Lor. The moon shines bright. In such a night as this, Jes. Lor. And in such a night And in such a night Launcelot, as he approaches, is heard calling: Laun. Solá, solá! wo ha, ho! solá, solá! Master Lorenzo, and Mistress Lorenzo! there's a post come from my master, with his horn full of good news: my master will be here ere morning. [Exit. Lorenzo at once directs the Attendants to be ready with music to welcome their mistress home: then, influenced by the soft beauty of an Italian night-scene, he says to his bride : Lor. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Sit, Jessica. Look, how the floor of heaven There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, e Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubim :" Such harmony is in immortal 'souls: But, whilst this muddy vesture of 'decay Doth grossly close us in," we cannot 'hear it. Music within. [withi The Musicians begin. After listening for a time, Jessica pen sively says: Jes. I am never 'merry when I hear sweet music. spendthrift lover. d small plates (O. R. pattens). • Plato's idea was, that a Syren sat on each planet, singing a song in harmony with the others. I O. R. cherubins. g similar. h O. R. close in it. Lor. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,- By the sweet power of music: Therefore the Poet Since nought so stockish," hard, and full of rage, Nor is not moved with 'concord of sweet sounds, Let no such man be 'trusted: 'Mark the music. The Lady Portia and her maid Nerissa are the first to arrive. Portia, pleased with everything, says: Por. That light we see is burning in 'my hall. How 'far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a 'good deed in a naughty world. After a slight delay, Bassanio and Gratiano reach the mansion, accompanied by the released Merchant, Antonio: but no sooner has he been formally introduced to the Lady Portia, and welcomed by her, than Gratiano and Nerissa are overheard-quarreling: Gra. By yonder moon, I 'swear you do me wrong; In 'faith, I gave it to the judge's 'clerk: Would he were 'hanged that had it, for my part, The Lady Portia, pretending surprize, advances: That she did give to me; whose posyd was, The clerk will ne'er wear hair on 's face that had it. a the son of Apollo and Calliope, whose music affected inanimate objects. bemotionless. e deity of Hell, son of Chaos and Darkness. d betrothal or engagement rings were usually inscribed with a motto or posy (O. R poesie). Gra. He will,—an if he live to be a 'man. Portia gravely censures Gratiano: Por. You were to 'blame, I must be plain with you, Bassanio, in the utmost perplexity, mutters: Bass. [Aside.] Why, I were best to cut my left hand off, And swear I lost the ring 'defending it. Gra. My lord Bassanio gave his ring away Por. Unto the 'Judge that begged it, and, indeed, 'What ring gave you, my lord? Not that, I hope, which you received of 'me? Bass. If I could add a 'lie unto a fault, I 'would deny it; but you see, my finger If you did know to 'whom I gave the ring, When nought would be accepted 'but the ring, a stunted. bO. R. vnkinde. magical power. Or your own honour to 'retain the ring, I'll die for 't, but some 'woman had the ring. Had you been there, I think you would have 'begged Antonio interposes; and Portia consents to accept him as surety for Bassanio's faith. Then the two ladies, presenting to their husbands the same rings that had been received from them, a merry explanation ensues. The Lady Portia addresses her friends: Por. You are all 'amazed! Here is a letter, read it at your leisure; It comes from Padua, from Bellario: There you shall find, that Portia was the doctor, Shall witness, 'I set-forth as soon as you, Ant. It is almost morning; [Exeunt. END OF THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. a O. R. containe. b doctor of civil law. CO. R. chancéd on. interrogatories. dinserted word. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. The Comedy of "Much Ado about Nothing" was first performed in 1600, and printed in the same year. The early copy differs but little from that in the collected works of Shakespeare, (published in 1623,) except in the division into Acts, which were not indicated in the first quarto edition. This play furnishes one of the most striking examples of Shakespeare's art in making an old story the nucleus of a new one; and incorporating the incidents of both into a harmonious whole. The Old Story is that of a lady endangered by the personation of her own waiting-woman-a popular tradition in many countries and theme of many authors. It forms a tale of chivalry in Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso:" it is made the vehicle of a high moral lesson by Spenser in his "Faerie Queene:"" and it is the foundation of a love romance-with the same denouement as in Shakespeare's version-in an Italian novel by Matteo Bandello, who was Bishop of Agen about the middle of the sixteenth century. The New Story-that of Benedict and Beatrice,-is Shakespeare's own; no trace of these characters is found in either of the older versions, although they seem to be naturally connected. Indeed, the play was frequently presented to its early audiences under the title of "Benedick and Beatrice:" but the author's 'own title has been properly preserved in all the printed copies-in which we find, interwoven in the plot, several forms of " Much Ado," as well as several kinds of "Nothing." The Characters retained in this Condensation are: DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.• f BORACHIO,Followers of Don CONRADE, John. DOGBERRY, Two City Officers. VERGES, HERO, Daughter to Leonato. Scene-in Messina.b a The Stationers' Register (of August 23, 1600,) contains the following double entry: "And. Wise and Wm. Aspley] Much Adoe about Nothing. Second Part of King Henry the Fourt, with the Humours of Sir John Falstaff, written by Mr. Shakspere." The following is from the title-page of this first quarto: "Much adoe about Nothing. As it hath been sundrie times publikely acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. Written by William Shakespeare. London 1600." b see the story of "Ariodantes and Geneura," books 5 and 6. d see his twenty-second tale-the story of "Felicia Lionata." • Arragon-a province in the north-east of Spain (south of the Pyrenees). Padua capital of a province of the same name, in northern Italy. h Messina-the chief city of the Island of Sicily, in the Mediterranean. |