Laun. Pray you, lets have no more fooling about it, but give me your bleffing: I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your toa that is, your child that inali

be. 4

Gob. I cannot think you are my

fon. Laun, I know not, what I shall think of that: but I am Launcelot the few's man, and, I am sure, Mar. gery your wife is my mother.

Gob. Her name is Margery indeed.--I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelat, thou art my own flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard halt thou gor! thou haft got more hair on thy chin, than Duibin my Thill-horse has on his tail.

Laun. It should leem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward ; I am sure, he had more hair on his tail, than I had on my face, when I last saw him.

Gob. Lord, how art thou chang'd. How doft'thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present'; how agree you now?

Laun. Well, well; but for mine own part, as I have set up my rest to run away, so I will not reft ’ill I have run fome ground. My master's a very few. Give him a prefent! give him a halter : I am familh'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 B fanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries ; if I serve 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 serve the Jew any longer.

Enter Baffanio will Leonardo, and a follower or

Iwo more.

Bal. You may do so. --But let it be fo hasted, that

4 Your child that hall be.] The had fome meaning which is now distinction between loy and son is loft. obvious, but child seems to have

supper

fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the clock.
See these letters deliver'd, put the liveries to making,
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.

Laun. To him, father.
Gob. God bless your worship!
Ball. Gramercy, would'st thou aught with me?
Göb. Here's my son, Sir, a poor boy,

Laun. Not a poor boy, Sir, but the rich Jere's man, that would, Sir, as my father shall specify,

Gob. He hath a great infection, Sir, as one would fay, 10 serve.

Laun. Indeed, the thort and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall fpecifie,

Gob. His mafter and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce catercoulins.

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Few, having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutifie unto you,

Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that 'I would befrow

upon your worship; and my suit is
Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent to 'my
self, as your worship shall know 'by this honest old
man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet poor
man my father.
Ball. One speak for both.

What would you?
Laun. Serve you, Sir.
Gob. This is the very defest of the matter, Sir.

Bal. I know thee well. Thou hast obtain'd thy suit ;
Sbylock, thy master, spoke with me this day,
And hath preferr’d thee; if it be preferment
To leave a rich few's service to become
The follower of fo poor 'n gentleman.

Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Sbylock and you, Sir; you have the grace of God, Sir, and he hath enough.

Ball.

fon :

Bal. 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.

Lun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no ?-I have ne'er a tongue in my head ? - - Well, (looking

5 Well, if any man in Italy to have taken its rise from the have a fairer table, which doth accident of a loft line in tranoffer to swear upon a book.] The scribing the play for the press; Position of the Words makes so that the passage, for the futhe Sentence somewhat obscure. ture, should be printed thus,Their natural Order should be Well, if any man in Italy have

This. Well, if any Man in Ita a fairer table, which doth ** ly, which doth offer to swear upon offer to wear upon a book I foall a Book, have a fairer Table, I have a good fortune. It is imporshall have good Luck. And the fible to find, again, the loit line ; Humour of the passage feem but the lost sense is easy enough This. Launcelot, a Joker, and if any man in Italy have designedly a Blunderer, says the a fairer table, which doth (provery keverse of what he thould mise good luck, I am mistaken. do : which is, That if no Man I durit almolt] offer to swear upon in Italy, who would offer to take a book, I fhall have good forbis Oath upon it, hath a fairer tune.

WARBURTON. Table than He, he shall have good

Mr. Theobald's note is as obFortune. The banter may, part- scure as the passage. It may be ly, be on Chiromancy in general: read more than once before the but it is very much in character complication of ignorance can for Launcelot, who is a hungry be completely disentangled. TaServing man, to consider his Tas ble is the palm expanded. What ble before his Line of Life, or

Mr. Theobald conceives it to be any other Points of Fortune. cannot easily be discovered, but

THEOBALD.

he thinks it somewhat that proFairer table.] The chiroman- mises a full belly. tic term for the lines of the Dr. Warburton understood the hand. So Ben Johnson in his word, but puzzles himlelf with Mak of Giplies to the lady Eli no great success in pursuit of the zabeth Hatton;

meaning. The whole matter is

this: Launcelot congratulates himMisiress of a fairer table, Hath not history nor fable.

self upon his dexterity and good

fortune, and, in the height of Which doth offer to swear upon his rapture, inspects his hand, a book, &c.] This nonsense fecms and congratulates himself upon

the

5

on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer table, 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 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 Laun. and Gob. Ball. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this. These things being bought and orderly bestowed, Return in haste, for I do feast to night My best eftet m'd acquaintance. Hie thee, go.

Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

SCE NE

III.

Enter Gratiano.

[Ex. Leonardo

Gra. Where is your mafter ?
Leon. Yonder, Sir, he walks,
Gra. Signior Basanio,
Ball. Gratiano!
Gra. I have a suit to you.
Bas. You have obtain'd it.

6

the felicities in his table. The and proceeds to particulars. act of expounding his hand puts In peril of my life with the him in mind of the action in which edge of a feather bed.] A cant the palm is shewn, by raising it phrate to signify the danger of to lay it on the book, in judi- marrying. A certain French cial attesta:ions. Well, says he, writer uses the same kind of fiif any man in Italy have a fairer gure, Omon Ami, j'aimerois table, that doth offer to wear mieux être tombée sur la pointe d'un upon a book

Here he stops Oreiller, & m' étre rompu le Couwith an abruptness very common,

WARBURTON.

Gra,

Gra. You must not deny me, I must go with you to Belmont, Bal. Why, then you muft. But hear thee, Gro

tiano,
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 them
Something too liberal ; ? pray thee, take pain
T'allay with some cold drops of modefty
Thy skipping spirit; left, through thy wild behaviour,
I be misconftru'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 fwear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pockets, Jook demurely ;
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say; Amen;
Use all th' observance of civility,
Like one well studied in a fad ollent
To please his grandam ; never truft me more.

Bal. Well, we mall see your bearing:
Gia. Nay, but I bar to night, you shall not gage

me
By what we do to night.

Baf. No, that were pity.
I would intreat 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 fupper-cime. (Exeunt.

7 Something ino liberal.] Li 8.-fad oftent.] Grave beral I have already fewn to appearance ; thew of Itaid and mean, gross, coarse, licentious. serious behaviour.

SCENE