Laun.

Yes, truly—for look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with you; and so now I speak my agitation of the matter: therefore be of good cheer; for truly, I 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 you shun Scylla, your father, you fall into Charybdis, your mother: well, you are gone both ways.

Jes.

I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a christian.

Laun.

Truly, the more to blame he; we were 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 mony.

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 heav'n, 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 more 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 but parrots. Go in, sirrah, bid them prepare for dinner.

Laun.

That is done, Sir; they have all stomachs.

Lor.

Good lord, 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 shew 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 serv'd 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.

Lor.
O dear discretion, how his words are suited!* ^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,
Garnish'd like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How far'st 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 merit it,
In reason he should never come to heav'n.
Why, if two Gods should play some heav'nly 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.

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