Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/37

The Merchant of Venice, II. ii

Gob. Your worship's friend, and Launcelot,

sir.

Laun. But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I be-

seech you, talk you of young Master Launcelot?

Gob. Of Launcelot, an 't please your master-

ship.

Laun. Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of

Master Launcelot, father; for the young gentle-

man,—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.

Gob. Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very

staff of my age, my very prop.

Laun. [Aside.] Do I look like a cudgel or a

hovel-post, a staff or a prop? Do you know me,

father?

Gob. 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?

Laun. Do you not know me, father?

Gob. Alack, sir, I am sand-blind; I know you

not.

Laun. 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 can-

not be hid long; a man's son may, but, in the

end, truth will out.

Gob. Pray you, sir, stand up. I am sure you

are not Launcelot, my boy.

Laun. Pray you, let's have no more fooling

 61, 62 Cf. n.

74 hovel-post: a supporting stick 