The Complete Works of Shakespeare. William Shakespeare
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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
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! Aleven 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.
Exit Clown [with Old Gobbo].
Bass.
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.
Leon.
My best endeavors shall be done herein.
Enter Gratiano.
Gra.
Where’s your master?
Leon.
Yonder, sir, he walks.
Exit Leonardo.
Gra.
Signior Bassanio!
Bass.
Gratiano!
Gra.
I have suit to you.
Bass.
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 behavior
I be misconst’red 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 ostent
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
Bass.
Well, we shall see your bearing.
Gra.
Nay, but I bar to-night, you shall not gauge 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]
Enter Jessica and the Clown [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 in 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 deceiv’d. But adieu, these foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu!
Jes.
Farewell, good Launcelot.
[Exit 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. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife.
Exit.
¶
[Scene IV]
Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Solanio.
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.
Sal.
We have not spoke us yet of torch-bearers.
Sol.
’Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly ordered,
And better in my mind not undertook.