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Project Gutenberg's Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare, by E. NesbitThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www. gutenberg. orgTitle: Beautiful Stories from ShakespeareAuthor: E. NesbitPosting Date: August 15, 2008 [EBook #1430]Release Date: August, 1998Last Updated: March 9, 2018Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: UTF-8*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEAUTIFUL STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE ***Produced by Morrie Wilson and James RoseBEAUTIFUL STORIES FROM SHAKESPEAREBy E. Nesbit “It may be said of Shakespeare, that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence. He has been imitated by all succeeding writers; and it may be doubted whether from all his successors more maxims of theoretical knowledge, or more rules of practical prudence can be collected than he alone has given to his country. ”-- Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. PREFACEThe writings of Shakespeare have been justly termed “the richest, thepurest, the fairest, that genius uninspired ever penned. ”Shakespeare instructed by delighting. His plays alone (leaving merescience out of the question), contain more actual wisdom than thewhole body of English learning. He is the teacher of all good-- pity,generosity, true courage, love. His bright wit is cut out “into littlestars. ” His solid masses of knowledge are meted out in morsels andproverbs, and thus distributed, there is scarcely a corner of theEnglish-speaking world to-day which he does not illuminate, or a cottagewhich he does not enrich. His bounty is like the sea, which, thoughoften unacknowledged, is everywhere felt. As his friend, Ben Jonson,wrote of him, “He was not of an age but for all time. ” He ever kept thehighroad of human life whereon all travel. He did not pick out by-pathsof feeling and sentiment. In his creations we have no moral highwaymen,sentimental thieves, interesting villains, and amiable, elegantadventuresses--no delicate entanglements of situation, in whichthe grossest images are presented to the mind disguised under thesuperficial attraction of style and sentiment. He flattered no badpassion, disguised no vice in the garb of virtue, trifled with no justand generous principle. While causing us to laugh at folly, and shudderat crime, he still preserves our love for our fellow-beings, and ourreverence for ourselves. Shakespeare was familiar with all beautiful forms and images, withall that is sweet or majestic in the simple aspects of nature, ofthat indestructible love of flowers and fragrance, and dews, andclear waters--and soft airs and sounds, and bright skies and woodlandsolitudes, and moon-light bowers, which are the material elements ofpoetry,--and with that fine sense of their indefinable relation tomental emotion, which is its essence and vivifying soul--and which, inthe midst of his most busy and tragical scenes, falls like gleams ofsunshine on rocks and ruins--contrasting with all that is rugged orrepulsive, and reminding us of the existence of purer and brighterelements. These things considered, what wonder is it that the works ofShakespeare, next to the Bible, are the most highly esteemed of all theclassics of English literature. “So extensively have the characters ofShakespeare been drawn upon by artists, poets, and writers of fiction,” says an American author,--“So interwoven are these characters in thegreat body of English literature, that to be ignorant of the plot ofthese dramas is often a cause of embarrassment. ”But Shakespeare wrote for grown-up people, for men and women, and inwords that little folks cannot understand. Hence this volume. To reproduce the entertaining stories containedin the plays of Shakespeare, in a form so simple that children canunderstand and enjoy them, was the object had in view by the author ofthese Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare. And that the youngest readers may not stumble in pronouncing anyunfamiliar names to be met with in the stories, the editor has preparedand included in the volume a Pronouncing Vocabulary of Difficult Names. To which is added a collection of Shakespearean Quotations, classifiedin alphabetical order, illustrative of the wisdom and genius of theworld's greatest dramatist. E. T. R. A BRIEF LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE. In the register of baptisms of the parish church of Stratford-upon-Avon,a market town in Warwickshire, England, appears, under date of April 26,1564, the entry of the baptism of William, the son of John Shakspeare. The entry is in Latin--“Gulielmus filius Johannis Shakspeare. ”The date of William Shakespeare's birth has usually been taken as threedays before his baptism, but there is certainly no evidence of thisfact. The family name was variously spelled, the dramatist himself not alwaysspelling it in the same way. While in the baptismal record the name isspelled “Shakspeare,” in several authentic autographs of the dramatistit reads “Shakspere,” and in the first edition of his works it isprinted “Shakespeare. ”Halliwell tells us, that there are not less than thirty-four ways inwhich the various members of the Shakespeare family wrote the name,and in the council-book of the corporation of Stratford, where it isintroduced one hundred and sixty-six times during the period thatthe dramatist's father was a member of the municipal body, there arefourteen different spellings. The modern “Shakespeare” is not amongthem. Shakespeare's father, while an alderman at Stratford, appears to havebeen unable to write his name, but as at that time nine men out often were content to make their mark for a signature, the fact is notspecially to his discredit. The traditions and other sources of information about the occupationof Shakespeare's father differ. He is described as a butcher, awoolstapler, and a glover, and it is not impossible that he may havebeen all of these simultaneously or at different times, or that ifhe could not properly be called any one of them, the nature of hisoccupation was such as to make it easy to understand how the varioustraditions sprang up. He was a landed proprietor and