The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2 by Various
page 122 of 141 (86%)
page 122 of 141 (86%)
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And bette his tail to be egre;
He loked about as he were madde, He cryd lowde and yaned wyde. Kynge Richarde bethought him that tyde What hym was beste, and to him sterte In at the thide his hand he gerte, And rente out the beste with his hond Lounge and all that he there fonde. The lyon fell deed on the grounde Rycharde felt no wem ne wounde. On such fictitious incidents in the romances of past ages, Shakespeare undoubtedly built many of his dramas. The story of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice is found in an old English ballad. I will quote a few stanzas to indicate the identity of Shylock and "Germutus, the Jew of Venice." The bloudie Jew now ready is With whetted blade in hand To spoyle the bloud of innocent, By forfeit of his bond, And as he was about to strike In him the deadly blow; Stay, quoth the judge, thy crueltie I charge thee to do so. Sith needs thou wilt thy forfeit have Which is of flesh a pound; See that thou shed no drop of bloud |
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