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The Kölnische Zeitung publishes an interesting paragraph on the question of Shylock's Judaism. According to the writer, Gregorio Leti, the biographer of Sixtus V., narrates in the 11th book of his history of that Pope the following story: In the year 1587, ten years before the probable date of the production of Shakespeare's play, a Roman merchant named Paul Maria Secchi, a good Catholic Christian, learns that Sir Francis Drake has conquered San Domingo. Be imparts his news to a Jewish trader, Simson Ceneda, who either disbelieved it or had an interest in making it appear so. He obstinately contested the truth of the statement, and to emphasize his contradiction, added that he would stake a pound weight of his flesh on the contrary. The Christian took him at his word, staking 1000 scudi against the pound of flesh, and the bet was attested by two witnesses. On the truth of Drake's conquest being confirmed, the Christian demanded the fulfilment of the wager. In vain the Jew offered money instead of the stake he had agreed to. The Jew appealed to the Governor, and the Governor to the Pope, who sentenced them both to the galleysa punishment they were allowed to make up for by a payment of 2000 scudi each to the Hospital of the Sixtine Bridge..

O F

VEN I C

E.

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Launcelot, a Clown, Servant to the Jew,

Gobbo, Father to Launcelot.

Leonardo, Servant to Baffanio.

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Senators of Venice, Officers, Failer, Servants and other Attendants.

SCENE, partly at Venice; and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia.

*In the old Editions in 4to for J. Roberts 1600, and in the old folio 1623, 1632, or 1664, there is no enumeration of the persons. The Variations are felected from

I. The excellent Hiftory of the Merchant of Venice, with the extreme cruelty of Shylock the few in cutting a just pound of his flesh, and the obtaining of Portia by the choice of three caskets. Written by W. Shakespeare. Printed by J. Roberts 1600. 4to.

II. Folio 1623.

III. Folio 1632.

IV. Folio 1664.

THE

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N footh, I know not why I am fo fad :

1

It wearies me; you fay, it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What Ituff 'tis made off, whereof it is born,
I am to learn

And fuch a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know

my felf.

Sal. Your mind is toffing on the ocean;

There, where your Argofies (1) with portly Sail,
Like figniors and rich burghers on the flood,
Or as it were the pageants of the Sea,

Do over-peer the petty traffickers,

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That curtfie to them, 'do them reverence,

As they fly by them with their woven wings.
Sola. Believe me, Sir, had I fuch venture forth,
The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I fhould be ftill

(1) Argofie, a fhip from Argo.

POPE.

Whether it be derived from Argo I am in doubt. It was a name given in our Authour's time to fhips of great burthen, probably Galleons, fuch as the Spaniards now ufe in the Weft-India trade.

Plucking

Plucking the grafs, (2) to know where fits the wind
Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads.
And every object, that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt,
Would make me fad,

Sal. My wind, cooling my broth,

Would blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.
I should not fee the fandy hour-glafs un,
But I fhould think of fhallows and of flats
And fee my wealthy * Andrew dock'd in sand,
Vailing her high top lower than her ribs.
To kits her burial. Should I go to church,
And fee the holy edifice of ftone,

And not bethink me ftrait of dang'rous rocks?
Which, touching but my gentle veffel's fide,
Would fcatter all the fpices on the ftream,
Enrobe the roaring waters with my filks
And in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing. Shall I have the thought
To think on this, and fhall I lack the thought,
That fuch a thing, bechanc'd, would make me fad ?
But tell not me; I know, Anthonio

Is fad to think upon his merchandize.

Antho. Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,

Nor to one place; nor is my whole estate

Upon the fortune of the prefent year:

Therefore, my merchandize makes me not fad.
Sola. Why then you are in love.

Anth. Fie, fie!

Sola. Not in love neither! then let's fay, you're fad, Because you are not merry; and 'twere as easy For you to laugh and leap, and say, you're merry,

(2) Plucking the grafs, &c.] By holding up the grafs, or any light body that will bend by a gentle blast, the direction of the wind is found.

This way I used in shooting. Betwixt the markes was an open place, there I toke a fetbere, or a lyttle lighte graffe, and fo learned bow the wind food:

*The name of the ship.

ASCHAM.

Because

Because you are not fad. Now by two-headed Janus, (3)
Nature hath fram'd ftrange fellows in her time:
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes, (4)
And laugh, l'ke parrots, at a bag-piper ;
And others of fuch vinegar-afpect,

That they'll not how their teeth in way of fmile, (5)
Though Neftor fwear, the jeft be laughable.

Bnter Baffanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano.

Sal. Here comes Bassanio, your moft noble kinfman, Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well;

We leave you now with better company.

Sola. I would have ftaid 'till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me.

Anth. Your worth is very dear in my regard.
I take it, your own bufinefs calls on you,
And you embrace th' occafion to depart.

Sal. Good morrow, my good lords.

Baff. Good Signiors both, when shall we laugh? fay,

when?

You grow exceeding strange; muft it be fo?

Sal. We'll make our leifures to attend on yours. Sola. My lord Ballanio, fince you've found Anthonie, We two will leave you; but at dinner-time, I pray you, have in mind where we must meet. Baff. I will not fail you.

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[Exeunt Solar. and Sala. Gra. You look not well, Signior Anthonio You have too much refpect upon the world: They lofe it, that do buy it with much care. Believe me, you are marvelloufly chang'd.

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(3) Now by two-headed Janus,] Here Shakespeare fhews his knowledge in the antique. By two-beaded Janus is meant those antique bifrontine heads, which generally reprefent a young and fmiling face, together with an old and wrinkled one, being of Pan and Bacchus; of Saturn and Apollo, &c. These are not uncommon in collections of antiques; and in the books of the antiquaries, as Montfaucon, Spanheim, &c. WARBURTON. (4) peep through their eyes,] This gives us a very picturefque image of the countenance in laughing, when the eyes appear

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half fhut.

WARBURTON.

(5) their teeth in way of fmile,] Because fuch are apt enough to fhew their teeth in anger.

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WARBURTON.

Anth

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