But say it is my humor. Is it answered? Ju. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, Is dearly bought; is mine; and I will have it: I stand for judgment; answer; shall I have it? Ju. Antonio, do you confess the bond? Ju. Then must the Jew be merciful. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, Ju. Is he not able to discharge the money? Shy. I'll have my bond, I will not take thy offer Can alter a decree established. Shy. O wise, wise Judge, how do I honor thee! 1 Ju. I pray you let me look upon the bond. (Gives it to the Judge.) Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, * here it is. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? Ju. Why, this bond is forfeit ; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor. There is no power in the tongue of man Ant. Most heartily do I beseech the court Ju. Why, then, thus it is. 'You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shy. O noble Judge ! Ju. For the intent and purpose of the law Shy. 'Tis very true: O wise and upright Judge ! Ju. Therefore, lay bare your bosom. Shy. Ay, his breast: (To Antonio.) So says the bond; does it not, noble Judge ? Ju. It is so. Are there balance here, to weigh Shy. I have them ready. Ju. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond? * This word here means a learned man. Ju. Come, merchant, have you any thing to say? The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Most rightful Judge ! Ju. And you must cut the flesh from off his breast; Shy. Most learned Judge ! A sentence: come, prepare. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood: One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Shy. Is that the law? Ju. Thyself shalt see the act; For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Shy. I take his offer, then; pay the bond thrice, Ju. The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste! Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Thou shalt have merely justice, and the bond. Shy. Shall I not barely have my principal? Ju. Tarry, Jew: The law nath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, Shy. Take my life, then, and all, and pardon not that. Ju. The court in mercy spares thy life, Shy. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; Ju. The court has mercy on your life; And with a softer heart, remember mercy too. SHAKSPEARE QUESTIONS. - Why did Shylock choose the pound of flesh rather than the payment of his debt? What does he mean by saying my deeds upon my head?" In whose favor does the judge decide? How does he eventually relieve Antonio from his danger? How is Shylock punished? Was his punishment just? Why? In the last three lines, which are the verbs? Which of them is in the indicative mode? Which are in the imperative mode? What does the word indicative mean? Why is this mode so called? What does the word imperative mean? Why is this mode so called? ARTICULATION. - Pen-al-ty, not pen'l-ty: qual-i-ty, not qualty: per-ju-ry, not per-j'ry: law-ful-ly, not law-f'ly: ex-po-si-tion, not ex-p'si-tion. prin-ci-pal, not prin-c'p'l: in-di-rect, not in-d'rect. SPELL AND DEFINE. - Adversary, incapable, cruelty, rendered, judgment, crave, decree, established, reverend, assured, estimation, principal, RULE. contented. LESSON LXXIII. Be careful not to read in a faint and low tone, but give due force PARALLEL BETWEEN POPE AND DRYDEN. 1. POPE professed to have learned his poetry from Dryden, whom, whenever an opportunity was presented, he praised through his whole life with unvaried liberality; and perhaps his character may receive some illustration, if he be compared with his master. 2. Integrity of understanding, and nicety of discernment, were not allotted in a less proportion to Dryden than to Pope. The rectitude of Dryden's mind was sufficiently shown by the dismission of his poetical prejudices, and the rejection of unnatural thoughts and rugged numbers. But Dryden never desired to apply all the judgment that he had. He wrote, and professed to write, merely for the people; and when he pleased others, he contented himself. He spent no time in struggles to rouse latent powers; he never attempted to make that better which was already good, nor often to mend what he must have known to be faulty. He wrote, as he tells us, with very little consideration : when occasion or necessity called upon him, he poured out what the present moment happened to supply, and, when once it had passed the press, ejected it from his mind; for, when he had no pecuniary interest, he had no further solicitude. 3. Pope was not content to satisfy; he desired to excel, and therefore always endeavored to do his best; he did not court the candor, but dared the judgment of his reader, and, expecting no indulgence from others, he showed none to himself. He examined lines and words with minute and punctilious observation, and retouched every part with indefatigable diligence, till he had left nothing to be forgiven. 4. For this reason he kept his pieces very long in his hands, |