Act II: Scene 2

Venice. A street
TEXT PARAPHRASE

E n t e rL a u n c e l o t Enter Launcelot

Launcelot Launcelot
serve me'
will
Certainly my conscience
to
run
My conscience will surely help me in
master. The Fiend is at mine running away from this Jew (Shylock),
from this Jew my
elbow, and tempts me, saying me, "Gobbo,
to who is my master. The devil is very near
me and urges me to run away from here,
Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot," or "good
5 Gobbo," "good
or Launcelor Gobbo, saying to me, "Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo"
use your legs, take the start, run away." My or Good Launcelot Gobbo, good Gobbo,
nscience says, "No; take heed," honest or good Launcelot Gobbo, make use of

Launcelot; take heed, honest Gobbo," or, as your legs, leave this place, run away." My
conscience says, "No, be careful, honest
aforesaid, "honest Launcelor Gobbo;
do not not run; scorn running Launcelot, take care, honest Gobbo," or

10 with thy heels" Wel, the most courageous as I have said before, honest Launcelot

fiend bids me pack: "Via !" says the fiend; Gobbo, do not run, reject the idea of
running away. Well the most courageous
away!" says the fiend; "for the heavens, rouse

devil urges me to pack up. The devil says,

p brave mind," says the fiend, "and run."
a

"run away: in the name of heaven, bring

Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck
of my heart, says very wisely to me, "My some bravery into your heart and run.
"On the other hand, my conscience,
honest friend Launcelot, being an honest
man's son,"-or rather an honest womans hangs round my neck and says, "My
"Launcelot, honest friend Launcelot, you are an
0n,-well, my conscience says,
honest man's son or an honest woman's
budge nor "Budge !" says the fiend. "Budge
20 do not run away from here." The
not says my conscience. "Conscience, 5ay
son,

and
fiend or the devil tells me to move,
you counsel° well;" fiend", say , you
tells me not to move. To
my conscience

9.somethingdishonest
permits me 5. said before
10. something unpleasant
devil 6. hate
3 behind me
7. away
Care move away
8.
 counsel well: to be ruled by my conscience, both, my conscience and the
ofVene
devil l say
I should stay with the Jew my master, who- that they give good advice. If
God bless the mark!-is a kind of devil; and, by my conscience, I should stay
am ruled
25 to run away from the Jew, I should be ruled
wIth my
witl
master, theJew, who is
a kind of deil
by the fiend, who, savingyour reverence," is himself.
hir If I run away trom my
the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the shall be guided by the devil ? master,
who is th
very devil incarnation" and, in my devil himself. I am sure that the
Jew is
conscience, my conscience is but a kind of devil in human form, and any
30 hard conscience, to offer to counsel me to
conscienge
must be a cruel conscience
if it advises me
stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more tolive with the devil. The devil
gives
friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels more friendly advice, and so I
will nun
are at your commandment,° I will run. My feet are at your command, devil.1
will run.
Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket. Enter Old Gobbo with a basket
Gobbo Old Gobbo
Master young man, you; I pray you, which Master young man, I request you to tell
35 is the way to master Jews? the way to the master Jew's house.

Launcelot Launcelot
[Aside O heavens, this is my true-begoen (Aside). By the heavens. This is my
father! who, being more than sand-blind" true-born father who being more than
high-gravel-blind," knows me not: I will try half blind, does not recognise me. I will
comfusions" with him. try to confuse him.

Gobbo Gobbo
40 Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is Master young man, I request you, which
the way to master Jew's ? IS the way to the master Jew's house

Launcelot Launcelot
Turn up your right hand the next u
on at At the next crossing, right, and at
turn

turning, but, at the next turning of all, on last crossing turn to your left. Then atth
rurn
your left;
marry,." at the very next rurning next turn, do not turn any away,
but

45 turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly

indirectly to the Jew's house.
to the Jew's house.
11. wichout any disrespect 14. Shylock's house 17. more than half blind
12. an embodiment of the devil 15. father who truly begot me 18. fun
13. at your command 16. half blind 19. by Virgin Mary
 Gobbo
Gobbo

rwill be a hard way to hit. By God's saints, it will be a difficult way

By
God's sonties,
whether one Launcelot, that to find. Can you tell if a person called
me
you tell
me
Can
him, well with bim" or no? Launcelot, who lives with the Jew, still
dwells with
lives with him?

