir. ,
Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, fir.

Baf. I know thee well, thou haft 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 fo poor a gentleman.
Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my
< scarce cater-cousins : }-upon very indifferent terms.

master

master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough.

Ball. 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: fee it done.

Laun. Father, in :-) cannot get a service, 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 swear upon a book, I lhall 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 feather-bed ;-here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, she'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. Baf. 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-esteem'd acquaintance ; hie thee, go.. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

Enter Gratiano. Gra. Where is your master ? Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit Leonardo Gra. Signior Bassanio,

d guarded ]-ornamented with lace, or fringe.

e a fairer table-which doth offer to fwear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. ]-a more promising palm-nay 'tis ready to kiss the book, in confirmation of the assurance it gives me of good fortune. { with the edge of a feather-bed; ]-upon the confines of matrimony. for this geer.]-for providing thus amply for me.

Bal. Bal. Gratiano! Gra. I have a suit to you. Bas. You have obtain'd it. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont.

Bas. 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 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 har, 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.

Bal. Well, we shall see your bearing.

Gra. Nay, but I m bar to night; you shall not "gage me By what we do to-night.

Bas. No, that were pity;
I would entreat you rather to put on
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends,

Something too liberal ; ]-impertinently forward, licentious. i hood ]-cover.

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 ac supper-time.

(Exeunt.

SC E N E III.

Shylock's House.

Enter Jessica and Launcelot.
Jef. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father fo;
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didít 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 farewel ; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

Laun. Adieu !-tears Pexhibit niy tongue.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 somewhat drown my manly spirit ; adieu !

[Exit. Jel. Farewel, good Launcelot.Alack, what heinous sin is it in me, To be asham'd to be my father's child ! But though I am a daughter to his blood,. 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.

• tafte]-portion.

exhibit my tongue.)-express what I cannot utter.

SCENE

SC E N E IV.

The Street.
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Solanio.
Lor. Nay, we will sink away in supper-time ;
Disguise us at my lodging, and return
All in an hour.

Gra. We have not made good preparation.
Sol. We have not 9 spoke us yet of torch-bearers.

Sala. 'Tis vile, unless 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 ?

Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall feem 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 goeft 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, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I spoke us yet of ]-yet bespoke us ; spoke as yet of.