Array The griffin classics - William Shakespeare - Complete Collection

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. That 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 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.

¶

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.

¶

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.

Lor.

’Tis now but four of clock, we have two hours

To furnish us.

Enter Launcelot [with a letter].

Friend Launcelot, what’s the news?

Laun. And 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.

Exit Clown.

Go, gentlemen,

Will you prepare you for this masque to-night?

I am provided of a torch-bearer.

Sal.

Ay, marry, I’ll be gone about it straight.

Sol.

And so will I.

Lor.

Meet me and Gratiano

At Gratiano’s lodging some hour hence.

Sal.

’Tis good we do so.

Exit [with Solanio].

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.

¶

Enter [Shylock the] Jew and his man that was, the Clown [Launcelot]

Shy.

Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,

The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.—

What, Jessica!—Thou shalt not gurmandize,

As thou hast done with me—What, Jessica!—

And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out—

Why, Jessica, I say!

Laun.

Why, Jessica!

Shy.

Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call.

Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me I could do nothing without bidding.