maturity in the lines, and places the play among the early productions of the middle period, or between 1594 and 1597. EARLY EDITIONS The Merchant of Venice' appeared in two Quartos of 1600, before its inclusion in the First Folio of 1623. The first official entry of it in the Stationers' Register' ran as follows: 22 July, 1598, James Roberts] A booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce, or otherwise called the Jewe of Venyse. Provided that yt bee not prynted by the said James Robertes, or anye other whatsoever, without lycence first had from the right honourable the Lord Chamberlen.' Shakespeare's company was designated as • the Lord Chamberlain's Servants,' and the above entry was evidently a protection against piracy, which held for two years; for Roberts's version, known as the First Quarto, was not printed until 1600, the year of the Second Quarto. The First Quarto bore the following title-page: The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreme cruelty of Shylocke the Jew towards the saide Merchant, in cutting a just pound of his flesh. And the obtaining of Portia, by the choyse of three caskets. Written by W. Shakespeare. by J. Roberts, 1600.' The Second Quarto's title ran as follows: Printed The most excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the Jewe towards the sayd Merchant, in cutting a just pound of his flesh: and the obtayning of Portia by the choyse of three chests. As it hath beene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his Servants. Written by William Shakespeare. At London, Printed by J. R., for Thomas Heyes, and are to be sold in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Greene Dragon, 1600.' The Second Quarto was entered October 28, 1600, • under the handes of the Wardens and by consent of Master Robertes.' It consists of thirty-eight leaves, and the other of forty. The texts are so nearly alike as to leave in doubt the question as to which has the greater authority. The Second Quarto seems to be the authorized text, yet the First is on the whole the more accurate. The First Folio of 1623 includes the play in the division of comedies, where it occupies twenty-two pages, from page 163 to page 184, inclusive. It is there divided into acts, but not into scenes, and gives no Dramatis Personæ. This last was first supplied by a new edition of the Second Quarto published in 1637. A Fourth Quarto, evidently a reprint of the Third, was printed in 1652. The First Folio follows the Second Quarto, thus lending added weight to the contention that the latter is the genuine text; it makes few and unimportant changes; and the play, therefore, has since been tampered with little by succeeding editors. [DRAMATIS PERSONÆ The DUKE Of Venice. The PRINCE OF Arragon, } suitors to Portia. ANTONIO, a merchant of Venice. BASSANIO, his friend, suitor likewise to Portia. SALANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, friends to Antonio and Bassanio. LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a rich Jew. TUBAL, a Jew, his friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBO, the clown, servant to Shylock. Old GOBBO, father to Launcelot. LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio. BALTHASAR, } STEPHANO, } servan to Portia. PORTIA, a rich heiress. NERISSA, her waiting-maid. JESSICA, daughter to Shylock. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other Attendants. SCENE: Partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the seat of Portia, on the Continent.] |