No Fear Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 3
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LAUNCELOT
But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you, talk you
of young Master Launcelot?
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LAUNCELOT
But excuse me, ergo, old man,
ergo, I’m asking you if you’re talking
about young Master Launcelot.
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GOBBO
Of Launcelot, an ’t please your mastership.
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GOBBO
Yes, I’m talking about Launcelot, sir.
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LAUNCELOT
Ergo, Master Launcelot. Talk not of Master Launcelot,
Father, for the young gentleman, according to Fates and
Destinies and such odd sayings, the Sisters Three and
such branches of learning, is indeed deceased, or as you
would say in plain terms, gone to heaven.
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LAUNCELOT
Ergo
, Master Launcelot. But please don’t talk about
Master Launcelot, old man. The young gentleman, submitting to the fates, the three sisters
who control destiny, and other branches of learning like that, is deceased. Or, to put it in
plain language, he’s gone to heaven.
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GOBBO
Marry, God forbid! The boy was the very staff of my age,
my very prop.
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GOBBO
Oh, no. God forbid! The boy was going to support me in my old age!
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LAUNCELOT
Do I look like a cudgel or a hovel-post, a staff or a prop?
Do you know me, Father?
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LAUNCELOT
What am I, a cane? How could I support anyone? Don’t you recognize me,
father?
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GOBBO
Alack the day, I know you not, young gentleman. But I
pray you, tell me, is my boy, God rest his soul, alive or
dead?
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GOBBO
Heaven help me, I don’t know you, sir. But please tell me, is my
boy—God rest his soul—alive or dead?
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LAUNCELOT
Do you not know me, Father?
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LAUNCELOT
You really don’t recognize me, father?
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GOBBO
Alack, sir, I am sand-blind. I know you not.
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GOBBO
Sir, I’m half-blind. I don’t know you.
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LAUNCELOT
Nay, indeed if you had your eyes, you might fail of the
knowing me. It is a wise father that knows his own child.
Well, old man, I will tell you news of your son. Give me
your blessing. Truth will come to light. Murder cannot be
hid long—a man’s son may, but in the end truth will out.
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LAUNCELOT
Even if you had your eyes, you still might not recognize me. It takes a wise father to
know his own child. Well, old man, I’ll tell you news of your son. Give me your
blessing. The truth will come to light, and murder can’t be hidden
long—a man’s son may hide, but truth will always come out.
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