The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, Scene 2
Enter the Clown [LAUNCELOT GOBBO] alone.
LAUNCELOT
1
Certainly my conscience will serve me to
2
run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine
3
elbow and tempts me saying to me "Gobbo,
4
Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot," or "good Gobbo,"
5
or "good Launcelot Gobbo, use your
6
legs, take the start, run away." My conscience
7
says "No; take heed, honest Launcelot; take heed,
8
honest Gobbo," or, as aforesaid, "honest Launcelot
9. with thy heels: indignantly (with pun).
9
Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy heels."
10. pack: be gone.
10
Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack:
11. Fia: Away (properly Via).
11
"Fia!" says the fiend; "away!" says the fiend;
12. for the heavens: in heaven's name (with special effect in the devil's mouth).
12
"for the heavens, rouse up a brave mind," says the
13
fiend, "and run." Well, my conscience, hanging
14
about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me
15
"My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest
16
man's son," or rather an honest woman's son; for,
17‑18. smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste: i.e., his father is given to lechery.
17
indeed, my father did something smack, something
18
grow to, he had a kind of taste; well, my conscience
19
says "Launcelot, budge not." "Budge," says
20
the fiend. "Budge not," says my conscience.
21
"Conscience," say I, "you counsel well;" "Fiend,"
22
say I, "you counsel well." To be ruled by my
23
conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master,
24. God bless the mark: This expression, originally used to avert ill omen, was also employed, like "saving your reverence" (line 26), as a conventional apology before an offensive expression. 27. incarnation: blunder for incarnate.
24
who, God bless the mark, is a kind of devil; and, to
25
run away from the Jew, I should be rul'd by the
26
fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil himself.
27
Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation;
28. in: by.
28
and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a
29
kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to
30
stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more
31
friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are at your
32
commandement; I will run.
Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket.
GOBBO
33
Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way
34
to master Jew's?
LAUNCELOT [Aside.]
35
O heavens, this is my true-begotten father!
36. sand-blind: dim-sighted, partly blind. high-gravel blind: i.e., blinder than sand-blind . . . more 37. try confusions: Launcelot's adaptation of try conclusions = make experiments.
36
who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind,
37
knows me not: I will try confusions
38
with him.
GOBBO
39
Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way
40
to master Jew's?
LAUNCELOT
41
Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but,
42. marry: indeed (originally the name of the Virgin Mary used as an oath).
42
at the next turning of all, on your left; marry, at
43
the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn
44
down indirectly to the Jew's house.
GOBBO
45. sonties: perhaps a corruption of saints or sanctities.
45
By God's sonties, 'twill be a hard way to hit. Can
46
you tell me whether one Launcelot,
47
that dwells with him, dwell with him or no?
LAUNCELOT
48
Talk you of young Master Launcelot?
[Aside.]
49. raise the waters: to stir things up or perhaps induce tears.
49
Mark me now; now will I raise the waters. Talk you
50
of young Master Launcelot?
GOBBO
51. master: the title was applied to gentlefolk only.
51
No master, sir, but a poor man's son: his father,
52
though I say it, is an honest exceeding poor man
53. well to live: with a good livelihood (a contradiction of his preceding remark; perhaps Gobbo supposes that the phrase means "in good health").
53
and, God be thanked, well to live.
LAUNCELOT
54
Well, let his father be what a' will, we talk of
55
young Master Launcelot.
GOBBO
56. Your worship's friend and Launcelot: Another disclaimer of the title "Master" for Launcelot.
56
Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir.
LAUNCELOT
57. ergo: therefore (if it means anything).
57
But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you,
58
talk you of young Master Launcelot?
GOBBO
59. an: if.
59
Of Launcelot, an't please your mastership.
LAUNCELOT
60
Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master
61. father: common form of address to an old person; hence it does not reveal to Gobbo that Launcelot is his son.
61
Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman,
62
according to Fates and Destinies and such odd
63
sayings, the Sisters Three and such branches of
64
learning, is indeed deceased, or, as you would say
65
in plain terms, gone to heaven.
GOBBO
66
Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my
67
age, my very prop.
LAUNCELOT
68. hovel-post: post supporting a shed.
68
Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or
69
a prop? Do you know me, father?