Launcelot
Launcelot
Master Launcelot? Are you not talking of young master
s0 Talk you of young
now; now will I raise the Launcelot? (Aside) Pay attention to me
LAside] Mark me
waters." now, I will bring tears to his eyes. (TTo

Talk you of young

Master Launcelot? Gobbo) Are you talking of young Master
Launcelor?

Gobbo
Gobbo
poor man's : his He is not a master, sir, only a poor man's
No Master, sir, but a son

father, though I say it, is a honest, exceeding son: even though I say it myself, his
father is an honest but very poor man,
poor
live." and alive, thanks be to God.
55 man, and, God be thanked, well to

do Launcelot
Launcelot
Well, it does not matter what his father is.
Well, let his father be what a will, we talk of
We will talk of Master Launcelot.
young Mastet Launcelot.

Gobbo Gobbo
Your worship's friend, and Launcelot, sir. We will talk of Launcelot who is your
lordship's friend.

Launcelot
Launcelot
But I request you therefore, old man, are
But, I pray you, ergo," old man, ergo, I beseech26
talking ofyoung master Launcelot?
you, talk you ofyoung Master Launcelor? you

Gobbo Gobbo
Of Launcelot,
28 Of Launcelor, if it will give happiness to
an' please your mastership
your mastership.

20. saints 26. request

21. 23 going to live long 27. ifit
22. continues to live 24. he 28. respectful way of addressing one
produce tears
25 therefore
 Launcelot
Launcelot
Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master
Therefore, do not talk of Master
Ergo,
Launcelot, father; for the young gentleman, Launcelot, father. By his fate and
the young
desti
etc. dead, or as
man 1s
according to Fates and Destinies, and such you
65 odd sayings, the Sistem Three and such would say in simple words, has
gone to
branches of learning, is, indeed, deceased heaven.
or as you would say in plain terms, gone to

heaven.
Gobbo Gobbo
Marry, God forbid" the boy was the very staf May God and Virgin Mary forbid sucha
70 of my age, my very prop.
3
thing. The boy was the support of my ol
age.
Launcelot Launcelot
Aside) Do I look like a cudgel" or a hovel- (Aside) Do I look like a bamboo pole, a
post, 35 a s t a f for a prop? - - D o you know me,
stick of wood which is used for support?
father? . Can you recognise me father?

Gobbo Gobbo
Alack the day," I know you not, young The day is fortunate, I do not knowyou
75 gentdeman: but I pray you, tell me, is my young gentleman. But I request you to
boy-God rest his soul!- alive or dead? tell me whether my son is dead or alive.

Launcelot
Launcelot
Do you know me, father? Do you not recognise me father?
Gobbo
Gobbo
Alack! sir, I am sand-blind; I know you not.
Unfortunately, sir, I am half blind, and 8
cannot recognise you.
Launcelot
Launcelot
Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might Not only that, indeed, even if you ha
80 fail of the knowing me": it is a wise father eyes, you may not have known me
his
because it is a wise father who knows
29 the three Furies 32. a stick, a support
30 in simple words 36. what a sad day!
33. a support 37, may not recognise me
31. May God stop this from 34. lashi
happening 35. a pole used as support
Atl

hat knows
his own child. Well, old man, I own child. Wel, old man, I will tell you
news of your son. Give me your the truth about your son. Give me your
wvill tell you
hlessing [Kneels: truth will light" blessings (bends on his knees): truth will
come to

murder cannot be hid longa man's son may;

m u r
always come out; murder cannot be
will out*
in the end, truth hidden for a long time; a man's son can
s5 but
be hidden, but truth will always come on
the surface.

Gobbo Gobbo
I
Pray you, sir, stand up; am sure you are not I request you, sir, to stand up: I am sure

Launcelot, my boy. you are not Launcelot, my son.

Launcelot Launcelot
Pray you, let's have no more fooling about Let us stop this non-serious talk now. Let
it, but give meyour blessing: I am Launcelot, me have your blessing. I am Launcelot,
90 your boy that was, your son that is, your child your boy that used to be, your son that
that shall be. stands before you, your child that shallbe
in the times to come.

Gobbo Gobbo
I cannot think you are my son. I am not prepared to believe that you are

my son.

