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sir。 LAUNCELOT。 But I pray you； ergo； old man； ergo； I beseech you； talk
you of young Master Launcelot？ GOBBO。 Of Launcelot； an't please your
mastership。 LAUNCELOT。 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 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。 LAUNCELOT。 Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel…post；
a staff or a prop？ 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？ LAUNCELOT。 Do you not know me； father？
GOBBO。 Alack； sir； I am sand…blind； I know you not。 LAUNCELOT。 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
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 Launcelot my boy。
LAUNCELOT。 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。 GOBBO。 I cannot think you are my son。
LAUNCELOT。 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。 GOBBO。
Her name is Margery； indeed。 I'll be sworn； if thou be Launcelot； thou art
mine own flesh and blood。 Lord worshipp'd 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。 LAUNCELOT。 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 chang'd！ How dost
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
thou and thy master agree？ I have brought him a present。 How 'gree you
now？ LAUNCELOT。 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 famish'd
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； with a FOLLOWER or two
BASSANIO。 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 a SERVANT LAUNCELOT。 To him； father。 GOBBO。 God bless your
worship！ BASSANIO。 Gramercy； wouldst thou aught with me？ GOBBO。
Here's my son； sir； a poor boy… LAUNCELOT。 Not a poor boy； sir； but the
rich Jew's man； that would； sir； as my father shall specify… GOBBO。 He
hath a great infection； sir； as one would say； to serve… LAUNCELOT。
Indeed the short and the long is； I serve the Jew； and have a desire； as my
father shall specify… GOBBO。 His master and he； saving your worship's
reverence； are scarce cater…cousins… LAUNCELOT。 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。 I have here a
dish of doves that I would bestow upon your worship； and my suit is…
LAUNCELOT。 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？ LAUNCELOT。 Serve you； sir。 GOBBO。 That is the very
defect of the matter； sir。 BASSANIO。 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。 LAUNCELOT。 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。 Go；
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
father； with thy son。 Take leave of thy old master； and inquire My lodging
out。 ＇To a SERVANT＇ Give him a livery More guarded than his fellows'；
see it done。 LAUNCELOT。 Father； in。 I cannot get a service； no！ I have
ne'er a tongue in my head！ ＇Looking on his palm＇ 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； alas； fifteen wives is nothing； a'leven 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 feather…bed…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。 Exeunt
LAUNCELOT and 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 to…night My best esteem'd acquaintance； hie
thee； go。 LEONARDO。 My best endeavours shall be done herein。 Enter
GRATIANO
GRATIANO。 Where's your master？ LEONARDO。 Yonder； sir； he
walks。 Exit GRATIANO。 Signior Bassanio！ BASSANIO。 Gratiano！
GRATIANO。 I have suit to you。 BASSANIO。 You have obtain'd it。
GRATIANO。 You must not deny me： I must go with you to Belmont。
BASSANIO。 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 show Something too liberal。 Pray thee； t