Gob. Lord, how art thou changed I How dost Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket.

thou and thy master agree? I have brought bim a bob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; which present; How 'gree you now? is the way to master Jew's?

Laun. Well, well, but, for mine own part, as I Laun. (Aside.] O heavens, this is my true be- have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest gotten father! wbo, being more than sand-blind, till' I have run some ground : my master's a rery bigh-gravel blind, knows me not :-I will try con- Jew; Give bim a present! give bim a balter: I am elusions with him.

famish'd in his service ; you may tell every finger Gob. Master, young gentleman, I pray you, wbich I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are is the way to master Jew's ?

come ; give me your present to one master Bassanio, Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your not him, I will run as far as God has any ground.left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no Orare fortune! here comes the man ;-to him, band, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any

Gub. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to it. longer, Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no?

Enter BassanIO, with LEONARDO, and other Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot ?

Followers. Mark me now; [aside] now will I raise the wa- Bass. You may do so :--but let it be so hasted, ters :- Talk you of young master Launcelot ? that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the

Cob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son : his clock : See these letters deliver’d; put the live. father, thougb I say it, is an honest exceeding poor ries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon man, and, God be ibanked, well to live.

to my lodging.

[Exit a Servant. Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we Laun. To bim, father. talk of young master Launcelot.

Gob. God bless your worship! Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. Bass. Gramercy'; Would'st Thou aught with me ?

Laun. But I pray you ergo, old man, ergo, I be- Gob. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,scech you; Talk you of young master Launcelot? Laun. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's

Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify,

Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot; talk not of mas- Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would ter Launcelot, futher; for the young gentleman say, to serve (according to fates and destinies, and such odd say. Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve ings, the sisters three, and such branches of learn the Jew, and I have a desire, as my father shall ing,) is, indeed, deceased ; or, as you would say, specify,in plain terms, gone to heaven.

Gob. His master and he, (saving your worship's Gob. Marry, God forbid ! the boy was the very roverence,) are scarce cater.cousins. staff of my age, my very prop:

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a bovel-post, Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my a staff, or a prop ?-Do you know me, father ? father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto

Gob. Alack the day, I know you not, young gen: you: -tleman : but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy (God Gob. I have here a dish of doves, that I would rest his soul!) alive or dead ?

bestow upon your worship; and my suit is,Laun. Do you not know me, father?

Laun. In very brief, ibe suit is impertinent to Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind, I know you myself, as your worship sball know by this honest not.

old man; and, though I say it, thoughs old man, Laun. Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you yet, poor man, my father. migbt fail of the knowing me: it is a wise father Buss. One speak for both ;-What would you ? that knows his own child. Well, old man, I will Laun. Serve you, sir. tell you news of your son: Give me your blessing : Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. truth will come to light; murder cannot be bid Buss. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd thy long, a man's son may; but, in the end truth will

Shvlock, thy master, spoke with me this day, Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure, you are And bath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment, Dot Launcelot, my boy.

To leave a rich Jew's service, to become Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling The follower of so poor a gentleman. about it, but give me your blessing; I am Launce Laun. The old proverb is very well parted belot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child tween my master Shylock and you, sir ; you have that sball be.

the grace of God, sir, and be bath enough. Gob. I cannot think you are my son.

Bass. Thou speak'st it well; Go, father, with thy Laun. I know not what I sball think of that: but I am Launcelot, the Jew's man: and, I am sure, Take leave of thy old master, and inquire Margery, your wife, is my mother.

My lodging out :-give him a livery Gob. Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be

[To his Followers. swora, if thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own More guarded than his fellows': See it done. Besh and blood. Lord worshipp'd might he be! Laun. Father, in :-) cannot get a service, no; wbat a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more - I have ne'er a tongue in my head.- Well ; [looka bair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill. horse bas ing on his palm] if any man in Italy have a fairer on bis tail.

table, which doth offer to swear upon a book. Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail I shall have good fortune ; Go to, here's a simple grows backward ; I am sure he had more hair on line of life! here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, bis jail, thau I bave on my face, when I last saw fifteen wives is nothing ; eleven widows, and pine bio,

maids, is a simple coming in for one men and

N

suit :

out.

son:

then, to scape drowning tbrice ; and to be in pe much deceived: But, a lieu ! these fool sh drops to
ril of my life with the edge of a feather-bed ;-bere somewhat drown my manly spirit; adicu! (Erit.
are simple 'scapes ! Well, if fortune be a woman, Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.
she's a good wench for this gear.-Father, come ; Alack, what heinous sin is it in me,
I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an To be asham'd to be my father's child !
eye.