Launcelot Launcelot
I know not what I shall think of that; but I I do not know what to think of that, if it
am Launcelot, the Jew's man" and I am sure is but I am Launcelot, the Jew's
true,
95 Margery your wife is my mother. servant. And, I am sure that
Margery,
your wife is my mother.

Gobbo Gobbo
Her Margery, indeed; Tll be sworn,
name is My wife's name is definitely Margery. I
f thou be will that if you are Launcelot, you
Launcelot, thou arf mine own flesh swear

andblood. Lord' worshipped might he be! are my own flesh and blood, that is,
my
what a beard hast thou own son. May the Lord be
got! thou hast gor worshipped,
0 more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my what a beard you have got now. You have
fill-horse has on his tail. more hair on your chin than my cart
horse Dobbin has on his tail.
38. be known
39. will 41. servant 44. cart-horse
be known
40. fun 42. are
43. God
 of Vence
Launcelot Launcelot
Rising) It should seem, then that Dobbin's If it is so, then Dobbin's tail
must be
tail grows backward" I am sure he had more
growingbackwards, because, when I,
hair of his tail than I have of my face when I saw
him last, he had more hair on his
tail h
105 last saw him. I have on my face.

Gobbo Gobbo
Lord, how art thou changed! how dost thou Oh Lord, auncelot, you have
changed
and thy Master agree" I have brought him a very much. Do you get on well with
your
present. How gree you now? master? I have brought a gift for
him.
How do you agree now?

Launcelot Launceloot
Well, well : but, for mine part, as I have Well as far I
as am concerned, I have
110 set up my rest to run away, so I will not rest decided to run away, and so I will not rest
till I have run some ground." My Master's a until I have run some distance. My master
very Jew: give him a present give him a is a real Jew. You want to give him a
halter:I am famished* in his
service; you may present, but it is better to give hima rope
tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, to hang himself. I have been starving in
115 I am glad you are come : give me your present his service. You can count all my ribs with
to one Master Bassanio, who, indeed,
gives your fingers. Father, I am happy that you
rare new liveries": ifI serve not him, I will are come. Give your present to a
run as far as God has any ground. O rare
gentleman named Bassanio who gives
fortune! here comes the man: to him," father; attractive new dresses to his servants. It l

120 for I am Jew," if I serve the Jew any

a
longer. do not become his servant, I will run
far as God has land. This is very
fortunate. Here comes the man
(Bassanio). Go to him, father. IfI serve
the Jew any longer, I will myself become
Jew.
45. shorter 50. very stingy, miserly 55. unusually good luck
46. on 51. rope 56. go to him quickly
47. pull on 52. starved 57. a heartless person
48. decided 53. count
49. distance 54. clothes
 Bassanio,
Leonardo, andot
with Leonardo, and other Enter Bassanio, with Leonardo, and other
Enter
Followers
Followers
Bassanio
Bassanio

so; but
let it be so hasted" that You may do this, but hurry up with
You may do
be ready at the farthest" by five of the things so that supper is ready by five
supper
these letters delivered; put the o'clock at the latest. See that these letters
dock. See
and desire Gratiano to are delivered, give the servants' uniforms
liveries to making; come to
to my lodging.
for stiching, and ask Gratiano to
25 comeanon my house soon.

Exit a Servant One of his men goes

Launcelot
Launcelot
Go and speak quickly to him, father.
To him, father.

Gobbo
Gobbo
God bless your worship! May God bless your worship.
Bassanio
Bassanio
What do you
wouldst thou aught"with me? May God grant His mercy.
Gramercy":
want with me?

Gobbo
Gobbo
Here is my son, sir, a poor boy.
Here's my son, sir, poor boy
Launcelot
Launcelot Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's
Not a poor boy, sir, but the rich Jew's man;
my father would like
to
servant, that is, as
that would, sir, as my father shall specib,
explain . .

Gobbo
Gobbo
great atfection (desire),
as one
ne hath a great infectio," sir, as one would say,
He has a

to serve.
to serve may say,

63. explain, indicate

58. done quickly thanks, may God
have
59. 61. many 64. affection, desire (a malapropism)
the
at
60. soon latest mercy
62. anything
 TChani
ant of Ven
Launcelot Launcelot
Venie
Indeed, the short and the long is," I serve the Indeed the fact is that I serve the
135 Jew, and have a desire, as my father shall have a desire, as my tather would
Jew, and
specify explaäin.
Gobbo Gobbo
His Master and he, saving your worsthip's His old master, the Jew, and he
are nor.
t On
reverence, are soarce carer-cousins,- friendly terms.

