Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/78

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When we are both accoutred like young men,

I'll prove the prettier fellow of the two,

And wear my dagger with the braver grace,

And speak between the change of man and boy

With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps

Into a manly stride, and speak of frays

Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies,

How honourable ladies sought my love,

Which I denying, they fell sick and died:

I could not do withal; then I'll repent,

And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them:

And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell,

That men shall swear I have discontinu'd school

Above a twelvemonth. I have within my mind

A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks,

Which I will practise.

Ner.Why, shall we turn to men?

Por. Fie, what a question's that,

If thou wert near a lewd interpreter!

But come: I'll tell thee all my whole device

When I am in my coach, which stays for us

At the park gate; and therefore haste away,

For we must measure twenty miles to-day.

Exeunt.

Laun. Yes, truly; for, look you, the sins of

the father are to be laid upon the children; there-

fore, I promise you, I fear you. I was always

plain with you, and so now I speak my agitation

 72 could not do withal: could not help it

 3 fear: fear for

4 agitation: i.e., cogitation 