Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.

Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, a staff, or a prop ?-Do you know me, father?

Gob. 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?

Laun. Do you not know me, father?

Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you not.

Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father, that knows his own child. Well, 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, in the end, truth will out.

Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are not Launcelot, my boy.

Laun. 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.*

Gob. I cannot think, you are my son.

Laun. 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.

Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood, Lord worshipp'd might he be! what a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill-horse has on his tail.

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

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

Laun. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have set up my rest 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 famish'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 [4] Launcelot may mean, that he shall hereafter prove his claim to the title of child by his dutiful behaviour. It became necassary for him to say something of that sort, after all the tricks he had been playing him. STEEVENS Vol. II.

11

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. Bass. 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 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!

[Exit a Servant.

Bass. Gramercy; Wouldst thou aught with me?
Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,-

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

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 I have a desire, as my father shall specify,Gob. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-cousins :

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 worship 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. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy suit:" Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment, To leave a rich Jew's service, to become The follower of so poor a gentleman.

Laun. 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.

Bass. 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 [To his followers. More guarded' 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 upoz 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 ;7-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 LAUN. and old GoB. 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

My best-esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.
Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter GRATIANO.

Gra. Where is your master?

Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks.

Gra. Signior Bassanio,

Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a suit to you.

Bass. You have obtain'd it.

[Exit LEON

Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to

Belmont.

Bass. 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 Something too liberal ;-pray thee, take pain

To allay with some cold drops of modesty

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

And lose my hopes.

Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me :

If I do not put on a sober habit

[5] Guarded-i. e. more ornamented. STEEVENS.

6) Table-The chiromantic term for the lines of the hand. WARBURTON.

A cant term to signify the danger of marrying.

WARBURTON,

JOH,

Liberal I have already shown to be mean, gross, coarse, licentious.

Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look 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 sad ostent

To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass. Well, we shall see 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 some business.

Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest;
But we will visit you at supper-time.

The same.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

A Room in SHYLOCK'S House. Enter JESSICA
and LAUNCELOT.

Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my
father so;
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness:
But fare thee well; there is a ducat for thee.
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest:
Give him this letter; do it secretly,

And so 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 somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.-
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
To be asham'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 Christian, and thy loving wife.

[9] Grave appearance; show of staid and serious behaviour.

[Exit.

[Exit.

JOHNSON.

The same.

SCENE IV.

A Street. Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALA-
RINO, and SALANIO.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-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 o-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 seem to signify.

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper it writ on,

Is the fair hand that writ.

Gra. Love-news, in faith.

Laun. By your leave, sir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.

Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her ;-speak it privately; go. Gentlemen,

[Exit LAUN Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
Salan. And so will I.

Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano,

At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.

Salar. 'Tis good we do so. [Exeunt SAL. and Sala.

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ?

Lor. I must needs tell thee all: She hath directed,
How I shall take her from her father's house;
What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with ;
What page's suit she hath in readiness.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot
Unless she do it under this excuse,-