No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 3, Scene 5, Page 3
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
|
LORENZO
Goodly Lord, what a wit-snapper are you! Then bid them prepare dinner.
|
LORENZO
Good Lord, what a clown you are! Tell them to make the
dinner.
|
|
|
LAUNCELOT
That is done too, sir. Only “Cover!” is the word.
|
LAUNCELOT
That’s also been done, sir. The word you’re looking for is “cover .”
|
|
|
45 |
LORENZO
Will you cover then, sir?
|
LORENZO
Will you cover, then?
|
|
LAUNCELOT
Not so, sir, neither. I know my duty.
|
LAUNCELOT
No, sir—I know my duty.
|
|
|
LORENZO
Yet more quarreling 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 thy fellows, bid
them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.
|
LORENZO
You keep finding ways to mock me! Are you planning on showing me all your wit at once?
Please understand my simple message: go tell the servants to set the table and bring in the
food, and we’ll come in to dinner.
|
|
|
LAUNCELOT
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.
|
LAUNCELOT
About the table, sir, dinner will be served on it. As for the food, it will be served
in covered dishes. As for your coming in to dinner, just do what you feel is right.
|
|
Exit LAUNCELOT
|
LAUNCELOT exits. |
|
|
50 55 |
LORENZO
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,
Garnished like him, that for a tricksy word
Defy the matter. How cheerest thou, Jessica?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion.
How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife?
|
LORENZO
Oh, he’s good at bending words around! The fool has memorized a whole army
full of fancy words. I know jesters in better positions, with the same talents he has. They
also like to digress from the topic at hand by playing with language. Anyway, how are you,
Jessica? And how do you like Lord Bassanio’s wife?
|
