Bass. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not? Gra. Were you the clerk, that is to make me cuckold? Ner. Ay; but the clerk that never means to do it, Unless he live until he be a man.

Bass. Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow; When I am absent, then lie with my wife.

Ant. Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; For here I read for certain, that my ships

Are safely come to road.

Por.

How now, Lorenzo? My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.

Ner. Ay, and I'll give them him without a fee. — There do I give to you, and Jessica,

From the rich Jew, a special deed of gift,

After his death, of all he dies possess'd of.
Lor. Fair ladies, you drop manna in the way
Of starved people.

Por.

in;

It is almost morning,
And yet, I am sure, you are not satisfied
Of these events at full: Let us go
And charge us there upon intergatories,
And we will answer all things faithfully.

Gra. Let it be so; The first intergatory,
That my Nerissa shall be sworn on, is,
Whether till the next night she had rather stay;
Or go to bed now, being two hours to-day:
But were the day come, I should wish it dark,
That I were couching with the doctor's clerk.
Well, while I live, I'll fear no other thing
So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring.

[Exeunt.5

5 of THE MERChant of Venice the style is even and easy, with few peculiarities of diction, or anomalies of construction. The comick part raises laughter, and the serious fixes expectation. The probability of either one or the other story cannot be maintained. The union of two actions in one event is in this drama eminently happy. Dryden was much pleased with his own address in connecting the two plots of his Spanish Friar, which yet, I believe, the critick will find excelled by this play. JOHNSON.

AS YOU LIKE IT.

Was certainly borrowed, if we believe Dr. Grey and Mr. Upton, from the Coke's Tale of Gamelyn: which by the way was not printed till a century afterward: when in truth the old bard, who was no hunter of MSS. contented himself solely with Lodge's Rosalynd, or Euphue's Golden Legacye, 4to. 1590. FARMER.

Shakspeare has followed Lodge's novel more exactly than is his general custom when he is indebted to such worthless originals; and has sketched some of his principal characters, and borrowed a few expressions from it. His imitations, &c. however, are in general too insignificant to merit transcription.

It should be observed, that the characters of Jaques, the Clown, and Audrey, are entirely of the poet's own formation.

Although I have never met with any edition of this comedy before the year 1623, it is evident, that such a publication was at least designed. At the beginning of the second volume of the entries at Stationers' Hall, are placed two leaves of irregular prohibitions, notes, &c. Among these are the following:

The dates scatter'd over these plays are from 1596 to 1615.

STEEVENS.

This comedy, I believe, was written in 1599. MALOne.

DUKE, living in exile.

FREDERICK, Brother to the Duke, and Usurper of his Dominions.

AMIENS, Lords attending upon the Duke in his BanishJAQUES, S

ment.

LE BEAU, a Courtier attending upon Frederick.
CHARLES, his Wrestler.

Servants to Oliver.

TOUCHSTONE, a Clown.

Sir OLIVER MAR-TEXT, a Vicar.

CORIN, } Shepherds.

SYLVIUS,

WILLIAM, a Country Fellow, in love with Audrey.
A Person representing Hymen.

ROSALIND, Daughter to the banished Duke.

CELIA, Daughter to Frederick.

PHEBE, a Shepherdess.

AUDREY, a Country Wench.

Lords belonging to the two Dukes; Pages, Foresters, and other Attendants.

The SCENE lies, first, near OLIVER'S House; afterwards, partly in the Usurper's Court, and partly in the Forest of Arden.

The list of the persons being omitted in the old editions, was added by Mr. Rowe. JOHNSON.