a

I am fent, with broom, before,

To sweep the duft behind the door.

Enter King and Queen of Fairies, with their train.

b

Ob. Through this houfe give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:

Every elf, and fairy sprite,

Hop as light as bird from brier;

And this ditty, after me,

Sing and dance it trippingly.

Tit. First, rehearse this fong by rote:

To each word a warbling note,
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we fing, and bless this place.

SONG AND DANCE.

Ob. Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us fhall blessed be;
And the iffue, there create,
Ever fhall be fortunate.
So fhall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be:

And the blots of nature's hand

Shall not in their iffue ftand;

z like a dream,]-as conftant concomitants.

with broom,]-cleanliness was a prime quality with fairies.

bin.

Never mole, hare-lip, nor fcar,

Nor mark prodigious, fuch as are
Despised in nativity,

Shall upon their children be.-
With this field-dew confecrate,

Every fairy take his gate;
And each feveral chamber bless,
Through this palace, with fweet
Ever fhall it fafely rest,

And the owner of it blest.
Trip away;

Make no stay ;

Meet me all by break of day.

[Exeunt King,

Puck. If we fhadows bave offended,

с

peace:

Think but this, (and all is mended)

That you have but slumber'd here,
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend;
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I'm an boneft Puck,
If we have unearned luck

Now to 'Scape the ferpent's tongue,
We will make amends, ere long :
Elfe the Puck a liar call.

So, good night unto you all.

Queen, and train.

[To the Audience.

Give me your bands, if we be friends,

And Robin fhall reftore amends.

[Exit.

d

gate;]-way, ftand.

unearned-better than we deserve.

f

the ferpent's tongue,]—hiffing.

prodigious,]-monftrous.

Give me your hands,]-Clap, in token of applause.

MERCHANT

DUKE of Venice.

PRINCE of Morocco.

PRINCE of Arragon.

ANTHONIO, the Merchant of Venice.

BASSANIO, his Friend.

+ SOLANIO, SALARINO,

GRATIANO,

}

Friends to ANTHONIO and BASSANIO.

LORENZO, in love with JESSICA.

SHYLOCK, a Jew.

TUBAL, a Jew.

LAUNCELOT, a Clown, Servant to the Jew.

GOBBO, Father to LAUNCELOT.

SALERIO, a Meffenger from Venice.

LEONARDO, Servant to BASSANIO.

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

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

+ Solanio,-It is not easy to determine the orthography of this name. In the old editions the owner of it is called,-Salanio, Salino, and Solanio; the laft is followed for the fake of diftinction.

THIS PLAY, written in the year 1598, is founded on a story in the Pecorone of Ser Giovanni Fiorentino, a Novelift of the 14th Century; the Incidents of the Bond and Caskets might be borrowed from an old translation of the Gefta Romanorum.