turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. GOBBO. By God's sonties,' 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him or no? LAUNCELOT. Talk you of young Master Launcelot ? [Aside] Mark me now; now will I raise the waters. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? ΙΟ GOBBO. No master," sir, but a poor man's son: his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man and, God be thanked, well to live. 12 LAUNCELOT. Well, let his father be what a' will, we talk of young Master Launcelot. GOBBO. Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir. LAUNCELOT. But I pray you, ergo,' 13 old man, ergo, I beseech you, talk you of young Master Launcelot? GOBBO. Of Launcelot, an't 14 please your mastership. LAUNCELOT. Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master Launcelot, father;'5 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. GOBBO. Marry, God forbid ! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. 16 LAUNCELOT. Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? Do you know me, father? GOBBO. 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? LAUNCELOT. Do you not know me, father? Well, GOBBO. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not. LAUNCELOT. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his own child. 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 at the length truth will out. GOBBO. Pray you, sir, stand up :17 I am sure you are not Launcelot, my boy. LAUNCELOT. 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. GOBBO. I cannot think you are my son. LAUNCELOT. I know 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. GOBBO. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipped might he be! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse 18 has on his tail. LAUNCELOT. It should seem then that Dobbin's tail grows backward: I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face when I last saw him. How dost thou and thy GOBBO. Lord, how art thou changed! master agree? I have brought him a present. LAUNCELOT. Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest 19 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 famished 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 I serve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and other followers. 20 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 delivered; put the liveries to making, and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [Exit a Servant. LAUNCELOT. To him, father. BASSANIO. Gramercy! 21 wouldst thou aught with me? GOBBO. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy, LAUNCELOT. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify. serve GOBBO. He hath a great infection,22 sir, as one would say, to LAUNCELOT. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall specify, GOBBO. His master and he, saving your worship's reverence, are scarce cater-cousins 23 LAUNCELOT. 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 24 unto you, GOBBO. I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is LAUNCELOT, In very brief, the suit is impertinent 25 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. BASSANIO. One speak for both. GOBBO. What would you? BASSANIO. I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit: Shylock thy master spoke with me this day, LAUNCELOT. The old proverb 28 is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough. BASSANIO. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son. Take leave of thy old master and inquire My lodging out. Give him a livery More guarded 29 than his fellows' see it done. LAUNCELOT. Father, in. 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 30 which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here's a simple line of life,31 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 ; 32 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. BASSANIO. 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-esteemed acquaintance: hie thee, go. LEONARDO. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Enter GRATIANO. GRATIANO. Where is your master? GRATIANO. Signior Bassanio! GRATIANO. I have a suit to you. BASSANIO. GRATIANO. Belmont. Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit. You have obtain'd it. You must not deny me: I must go with you to BASSANIO. 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 Pray thee, take pain To allay with some cold drops of modesty Thy skipping 34 spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour And lose my hopes. GRATIANO. Signior Bassanio, hear me: If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect and swear but now and then, Like one well studied in a sad ostent 37 66 To please his grandam, never trust me more. BASSANIO. GRATIANO. Well, we shall see your bearing. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me By what we do to-night. BASSANIO. 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. GRATIANO. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest: But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A room in Shylock's house. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. JESSICA. I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so: And so farewell: I would not have my father LAUNCELOT. Adieu! tears exhibit' my tongue. Most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew, adieu: these foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit : adieu. JESSICA. Farewell, good Launcelot. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, SCENE IV. The same. A street. [Exit LAUNCElot. Enter GRATIAno, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio. LORENZO. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, Disguise us at my lodging and return, All in an hour. GRATIANO. We have not made good preparation. SALARINO. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.' And better in my mind not undertook. LORENZO. 'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hours. To furnish us. [Exit. Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? 3 LAUNCELOT. An2 it shall please you to break up 3 this, it shall seem to signify. |
