I'll tell my husband, Launcelot, what you say. Here he
comes.
JESSICA
I'll tell my husband what you've said, Launcelot. Here he
comes.
LORENZO
25
I shall grow jealous of you shortly, Launcelot, if you thus
get my wife into corners.
LORENZO
You're going to make me jealous, Launcelot, if you keep taking my wife into
dark corners like this!
JESSICA
Nay, you need not fear us, Lorenzo. Launcelot and I are
out. He tells me flatly there is no mercy for me in heaven
because I am a Jew's daughter, and he says you are no
30
good member of the commonwealth, for in converting
Jews to Christians you raise the price of pork.
JESSICA
No, you don't need to worry about us, Lorenzo. Launcelot and I can't
agree on anything. He says I won't get into heaven because I'm a
Jew's daughter, and he says you're irresponsible because by converting
Jews to Christianity you're raising the price of pork.
LORENZO
I shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you
can the getting up of the Negro's belly. The Moor is with
child by you, Launcelot.
LORENZO
I can justify that better than you can justify sleeping with Portia's African
servant. The Moor
is pregnant with your child, Launcelot.
LAUNCELOT
35
It is much that the Moor should be more than reason. But
if she be less than an honest woman, she is indeed more
than I took her for.
LAUNCELOT
It's too bad there's more of the Moor than there ought to be. Well,
even if she's a less than honest woman, she's still a lot
more respectable than I thought at first.
LORENZO
How every fool can play upon the word! I think the best
grace of wit will shortly turn into silence, and discourse
40
grow commendable in none only but parrots. Go in,
sirrah. Bid them prepare for dinner.
LORENZO
Any fool can make puns! I think the best sign of intelligence will soon be silence, and
talking will only be a good thing for parrots to do. Go in and tell the servants to get
ready for dinner.
LAUNCELOT
That is done, sir. They have all stomachs.
LAUNCELOT
That's already been done, sir. They're all ready to eat
dinner.