Launcelot Launcelot
To be brief, the very truth is that the Jew, To put it briefly, the truth is that the le
140 having done me wrong, doth cause me, as
has done me wrong and has forced me, a
my father, being. I hope, an old man, shall
my father, who is an old man, shall
frutif unto you,
explain to you . . .

Gobbo Gobbo
I have here a dish of doves that I would Here, I have a dish of doves, which l
69 70
bestow upon your worship; and my suit is,
desire to
give as a gift to your worship;
and my request is...

Launcelot Launcelot
145 In very brief, the suit is impertinent to In brief, the request concerns me, as your
myself, as your worship shall know by this
worship wili find out from this honest old
honest old man; and, though I say it, though
man-even though I, his son, am saying
old man, yet poor man, my tather.
that he is my father, though old and poor

Bassanio Bassanio
One speak for both. What would you? at
Let one speak instead of both speaking
once. What do you want?

Launcelot Launcelot
150 Serve you, sir.
I want to be your servant, sir.

65. the gist, substance 68. notify, inform 71. concerning

66. with respect to your worshipP 69 give to
67. are hardly friendly 70. request
 Gobbo
Gobbo
defect of the matter, sir. That is the basic fact of the matter, sir.
That is the very

Bassanio
Bassanio
well; thou hast obtain 'd thy suit " I know you well. You have got your
I know thee
master spoke with me this day, desire. Your master Shylock spoke to me
Shylock thy
it is prefermen?"
And hath preferr d" the,-if today and he has recommended you. You
rich Jew's service, to become
155 To leave a can be my servant, if it is preferable to
The follower of so poor a gentleman. leave the service of a rich Jew, and become
the servant of so poor a gentleman.

Launcelot Launcelot
The old proverb is applicable to my old
The old proverb is very well parted" berween

my master Shylock and you, sir: you have master Shylock and you, sir. You have the
wealth.
the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough." grace of God, sir, and he has only

Bassanio Bassanio
You speak well. Go father, with your son,
160 Thou speak'st well. Go, father, with thy son.
take leave of your old master, and ask the
Take leave of thy old master, and inquire
Give him way to my residence. (To his followers)
My lodging out.-(To his Followers)
Give him a dress more richly decorated
alivery
it done. than those of the other servants. See that
More guarded" than his fellows:
see

this is done.

Launcelot
Launcelot
I have Father, go in. I cannot get a job. I cannor
a service, no;
rather, in. I cannot get
0 ne'er a tongue in my
head. Well, [looking on his express myself. (Looking at his palm and
trying to read it like a palmist). If there is
if any m a n in Italy have fairer
a
palm]
swear upon a book," any man in Italy with a better hand, with
table," which doth offer to
here's a which he is prepared to swear on oath,
T shall have good fortune! Go to;
here'ia small trifle of then I will be surprised; there is good
Simple line of life !

72. fact, substance 76. divided, shared 80. ornamented

77. favour 81. better hand or palm
3. your request has been granted
74. recommended you
78. enough money 82. the Bible
79. dress
75. promotion
354 J Yenice

luck in my hand. See, here is

170 wives! alas, fifteen wives is nothing! eleven a
simple line
widows and nine maids is a simple coming- of life. Here this line about wives.
Even
fifteen wives are nothing. Eleven wid
in for one man; and then to scape drowning dows
and nine maids good possession tot
are a
thrice, and to peril of my life with the
be in a
individual. It is also
edge ofafeather-bed,"- here are simple 'scapes!
single indicated tha
175 Well, if Fortune be a woman, she's a good will escape death by drowning on thie
take occasions. I will also be in danger of de
wench for this gear."-Father, come; I'll

my leave of the Jew in

the twinkling ofan eye". with theedge of a feather-bed. These are a
few simple escapes. Well, iffortune isa
good woman, she is a good woman in my

case. Father, come: I will take leave of the

Jew in a moment.

Exeunt Launcelot and Old Gobbo (Launcelot and old Gobbo go away)

Bassanio Bassanio
I pray thee, good Leonardo, think on this: I request you, good Leonardo, to think
These thingsbeing bought and orderly bestowd," over this: that after these things have
180 Return in haste, for I do feast tonight been bought and put in their proper
My best-estemdacquaintance: hie" thee, go. places, come quickly because I am giving
a party tonight to most respected friends.

