Por. Come, merchant, have you anything to say? To let the wretched man outlive his wealth, Shy. We trifle time; I pray thee pursue sentence. Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine ; The court awards it, and the law doth give it. Shy. Most rightful judge! Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The law allows it, and the court awards it. Shy. Most learned judge!-A sentence; come, prepare. One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Unto the state of Venice. Gra. O upright judge!-Mark, Jew!—O learned judge! Shy. Is that the law? Por. Thyself shalt see the act : For, as thou urgèst justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest. Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew ;-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer then,-pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go. Bass. Here is the money. Por. Soft; The Jew shall have all justice;-soft;-no haste;- Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learnèd judge! But just a pound of flesh: if thou takʼst more, Of one poor scruple,-nay, if the scales do turn Thou dièst, and all thy goods are con'fiscate. Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now infidel, I have thee on the hip. Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!— Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive, In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st. Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it : For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's ; Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that : You take you do take the prop life my house when That doth sustain my house ; you take my When you do take the means whereby I live. Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here. I Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say? pray you give me leave to go from hence: I am not well: send the deed after me, And I will sign it. Duke. Get thee gone, but do it. WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. I SECTION XXXIX. I. 177. PASSING AWAY. ASKED the stars in the pomp of night, 1 2. "We have no light that hath not been given; 1 Dower, that with which one is endowed or gifted; gift. 'Legend, a story about saints which is appointed to be read; any S remarkable story handed down from early times; any narrative or story. 3 3 Blazon, (blå ́ zn), display; make public far and wide, 3. "We shall fade in our beauty, the fair and bright, 4. From the stars of heaven and the flowers of earth, From all save that o'er which soul bears sway, 5. "Passing away," sing the breeze and rill, II. 178. LIFE. MISS M. J. JEWSBURY, IF were prisoned in life's narrow bound; all our hopes and all our fears If, travelers through this vale of tears, 2. Were life a dark and desert moor, And tempests thunder overhead; Who dwell in darknèss and in death? IN 3. And such were life, without the ray And beautiful the flowers that bloom, Reflected from a world to come. JOHN BOWRING III. 179. PROMISES OF RELIGION TO THE YOUNG. N every part of Scripture, it is remarkable with what singular tenderness the season of youth is always mentioned, and what hopes are afforded to the devotion of the young. It was at that age that God appeared unto Moses, when he fed his flock in the desert, and called him to the command of his own people. 2. It was at that age he visited the infant Samuel, while he ministered in the temple of the Lord, "in days when the word of the Lord was precious, and when there was no open vision." It was at that age that his spirit fell upon David, while he was yet the youngest of his father's sons, and when, among the mountains of Bethlehem, he fed his father's sheep. 3. It was at that age, also, "that they brought young children unto Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said to them, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 4. It these, then, are the effects and promises of youthful piety, rejoice, O young man, in thy youth! Rejoice in those days which are never to return, when religion comes to thee in all its charms, and when the God of nature reveals himself to thy soul like the mild radiance of the morning sun, when he rises amid the blessings of a grateful world. 5. If already devotion hath taught thee her secret pleasures; if, when nature meets thee in all its magnificence or beauty, thy heart humblèth itself in adoration before the hand which made it, and rejoicèth in the contemplation of the wisdom by which it is maintained; if, when revelation unvails her mercies, and |