SCENE 2._The Merchant of Venice（#1779）

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The Merchant of Venice

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-----------------------------------

1597

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

by William Shakespeare

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

THE DUKE OF VENICE

THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO, suitor to Portia

THE PRINCE OF ARRAGON, " " "

ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice

BASSANIO, his friend, suitor to Portia

SOLANIO, friend to Antonio and Bassanio

SALERIO, " " " " "

GRATIANO, " " " " "

LORENZO, in love with Jessica

SHYLOCK, a rich Jew

TUBAL, a Jew, his friend

LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock

OLD GOBBO, father to Launcelot

LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio

BALTHASAR, servant to Portia

STEPHANO, " " "

PORTIA, a rich heiress

NERISSA, her waiting-maid

JESSICA, daughter to Shylock

Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice,

Gaoler, Servants, and other Attendants

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SCENE:

Venice, and PORTIA'S house at Belmont

ACT 1. SCENE I.

Venice. A street

Enter ANTONIO, SALERIO, and SOLANIO

ANTONIO. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.

It wearies me; you say it wearies you;

But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,

What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,

I am to learn;

And such a want-wit sadness makes of me

That I have much ado to know myself.

SALERIO. Your mind is tossing on the ocean;

There where your argosies, with portly sail-

Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood,

Or as it were the pageants of the sea-

Do overpeer the petty traffickers,

That curtsy to them, do them reverence,

As they fly by them with their woven wings.

SOLANIO. Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth,

The better part of my affections would

Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still

Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind,

Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads;

And every object that might make me fear

Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt,

Would make me sad.

SALERIO. My wind, cooling my broth,

Would blow me to an ague when I thought

What harm a wind too great might do at sea.

I should not see the sandy hour-glass run

But I should think of shallows and of flats,

And see my wealthy Andrew dock'd in sand,

Vailing her high top lower than her ribs

To kiss her burial. Should I go to church

And see the holy edifice of stone,

And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks,

Which, touching but my gentle vessel's side,

Would scatter all her spices on the stream,

Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks,

And, in a word, but even now worth this,

And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought

To think on this, and shall I lack the thought

That such a thing bechanc'd would make me sad?

But tell not me; I know Antonio

Is sad to think upon his merchandise.

ANTONIO. Believe me, no; I thank my fortune for it,

My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,

Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate

Upon the fortune of this present year;

Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.

SOLANIO. Why then you are in love.

ANTONIO. Fie, fie!

SOLANIO. Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad

Because you are not merry; and 'twere as easy

For you to laugh and leap and say you are merry,

Because you are not sad. Now, by two-headed Janus,

Nature hath fram'd strange fellows in her time:

Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,

And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper;

And other of such vinegar aspect

That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile

Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO

Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,

Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well;

We leave you now with better company.

SALERIO. I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,

If worthier friends had not prevented me.

ANTONIO. Your worth is very dear in my regard.

I take it your own business calls on you,

And you embrace th' occasion to depart.

SALERIO. Good morrow, my good lords.

BASSANIO. Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say when.

You grow exceeding strange; must it be so?

SALERIO. We'll make our leisures to attend on yours.

Exeunt SALERIO and SOLANIO

LORENZO. My Lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio,

We two will leave you; but at dinner-time,

I pray you, have in mind where we must meet.

BASSANIO. I will not fail you.

GRATIANO. You look not well, Signior Antonio;

You have too much respect upon the world;

They lose it that do buy it with much care.

Believe me, you are marvellously chang'd.

ANTONIO. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano-

A stage, where every man must play a part,

And mine a sad one.

GRATIANO. Let me play the fool.

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come;

And let my liver rather heat with wine

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.

Why should a man whose blood is warm within

Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,

Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice

By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio-

I love thee, and 'tis my love that speaks-

There are a sort of men whose visages

Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,

And do a wilful stillness entertain,

With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion

Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;

As who should say 'I am Sir Oracle,

And when I ope my lips let no dog bark.'

