Jessica.
Laun.
Yes, truly:—for, look you, the sins of the
father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I
promise you, I fear you3 note
. I was always plain with
you, and so now I speak my agitation of the
matter: Therefore, be of good cheer; for, truly, I
-- 103 --
think, you are damn'd. There is but one hope in
it that can do you any good; and that is but a kind
of bastard hope neither.
Jes.
And what hope is that, I pray thee?
Laun.
Marry, you may partly hope that your
father got you not, that you are not the Jew's
daughter.
Jes.
That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed;
so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me.
Laun.
Truly then I fear you are damn'd both by
father and mother: thus when I shun Scylla, your
father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother4 note
: well,
you are gone both ways.
-- 104 --
Jes.
I shall be saved by my husband5 note
; he hath
made me a Christian.
Laun.
Truly, the more to blame he: we were
-- 105 --
Christians enough before; e'en as many as could
well live, one by another: This making of Christians
will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be
pork-eaters, we shall not shortly have a rasher on
the coals for money.
Enter Lorenzo.
Jes.
I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you
say; here he comes.
Lor.
I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot,
if you thus get my wife into corners.
Jes.
Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo;
Launcelot and I are out: he tells me flatly, there
is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's
daughter: and he says, you are no good member
of the commonwealth; for, in converting Jews to
Christians, you raise the price of pork.
Lor.
I shall answer that better to the commonwealth,
than you can the getting up of the negro's
belly: the Moor is with child by you, Launcelot.
Laun.
It is much, that the Moor should be more6 note
than reason: but if she be less than an honest woman,
she is, indeed, more than I took her for.
Lor.
How every fool can play upon the word!
I think, the best grace of wit will shortly turn into
silence; and discourse grow commendable in none
only but parrots.—Go in, sirrah; bid them prepare
for dinner.
Laun.
That is done, sir; they have all stomachs.
-- 106 --
Lor.
Goodly lord7 note
, what a wit-snapper are you!
then bid them prepare dinner.
Laun.
That is done too, sir; only, cover is the
word.
Lor.
Will you cover then, sir?
Laun.
Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty.
Lor.
Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt
thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant?
I pray thee, understand a plain man in his
plain meaning: go to thy fellows; bid them cover
the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in
to dinner.
Laun.
For the table, sir, it shall be served in;
for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming
in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and
conceits shall govern.
[Exit Launcelot.
Lor.
O dear discretion, how his words are suited8 note
!
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words; And I do know
A many fools, that stand in better place,
-- 107 --
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How cheer'st* note thou, Jessica?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
How dost thou like the lord Bassanio's wife?
Jes.
Past all expressing: It is very meet,
The lord Bassanio live an upright life;
For, having such a blessing in his lady,
He finds the joys of heaven here on earth;
And, if on earth he do not mean it, it
Is reason he should never come to heaven.
Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match,
And on the wager lay two earthly women,
And Portia one, there must be something else
Pawn'd with the other; for the poor rude world
Hath not her fellow.
Lor.
Even such a husband
Hast thou of me, as she is for a wife.
Jes.
Nay, but ask my opinion too of that.
Lor.
I will anon; first, let us go to dinner.
Jes.
Nay, let me praise you, while I have a stomach.
Lor.
No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk;
Then, howsoe'er thou speak'st, 'mong other things
I shall digest it.
Jes.
Well, I'll set you forth.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
