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 to serve

say,

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. Bass. I know thee well, thou hast obtain'd 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 speakest 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 guarded10 than his fellows': See it done. Laun. Father, in:-I cannot get a service, no;

10 i. e. ornamented. Guards were trimmings, facings, or other ornaments, such as gold and silver lace, applied upon a dress.

I have ne'er a tongue in my head.-Well-Looking on his palm.] if any man in Italy have a fairer table;11 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 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

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.

Yonder, sir, he walks. [Exit LEONARDO.

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

Bass. Why, then you must;-But hear thee, Gratiano;

11 Mr. Tyrwhitt's explanation of this passage (which has much puzzled the commentators) seems the most plausible: Launcelot applauding himself for his success with Bassanio, and looking into the palm of his hand, which by fortune-tellers is called the table, breaks out into the following reflection-Well, if any man in Italy have a fairer table; which doth offer to swear upon a book, I shall have good fortune-i. e. a table which doth not only promise but. offer to swear upon a book that I shall have good fortune. He omits the conclusion of the sentence.

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 liberal12;-pray thee, take pain

To allay with some cold drops of modesty13

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 hat14, and sigh, and say, amen;
Use all the observance of civility,

Like one well studied in a sad ostent15
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass. Well, we shall see your bearing16.

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.

12 Gross, licentions.

13 So in Hamlet:

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper

Sprinkle cool patience."

14 It was anciently the custom to wear the hat on during the time of dinner.

15 i. e. grave appearance; show of staid and serious behaviour. Ostent is a word very commonly used for show among old dramatic writers. So in the VIIIth Scene of this Act:

'Be merry and employ your chiefest thoughts,
To courtships and such fair ostents of love."

16 Carriage, deportment.

SCENE III.

The same. A Room in Shylock's House.

Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT.

Jess. 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 did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived: But adieu! these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit; adieu!

Jess. 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: 0 Lorenzo,

[Exit.

If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife;
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.

SCENE IV. The same. A Street.

[Exit.

Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO.
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.
Salar. We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Salan. "Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'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 up1 this, it shall seem to signify.

Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And n the paper it writ on fair hand that writ.

Is Whiter than

Gra.

Laun. By your leave, sir.

Lor. Whither goest thou?

Love-news, in faith.

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; goGentlemen, [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.

Meet me, and Gratiano,

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

[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.
If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
Unless 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.

[Exeunt.

1 To break up was a term in carving. This term, is, used again metaphorically for breaking the seal of a letter or opening it in Love's Labour's Lost:

'Boyet, you can carve;
Break up this capon.'

Vol. III,