O my Antonio, I do know of these

That therefore only are reputed wise

For saying nothing; when, I am very sure,

If they should speak, would almost damn those ears

Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools.

I'll tell thee more of this another time.

But fish not with this melancholy bait

For this fool gudgeon, this opinion.

Come, good Lorenzo. Fare ye well awhile;

I'll end my exhortation after dinner.

LORENZO. Well, we will leave you then till dinner-time.

I must be one of these same dumb wise men,

For Gratiano never lets me speak.

GRATIANO. Well, keep me company but two years moe,

Thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue.

ANTONIO. Fare you well; I'll grow a talker for this gear.

GRATIANO. Thanks, i' faith, for silence is only commendable

In a neat's tongue dried, and a maid not vendible.

Exeunt GRATIANO and LORENZO

ANTONIO. Is that anything now?

BASSANIO. Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more

than

any man in all Venice. His reasons are as two grains of wheat

hid

in, two bushels of chaff: you shall seek all day ere you find

them, and when you have them they are not worth the search.

ANTONIO. Well; tell me now what lady is the same

To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage,

That you to-day promis'd to tell me of?

BASSANIO. 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,

How much I have disabled mine estate

By something showing a more swelling port

Than my faint means would grant continuance;

Nor do I now make moan to be abridg'd

From such a noble rate; but my chief care

Is to come fairly off from the great debts

Wherein my time, something too prodigal,

Hath left me gag'd. To you, Antonio,

I owe the most, in money and in love;

And from your love I have a warranty

To unburden all my plots and purposes

How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

ANTONIO. I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it;

And if it stand, as you yourself still do,

Within the eye of honour, be assur'd

My purse, my person, my extremest means,

Lie all unlock'd to your occasions.

BASSANIO. In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,

I shot his fellow of the self-same flight

The self-same way, with more advised watch,

To find the other forth; and by adventuring both

I oft found both. I urge this childhood proof,

Because what follows is pure innocence.

I owe you much; and, like a wilful youth,

That which I owe is lost; but if you please

To shoot another arrow that self way

Which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,

As I will watch the aim, or to find both,

Or bring your latter hazard back again

And thankfully rest debtor for the first.

ANTONIO. You know me well, and herein spend but time

To wind about my love with circumstance;

And out of doubt you do me now more wrong

In making question of my uttermost

Than if you had made waste of all I have.

Then do but say to me what I should do

That in your knowledge may by me be done,

And I am prest unto it; therefore, speak.

BASSANIO. In Belmont is a lady richly left,

And she is fair and, fairer than that word,

Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes

I did receive fair speechless messages.

Her name is Portia- nothing undervalu'd

To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.

Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth;

For the four winds blow in from every coast

Renowned suitors, and her sunny locks

Hang on her temples like a golden fleece,

Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchos' strond,

And many Jasons come in quest of her.

O my Antonio, had I but the means

To hold a rival place with one of them,

I have a mind presages me such thrift

That I should questionless be fortunate.

ANTONIO. Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;

Neither have I money nor commodity

To raise a present sum; therefore go forth,

Try what my credit can in Venice do;

That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,

To furnish thee to Belmont to fair Portia.

Go presently inquire, and so will I,

Where money is; and I no question make

To have it of my trust or for my sake. Exeunt

SCENE 2.

Belmont. PORTIA'S house

Enter PORTIA with her waiting-woman, NERISSA

PORTIA. By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this

great world.

NERISSA. You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in

the

same abundance as your good fortunes are; and yet, for aught

see, they are as sick that surfeit with too much as they that

starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to

seated in the mean: superfluity come sooner by white hairs,

but

competency lives longer.

PORTIA. Good sentences, and well pronounc'd.

NERISSA. They would be better, if well followed.

PORTIA. If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do,

chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes'

palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own

instructions; I

can easier teach twenty what were good to be done than to be

one

of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. The brain may

devise

laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold

decree;

such a hare is madness the youth, to skip o'er the meshes of

good

counsel the cripple. But this reasoning is not in the fashion

choose me a husband. O me, the word 'choose'! I may neither

choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike; so is the will

of a

living daughter curb'd by the will of a dead father. Is it

not

hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?

