Enter the Prince of Morocco, and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Neriffa, and ber train. Flourish Cornets. Mor. MISLIKE me not for my complexion, fun, Never to speak to lady afterward In way of marriage; therefore be advised. Por. First, forward to the temple; after dinner [Cornets. [Exeunt, The fhadow'd livery of the burnish'd To make me bleft, or curfed'ft among men. To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred. To prove whofe blood is reddeft, his, or mine. Hath fear'd 2 the valiant; by my love, I fwear, Have lov'd it too: I would not change this hue, Por. In terms of choice I am not folely led His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, Mor. Even for that I thank you; Por. You must take your chance; Laun. Certainly, my confcience will ferve me to run from this Jew my mafter: The fiend is at mine elbow, and tempts me, faying to me," Gobbo, "Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gob"bo, or good Launcelot Gobho, ufc your legs, "take the start, run away."--My confcience fays,-" No; take heed, honeft Launcelot; take "heed, honeft Gobbo; or," as forefaid, "honeft "Launcelot Gobbo; do not ru; fcom running "with thy heels." Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack: "Via!" fays the fiend; "away!" fays the fiend, "for the heavens ;" "roufe up a brave mind," fays the fiend, and run.” Well, my confcience hanging about the neck of my heart, fays very wifely to me," My honest "friend Launcelot, being an honeft man's fon,"or rather an honest woman's fon;-for, indeed, my father did fomething (mack, something grow to, he had a kind of taite ;-well, my confcience fays," Launcelot, budge not." "Budge," fays the fiend. "Budge not," fays my confcience.”— Enter old Gobbo, his father, with a basket. Or fwear, before you chufe,—if you chufe wrong, which is the way to maiter Jew's? Fearful guard means a guard that is not to be trusted, but gives caufe of fear. Probably Shakspeare wrote fear'd, 2 i. c. terrify'd. Laun Laun. [afide.] O heavens, this is my true-begot-ja beard haft thou got! Thou haft got more hair ten father! who, being more than fand-blind, on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse 2 has on high-gravel blind, knows me not:-I will try con- his tail. clufions with him. Laun. It fhould feem then, that Dobbin's tail. Gob. Mafter young gentleman, I pray you, grows backward; I am fure he had more hair on which is the way to mafter Jew's? This tail, than I have on my face, when I laft faw him. Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. Gb. By God's fonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no Gob. Lord, how thou art chang'd! How doft thou and thy mafter agree? I have brought him a present; 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 reft till I have run fome ground: My mafter's a Lan. Talk you of young matter Launcelot ?—very Jew; give him a prefent! give him a hålter: Mark me now, [afide.] now will I raife the water:-Talk you of young mafter Launcelot ? Gob. No mafter, fir, but a poor man's fon; his father, though I fay it, is an honeft exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live. I am famith'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 mafter Baffanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I ferve not him, I will run as far as God has Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we any ground.-O rare fortune! here comes the talk of young mafter Launcelot. Geb. Your worthip's friend, and Launcelot, fir. Laun. But I pray you eŋgɔ, old man, ergo, I befeech you; Talk you of young mafter Laun celot ? man;—to him, father; for I am a Jew, if I ferve the Jew any longer. Enter Baffanio, with Leonardo, and a follower or tavo more. Baff. You may do fo;-but let it be fo hafted, Gob. Of Launcelot, an' pleate your maftership, that fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the Laun. Ergo, mafter Launcelot, talk not of mat-clock. See thefe ietters deliver'd; put the liveries ter Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to (according to fates and deftinies, and fuch odd fay-my lodging. ings, the fifters three, and fuch branches of learning) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would fay, in plain terms, gone to heaven. Gob. Marry, God forbid the boy was the very faff of my age, my very prop. Latun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-poft, a ftatf, or a prop ?--Do you know me, father? Gb. 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? not. Laun. To him, father. Gob. God blefs 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,Gub. He hath a great infection, fir, as one would say, to serve——— Laun. Indeed, the fhort and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and have a defire, as my father shall fpecify, Gob. His mafter and he (faving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-coufins : Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the might fail of the knowing me: it is a wife father Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will father, being I hope an old man, fhall frutify unto tell you news of your fon : Give me your bletting; you,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, fir, ftand up; I am fure, you are not Launcelot, my boy. Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but give me your blefling; I am Launcelot, your boy that was, your fon that is, your child that thall be. Geb. 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 fine, Margery, your wife, is my mother. Grb. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be fworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art my own flesh and blood. Lord worthipp'd might he be! what That is, I will try experiments with him. Gob. I have here a difh of doves, that I would beftow upon your worthip; and my suit 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? Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, fir. fuit : Shylock, thy mafter, spoke with me this day, Laun. The old proverb is very well parted be 2 Thill, or fill, means the fhafts of a cart or waggon. tween tween my mafter Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace of God, fir, and he hath enough. Ball. No, that were pity; I would entreat you rather to put on Bal. Thou speak'ft it well: Go, father, with Your boldest fuit of mirth, for we have friends thy fon: Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire [To his followers. More guarded than his fellows: fee it done. ril of my That purpofe merriment: But fare you well, Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft; SCE NE III. Enter Jelica and Launcelot. [Excunt, But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee. Laun. Father, in :-I cannot get a fervice, no;— I have ne'er a tongue in my head.