father, though I fay't, is an honeft exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live. of Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk young Mafter Launcelot Gob. Your Worthip's friend and Launcelot, Sir. Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man; ergo, I befeech you, talk you of young Mafter Launcelot ? Gob. Of Launcelot, an't pleafe your Mafterthip. Laun. Ergo, Mafter Launcelot; talk not of Master Launcelot, father, for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and fuch odd fayings, the fifters three, and fuch branches of learning) is indeed deceased; or, as you would fay, in plain terms, gone to heav'n. Gob. Marry, God forbid ! the boy was the very ftaff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-poft, a ftaff 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 reft his foul, alive or dead? Laun. Do you not know me, father? Gob. Alack, Sir, I am fand-blind, I know you not. Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wife father that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your fon; give me your bleffing, truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long, a man's fon may; but in the end, truth will out. Gob. Pray you, Sir, ftand 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 bleffing; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your fon that is, your child that shall be. Gob. I cannot think you are my fon. Laun. I know not what I fhall think of that: but I am Launcelot the Jew's man, and, I am fure, Margery your wife is my mother, Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed. I'll be fworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art my own fleth and blood: Lord worthipp'd might he be! what a beard haft thou got! got! thou haft got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill horfe has on his tail. Laun. It fhould feem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am fure, he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how art thou change'd! how doft thou and thy mafter agree? I have brought him a prefent; how agree you now? Laun. Well, well. But for mine own part, as I have fet up my reft to run away, fo I will not rest till I have run fome ground. My mafter's a very Jew: give him a prefent! give him a halter: I am famifh'd in his fervice. You may tell every finger I have with my ribs Father, I am glad you are come; give me your prefent to one Master Bassanio, who indeed gives rare new liveries; if I ferve him not, 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 I ferve the Jew any longer. Enter Baffanio with Leonardo, and a follower or two more. Baff. You may do fo; but let it be fo hafted, that fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the clock: fee thefe letters deliver'd, put the liveries to making, and defire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. Laun. To him, father. Gab. God bless your Worfhip! Baf. Gramercy, wouldst thou aught with me? 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 fay, to ferve Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a defire, as my father thall specify, Gob. His mafter and he, faving your Worthip's reverence, are scarce catercousins. 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 inan, fhall frutify unto you, Gob. I have here a difh of doves, that I would bestow upon your Worship; and my fuit is Loun. Laun. In very brief, the fuit is impertinent to myfelf, as your Worfhip fhall know by this honeft old man; and, though I fay it, though old man, yet poor father. man my Baff. One fpeak for both, what would you? Laun. Serve you, Sir. Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, Sir. Baff. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy fuit; Shylock, thy master, fpoke 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 mafter Shylock aad you, Sir; you have the grace of God, Sir, and he hath enough. Baff. Thou fpeak'ft it well; go, father, with thy fon: Take leave of thy old mafter, and inquire My lodging out; give him a livery, More guarded than his fellows: fee it done. Laun. Father, in 1; I cannot get a service, no? I have ne'er a tongue in my head? well, 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 'fcape 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 twinking of an eye. [Exeunt Laun, and Gob. Baff. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed, Return in hafte, for I do feat to-night My best-esteem'd acquaintance, hie thee, go. SCENE III. Enter Gratiano. Gra. Where is your master ? [Ex. Leonardo. * Looking on his own hand, Gra. Baff. You have obtain❜d it. Gra. I have a fuit to you. Gra. You must not deny me; I muft to Belmont. go with you Bal. 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 Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thy wild behaviour 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. Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night, you fhall not gage me By what we do to-night. Ba. No, that were pity. I would intreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends Gra. And I must,to Lorenzo and the rest: SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Changes to Shylock's house. Enter Jeffica and Launcelot. Jef. I'm forry thou wilt leave my father fo; Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Didit rob it of fome taste of tedioufnefs; But But fare thee well, there is a ducat for thee. my father Laun. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue; moft beautiful Pagan, moft fweet Jew! if a Chriftian did not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceiv'd. But, adieu! thefe foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly fpirit: adieu! Jef. Farewel, good Launcelot. [Exit. [Exit. Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Solarino, and Salanio. 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. Sal. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Sola. 'Tis vile, unlefs it may be quaintly ordered, And better in my mind not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock, we have two hours To furnith us. Friend Launcelot, what's the news ? Enter Launcelot, with a letter. Laun. An it fhall 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. Laun. By your leave, Sir. Laun. Marry, Sir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the Chriftian. Lor. |