NERISSA. Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their

death

have good inspirations; therefore the lott'ry that he hath

devised in these three chests, of gold, silver, and lead-

whereof

who chooses his meaning chooses you- will no doubt never be

chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love. But

what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these

princely suitors that are already come?

PORTIA. I pray thee over-name them; and as thou namest them, I

will

describe them; and according to my description, level at my

affection.

NERISSA. First, there is the Neapolitan prince.

PORTIA. Ay, that's a colt indeed, for he doth nothing but talk

his horse; and he makes it a great appropriation to his own

good

parts that he can shoe him himself; I am much afear'd my lady

his

mother play'd false with a smith.

NERISSA. Then is there the County Palatine.

PORTIA. He doth nothing but frown, as who should say 'An you

will

not have me, choose.' He hears merry tales and smiles not. I

fear

he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old,

being so

full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be

married

to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of

these. God defend me from these two!

NERISSA. How say you by the French lord, Monsieur Le Bon?

PORTIA. God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man. In

truth, I know it is a sin to be a mocker, but he- why, he

hath a

horse better than the Neapolitan's, a better bad habit of

frowning than the Count Palatine; he is every man in no man.

If a

throstle sing he falls straight a-cap'ring; he will fence

with

his own shadow; if I should marry him, I should marry twenty

husbands. If he would despise me, I would forgive him; for if

love me to madness, I shall never requite him.

NERISSA. What say you then to Falconbridge, the young baron of

England?

PORTIA. You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not

me,

nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian, and

you

will come into the court and swear that I have a poor

pennyworth

in the English. He is a proper man's picture; but alas, who

can

converse with a dumb-show? How oddly he is suited! I think he

bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his

bonnet

in Germany, and his behaviour everywhere.

NERISSA. What think you of the Scottish lord, his neighbour?

PORTIA. That he hath a neighbourly charity in him, for he

borrowed

a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay

him

again when he was able; I think the Frenchman became his

surety,

and seal'd under for another.

NERISSA. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxony's

nephew?

PORTIA. Very vilely in the morning when he is sober; and most

vilely in the afternoon when he is drunk. When he is best, he

a little worse than a man, and when he is worst, he is little

better than a beast. An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope

shall make shift to go without him.

NERISSA. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right

casket,

you should refuse to perform your father's will, if you

should

refuse to accept him.

PORTIA. Therefore, for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a

deep

glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket; for if the

devil be

within and that temptation without, I know he will choose it.

will do anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge.

NERISSA. You need not fear, lady, the having any of these

lords;

they have acquainted me with their determinations, which is

indeed to return to their home, and to trouble you with no

suit, unless you may be won by some other sort than your

father's

imposition, depending on the caskets.

PORTIA. If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste

Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my father's

will. I

am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is

not

one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God

grant them a fair departure.

NERISSA. Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, a

Venetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hither in

company of

the Marquis of Montferrat?

PORTIA. Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, so was he

call'd.

NERISSA. True, madam; he, of all the men that ever my foolish

eyes

look'd upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

PORTIA. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy

praise.

Enter a SERVINGMAN

How now! what news?

SERVINGMAN. The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take

their

leave; and there is a forerunner come from a fifth, the

Prince of

Morocco, who brings word the Prince his master will be here

to-night.

PORTIA. If I could bid the fifth welcome with so good heart as

can bid the other four farewell, I should be glad of his

approach; if he have the condition of a saint and the

complexion

of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.

Come, Nerissa. Sirrah, go before.

Whiles we shut the gate upon one wooer, another knocks at the

door. Exeunt

SCENE 3.

Venice. A public place

Enter BASSANIO With SHYLOCK the Jew

SHYLOCK. Three thousand ducats- well.

BASSANIO. Ay, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK. For three months- well.

BASSANIO. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.

SHYLOCK. Antonio shall become bound- well.

