No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 2
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GOBBO
Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way to
Master Jew’s?
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GOBBO
Excuse me, young man, how do I get to the Jew’s residence?
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LAUNCELOT
(aside) O heavens, this is my true-begotten father, who,
being more than sand-blind—high-gravel blind—knows
me not. I will try confusions with him.
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LAUNCELOT
(to himself) Good heavens, it’s my father. He
doesn’t recognize me because he’s half-blind—or more than
half-blind, somewhere between half-blind and totally blind. I’ll play a little game
with him.
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GOBBO
Master young gentleman, I pray you, which is the way to
Master Jew’s?
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GOBBO
Young man, excuse me, how do I get to the Jew’s?
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LAUNCELOT
Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the
next turning of all on your left. Marry, at the very next
turning turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the
Jew’s house.
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LAUNCELOT
Turn right at the next turn, but at the following turn, turn left. Oh, and then at the
very next turn, don’t turn left or right, but turn down and around to the
Jew’s house.
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GOBBO
By God’s sonties, ’twill be a hard way to hit. Can you tell
me whether one Launcelot that dwells with him, dwell
with him or no?
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GOBBO
Good heavens, those are difficult directions. Can you tell me if a man named Launcelot,
who lives with him, is still there?
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LAUNCELOT
Talk you of young Master Launcelot? (aside) Mark me
now. Now will I raise the waters.—Talk you of young
Master Launcelot?
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LAUNCELOT
Are you talking about young Master Launcelot?
(speaking so no one else can hear) Watch out, I’m
going to pull a good prank here.—Is that who you’re talking
about?
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GOBBO
No “master,” sir, but a poor man’s son. His father,
though I say ’t, is an honest exceeding poor man and, God
be thanked, well to live.
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GOBBO
He’s not a “master,” sir, he’s just a poor
man’s son. His father, if I do say so myself, is an honest but very poor man, and,
thank God, likely to live a long time.
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LAUNCELOT
Well, let his father be what he will, we talk of young
Master Launcelot.
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LAUNCELOT
Well, his father can be whatever he wants to be. We’re talking about young
Master Launcelot.
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GOBBO
Your worship’s friend and Launcelot, sir.
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GOBBO
Please don’t call him that, sir. He’s just Launcelot.
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