GOBBO
70
Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman:
71
but, I pray you, tell me, is my boy, God rest his
72
soul, alive or dead?
LAUNCELOT
73
Do you not know me, father?
GOBBO
74
Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not.
LAUNCELOT
75
Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of
76‑77. it is a wise father that knows his own child: Launcelot reverses the usual form of the proverb, "It is a wise child that knows his own father."
76
the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his
77
own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of
78
your son: give me your blessing: truth will come
79
to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's son
80
may, but at the length truth will out.
GOBBO
81
Pray you, sir, stand up: I am sure you are not
82
Launcelot, my boy.
LAUNCELOT
83
Pray you, let's have no more fooling about it, but
84
give me your blessing: I am Launcelot, your boy
85‑86. your child that shall be: Alluding to second childhood. (Echoes the Gloria from the Book of Common Prayer: "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be").
85
that was, your son that is, your child that shall
86
be.
GOBBO
87
I cannot think you are my son.
LAUNCELOT
88
I know not what I shall think of that: but I am
89
Launcelot, the Jew's man, and I am sure Margery your
90
wife is my mother.
GOBBO
91
Her name is Margery, indeed: I'll be sworn, if thou
92
be Launcelot, thou art mine own flesh and blood.
93. what a beard: Gobbo mistakes Launcelot's long hair for a beard; perhaps Launcelot has bowed his head deeply.
93
Lord worshipped might he be! what a beard hast thou
94
got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin than
95. fill-horse: cart or shaft horse.
95
Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail.
LAUNCELOT
96‑97. grows backward: (1) gets shorter instead of longer; (2) grows at the wrong end (referring to Gobbo's error).
96
It should seem, then, that Dobbin's tail grows
97
backward: I am sure he had more hair of his tail
98. of: in.
98
than I have of my face when I last saw him.
GOBBO
99
Lord, how art thou changed! How dost thou and thy
100
master agree? I have brought him a present. How
101
'gree you now?
LAUNCELOT
102
Well, well: but, for mine own part, as I
103. set up my rest: boldly resolvedfrom a term meaning "risk everything" in primero, a card game. 104. very: veritable.
103
have set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest
104
till I have run some ground. My master's a very
105. halter: hangman's noose.
105
Jew: give him a present! give him a halter:
106‑107. tell: count. tell every finger I have with my ribs: Comically reverses the usual saying of counting one's ribs with one's fingers. 108. give me: give. (Me is . . . more.
106
I am famished in his service; you may tell every
107
finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you
108
are come: give me your present to one Master
109. liveries: distinctive garb worn by a gentleman's servants.
109
Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries:
110
if I serve not him, I will run as far as God has any
111
ground. O rare fortune! here comes the man: to
112
him, father; for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any
113
longer.
Enter BASSANIO with a follower or two,
[including LEONARDO].
BASSANIO
114
You may do so; but let it be so hasted that supper
115
be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See
116
these letters delivered; put the liveries to making,
117
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my
118
lodging.
[Exit a Servant.]
LAUNCELOT
119
To him, father.
GOBBO
120
God bless your worship!
BASSANIO
121. Gramercy: many thanks.
121
Gramercy! wouldst thou aught with me?
GOBBO
122
Here's my son, sir, a poor boy,
LAUNCELOT
123
Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man; that
124
would, sir, as my father shall specify
GOBBO
125. infection: blunder for affection, i.e., desire.
125
He hath a great infection, sir, as one would
126
say, to serve
LAUNCELOT
127
Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew,
128
and have a desire, as my father shall
129
specify
GOBBO
130
His master and he, saving your worship's reverence,
131. cater-cousins: good friends.
131
are scarce cater-cousins
LAUNCELOT
132
To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, having
133
done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being, I
134. frutify: blunder for certify or perhaps notify.
134
hope, an old man, shall frutify unto you
GOBBO
135
I have here a dish of doves that I would bestow upon
136
your worship, and my suit is
LAUNCELOT
137. impertinent: He means the opposite.
137
In very brief, the suit is impertinent to myself, as
138
your worship shall know by this honest old man; and,
139
though I say it, though old man, yet
140
poor man, my father.
BASSANIO
141
One speak for both. What would you?
LAUNCELOT
142
Serve you, sir.
GOBBO
143. defect: blunder for effect, i.e., gist.
