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 mine own flesh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard haft thou got! thou haft got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin thill-horse has on his tail.

my

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 laft saw him.

GOB. Lord, how art thou changed! How doft thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present ; How 'gree you now?

up my

LAUN. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have fet rest 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 present to one master Baffanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I ferve 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 ferve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other followers. BASS. You may do fo;-but let it be so hasted, that fo fupper be ready at the fartheft by five of the clock: See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and defire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.

[Exit a SERVANT.

LAUN. To him, father.

GOB. God blefs

your worship!

BASS. Gramercy; Would'ft thou aught with me?
GOB. Here's my fon, fir, a poor boy,

LAUN. Not a poor boy, fir, but the rich Jew's man; that would, fir, as my father shall specify,

GOB. He hath a great infection, fir, as one would say, to ferve

LAUN. Indeed, the short and the long is, I ferve the Jew, and I have a defire, as my father shall specify,

GOB. His master and he, (faving your worship's reverence,) are scarce cater-coufins:

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 man, fhall frutify unto you,

GOB. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is,

LAUN. In very brief, the fuit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honeft old man; and, though I fay it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father.

BASS. One speak for both ;-What would you?
LAUN. Serve you, fir.

GOB. This is the very defect of the matter, fir.

BASS. I know thee well, thou haft obtain'd thy fuit: Shylock, thy master, spoke 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 so poor a gentleman.

of

LAUN. The old proverb is very well parted between my mafter Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace God, fir, and he hath enough.

BASS. Thou speak'ft it well: Go, father, with thy fon:

Take leave of thy old mafter, and enquire
My lodging out :-Give him a livery

[to his followers.

More guarded than his fellows': See it done.

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 table, which doth offer to fwear upon a book.-I shall 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 'scapes! 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 twinkling of an eye.

[Exeunt LAUNCELOT and old GOBBO. BASS. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, Return in hafte, for I do feaft to-night

My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.
LEON. My best endeavours fhall be done, herein,

GRA. You must not deny me; I muft go

Belmont.

BASS. Why, then you must;-But hear thee, Gratiano; Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;

Parts, that become thee hapily enough,

And in fuch eyes as ours appear not faults;

But where thou art not known, why, there they show Something too liberal ;-pray thee, take pain

To allay with fome cold drops of modesty

Thy skipping fpirit; left, through thy wild behaviour, I be misconstrued in the place I go to,

And lofe 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 faying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and figh, and fay, amen;
Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well ftudied in a fad oftent

To please his grandam, never truft me more.
BASS. Well, we shall fee your bearing.

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

BASS. 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 fome business.

GRA. And I must to Lorenzo, and the reft;
But we will vifit you at fupper-time.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. The fame. A Room in SHYLOCK's House.
Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT.

JES. I am forry, thou wilt leave my father fo;
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didft rob it of fome taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.

And, Launcelot, foon at fupper fhalt thou fee
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's gueft:
Give him this letter; do it fecretly,

And fo farewell; I would not have my father
See me talk with thee.

LAUN. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.

Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolish drops do fomewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

JES. Farewell, good Launcelot.-
Alack, what heinous fin is it in me,
To be afham'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 Chriftian, and thy loving wife.

SCENE IV. The fame. A Street.

[Exit.

[Exit.

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. LOR. Nay, we will flink away in fupper-time;

Disguise us at my lodging, and return

All in an hour.

GRA. We have not made good preparation.

SALAR. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. SALAN. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd; 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 fignify.