Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and STEPHANO, R. Bass. You may do so:-See these letters delivered; put the liveries to making: and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [Exit STEPHANO, R. Laun. To him, father. Gob. Heaven bless your worship! Bass. (R. c.) Gramercy; would'st 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 specifyGob. 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 fructify 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? 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 heaven, 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 More guarded than his fellows'; see it done. [TO LEON. [BASS. retires up the Stage with LEON.-OLD GOBBO goes in L. U. E. Laun. (c.) Father, in: [Crosses to L.] 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 twinkling of an eye. [Exit LAUN. L. D. F. Bass. [Advancing with LEON. from back ground.` 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. Gra. Signior Bassanio. Bass. (L.) Gratiano! Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. (L. c.) You have obtain❜d it. [Exil, R. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Bass. (c.) Why then, you must:-but hear thee, Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;- And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; But where thou art not known, why, there they shew 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, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Like one well studied in a sad ostent To please his grandam, never trust me more. 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. [Exit, L. Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exit, R. SCENE II.-Shylock's House. Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT, L. Jess. (c.) 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: And so farewell; I would not have my father Laun. (R. C.) Adieu !-tears exhibit my tongue. Most beautiful Pagan, most sweet Jew! (R.) If a Christian did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceiv'd:-but, adieu: these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu! [Exit, R. Jess. (R. c.) Farewell, good Launcelot. Alack, what heinous sin is it in me, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife; SCENE III.-A Street in Venice. [Exit, L. Enter SALARINO, SOLANIO, GRATIANO, and Lor. (n.) Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; Disguise us at my lodging, and return All in an hour. Gra. (c.) We have not made good preparation. Sol. (c.) We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers. Sala. (R. c.) "Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered; And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two hours To furnish us: Enter LAUNCelot, L. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall seem to signify. [Gives LORENZO a letter;-retires, L. 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. [Crossing. Laun. (R.) Marry, sir, to bid my old master, the Jew, to sup to-night with my new master, the Christian. Lor. (R. c.) Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica, I will not fail her; (R.) speak it privately, go. [Turns round-exit LAUN. R. Gentlemen, Will you prepare you for this masque to-night? Sol. (L.) Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. (c.) Meet me and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence. Sala. (L.) 'Tis good we do so. [Exeunt SALA. and SOL. L. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed, [Exeunt,. R. SCENE IV.-Shylock's House. SHYLOCK sitting at a Table and LAUNCELOT attending, discovered. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:- Laun. Why, Jessica! Shy. Who bids thee call? [Rising.] I do not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA, L. [Goes back. Jess. (L. c.) Call you? What is your will? The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl, Laun. [Advances, R. c.] I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy, So do I his. Laun. (R. c.) And they have conspired together, I will not say, you shall see a masque; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-monday last, at six o'clock i'the morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there masques? Hear you me, Jes sica: Lock up my doors: and when you hear the drum, |