- -Well, [looking on his palm if any man in Italy have a fairer sable2, which doth offer to swear upon a book, I hall have good fortune.-Go to, here's a fimple Our houfe is hell, and thou, a merry devil, Jef. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father fo; Line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fif-Didft rob it of fome tafte of tedioufnefs : teen wives is nothing; eleven widows, and nine maids, is a fimple coming-in for one man: and And, Launcelot, foon at fupper ihalt thou fee then, to 'fcape drowning thrice; and to be in pe-Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest : life with the edge of a feather-bed 3;-Give him this letter; do it fecretly, here are fimple 'fcapes! Well, if fortune be a wo- And fo farewell; I would not have my father man, the's a good wench for this geer.-Father, See me talk with thee. come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. Bal. I pray thec, good Leonardo, think on this; Thele things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Return in hafte, for I do feast to-night My beft-cfteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go. Leon. My beft endeavours fhall be done herein. [Exeunt Launcelot and old Gobbo. Enter Gratiano. Gra. Where's your master? Lean. Yonder, fir, he walks. [Exit Leonardo. Ga. I have a fuit to you. Gra. Signior Baffanio, Baff, Gratiano! Baff. You have obtain'd it. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.Chriftian did not play the knave, and get thee, I Moft beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! if a am much deceiv'd: but, adieu! these foolish drops Alack, what heinous fin is it in me, To be afham'd to be my father's child! Baff. Why, then you must;-But hear thee, Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarim, and Salanis. Gratiano: Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;- And lofe my hopes. Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me : Talk with refpect, and fwear but now and then, [me Lor. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time; Gra. We have not made good preparation. Enter Launcelot with a letter. Laun. An it fhall please you to break up this 6, it fhall feem to fignify. Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; Gra. Love-news, in faith. Lor. Whither goeft thou? Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to fup to-night with my new mafter the Chriftian. That is, more ornamented. 2 The chiromantic term for the lines of the hand. 3 A cant phrafe to fignify the danger of marrying. 4 That is, too grofs, licentious. pearance. To break up was a term in carving. 5 That is, grave ap Lor Lør. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jeffica, Will you prepare you for this mask to-night? [Exit Laun. Sal. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it ftraight. Sala. And fo will I. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging fome hour hence. Sal. 'Tis good we do fo. [Exe. Salar, and Salan. And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife, Laun. I will go before, fir. Lor. I must needs tell thee all: the hath di-Miftrefs, look out at window, for all this; J. Farewel; and if my fortune be not croft, [Exit. Enter Shylock, and Launcelot. Shy. Well, thou fhalt fee, thy eyes fhall be thy I have a father, you a daughter, loft. judge, The difference of old Shylock and Baffanio :-- Laun. Why, Jellica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worthip was wont to tell me, that I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Fellica. Jef. Call you? what is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to fupper, Jellica; Defir'd us to make ftand. Sal. His hour is almoft paft. Gra. And it is marvel he out-dwells his hour, Sal. O, ten times fafter Venus' pigeons fly There are my keys :-But wherefore thould I go? To keep obliged faith unforfeited ! I am not bid for love; they flatter me: Laun. And they have confpired together, will not fay, you shall fee a mafque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nofe fell a-bleeding on Black-Monday laft, at fix o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ath-Wednefday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there maiques? Hear you me, Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, Gra. That ever holds: Who rifeth from a feaft Enter Lorenzo. Sal. Here comes Lorenzo :-more of this here- Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long 1 Black-Monday, according to Stowe, means Eafter-Monday, and was fo called from Edward III. having loft a part of his army, then belieging París, by cold on that day, which was alfo remark ably dark and mitty. a i. e. the fool. I'll watch as long for you then.-Approach; fef. Who are you? tell me, for more certainty, Jef. Lorenzo, certain; and my love indeed; [pains. Lor. Defcend, for you must be my torch-bearer. Lor. So are you, fweet, Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. But come at once: For the clofe night doth play the run-away, ff. I will make fast the doors, and gild myself With fome more ducats, and be with you ftraight. [Exit, from above. Gra. Now, by my hood, a Gentile, and no Jew. Lor. Befhrew me, but I love her heartily: For the is wife, if I can judge of her; 1 Anth, Who's there? I have fent twenty out to feek for you. Gra. I am glad on 't; I defire no more delight, Than to be under fail, and gone to-night. [Exeunt. Enter Portia, with the Prince of Morocco, and both their trains. Por. Go, draw afide the curtains, and difcover 1. Who chufeth me, fhall gain what many men defire.' The fecond, filver, which this promife carries ;"Who chufeth me, fhall get as much as he deferves." This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt ;-"Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all he "hath.-" [bears; Mor. The first, of gold, who this infcription How fhall I know if I do chufe the right? Por. The one of them contains my picture, prince; Mor. Some god direct my judgment ! Let me fee, "Who chufeth me, muft give and hazard all he A golden mind stoops not to fhows of drofs; To think fo bafe a thought; it were too grofs 1 Our author here quibbles upon Gentile, which figrifies one that is well børn, as well as a heathen. 2 i. c. engraved upon. Mor. |