SCENE III.
Enter Gratiano.
Gra.
Where is your master?
Leon.
Yonder, Sir, he walks.
Gra.
Signior Bassanio.
Bass.
Gratiano.
Gra.
I have a 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 shew
Something too liberal; pray thee take pain
T'allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour
I be misconstru'd 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 pockets, look demurely,
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
Thus with my hat, and sigh and say Amen;
Use all th' 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 gage me
By what we do to-night.
-- 28 --
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.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].