_Laun._ It is much that the Moor should be more than 35 reason: but if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed more than I took her for. _Lor._ How every fool can play upon the word! I think the best grace of wit will shortly turn into silence; and discourse grow commendable in none only but parrots. Go 40 in, sirrah; bid them prepare for dinner. _Laun._ That is done, sir; they have all stomachs. _Lor._ Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! then bid them prepare dinner. _Laun._ That is done too, sir; only ‘cover’ is the word. 45 _Lor._ Will you cover, then, sir? _Laun._ Not so, sir, neither; I know my duty. _Lor._ Yet more quarrelling with occasion! Wilt thou show the whole wealth of thy wit in an instant? I pray thee, understand a plain man in his plain meaning: go to 50 thy fellows; bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. _Laun._ For the table, sir, it shall be served in; for the meat, sir, it shall be covered; for your coming in to dinner, sir, why, let it be as humours and conceits shall govern. 55 [_Exit._ _Lor._ O dear discretion, how his words are suited! The fool hath planted in his memory An army of good words; and I do know A many fools, that stand in better place, Garnish’d like him, that for a tricksy word 60 Defy the matter. How cheer’st thou, Jessica? And now, good sweet, say thy opinion, How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife? _Jes._ Past all expressing. It is very meet The Lord Bassanio live an upright life; 65 For, having such a blessing in his lady, He finds the joys of heaven here on earth; And if on earth he do not mean it, then In reason he should never come to heaven. Why, if two gods should play some heavenly match 70 And on the wager lay two earthly women, And Portia one, there must be something else Pawn’d with the other; for the poor rude world Hath not her fellow. _Lor._ Even such a husband Hast thou of me as she is for a wife. 75 _Jes._ Nay, but ask my opinion too of that. _Lor._ I will anon: first, let us go to dinner. _Jes._ Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach. _Lor._ No, pray thee, let it serve for table-talk; Then, howsoe’er thou speak’st, ’mong other things 80 I shall digest it. _Jes._ Well, I’ll set you forth. [_Exeunt._ ~~~~~ Linenotes: _The Merchant of Venice_, III, 5. SCENE V.] SCENE VI. Pope. A garden.] Capell. 2: _ye_] Q1. _you_ Q2 Ff Q3 Q4. 3: _I fear_] _I fear for_ Malone conj. 14: _I shun_] _you shun_ Rowe. _I fall_] _you fall_ Rowe. 19: _e’en_] _in_ Q2. 24: _comes._] _come?_ Q2. 34: _is_] _’s_ Q1. 36: _less_] _more_ Capell conj. 43: _Goodly_] _Good_ Pope. _Good y^e_ Farmer conj. _Goodly:_ Jackson conj. _Good my_ Anon. ap. Halliwell conj.