BASSANIO. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know

your

answer?

SHYLOCK. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio

bound.

BASSANIO. Your answer to that.

SHYLOCK. Antonio is a good man.

BASSANIO. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

SHYLOCK. Ho, no, no, no, no; my meaning in saying he is a good

man

is to have you understand me that he is sufficient; yet his

means

are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis,

another

to the Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he

hath a

third at Mexico, a fourth for England- and other ventures he

hath, squand'red abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors

but

men; there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and

land-thieves- I mean pirates; and then there is the peril of

waters, winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding,

sufficient. Three thousand ducats- I think I may take his

bond.

BASSANIO. Be assur'd you may.

SHYLOCK. I will be assur'd I may; and, that I may be assured, I

will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

BASSANIO. If it please you to dine with us.

SHYLOCK. Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which

your

prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into! I will buy

with

you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so

following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor

pray

with you. What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

Enter ANTONIO

BASSANIO. This is Signior Antonio.

SHYLOCK. [Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks!

I hate him for he is a Christian;

But more for that in low simplicity

He lends out money gratis, and brings down

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

He hates our sacred nation; and he rails,

Even there where merchants most do congregate,

On me, my bargains, and my well-won thrift,

Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe

If I forgive him!

BASSANIO. Shylock, do you hear?

SHYLOCK. I am debating of my present store,

And, by the near guess of my memory,

I cannot instantly raise up the gross

Of full three thousand ducats. What of that?

Tubal, a wealthy Hebrew of my tribe,

Will furnish me. But soft! how many months

Do you desire? [To ANTONIO] Rest you fair, good signior;

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

ANTONIO. Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow

By taking nor by giving of excess,

Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,

I'll break a custom. [To BASSANIO] Is he yet possess'd

How much ye would?

SHYLOCK. Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

ANTONIO. And for three months.

SHYLOCK. I had forgot- three months; you told me so.

Well then, your bond; and, let me see- but hear you,

Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow

Upon advantage.

ANTONIO. I do never use it.

SHYLOCK. When Jacob graz'd his uncle Laban's sheep-

This Jacob from our holy Abram was,

As his wise mother wrought in his behalf,

The third possessor; ay, he was the third-

ANTONIO. And what of him? Did he take interest?

SHYLOCK. No, not take interest; not, as you would say,

Directly int'rest; mark what Jacob did:

When Laban and himself were compromis'd

That all the eanlings which were streak'd and pied

Should fall as Jacob's hire, the ewes, being rank,

In end of autumn turned to the rams;

And when the work of generation was

Between these woolly breeders in the act,

The skilful shepherd pill'd me certain wands,

And, in the doing of the deed of kind,

He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes,

Who, then conceiving, did in eaning time

Fall parti-colour'd lambs, and those were Jacob's.

This was a way to thrive, and he was blest;

And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not.

ANTONIO. This was a venture, sir, that Jacob serv'd for;

A thing not in his power to bring to pass,

But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven.

Was this inserted to make interest good?

Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?

SHYLOCK. I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast.

But note me, signior.

ANTONIO. [Aside] Mark you this, Bassanio,

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

An evil soul producing holy witness

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,

A goodly apple rotten at the heart.

O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

SHYLOCK. Three thousand ducats- 'tis a good round sum.

Three months from twelve; then let me see, the rate-

ANTONIO. Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

SHYLOCK. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me

About my moneys and my usances;

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,

For suff'rance is the badge of all our tribe;

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,

And all for use of that which is mine own.

Well then, it now appears you need my help;

Go to, then; you come to me, and you say

'Shylock, we would have moneys.' You say so-

You that did void your rheum upon my beard

And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur

Over your threshold; moneys is your suit.

What should I say to you? Should I not say

'Hath a dog money? Is it possible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or

Shall I bend low and, in a bondman's key,

With bated breath and whisp'ring humbleness,

Say this:

'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last,

You spurn'd me such a day; another time

You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies

I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

ANTONIO. I am as like to call thee so again,

To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.

