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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.

Bass. One speak for both. What would you?

Laun. Serve you, sir.

Gob. That is the very defect of the matter,

sir.

Bass. 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.

Laun. 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.

Bass. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son.

Take leave of thy old master, and inquire

My lodging out. [To his followers.] Give him a livery

More guarded than his fellows': see it done.

Laun. Father, in. I cannot get a service, no;

I have ne'er a tongue in my head. Well, [Look-

ing on his palm] 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,

 161 preferr'd: recommended

preferment: advancement

164 The old proverb; cf. n.

170 guarded: adorned with facings

174 table; cf. n.

178 simple coming-in: small inheritance 