William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (214 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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PORTIA You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all,
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage. Therefore be advised.
MOROCCO
Nor will not. Come, bring me unto my chance.
PORTIA
First, forward to the temple. After dinner
Your hazard shall be made.
Your hazard shall be made.
MOROCCO Good fortune then,
To make me blest or cursèd’st among men.
⌈
Flourish of cornetts.
⌉
Exeunt
Enter Lancelot the clown
LANCELOT Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me ‘Gobbo, Lancelot Gobbo, good Lancelot,’ or ‘good Gobbo,’ or ‘good Lancelot Gobbo—use your legs, take the start, run away.’ My conscience says ‘No, take heed, honest Lancelot, take heed, honest Gobbo,’ or, as aforesaid, ‘honest Lancelot Gobbo—do not run, scorn running with thy heels.’ Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack.
‘Via!’
says the fiend; ‘Away!’ says the fiend. ‘For the heavens, 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 Lancelot’—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, ‘Lancelot, budge not’; ‘Budge!’ says the fiend; ‘Budge not’, says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well’; ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ 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 incarnation; and in my conscience, my conscience is but 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 commandment. I will run.
‘Via!’
says the fiend; ‘Away!’ says the fiend. ‘For the heavens, 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 Lancelot’—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, ‘Lancelot, budge not’; ‘Budge!’ says the fiend; ‘Budge not’, says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I, ‘you counsel well’; ‘Fiend,’ say I, ‘you counsel well.’ 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 incarnation; and in my conscience, my conscience is but 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 commandment. I will run.
Enter old Gobbo
, ⌈
blind,
⌉
with a basket
GOBBO Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT (
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 with him.
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 with him.
GOBBO Master young gentleman, I pray you which is the way to Master Jew’s ?
LANCELOT Turn up on 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 the Jew’s house.
GOBBO By God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell me whether one Lancelot that dwells with him dwell with him or no?
LANCELOT Talk you of young Master Lancelot? (Aside) Mark me now, now will I raise the waters. (To Gobbo) Talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO No master, sir, but a poor man’s son. His father, though I say’t, is an honest exceeding poor man, and, God be thanked, well to live.
LANCELOT Well, let his father be what a will, we talk of young Master Lancelot.
GOBBO Your worship’s friend, and Lancelot, sir.
LANCELOT But I pray you,
ergo
old man,
ergo
I beseech you, talk you of young Master Lancelot?
ergo
old man,
ergo
I beseech you, talk you of young Master Lancelot?
GOBBO Of Lancelot, an’t please your mastership.
LANCELOT
Ergo
Master Lancelot. Talk not of Master Lancelot, father, for the young gentleman, according to fates and destinies and such odd sayings—the sisters three and such branches of learning—is indeed deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.
Ergo
Master Lancelot. Talk not of Master Lancelot, father, for the young gentleman, according to fates and destinies and such odd sayings—the sisters three and such branches of learning—is indeed deceased; or, as you would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.
GOBBO Marry, God forbid The boy was the very staff of my age, my very prop.
LANCELOT ⌈
aside
⌉ Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? (
To Gobbo
) Do you know me, father?
aside
⌉ Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop? (
To Gobbo
) Do you know me, father?
GOBBO 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?
alive or dead?
LANCELOT Do you not know me, father?
GOBBO Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.
LANCELOT 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. (Kneeling) Give me your blessing. Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long—a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.
GOBBO Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you are not Lancelot, my boy.
LANCELOT Pray you, let’s have no more fooling about it, but give me your blessing. I am Lancelot, your boy that was, your son that is, your child that shall be. 81
GOBBO I cannot think you are my son.
LANCELOT I know not what I shall think of that, but I am Lancelot the Jew’s man, and I am sure Margery your wife is my mother.
GOBBO Her name is Margery indeed. I’ll be sworn, if thou be Lancelot thou art mine own flesh and blood.
Lord worshipped might he be, what a beard hast thou got! Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail. 90
He feels Lancelot’s head
LANCELOT 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 face when I last saw him.
GOBBO Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy master agree? I have brought him a present. How ’gree you now?
LANCELOT Well, well; but for mine own part, as I have 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 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, 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 Bassanio with Leonardo and followers
BASSANIO (
to
one
of his men
) 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 Graziano to come anon to my lodging.
Exit one
to
one
of his men
) 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 Graziano to come anon to my lodging.
Exit one
LANCELOT (
to Gobbo
) To him, father.
to Gobbo
) To him, father.
