11. The theater was always his delight. His bishops and clergy used to attend it, thinking it was no shame to appear where that good man was seen. He is said not to have cared for Shakspeare or tragedy much; farces and pantomimes were his joy: and especially when the clown swallowed a carrot or a string of sausages, he would laugh so outrageously that the lovely princess by his side would have to say, "My gracious monarch, do compose yourself." But he continued to laugh, and at the very smallest farces, as long as his poor wits were left him.

12. There is something to me exceedingly touching in that simple early life of the king's. As long as his mother lived— a dozen years after his marriage with the little spinet-playerhe was a great, shy, awkward boy, under the tutelage of that hard parent. She must have been a clever, domineering, cruel woman. She kept her household lonely and in gloom, mistrusting almost all people who came about her children. Seeing the young Duke of Gloucester silent and unhappy once, she sharply asked him the cause of his silence. "I am thinking," said the poor child. "Thinking, sir! and of what?" "I am thinking if ever I have a son I will not make him so unhappy as you make me."

13. The other sons were all wild, except George. Dutifully every evening George and Charlotte paid their visit to the king's mother at Carlton House. She had a throat-complaint, of which she died; but to the last, persisted in driving about the streets to show she was alive. The night before her death the resolute woman talked with her son and daughter-in-law as usual, went to bed, and was found dead there in the morning. "George, be a king!" were the words which she was forever croaking in the ears of her son: and a king the simple, stubborn, affectionate, bigoted man tried to be.

Topham Beauclerc, an English gentleman of distinguished talents, and wit, born in 1739, was an intimate friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson. He died in 1780. David Garrick, a celebrated English actor, was born in 1716. and died in 1779. He amassed a large fortune in his profession, and was buried in great pomp beside the tomb of Shakspeare, in Westminster Abbey. Horace Walpole, fourth Earl of Oxford, a famous literary gos

sip, amateur, and wit, was born in London in 1717, and died in 1797. He was for many years a member of Parliament. Charles James Fox, a great English orator and statesman, was born in London in 1749, and died in 1806. He came of a noble family and distinguished himself very greatly in the debates of Parliament. Joseph Haydn, a celebrated musical composer, was born on the frontiers of Austria and Hungary in 1732, and died in 1809. His master-piece is an oratorio, entitled "The Creation." Titian (tishyan), a renowned Italian painter, was born in 1477, and died in 1576. His best paintings are a "Last Supper," in Escurial in Spain, and one at Milan, representing "Christ Crowned with Thorns."

LESSON LXVIII.

SCENE FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

William Shakspeare, the greatest dramatic genius that ever lived, was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, in April (probably the 23d) 1564. His father, John Shakspeare, was a glover. Of his childhood, and his early youth, nothing is known. When quite young he went to London, where he followed the profession of actor, and met with good success. It is not known when Shakspeare began to write plays, or which one he wrote first. His first published play appeared in 1594. From this time there is reason to suppose that his principal attention was directed to the composition of his dramas, since, according to Meres, he had written The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Comedy of Errors, Love's Labor Lost, Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Richard II., Richard III., Henry IV., King John, Titus Andronicus, and Romeo and Juliet, before the end of 1598. This great dramatist appears to have enjoyed a large measure of the favor of his sovereigns, Queen Elizabeth and King James I. The poet, it is said, passed the last years of his life at Stratford, in honor and affluence. He died on the twenty-third of April (supposed to be the anniversary of his birth,, 1616, at the age of fifty-two.

Enter Nerissa, dressed like a lawyer's clerk.

Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario?
Ner. From both, my Lord: Bellario greets your grace.

[Presents a letter.

Bass. Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?
Shy. To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
Gra. Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen; but no metal can,
No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keenness
Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?
Shy. No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.
Gra. A plague on thee, inexecrable dog!

And for thy life let justice be accus'd.
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That souls of animals infuse themselves
Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit
Govern'd a wolf.

Shy. Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud :
Repair thy wit, good youth; or it will fall

To cureless ruin.-I stand here for law.

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our court :Where is he?

A

Ner. He attendeth here hard by,

To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke. With all my heart:-some three or four of you
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.-
Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

[Clerk reads.] "Your grace shall understand that, at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthazar; I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant; we turned o'er many books together; he is furnish'd with my opinion; which, better'd with his own learning (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace's request in my stead.. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation."

Duke. You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws.

Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario?

Por. I did, my lord.

Duke.

You are welcome: take your place.
Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this present question in the court?
Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?
Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.
Por. Is your name Shylock?

Shy.

Shylock is my name.
Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow ;
Yet in such rule that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.-
You stand within his danger, do you not?
Ant. Ay, so he says.

Por.

Ant. I do.

Por.

Do you confess the bond?

Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd;
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes;
"Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned' monarch better than his crown;
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptered sway,

It is enthroned in the heart of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

[To Antonio.

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Bass. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;
Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,

On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:

If this will not suffice, it must appear

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,
Wrest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established;

"Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the same example,

Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how do I honor thee!

Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond. Shy. Here 't is, most reverend doctor, here it is. Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

Por.

Why, this bond is forfeit;

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchant's heart:-Be merciful;
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;