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; 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 Gовво. 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-esteemed acquaintance; hie thee, go. Gra. You must not deny me; I must go with you to Belmont. Bass. Why, then you must!-but hear thee, Thou art too wild, too rude, and bold of voice; 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 misconstrued in the place I go to, And lose my hopes. 1 Gross. Gra. Seignior Bassanio, hear me. If I do not put on a sober habit, Talk with respect, and swear but now and then, Like one well studied in a sad ostent2 To please his grandam, never trust me more. Gra. Nay, but I bar to-night; you shall not gage me By what we do to-night. Bass. No, that were pity; Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends I have some business. Gra. And I must to Lorenzo, and the rest; But we will visit you at supper-time. SCENE III. The same. House. [Exeunt. A Room in Shylock's Enter JESSICA and LAUNCELOT. Jess. I am sorry, thou wilt leave my father so; And so farewell; I would not have my father Laun. Adieu!-Tears exhibit my tongue.-Most beautiful pagan,-most sweet Jew! If a Christian did 1 It was anciently the custom to wear the hat during dinner. 2 i. e. grave appearance. Ostent is a word very commonly used for show by old dramatic writers. 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.- To be ashamed to be my father's child! SCENE IV. The same. A Street. [Exit. [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 ordered; 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 up' this, it shall seem to signify. Lor. I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper Is the fair hand that writ. Gra. it writ on, 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. 1 To break up was a term in carving. Lor. Hold here, take this.-Tell gentle Jessica, Salar. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, [Exeunt SALAR. and SALAN. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jessica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed, Come, go with me; peruse this, as thou goest; [Exeunt. SCENE V. The same. Before Shylock's House. Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCelot. Shy. Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio.— 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. Enter JESSICA. Jes. Call you? What is your will? The prodigal Christian.-Jessica, my girl, Laun. I beseech you, sir, go; my young master doth expect your reproach. Shy. So do I his. Laun. And they have conspired together.-I will not say, you shall see a mask; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on Black-Monday' last at six o'clock i' the morning, falling out that year on Ash Wednesday, was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are there masks? Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, Laun. 1 i. e. Easter-Monday. It was called Black-Monday from the severity of that day, April 14, 1360, which was so extraordinary, that, of Edward the Third's soldiers, then before Paris, many died of the cold. Anciently a superstitious belief was annexed to the accident of bleeding at the nose. |