If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not

As to thy friends- for when did friendship take

A breed for barren metal of his friend?-

But lend it rather to thine enemy,

Who if he break thou mayst with better face

Exact the penalty.

SHYLOCK. Why, look you, how you storm!

I would be friends with you, and have your love,

Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with,

Supply your present wants, and take no doit

Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me.

This is kind I offer.

BASSANIO. This were kindness.

SHYLOCK. This kindness will I show.

Go with me to a notary, seal me there

Your single bond, and, in a merry sport,

If you repay me not on such a day,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are

Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit

Be nominated for an equal pound

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken

In what part of your body pleaseth me.

ANTONIO. Content, in faith; I'll seal to such a bond,

And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO. You shall not seal to such a bond for me;

I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

ANTONIO. Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it;

Within these two months- that's a month before

This bond expires- I do expect return

Of thrice three times the value of this bond.

SHYLOCK. O father Abram, what these Christians are,

Whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect

The thoughts of others! Pray you, tell me this:

If he should break his day, what should I gain

By the exaction of the forfeiture?

A pound of man's flesh taken from a man

Is not so estimable, profitable neither,

As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say,

To buy his favour, I extend this friendship;

If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;

And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.

ANTONIO. Yes, Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

SHYLOCK. Then meet me forthwith at the notary's;

Give him direction for this merry bond,

And I will go and purse the ducats straight,

See to my house, left in the fearful guard

Of an unthrifty knave, and presently

I'll be with you.

ANTONIO. Hie thee, gentle Jew. Exit SHYLOCK

The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.

BASSANIO. I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

ANTONIO. Come on; in this there can be no dismay;

My ships come home a month before the day. Exeunt

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ACT 2. SCENE I.

Belmont. PORTIA'S house

Flourish of cornets. Enter the PRINCE of MOROCCO, a tawny Moor

all in white,

and three or four FOLLOWERS accordingly, with PORTIA, NERISSA,

and train

PRINCE OF Morocco. Mislike me not for my complexion,

The shadowed livery of the burnish'd sun,

To whom I am a neighbour, and near bred.

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And let us make incision for your love

To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.

I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine

Hath fear'd the valiant; by my love, I swear

The best-regarded virgins of our clime

Have lov'd it too. I would not change this hue,

Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

PORTIA. In terms of choice I am not solely led

By nice direction of a maiden's eyes;

Besides, the lott'ry of my destiny

Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.

But, if my father had not scanted me,

And hedg'd me by his wit to yield myself

His wife who wins me by that means I told you,

Yourself, renowned Prince, then stood as fair

As any comer I have look'd on yet

For my affection.

PRINCE OF MOROCCO. Even for that I thank you.

Therefore, I pray you, lead me to the caskets

To try my fortune. By this scimitar,

That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince,

That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,

I would o'erstare the sternest eyes that look,

Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth,

Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,

Yea, mock the lion when 'a roars for prey,

To win thee, lady. But, alas the while!

If Hercules and Lichas play at dice

Which is the better man, the greater throw

May turn by fortune from the weaker hand.

So is Alcides beaten by his page;

And so may I, blind Fortune leading me,

Miss that which one unworthier may attain,

And die with grieving.

PORTIA. You must take your chance,

And either not attempt to choose at all,

Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong,

Never to speak to lady afterward

In way of marriage; therefore be advis'd.

PRINCE OF MOROCCO. Nor will not; come, bring me unto my chance.

PORTIA. First, forward to the temple. After dinner

Your hazard shall be made.

PRINCE OF MOROCCO. Good fortune then,

To make me blest or cursed'st among men!

[Cornets, and exeunt]

SCENE 2.

Venice. A street

Enter LAUNCELOT GOBBO

LAUNCELOT. 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 Launcelot, take

heed,

honest Gobbo' or, as aforesaid, 'honest Launcelot Gobbo, do

not

run; scorn 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 I, 'you

counsel well.' To be rul'd by my conscience, I should stay

with

the Jew my master, who- God 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 commandment;

will run.