(Eseunt LAUNCELOT and Old Godbo. But though I am a daughter to bis blood,
Bass. I pray Thee, good Leonardo, think on this ; I am not to his manners: O Lorenzo,
These things being bought, and orderly bestow'd, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife ;
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night

Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

[Erit My best-esteem'd acquaintance : bie thee, go. Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

SCENE IV.-The same. A Street.

Enter GratiaNO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and Enter GRATIANO.

SALANIO. Gra. Where is your master ?

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; Leon.

Yonder, sir, he walks. Disguise us at my lodging, and return

[Exit LEONARDO. All in an hour. Gra. Signior Bassanio,

Gra. We have not made good preparation. Bass. Gratiano !

Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torchGra. I have a suit to you.

bearers. Bass.

You bare obtain'dit.

Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd; Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with And better, in my mind, not undertook. you to Belmont.

Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock; we have two Bass. Why, then you must ;-But bear thee,

hours
Gratiano;

To furnish us;-
Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice :-
Parts, that become thee happily enough,

Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter.
And in such eyes os ours appear not fau'ts ;

Friend Launcelot. what's the news ? But wbere thou are not known, why, there they

Laun. An it shall please you to break up ibis, it sbow

shall seem to signify. Something too liberal :- pray thee tuke pain

Lor. I know ihe hand : in faith, 'tis a fair hand; To allay with some cold drops of modesty

And whiter than the paper it writ on, Thy skipping spirit ; lest, through thy wild beha- Is the fair hand that writ. viour,

Gra.

Love.news, in faith. I be misconstrued in the place I go to,

Laun. By your leare, sir.
And lose my hopes.

Lor. Whither goest thou ?
Gra.
Signior Bassanio, hear me:

Laun. Marry, sir, to bid my old master the Jew If I do not put on a sober habit,

to sup to-night with my new inaster the Christian. Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,

Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jessica, Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;

I will not fail ber;-speak it privately ; go. Nay more, while grace is saying, bood mine eyes Gentlemen,

[Exit LAUNCELOT. Thus with my hat, and sigh, and say, amen, Use all the ohservance of civility,

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I am provided of a torch.hearer,
Like one well studied in a sad ostent
To please his grandam, never trust me more.

Sular. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.

Salun And so will I. Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing.

Lor.

Meet me, and Gratiano, Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not At Gratiano's lodging some hour bence.

Salar. 'Tis good we do so. By what we do to-night.

[Exeunt SALAR. and Salan. Bass. No, that were pity;

Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica ? I would entreat you rather to put on

Lor. I must needs tell thee all : She hath Your boldest suit of mirth, for we bave friends

directed, That purpose merriment : But fure you well,

How I shall take her from ber father's house ; i have some business. Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest;

What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with;

Wbat page's suit she hath in readiness. But we will visit you at supper-time. [Exeunt. If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, SCENE III.—The same. A Room in Shylock's

It will be for his gentle daughter's sake :

And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
House.

Unless she do it under this excuse, -
Enter Jessica and LAUNCELOT.

That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with ne; peruse this, as thou goest: Jes. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so;

Fair Jessica slall be my torch-bearer. [1:22unt. Our house is hell, and thou, á merry devil, Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness :

SCENE V'.—The same. Before Shylock's House. But fare thee well: there is a ducat for thee.

Enter SuYLOCK and LAUNCELOT.
And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest :

Shy. Well, thou shalt see, tby eyes shall be thy Give him this letter ; do it secretly,

judge, And so farewell ; I would not have my father The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:See me talk with thee.

Wbut, Jessica !-thou shalt not gormandize, Laun. Adieu! - tears exhibit my tongue. As thou hast done with ine ;-W hat, Jessica ! Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet' Jew! !f a And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out,Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, I am Why, Jessica, 1 say!

gage me

bears ;

Mor. O heli! what have we hera ? SCENE VII.-- Belmont. A Room in Porria's A carrion death, within whose empty eye House

There is a written scroll ! I'll read the writing. Flurish of Cornets. Enter PortiA, with the Prince

All that glisters is not gold, of Morocco, and both their Trains.

