running with thy heels; Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack; via, says the fiend; away; says the fiend; for the heavens; rouse up a brave mind, says the 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, say I, you counsel well: fiend, say 1, you counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, Heaven bless the mark! is a kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself; Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation! 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 comínandment, 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? Laun. [Aside.] O Heavens, this is my true-begotten father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me not;-I 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. Gob. "Twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with him, or no? Laun. Talk you of young master Launcelot? [Aside.] Mark me now; now will I raise the waters: -talk you of young master Launcelot ? Gob. No master, sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, Heaven be thanked, well to live. Laun. Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young master Launcelot. Gob. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership. Laun. Ergo, master Launcelot ;-talk not of master Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman (according to fates and destinies, and such odd sayings, the sisters three, and such branches of learning,) is, indeed, deceased; or, as you would say, in plain terms, gone to heaven. Gob. Marry, Heaven forbid! the boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop. Laun. Do I look like a cudgel, or a hovel-post, 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 (Heaven 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. [Falls on his Knees.] 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 worshipped might he be! what a beard hast thou got thou hast got more hair on thy chin, than Dobbin my thill horse has on his tail. Laun. It should seem then, that Dobbin's tail grows backward; I am sure he had more hair on his tail, than I have on my face, when I last saw him. Gob. Lord, how thou art changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a pre sent. Laun, Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famished in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I 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 Heaven 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 and STEPHANO with LEONARDO. 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. Laun. To him, father. Gob. Heaven bless your worship! Bass. Gramercy; Wouldst thou aught with me? 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 reverénce,) 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? Gob. This is the very defect of the matter, sir. 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 [TO LEONARDO. 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 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; D and to be in peril of my life with the edge of a featherbed:-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 [Exeunt LAUNCELOT and Old GOBBO. 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 of an eye. My best esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go Enter GRATIANO. Gra. Where is your master? Leon. Yonder, sir, he walks. Gra. I have a suit to you. Bass. You have obtained it. [Exit LEONARDO. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Bass. Why then you must:-But hear thee, Gra Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice;→→ And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; To allay with some cold drops of modesty 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, |
