Laun.
Certainly my conscience will note serve me to run
from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow, and
-- 298 --
tempts me, saying to me, ‘Gobbo, Launcelot note Gobbo note, good
Launcelot,’ or ‘good Gobbo,’ or ‘good Launcelot note Gobbo note,
use your legs, take the start, run away.’ My conscience
says, ‘No; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed, honest
Gobbo,’ or, as aforesaid, ‘honest Launcelot note Gobbo note; do not
run; scorn running with note thy heels.’ Well, the most courageous note
fiend bids me pack: ‘Via note!’ says the fiend; ‘away!’
says the fiend; ‘for the note heavens, note rouse up a brave mind,’
says the fiend, ‘and run.’ Well, my conscience, hanging
about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me, ‘My
honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man's son,’—or
rather an honest woman's son;—for, indeed, my father did
something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of
taste;—well, my conscience says, ‘Launcelot, budge not.’
‘Budge,’ says the fiend. ‘Budge not,’ says my conscience.
‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well;’ ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you
counsel well note:’ to be ruled by my conscience, I should stay
with the Jew my master, who, God bless the mark, is a
kind of devil; and, to run away from the Jew, I should be
ruled by the fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil
himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal note;
and, in my conscience, my conscience is but note a kind of hard
conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The
fiend gives the more friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my
heels are at your command note; I will run.
Gobbo, with a basket.
Gob.
Master young man note, you, I pray you, which is the
way to master Jew's?
-- 299 --
Laun. [Aside]
O heavens, this is my true-begotten
father! who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind,
knows me not: I will try confusions note with him.
Gob.
Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is
the way to master Jew's?
Laun.
Turn up on note your right hand at the next turning,
but, at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at the
very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly
to note the Jew's house.
Gob.
By note God's sonties note, 'twill be a hard way to hit.
Can you tell me whether one Launcelot, that dwells with
him, dwell with him or no?
Laun.
Talk you of young Master Launcelot? [Aside]
Mark me now; now will I raise the waters. Talk you of
young Master Launcelot?
Gob.
No master, sir, but a poor man's son: his father,
though I say it note, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God
be thanked, well to live.
Laun.
Well, let his father be what a' will, we talk of
young Master Launcelot.
Gob.
Your worship's friend, and Launcelot note, sir note.
Laun.
But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech
you, talk of young Master Launcelot? note
Gob.
Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership.
Laun.
Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master
Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman, according to
Fates and Destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters
Three and such branches of learning, is note indeed deceased;
or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.
Gob.
Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of
my age, my very prop.
Laun.
Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff
or a prop? Do you know note me, father?
-- 300 --
Gob.
Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman:
but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, God rest his
soul, alive or dead?
Laun.
Do you not know me, father?
Gob.
Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not.
Laun.
Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail
of the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his own
child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son:
give me your blessing: truth will come to light; murder note
cannot be hid long; a man's son may; but, at the length note,
truth will out note.
Gob.
Pray you, sir, stand up: I am sure you are not
Launcelot, my boy.
Laun.
Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it,
but give me your blessing: I am Launcelot, your boy that
was, your son that is, your child that shall be.
Gob.
I cannot think you are my son.
Laun.
I know not what I shall think of that: but
I am Launcelot, the Jew's man; and I am sure Margery
your wife is my mother.
Gob.
Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if
thou be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood.
Lord worshipped might note he be! what a beard hast thou
got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my
fill-horse note has on his tail.
Laun.
It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows
backward: I am sure he had more hair of his tail than
I have of my note face when I last note saw him.
Gob.
Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou
and thy master agree? I have brought him a present.
How 'gree note you now?
Laun.
Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I have
-- 301 --
set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest till I have
run some ground. My master's a very Jew: give him a
present! give him a halter: I am famished in his service;
you may tell every finger I have with my note ribs. Father,
I am glad you are come: give me your present to one
Master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries: if
I serve not him note, I will run as far as God has any ground.
O rare fortune! here comes the man: to him, father; for
I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.
Enter note Bassanio, with Leonardo and other followers.
Bass.
You may do so; but let it be so hasted, that
supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See
these letters delivered; put the liveries to making; and
desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.
[Exit note a Servant.
Laun.
To him, father.
Gob.
God bless your worship!
Bass.
Gramercy! wouldst thou aught with me?
Gob.
Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,—
Laun.
Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man;
that would, sir,—as my father shall specify,—
Gob.
He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say,
to serve,—
Laun.
Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the
Jew, and have a desire,—as my father shall specify,—
Gob.
His master and he, saving your worship's reverence,
are scarce cater-cousins,—
Laun.
To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew,
having done me wrong, doth cause me,—as my father,
being, I hope, an old man, shall frutify note unto you,—
Gob.
I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow
upon your worship, and my suit is,—
Laun.
In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself,
-- 302 --
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 note 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; note I have note
notene'er a tongue in my head. note Well, note if any man in Italy have
a fairer table which doth note offer to swear upon a book note, I note
shall have good note fortune. note Go to, here's a simple line of
life: here's a small trifle of wives: alas, fifteen wives is
nothing! a'leven note widows and nine maids is a simple coming-in
for one man: and then to 'scape note 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
-- 303 --
a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I'll take my
leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye note.
[Exeunt note Launcelot and Old Gobbo.
Bass.
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this:
These things being bought and orderly bestow'd,
Return in haste, for I do feast to-night
My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go note.
Leon.
My best endeavours shall be done herein.
noteEnter Gratiano.
Gra.
Where is your master?
Leon.
Yonder, sir, he walks.
[Exit. note
Gra.
Signior Bassanio,—
Bass.
Gratiano!
Gra.
I have a note suit to you.
Bass.
You have obtain'd it.
Gra.
You must note not deny me: I must go with you to
Belmont.
Bass.
Why, then you must. But hear thee note, 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, note why, there they show
Something too liberal. Pray thee note, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit; lest, through thy wild behaviour,
I be misconstrued note in the place I go to,
And lose my hopes note.
Gra.
Signior Bassanio, hear me:
-- 304 --
If I note do not put on a sober habit,
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer-books in my pocket note, 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 note:
I have some business.
Gra.
And I must to Lorenzo and the rest:
But we will visit you at supper-time.
[Exeunt.
note
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
