The follower of so poor a gentleman. Laun. The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, fir; you have the grace of god, fir, and he hath enough. Baff. Thou speak'st it well: go, father, with thy fon; table Laun. Father, in; I cannot get a service, no? I have ne'er a tongue in my head? well, if any man in Italy have a fairer 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 featherbed; here are simple 'scapes! well, if fortune be a woman, she's a good wench for this geer. Father, come; I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an [Ex. Laun. and Gob. eye. Baff. I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this; Leon. My best endeavours shall be done herein. Gra. Nay, you must not deny me; I must go With you to Belmont. Baff. 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 fuch eyes as ours appear not faults; Thy skipping spirit, left through thy wild behaviour Gra. Signior Baffanio, hear me. Like one well study'd in a fad oftent 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. Baff. No, that were pity : I would entreat you rather to put on Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends Gra. And I must to Lorenzo and the rest : Exeunt. SCENE Enter Jessica, and Launcelot. 'M forry, thou wilt leave my father so, Didft rob it of fome tafte of tediousness; And fo farewel: I would not have my father Laun. Adieu; tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew! if a christian did not play the knave, and get thee, I am much deceived; but, adieu; these foolish drops do somewhat drown my manly spirit: adieu. [Exit. Jes. Farewel, good Launcelot. Alack, what heinous fin is it in me, To be asham'd to be my father's child! [Exit. Lor. SCENE V. Enter Gratiano, Lorenzo, Solarino, and Salanio. AY, we will flink away in supper-time, disguise us at my lodging, and return all in an hour. Gra. We have not made good preparation. Sal. We have not spoke as yet of torchbearers. And better, in my mind, not undertook. Lor. 'Tis now but four o'clock, we have two hours To furnish us. Friend Launcelot, what's the news? Enter Launcelot with a letter. Laun. An it shall please you to break up this, it shall feem to fignify. Lor. I know the hand; in faith, 'tis a fair hand; And whiter than the paper that it writ on Is the fair hand that writ. Gra. Love-news, in faith. Laun. By your leave, fir. Lor. Whither goest thou? Laun. Marry, fir, to bid my old mafter the Jew to sup to-night with my new master the christian. Lor. Hold, here, take this; tell gentle Jeffica I will not fail her; speak it privately. Go, gentlemen, will you prepare for th' mask to-night? I am provided of a torchbearer. Sal. Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight. At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence. Sola. And fo will I. Lor. Meet me, and Gratiano, Sal. 'Tis good we do fo. Gra. Was not that letter from fair Jeffica? Lor. I must needs tell thee all: she hath directed How I shall take her from her father's house, If e'er the Jew her father come to heav'n, [Exit Laun. [Exit. Unless she do it under this excuse, [Exeunt. SCENE ! Shy.W SCENE IV. Enter Shylock, and Launcelot. ELL, thou shalt fee, thy eyes shall be thy judge, The difference of old Shylock and Baffanio. What, Jeffica! thou shalt not gormandize As thou haft done with me - what, Jeffica! And fleep, and snore, and rend apparel out. Why, Jeffica! I say. Laun. Why, Jeffica! Shy. Who bids thee call? I did not bid thee call. Laun. Your worship was wont to tell me, I could do nothing without bidding. Enter Jessica. Jef. Call you? what is your will? Shy. I am bid forth to supper, Jeffica; But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal christian. Jessica, my girl, For I did dream of moneybags to-night. Laun. I beseech you, fir, 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 fee a mask; but if you do, then it was not for nothing that my nose fell a bleeding on black monday last, at fix o'clock i' th' morning, falling out that year on ash-wednesday was four year in the afternoon. Shy. What are these masks? Hear you me, Jeffica, And |