Lor. Beshrew me, but I love her heartily; What, art thou come? Enter JESSICA. On, gentlemen; away! Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. [Exit with JESSICA and SALARINO. Enter ANTONIO. Antonio. Who's there? Gratiano. Signior Antonio? Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the rest? I have sent twenty out to seek for you. Gra. I am glad on 't: I desire no more delight, Than to be under sail, and gone to-night. SCENE VII. Belmont. An Apartment in PORTIA'S House. [Exeunt. Enter PORTIA, with the PRINCE OF MOROCCO, and both their Trains. Portia. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince. Now make your choice. Morocco. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears, "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." The second, silver, which this promise carries; "Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves." This third, dull lead, with warning all as blunt; 1. Beshrew me, curse me. This imprecation is supposed to be derived from the shrew mouse, whose bite is said to be poisonous, and therefore a severe curse; some lexicographers derive it from the German beschreien. A shrew is a scolding woman. 2. i. e. the wind has changed. 3. Who is often to be found in the old authors applied to things, as we now, not improperly, use the possessive case, whose, of things as well as of persons. I serve the Jew any longer. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and Followers. if Bassanio. 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 2 to my lodging. [Exit a Servant. Launcelot. To him, father. Gobbo. God bless your worship! Would'st thou aught with me? Laun. Not a poor boy, Sir, but the rich Jew's man, that would, Sir, as my father shall specify. 4 Gob. He hath a great infection, Sir, as one would say, to serve Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire, -as my father shall specify. Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence,) are scarce cater-cousins. 5 Laun. 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 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 suit is impertinent to myself, as your lordship shall know by this honest old man; and, though I say it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father. Bass. One speak for both. What would you? Laun. Serve you, Sir. Gob. That is the very defect of the matter, Sir. Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, And hath preferr'd thee; if it be preferment, 1. Put the liveries in hand, i. e. remote a degree. Perhaps the exgive them to be made. 2. Anon, quickly, directly. 3. Gramercy is contracted from grant me mercy; an obsolete expression of surprise. 4. Infection, for affection. 5. Cater-cousin: A corruption of quatre-cousin,from the ridiculousness of calling cousin or relation to so pression they lead a cat and dog life together would give the meaning here, which is, that they do not agree. 6. Frutify, for notify. 7. Impertinent, for pertinent, regarding, concerning. 8. Defect, for effect. 9. To prefer, to advance. To leave a rich Jew's service, to become Launcelot. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, Sir: you have the grace of God, Sir, and he hath enough. 1 Bassanio. Thou speak'st it well. 3 son. Give him a livery Go, father, with thy [To his followers. Take leave of thy old master, and inquire My lodging out. — More guarded2 than his fellows': see it done. Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, 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 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 gear. Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkEling 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 haste, for I do feast to-night 7 6 My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee; go. Leonardo. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Gratiano. Where is your master? 1. The proverb referred to is, "The grace of God is better than riches." 2. More ornamented. A guard was, properly, the border of a germant, and so called from its guarding the stuff from being torn, but it was used generally for the ornaments on a dress, such as gold or silver lace, &c. 3. Ne'er: Never. This word, says Dr. Johnson, seems in some phrases to have the sense of an adjective: not any; but in reality it is not ever: 9 Yonder, Sir, he walks. [Exit LEONARDO. "He answered to him never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled." Matthew, xxvii. 14. 4. Table, in palmistry, is the palm of the hand. -- 5. Well, here 's an innocent line of life (satirically.) 6. Coming-in, revenue, income. A simple coming-in, a bare competency. 7. To 'scape, to escape. 8. A comical allusion to the dangers of matrimony. 9. For this gear: (See note 7, page 4.) Gratiano. Signior Bassanio! Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. You have obtain'd it. Gra. You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont. Bass. Why, then you must; but hear thee, Gratiano. And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; But where thou art not known, why, there they show To allay with some cold drops of modesty 2 Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour, And lose my hopes. Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me: Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Like one well studied in a sad ostent 5 Gra. Nay, but I bar By what we do to-night. Bass. see your bearing. No, that were pity. I would entreat you rather to put on 9 1. They appear somewhat too licentious. 2. Pain is now always used in the plural in this sense. 3. To wear is now used exclusively of articles of clothing, and not as here in the common signification of carry. 4. To say grace is a term applied to the short prayer said before and after meals. 5. Who knows well how to make a parade of piety; who can play the sanctimonious. Ostent_signifies commonly appearance, show, but here implies parade, or display. 6. Grandam, grandmother. Dam is now used only to denote the mother of brutes. 7. To bar, to except. 8. To gage, usually written gauge, to measure, i. e. to judge. 9. To adopt your merriest humour. A suit of clothes is a complete dress, the one part corresponding with the other. 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. SCENE III. The Same. A Room in SHYLOCK'S House. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. [Exeunt. Jessica. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so: Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. And so farewell: I would not have my father -- Launcelot. Adieu! tears exhibit my tongue. 1 Most most sweet Jew! If a Christian did not beautiful pagan, play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: but, adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu! Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot. SCENE IV. The Same. A Street. [Exit. [Exit. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO. Lorenzo. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time, 2 Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour. 1. Exhibit, for inhibit. Tears prevent me from speaking. 2. i. e. during supper. |