Please hurry up and go.

Leonardo Leonardo
My best endeavours shall be done herein."
Iwillmake my best etforts in this matet.
Enter Graiano Enter Gratiano
Gratiano Gratiano
Where is your master? Where is your master?

83. a small numbr 88. for this reason, on this account 91. moss valued
84. income, revenue 89. in a moment
85. to escape 92. hurry
90. in
86. dangers of
an
organised manner, 93. eftorts
marriage deposited or stowed on board a
87. wonan
ship
Ml:S

Lconardo
Leonardo
sir, he
walks. He is walking just there, sir.
Yonder,"

Exit Leonardo (Leonardo goes)

Gratiano
Gratiano
185 SigniorBassanio! Mr. Bassanio.

Bassanio Bassanio
Gratiano! Gratiano.

Gratiano Gratiano
I have a suit to you. I have a request to make to you.

Bassanio Bassanio
You have obtain'd if". I grant it.

Gratiano Gratiano

You must not deny me:I must go with you to You must not refuse me: I must go to
Belmont. Belmont with you.

Bassanio Bassanio
If you must, then you must. But please
190 Why, then you must. But hear thee, Gratiano;
Thou art too wild" to rude", and bold of voice listen, Gratiano. You are too rash, too

unmannerly and loud of voice. These

Parts that become" thee happily enough,
And in such eyes as ours appear not faults; qualities suit you well enough here with
known, why, there they the people like us who know you, these
But where thou art not

are not faults. But among people who do

Sshou'04

take not know you, these qualities show you as

95 Something too liberal. Pray thee, pain
To allay with some cold drops" of modesty too forward and coarse. I request you
therefore to take the trouble of
skipping" spirit, lest, through thy wild
Thy bit of
behaviour,
moderating your wild spirit with a

100. outspoken 106. moderate

94. There 107. a certain degree of
101. qualities
95. request 108. decency, decorum
102. suit
96. I grant your request
103. well 109. wild. cxuberant
97. reject me
104. appear
98. rash
105. uncontrolled
99. rough
 I be misconstrued in the place I go to modesty lest I, too should be
Venee
And lose my hopes. misunderstood and I may lose
my hopes.
Gratiano Gratiano
200 Signior Bassanio, hear me: Mr. Bassanio, please listen to me. IfI
IfI do not put on a sober" habit," not put on a serious
appearance, talk
Talk with respect," and swear but now and then, respectfully : swear only occasionally, wall
Wear prayer-books in my pocket, look about with a
prayer-book in my pocket,
114

demurely look serious and even more, while the

Nay, more, while grace is saying, hood" mine prayer is being said, cover
my eyes with
eyes my hat, andsigh, and say amen, follow all
205 Thus with my hat, and sign, and say amen," the rules of civil and polite behaviour,
like
Use all the observance" of civiliy, a
person who is properly trained to look
Like one well studied in a sad ostent very serious to please his grand mother,
To please his grandam,*- never trust me more. then never trust me in the future.

Bassanio Bassanio
Well, we shall see your bearing." 24
We shall study your behaviour.
Gratiano Gratiano
210 Nay, but I bar" tonight; you shall not gauge 26
But you must exempt me for my
me
behaviourtonight. You must not judge
By what we do tonight. me by
my behaviour tonight.
Bassanio Bassanio
No, that were piry No, that would be a pity to do that. I
I would
entreat you rather to put on would actually request you to put on your
Your boldest suit of
mirth," for we have friends most joyful mood tonight because we

have some friends who want to enjoy

110. misunderstood
117. Let it be so 124. behaviour
111. seriously
118. to observe, custom
112. conduct, behaviour 125. except
119. polite behaviour
13. care, respectfully 126. judge
120. well-studied 127. it will be unfair
114. seriously 121. serious appearance
15. prayer is being 128. request
said 122. grandmother 129. most joyful behaviour
116. cover 123. watch
215 That purpose merriment. But fare you well: themselves tonight. But I bid you
I have some business. I have work do.
good-bye. some to

Gratiano Gratiano
And I must to Lorenzo and the rest; And I must go to Lorenzo and others, but
But we will visit you at supper-time. we will meet you at supper-time.
Exeunt. They leave.