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

Laun. Well, well; but, for my 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, am glad you are come; give me your present 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 añon to my_lodging. [Exit a servant.

Laun. To him, father.

Gob. God bless your worship!

Bass. 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 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 a dish of doves, that I would be stow upon your worship; and my suit is,

Laun. In very brief, the suit is impertinent t myself, as your worship shall know by this hones 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 obtained 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,2 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. [Exeunt Laun. and old Gob.

(1) Ornamented.

(2) The palm of the hand extended.

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.

Gra. Signior Bassanio,-
Bass. Gratiano!

Gra. I have a suit to you.
Bass.

Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit Leonardo.

You have obtain❜d it.

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,

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 the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent2
To please his grandam, never trust me more.

(1) Gross, licentious.

Show of staid and serious demeanour.

Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing. 1
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. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same. 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! [Exit.

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.

[Exit.

SCENE IV-The same. A street. Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino, and Salanio.

Lor. Nay, we will slink away in supper-time; (1) Carriage, deportment.

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 torchbearers.

Salan. 'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly or

der'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 Launcelot.
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.
At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.
Salar. 'Tis good we do so.

Meet me, and Gratiano,

[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; What gold, and jewels, she is furnish'd with ; What page's suit she hath in readiness.