a I am fent, with broom, before, To sweep the duft behind the door. Enter King and Queen of Fairies, with their train. b Ob. Through this houfe give glimmering light, Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier; And this ditty, after me, Sing and dance it trippingly. Tit. First, rehearse this fong by rote: To each word a warbling note, SONG AND DANCE. Ob. Now, until the break of day, And the blots of nature's hand Shall not in their iffue ftand; z like a dream,]-as conftant concomitants. with broom,]-cleanliness was a prime quality with fairies. bin. Never mole, hare-lip, nor fcar, Nor mark prodigious, fuch as are Shall upon their children be.- Every fairy take his gate; And the owner of it blest. Make no stay ; Meet me all by break of day. [Exeunt King, Puck. If we fhadows bave offended, с peace: Think but this, (and all is mended) That you have but slumber'd here, Now to 'Scape the ferpent's tongue, So, good night unto you all. Queen, and train. [To the Audience. Give me your bands, if we be friends, And Robin fhall reftore amends. [Exit. d gate;]-way, ftand. unearned-better than we deserve. f the ferpent's tongue,]—hiffing. prodigious,]-monftrous. Give me your hands,]-Clap, in token of applause. MERCHANT DUKE of Venice. PRINCE of Morocco. PRINCE of Arragon. ANTHONIO, the Merchant of Venice. BASSANIO, his Friend. + SOLANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, } Friends to ANTHONIO and BASSANIO. LORENZO, in love with JESSICA. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, a Jew. LAUNCELOT, a Clown, Servant to the Jew. GOBBO, Father to LAUNCELOT. SALERIO, a Meffenger from Venice. LEONARDO, Servant to BASSANIO. Senators of Venice, Officers, Jailer, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE-partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia. + Solanio,-It is not easy to determine the orthography of this name. In the old editions the owner of it is called,-Salanio, Salino, and Solanio; the laft is followed for the fake of diftinction. THIS PLAY, written in the year 1598, is founded on a story in the Pecorone of Ser Giovanni Fiorentino, a Novelift of the 14th Century; the Incidents of the Bond and Caskets might be borrowed from an old translation of the Gefta Romanorum. |