Often have you heard that told : Por. Go, draw aside the curtains, and discorer Many a man his life hath sold, The several caskets to this noble prince :

But my outside to behold: Now make your choice.

Gilded tombs do worms infold. Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgment old, Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men desire.

Your answer had not been inscrol'd: The second, silver, which this promise carries ;

Fare you well ; your suit is cold. Who chooseth me, shall get as much us he deserves. This third, dull lead, wiih warning all as blunt ;- Cold, indeed; and labour lost : Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath. Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. How shall I know if I do choose the right? Portia, adieu ! I bave too griev'd a beart Por. The one of them contains my picture, To take a redious leave : thus lovers part. [Exi:. prince;

Por. A gentle riddance :- -Draw the curtains, If you choose that, then I am yours wi hal.

go; Mor. Some god direct my judgment! Let me see, Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Ereunt. I will survey the inscriptions back again : What says this leaden casket ?

SCENE V.- Venice.III A Street. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.

Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. Must give-For what? for lead ? hazard for lead ? This casket threatens : Men, that hazard all, Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail ; Do it in hope of fair advantages:

With bim is Gratiano gone along ; A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross ; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. 171 then nor give, nor bazard, aught for lead.

Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the What says the silver, with her virgin hue?

duke ; Who chooseth me, shall get as much as he deserves. Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. As much as he deserves ?-Pause tbere, Morocco, Salar. He came too late, the sbip was under sail And weigh thy value with an even band : Bui there the duke was given to understand, Iftbou be'st rated by thy estimation,

That in a gondola were seen together Thou dost deserve enough ; and yet enough

Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica ; May not extend so far as to the lady;

Besides, Antonio certify'd the duke, And yet to be afeard of my deserving,

They were not with Bassanio in his ship. Were but a weak disabling of myself.

Salan. I never heard a passion so confus'd, As much as I deserve !-Why, that's the lady: So strange, outrageous, and so variable, I do in birlb deserve her, and in fortunes,

As the dog Jew did utter in the streets : In graces, and in qualities of breeding;

My daughter !--O my ducats !-O my daughter ! But more than these, in love I do deserve.

Fled with a Christian?-O my Christian ducats! Wbut if I stray'd no further, but chose bere ?- Justice! the law! my ducats, and

my daughter ! Let's see once more this saying gravid in gold : A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, Who chovseth me, shall gain what many men desire. Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter ! Why, that's the lady: all the world desires her: And jewels ; two stones, two rich and precious stones, From the four corners of the earth they come, Stol'n by my daughter !—Justice! find the girl! To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint. She hath the stones upon her, and the ducuts ! The Hyrcanian deserts, and the vasty wilds Salar. Wby, all the boys in Venice follow him, Of wide Arabia, are as through-faies now, Crying ,-bis stones, his daughter, and his ducats For princes to come view fair Portia :

Šulan. Let good Antonio look he keep bis day, The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head Or be sball pay or this. Spits in tbe face of Heaven, is no bar

Salar.

Marry, well remember'd
To stop be foreign spirits ; but they come, I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday ;
As o'er a brook, to see fair Portia.

Who told me,- in the narrow seas, that part
One of these three contains her heavenly picture. The French and English, there miscarried
Is't like, that lead contains her ? 'Twere damuation, Ayrssel of our country, richly fraught:
To think so base a thought : it were too gross I thought upun Antonio, when he told me ;
To rib her cerecloth in the obscure grave.

And wish'd in silence, that it were not bis.
Or shall I think, in silver she's immur'd,

Salan. You were best to tell Antonio what you Being ten times undervalued to try'd gold ?

hear; O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem

Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him. Was set in worse than gold. They have in Eng. Salar. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. land,

I saw Bassanio aud Antonio part : A coin, tbat bears the figure of an angel

Bassanio told him, he would make some speed Stamped in guld ; but that's insculp'd upon; Of his return; he answer'd- Do not so, But bere an angel in a golden bed

Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, Lies all within.-Deliver me the key;

But stay the very riping of the time; Here do I cbcose, and thrive I as I may !

And for the Jew's bond, which he hath of me, Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form lie Let it not enter in your mind of love : there,

Be merry; and employ your chiefest thoughts Then I am Fours. Le uriorks the golden cusker.' To couriship, and such fair ostenis floie