GOBBO (
to Bassanio
) God bless your worship.
to Bassanio
) God bless your worship.
BASSANIO Gramercy. Wouldst thou aught with me? 115
GOBBO Here’s my son, sir, a poor boy—
LANCELOT (to Bassanio) Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew’s man that would, sir, as my father shall specify.
GOBBO (to Bassiano) He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve—
LANCELOT Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire as my father shall specify.
GOBBO (
to Bassiano
) His master and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce cater-cousins.
to Bassiano
) His master and he, saving your worship’s reverence, are scarce cater-cousins.
LANCELOT (
to Bassiano
) 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 unto you.
to Bassiano
) 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 unto you.
GOBBO (
to Bassiano
) I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is—
to Bassiano
) I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship, and my suit is—
LANCELOT (to Bassiano) In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as your worship shall know by this honest old man; and though I say it, though old man, yet, poor man, my father.
BASSANIO One speak for both. What would you?
LANCELOT Serve you, sir.
GOBBO (to Bassiano) That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
BASSANIO (to Lancelot)
I know thee well. Thou hast obtained thy suit.
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew’s service to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
And hath preferred thee, if it be preferment
To leave a rich Jew’s service to become
The follower of so poor a gentleman.
LANCELOT 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.
BASSANIO
Thou speak‘st it well. (
To Gobbo
) Go, father, with thy son.
(To Lancelot) Take leave of thy old master and enquire
My lodging out. (
To one of his men
) Give him a livery
More guarded than his fellows’. See it done. 150
To Gobbo
) Go, father, with thy son.
(To Lancelot) Take leave of thy old master and enquire
My lodging out. (
To one of his men
) Give him a livery
More guarded than his fellows’. See it done. 150
LANCELOT (
to Gobbo
) 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 table 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—a[as, 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 gear. Father, come. I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling.
Exit with old Gobbo
to Gobbo
) Father, in. I cannot get a service, no, I have ne’er a tongue in my head—well!
He looks at his palm
Exit with old Gobbo
BASSANIO
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this.
These things being bought and orderly bestowed,
Return in haste, for I do feast tonight
My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee. Go.
These things being bought and orderly bestowed,
Return in haste, for I do feast tonight
My best-esteemed acquaintance. Hie thee. Go.
LEONARDO
My best endeavours shall be done herein.
He begins to leave. Enter Graziano
GRAZIANO (
to Leonardo
)
to Leonardo
)
Where’s your master?
LEONARDO Yonder, sir, he walks.
Exit
Exit
GRAZIANO
Signor Bassanio.
BASSANIO Graziano.
GRAZIANO
I have a suit to you.
BASSANIO You have obtained it.
GRAZIANO
You must not deny me. I must go with you to Belmont.
BASSANIO
Why then, you must. But hear thee, Graziano,
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 show
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour
I be misconstered in the place I go to, 180
And lose my hopes.
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 show
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behaviour
I be misconstered in the place I go to, 180
And lose my hopes.
GRAZIANO Signor 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 pocket, look demurely—
Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 185
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.
Talk with respect, and swear but now and then,
Wear prayer books in my pocket, look demurely—
Nay more, while grace is saying hood mine eyes 185
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.
BASSANIO Well, we shall see your bearing.
GRAZIANO
Nay, but I bar tonight. You shall not gauge me
By what we do tonight.
By what we do tonight.
BASSANIO 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.
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
That purpose merriment. But fare you well.
I have some business.
GRAZIANO
And I must to Lorenzo and the rest.
But we will visit you at supper-time.
Exeunt severally
2.3But we will visit you at supper-time.
Exeunt severally
Enter Jessica and Lancelot., the clown
JESSICA
I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so.
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee.
And, Lancelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.
Give him this letter, do it secretly;
And so farewell. I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.
Our house is hell, and thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness.
But fare thee well. There is a ducat for thee.
And, Lancelot, soon at supper shalt thou see
Lorenzo, who is thy new master’s guest.
Give him this letter, do it secretly;
And so farewell. I would not have my father
See me in talk with thee.
LANCELOT Adieu. Tears exhibit my tongue, most beautiful pagan; most sweet Jew; if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived. But adieu. These foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit. Adieu.
JESSICA Farewell, good Lancelot.
Exit Lancelot
Exit Lancelot
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father’s child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife. Exit
2.4To be ashamed to be my father’s child!
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife. Exit
Enter Graziano, Lorenzo, Salerio, and Salanio
LORENZO
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