Shy. This kindness will I show :- His wife, who wins me by that means I told you, Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair, Mor. Even for that I thank you : Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets, Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, And say, there is much kindness in the Jew. tians are; Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect [Exit. mind. And die with grieving. Laun. Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew, my master: The fiend is at mine elbow; and tempts me, saying to me, Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot, or good Gobbo, or good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away: My conscience says,no; take heed, honest Launcelat; take heed, honest Gobbo; or, as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thyheels: Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack; via! says the fiend; away! says the fiend, for SCENE I-Belmont.-A Room in PORTIA's the heavens; rouse up a brave mind, says the Ant. Come on: in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day. [Exeunt. ACT II. House. Flourish of Cornets. Enter the PRINCE OF Mor. Mislike me not for my complexion, * Abide. † Allusion to the eastern custom for lovers to testify their passion by cutting themselves in their mistresses' sight. ‡ Terrified. fiend, and run. Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me,―my honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son, or rather an honest woman's son;-for, indeed, my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste; well, my conscience says, Launcelot, budge not; budge, says the fiend; budge not, says my conscience: Conscience, says I, you counsel well; fiend, says I, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, (God bless the the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, mark!) is a kind of devil; and, to run away from Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnasaving your reverence, is the devil himself: tion; and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew: The fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your commandment, I will run. Enter old GOBBO, with a Basket. Gob. Master, young man, you, I pray you; which is the way to master Jew's? *Not precipitate. Laun. [Aside.] O heavens, this is my true begotten father! who, being more than sandblind, high-gravel blind, knows me not:-1 will try conclusions* with him. Gob. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to master Jew's? Laun. Turn up on your right hand, at the next turning, but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house. 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. Gob. By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way Father, I am glad you are come; give me to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launce-your present to one master Bassanio, who, inlot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or deed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve not no? him, I will run as far as God has any ground. Laun. Talk you of young master Launce--O rare fortune! here comes the man;-to lot?-Mark me now; [Aside.] now will I raise him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew the waters:-Talk you of young master Laun- any longer. celot? heaven. 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 hovelpost, 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 thillhorset has on his tail. Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am sure he had more * Experiments. ↑ Shaft-horse. Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO, and other 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 [Exit a Servant. come anon to my lodging. Laun. To him, father. 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. thy suit: Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day, 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 [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 upon * Ornamented. The palm of the hand extended. a book. I shall have good fortune; Go to, | And so farewell; I would not have my father here's a simple line of life! here's a small trifle See me talk with thee. of wives: Alas, fifteen wives is nothing; Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.eleven widows, and nine maids, is a simple Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a coming-in for one man: and then, to 'scape Christian do not play the knave, and get thee, drowning thrice; and to be in peril of my life I am much deceived: But, adieu! these foolwith the edge of a feather-bed;-here are sim-ish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit ; ple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman, she's adieu! a good wench for this gear.-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 be- Gra. I have a suit to you. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Bass. Why, then you must ;-But hear thee, Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice; Something too liberal:*-pray thee, take pain Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me : By what we do to-night. Bass. No, that were pity; I would entreat you rather to put on Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. [Exit. Jes. Farewell, good Launcelot.- [Exit. SCENE IV.-The same.-A Street. Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; Gra. We have not made good preparation. Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly And better, in my mind,not undertook. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? [hours 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 Gra. Love-news, in faith. Laun. Marry, Sir, to bid my old master the Lor. Hold here, take this :-tell gentle Jes- I will not fail her ;-speak it privately; go.-- Salan. And so will I. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. [Exeunt SALAR. and SALAN. 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; And, Launcelot, soon at supper shalt thou see SCENE V.-The same.-Before SHYLOCK's Lorenzo, who is thy new master's guest: Give him this letter; do it secretly, House. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT. 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? I do not bid thee call. Salar. His hour is almost past. Salar. O, ten times faster Venus' pigeons fly Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I With that keen appetite that he sits down; could do nothing without bidding. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you? What is your will? Laun. I beseech you, Sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. 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 after noon. Shy. What! are there masques? Hear you Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter Laun. I will go before, Sir.- There will come a Christian by, Jes. His words were, Farewell, mistress; Shy. The patch is kind enough; but a huge Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day Where is the horse that doth untread again Salar. Here comes Lorenzo;-more of this Lor. Sweet friends, your patience for my long abode; Not I, but my affairs, have made you wait; When you shall please to play the thieves for wives, I'll watch as long for you then.-Approach; within. who's I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me, Lor. Descend, for you must be my torch- Jes. What, must I hold a candle to my Lor. So are you, sweet, For the close night doth play the run-away, Jes. I will make fast the doors, and gild my self Enter JESSICA, below. What, art thou come?-On, gentlemen, away; Our masking mates by this time for us stay. [Exit with JESSICA and SALARINO. Enter ANTONIO. Ant. Who's there? Gra. Signior Antonio? [rest? Ant. Fie, fie, Gratiano! where are all the 'Tis nine o'clock; our friends all stay for you :No masque to-night; the wind is come about, Bassanio presently will go aboard: 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. Flourish of Cornets. Enter PORTIA with the Mor. The first, of gold, who this inscription bears; [sire. Who chooseth me, shall gain what many men deThe 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 ;[hath. Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he How shall I know if I do choose the right? Por. The one of them contains my picture, This casket threatens: Men, that hazard all, A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross; sire. Why, that's the lady; all the world desires her: Is't like, that lead contains her? "Twere damnation, To think so base a thought; it were too gross A coin, that bears the figure of an angel Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! Por. There, take it, prince, and if my form Then I am yours. [He unlocks the golden casket. Then, farewell, heat; and, welcome, frost. [Exit. Por. A gentle riddance :————— -Draw the curtains, go; Let all of his complexion choose me so. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII.-Venice.-A Street. Enter SALARINO and SALANIO. Salar. Why man, I saw Bassanio under sail; With him is Gratiano gone along; And in their ship, I am sure, Lorenzo is not. Salan. The villain Jew with outcries rais'd the duke; Who went with him to search Bassanio's ship. Salar. He came too late, the ship was under sail : But there the duke was given to understand, Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica : stones, |