MOROCCO Mislike me not for my complexion,

PORTIA In terms of choice I am not solely led

MOROCCO Even for that I thank you.

PORTIA You must take your chance,

MOROCCO Nor will not; come, bring me unto my chance.

PORTIA First, forward to the temple. After dinner

LAUNCELOT Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and tempts me, saying to me ‘Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good Launcelot’ or ‘good Gobbo’ or ‘good Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away’. My conscience says ‘No; take heed, honest Launcelot, take heed, honest Gobbo’ or, as aforesaid, honest Launcelot Gobbo, do not run; scorn running with thy heels’. Well, the most courageous fiend bids me pack. ‘Via!’ says the fiend; ‘away!’ says the fiend. ‘For the heavens, rouse up a brave mind’ says the fiend ‘and run.’ Well, my conscience, hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely to me ‘My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest man’s son’ or rather ‘an honest woman’s son’; for indeed my father did something smack, something grow to, he had a kind of taste – well, my conscience says ‘Launcelot, budge not’. ‘Budge’ says the fiend. ‘Budge not’ says my conscience. ‘Conscience,’ say I ‘you counsel well.’ ‘Fiend,’ say I ‘you counsel well.’ To be rul’d by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who – God bless the mark! – is a kind of devil; and, to ran away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the fiend, who – saving your reverence! – is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard conscience to offer to counsel me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more friendly counsel. I will ran, fiend; my heels are at your commandment; I will ran.

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.

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

LAUNCELOT Well, let his father be what ’a will, we talk of young Master Launcelot.

LAUNCELOT But I pray you, ergo, old man, ergo, I beseech you, talk you of young Master Launcelot?

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.