n. [Rises.] Pray you, let's have no more fooling t, but give me your blessing: I am Launcelot, your at was, your son that is, your child that shall be. - I cannot think you are my son.

-n.

I know not what I shall think of that: but I am elot, the Jew's man: and I am sure Margery, vife, is my mother.

5. Her name is Margery, indeed. I'll be sworn, if e Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood.— worshipped might he be! what a beard hast thou -thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin, hill-horse, has on his tail.

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

b. (c.) Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou thy master agree? I have brought him a present. aun. Give him a present! give him a halter: I am shed in his service; you may tell every finger I have my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come; give me present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives new liveries; if I serve not him, I will run as far as aven has any ground :-Oh, rare fortune! here comes man;-to him, father; for I am a Jew if I serve the v any longer.

Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and STEPHAno, r. Bass. You may do so:-See these letters delivered; t the liveries to making: and desire Gratiano to come on 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 ; at would, sir, as my father shall specify

Gob. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say

O serve

Laun. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the ew; and I have a desire, as my father shall specifyGob. His master and he (saving your worship's reve ence,) are scarce cater-cousins.

Laun. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew hav ing 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 fa

ther.

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 obtained thy suit:
Shylock, thy master, spoke with me this day,
And hath preferred 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. [To Leonardo.] Give him a livery
More guarded than his fellows'; see it done.

[Bassanio retires up the Stage with Leonardo. Laun. Father, in:-[Crosses to L.] I cannot get a ser vice, 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 with my life with the edge of a feather bed; here are sim ple '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 Launcelot and Old Gobbo, L., D. F. Bass. [Advancing with Leon.] I pray thee, good Leo nardo, think on this;

These things being bought, and orderly bestowed,
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night

est-esteemed acquaintance; hie thee, go.

Leonardo going.-Exit Bassanio, L.

Enter GRATIANO, R.

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

nont.

ass. Why, then, you must :—but hear thee, Gratiano; u art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice ;ts that become thee happily enough,

I in such eyes as ours appear not faults;

where thou art not known, why, there they show nething too liberal;-pray thee, take pain

allay with some cold drops of modesty

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

d lose my hopes.

Gra. Signior Bassanio, hear me :

I do not put on a sober habit,

lk with respect, and swear but now and then,
ear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely;
y more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
us with my hat, and sigh, and say, Amen;
se all the observance of civility,

ke one well studied in a sad ostent

o 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 y what we do to-night.

Bass. No, that were pity;

would entreat you rather to put on

Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have frenos
That purpose merriment: but fare you well-

have some business.

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

[Exeunt,

SCENE II.-Shylock's House.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT, L.

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
See me talk with thee.

my father

Laun. Adieu!-tears exhibit my tongue.-Most beau tiful Pagan,-most sweet Jew! [Crosses to R.] if a Chris tian did 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 ashamed to be my father's child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners:—Oh, Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

SCENE III-A Street in Venice.

[Exit, R.

[Exit, L.

Enter LORENZO, GRATIANO, SOLANIO, and SALARINO, R. 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.
Sol. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Sala. '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.-[Crosses, R.

or. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair white hand: whiter than the paper it writ on,

e fair hand that writ.

ra. Love news, in faith.

aun. By your leave, sir.

or. Whither goest thou?

[Crosses, R.

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

or. Hold here, take this:-tell gentle Jessica I will fail her ;-speak it privately-go.—

ntlemen,

[Exit Launcelot, R.

ill you prepare you for this masque to-night? m provided of a torch-bearer.

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

Sala. And so will I.

Lor. Meet me and Gratiano,

Crosses, L.

[Crosses towards L.

t Gratiano's lodging, some hour hence.

Sala. 'Tis good we do so.

[Exeunt Salarino and Solanio L.

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 furnished with.-
f e'er the Jew, her father, come to heaven,
t will be for his gentle daughter's sake;
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Jnless she do it under this excuse,-
That she is issue to a faithless Jew.

Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.

SCENE IV.-Shylock's House.

[Exeunt,

SHYLOCK, R., and LAUNCELOT, L., discovered.

Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:What, Jessica!-thou shalt not gormandize, As thou hast done with me;-What, Jessica! And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out: Why, Jessica, I say!