Enter OLD GOBBO, with a basket

GOBBO. Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to

master Jew's?

LAUNCELOT. [Aside] O heavens! This is my true-begotten

father,

who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind, knows me

not.

I will try confusions with him.

GOBBO. Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to

master Jew's?

LAUNCELOT. Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but,

the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the very

turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the

Jew's

house.

GOBBO. Be God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit! Can you

tell

me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with him, dwell with

him or

no?

LAUNCELOT. Talk you of young Master Launcelot? [Aside] Mark

now; now will I raise the waters.- Talk you of young Master

Launcelot?

GOBBO. No master, sir, but a poor man's son; his father, though

say't, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked,

well

to live.

LAUNCELOT. Well, let his father be what 'a will, we talk of

young

Master Launcelot.

GOBBO. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir.

LAUNCELOT. But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you,

talk

you of young Master Launcelot?

GOBBO. Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership.

LAUNCELOT. 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.

GOBBO. Marry, God forbid! The boy was the very staff of my age,

very prop.

LAUNCELOT. Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or

prop? Do you know me, father?

GOBBO. 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?

LAUNCELOT. Do you not know me, father?

GOBBO. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not.

LAUNCELOT. 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.

GOBBO. Pray you, sir, stand up; I am sure you are not Launcelot

boy.

LAUNCELOT. 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.

GOBBO. I cannot think you are my son.

LAUNCELOT. 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

mother.

GOBBO. 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 fill-horse has on his tail.

LAUNCELOT. It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows

backward;

I am sure he had more hair of his tail than I have of my face

when I last saw him.

GOBBO. Lord, how art thou chang'd! How dost thou and thy master

agree? I have brought him a present. How 'gree you now?

LAUNCELOT. Well, well; but, for mine own part, as I have set up

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, I am glad you are come; give me your present

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, with a FOLLOWER or two

BASSANIO. 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

delivered, put the liveries to making, and desire Gratiano to

come anon to my lodging. Exit a SERVANT

LAUNCELOT. To him, father.

GOBBO. God bless your worship!

BASSANIO. Gramercy; wouldst thou aught with me?

GOBBO. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy-

LAUNCELOT. Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man, that

would,

sir, as my father shall specify-

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

serve-

LAUNCELOT. Indeed the short and the long is, I serve the Jew,

and

have a desire, as my father shall specify-

GOBBO. His master and he, saving your worship's reverence, are

scarce cater-cousins-

LAUNCELOT. 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-

GOBBO. I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon

your

worship; and my suit is-

LAUNCELOT. 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.

BASSANIO. One speak for both. What would you?

LAUNCELOT. Serve you, sir.

GOBBO. That is the very defect of the matter, sir.

BASSANIO. 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.

LAUNCELOT. 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.

BASSANIO. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son.

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire

My lodging out. [To a SERVANT] Give him a livery

More guarded than his fellows'; see it done.

LAUNCELOT. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no! I have ne'er

tongue in my head! [Looking on his palm] Well; if any man

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;

a'leven 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,

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

BASSANIO. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.

These things being bought and orderly bestowed,

Return in haste, for I do feast to-night

My best esteem'd acquaintance; hie thee, go.

LEONARDO. My best endeavours shall be done herein.

Enter GRATIANO

GRATIANO. Where's your master?

LEONARDO. Yonder, sir, he walks. Exit

GRATIANO. Signior Bassanio!

BASSANIO. Gratiano!

GRATIANO. I have suit to you.

BASSANIO. You have obtain'd it.

GRATIANO. You must not deny me: I must go with you to Belmont.

BASSANIO. 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 misconst'red in the place I go to

And lose my hopes.

GRATIANO. 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 ostent

To please his grandam, never trust me more.

BASSANIO. Well, we shall see your bearing.

GRATIANO. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not gauge me

By what we do to-night.

BASSANIO. 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.

GRATIANO. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest;

But we will visit you at supper-time. Exeunt