143
That is the very defect of the matter, sir.
BASSANIO
144. suit: (1) request; (2) livery.
144
I know thee well; thou hast obtain'd thy suit:
145
Shylock thy master spoke with me this day,
146. preferr'd thee: put you forward, recommended you. preferment: being put forward, i.e., a promotion.
146
And hath preferr'd thee, if it be preferment
147
To leave a rich Jew's service, to become
148
The follower of so poor a gentleman.
LAUNCELOT
149. proverb: i.e., "He that hath the grace of God hath enough." parted: divided.
149
The old proverb is very well parted between my
150
master Shylock and you, sir: you have the grace of
151
God, sir, and he hath enough.
BASSANIO
152
Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son.
153
Take leave of thy old master and inquire
154
My lodging out.
[To a servant.]
154
Give him a livery
155. guarded: ornamented (with braid or the like). It has been suggested that Bassanio takes Launcelot into service as his fool, who would wear a motley coat "guarded" with yellow.
155
More guarded than his fellows': see it done.
LAUNCELOT
156
Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne'er
157
a tongue in my head. Well, if any man in Italy
158‑159. table: part of the palm of the hand. swear upon a book: i.e., tell the truth (about the future); with a play on placing the palm upon a Bible for oath-taking. 160. simple: plain, unremarkable (ironic).
158
have a fairer table which doth offer to swear upon
159
a book, I shall have good fortune. Go to, here's a
160
simple line of life: here's a small trifle of wives:
161
alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven widows and
162. simple coming-in: modest income (with sexual innuendo).
162
nine maids is a simple coming-in for one man: and
163
then to 'scape drowning thrice, and to be in peril of
164. edge of a feather-bed: i.e., some sexual escapade.
164
my life with the edge of a feather-bed; here are
165. Fortune be a woman: Fortune was personified as a goddess. gear: matter, business.
165
simple scapes. Well, if Fortune be a woman, she's
166
a good wench for this gear. Father, come; I'll take
167
my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye.
Exit [Launcelot with Old Gobbo].
BASSANIO
168
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this:
169
These things being bought and orderly bestow'd,
170
Return in haste, for I do feast tonight
171
My best-esteem'd acquaintance: hie thee, go.
LEONARDO
172
My best endeavours shall be done herein.
Enter GRATIANO.
GRATIANO
173
Where is your master?
LEONARDO
174
Yonder, sir, he walks.
Exit LEONARDO.
GRATIANO
175
Signior Bassanio!
BASSANIO
176
Gratiano!
GRATIANO
177
I have a suit to you.
BASSANIO
177
You have obtain'd it.
GRATIANO
178
You must not deny me: I must go with you
179
to Belmont.
BASSANIO
180
Why then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano;
181
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice;
182. Parts: Qualities.
182
Parts that become thee happily enough
183
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults;
184
But where thou art not known, why, there they show
185. liberal: free of manner, unrestrained (often with sexual connotation).
185
Something too liberal. Pray thee, take pain
186
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
187
Thy skipping spirit, lest through thy wild behavior
188. misconst'red: misconstrued.
188
I be misconst'red in the place I go to,
189
And lose my hopes.
GRATIANO
189
Signior Bassanio, hear me:
190. habit: behavior, demeanor (with play on "suit"; cf. line 201).
190
If I do not put on a sober habit,
191
Talk with respect and swear but now and then,
192
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look demurely,
193‑94. hood mine eyes / Thus with my hat: Hats were worn during meals but removed during grace.
193
Nay more, while grace is saying, hood mine eyes
194
Thus with my hat, and sigh and say "amen,"
195
Use all the observance of civility,
196. sad ostent: sober appearance.
196
Like one well studied in a sad ostent
197. more: again.
197
To please his grandam, never trust me more.
BASSANIO
198
Well, we shall see your bearing.
GRATIANO
199
Nay, but I bar tonight: you shall not gauge me
200
By what we do tonight.
BASSANIO
200
No, that were pity:
201
I would entreat you rather to put on
202
Your boldest suit of mirth, for we have friends
203
That purpose merriment. But fare you well:
204
I have some business.
GRATIANO
205
And I must to Lorenzo and the rest:
206
But we will visit you at supper-time.
Exeunt.