_Lau. (rises.)_ Give him a present! give him a halter: I am famished in his service; you may tell every finger I have with my ribs. Father, I am glad you are come: give me your present to one master Bassanio, who, indeed, gives rare new liveries; if I serve not him, I will run as far as Heaven has any ground.--O rare fortune! here comes the man;--to him, father; for I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer. _Enter_ BASSANIO, _with_ LEONARDO, _and_ STEPHANO. _Bas_. See these letters deliver'd; put the liveries to making; and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging. [_Exit a_ SERVANT. _Lau_. To him, father. _Gob_. Heaven bless your worship! _Bas_. Gramercy! Would'st thou aught with me? _Gob_. Here's my son, sir, a poor boy-- _Lau_. Not a poor boy, sir; but the rich Jew's man; that would, sir, as my father shall specify. _Gob_. He hath a great infection, sir, as one would say, to serve---- _Lau_. Indeed, the short and the long is, I serve the Jew, and have a desire as my father shall specify. _Gob_. His master and he (saving your worship's reverence) are scarce cater-cousins. _Lau_. To be brief, the very truth is, that the Jew having done me wrong, doth cause me, as my father, being I hope an old man, shall frutify unto you. _Gob_. I have here a dish of doves, that I would bestow upon your worship; and my suit is---- _Lau_. In very brief, the suit is impertinent[51] 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. _Bas_. One speak for both. What would you? _Lau_. Serve you, sir. _Gob_. That is the very defect of the matter, sir. _Bas_. 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. _Lau_. The old proverb is very well parted between my master, Shylock, and you, sir; you have the grace of Heaven, sir, and he hath---- enough. _Bas_. Thou speak'st it well. Go, father, with thy son:-- Take leave of thy old master, and inquire My lodging out:--give him a livery. [_To his Followers_. More guarded[52] than his fellows': See it done. _Lau_. Father, in:--_(Exit_ OLD GOBBO.) I cannot get a service, no!--I have ne'er a tongue in my head!--Well; (_looking on his palm_) if any man in Italy have a fairer table;[53] which doth offer to swear upon a book I shall have good fortune![54] Go to, here's a simple line of life![55] here's a small trifle of wives: Alas, fifteen wives is nothing; eleven 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,[56] here are simple 'scapes! Well, if fortune be a woman she's a good wench for this gear.--I'll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling of an eye. [_Exit_ LAUNCELOT.