cultivator of hisown land even before his marriage, and he received with his wife, whowas Mary Arden, daughter of a country gentleman, the estate of Asbies,56 acres in extent. William was the third child. The two older than hewere daughters, and both probably died in infancy. After him was bornthree sons and a daughter. For ten or twelve years at least, afterShakespeare's birth his father continued to be in easy circumstances. Inthe year 1568 he was the high bailiff or chief magistrate of Stratford,and for many years afterwards he held the position of alderman as hehad done for three years before. To the completion of his tenth year,therefore, it is natural to suppose that William Shakespeare would getthe best education that Stratford could afford. The free school of thetown was open to all boys and like all the grammar-schools of that time,was under the direction of men who, as graduates of the universities,were qualified to diffuse that sound scholarship which was once theboast of England. There is no record of Shakespeare's having been atthis school, but there can be no rational doubt that he was educatedthere. His father could not have procured for him a better educationanywhere. To those who have studied Shakespeare's works without beinginfluenced by the old traditional theory that he had received a verynarrow education, they abound with evidences that he must have beensolidly grounded in the learning, properly so called, was taught in thegrammar schools. There are local associations connected with Stratford which could notbe without their influence in the formation of young Shakespeare's mind. Within the range of such a boy's curiosity were the fine old historictowns of Warwick and Coventry, the sumptuous palace of Kenilworth, thegrand monastic remains of Evesham. His own Avon abounded with spots ofsingular beauty, quiet hamlets, solitary woods. Nor was Stratford shutout from the general world, as many country towns are. It was a greathighway, and dealers with every variety of merchandise resorted to itsmarkets. The eyes of the poet dramatist must always have been open forobservation. But nothing is known positively of Shakespeare from hisbirth to his marriage to Anne Hathaway in 1582, and from that datenothing but the birth of three children until we find him an actor inLondon about 1589. How long acting continued to be Shakespeare's sole profession we haveno means of knowing, but it is in the highest degree probable that verysoon after arriving in London he began that work of adaptation by whichhe is known to have begun his literary career. To improve and alterolder plays not up to the standard that was required at the time wasa common practice even among the best dramatists of the day, andShakespeare's abilities would speedily mark him out as eminently fittedfor this kind of work. When the alterations in plays originally composedby other writers became very extensive, the work of adaptation wouldbecome in reality a work of creation. And this is exactly what we haveexamples of in a few of Shakespeare's early works, which are known tohave been founded on older plays. It is unnecessary here to extol the published works of the world'sgreatest dramatist. Criticism has been exhausted upon them, and thefinest minds of England, Germany, and America have devoted their powersto an elucidation of their worth. Shakespeare died at Stratford on the 23rd of April, 1616. His father haddied before him, in 1602, and his mother in 1608. His wife survivedhim till August, 1623. His so Hamnet died in 1596 at the age of elevenyears. His two daughters survived him, the eldest of whom, Susanna, had,in 1607, married a physician of Stratford, Dr. Hall. The only issue ofthis marriage, a daughter named Elizabeth, born in 1608, married firstThomas Nasbe, and afterwards Sir John Barnard, but left no children byeither marriage. Shakespeare's younger daughter, Judith, on the 10th ofFebruary, 1616, married a Stratford gentleman named Thomas Quincy, bywhom she had three sons, all of whom died, however, without issue. Thereare thus no direct descendants of Shakespeare. Shakespeare's fellow-actors, fellow-dramatists, and those who knew himin other ways, agree in expressing not only admiration of his genius,but their respect and love for the man. Ben Jonson said, “I love theman, and do honor his memory, on this side idolatry, as much as any. Hewas indeed honest, and of an open and free nature. ” He was buried onthe second day after his death, on the north side of the chancelof Stratford church. Over his grave there is a flat stone with thisinscription, said to have been written by himself: Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare To digg the dust encloased heare: Blest be ye man yt spares these stones, And curst be he yt moves my bones. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 A BRIEF LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM . . . . . . . . . . . 19 THE TEMPEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 AS YOU LIKE IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 THE WINTER'S TALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 KING LEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 TWELFTH NIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 ROMEO AND JULIET . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . 105 PERICLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 HAMLET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 CYMBELINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 MACBETH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 TIMON OF ATHENS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 OTHELLO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 MEASURE FOR MEASURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL . . . . . . . . . . . 272 PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF NAMES . . . . . . . . 286 QUOTATIONS FROM SHAKESPEARE . . . . . . . . . . 288ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE TITANIA: THE QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES . . . . . . . 20 THE QUARREL . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . 22 HELENA IN THE WOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 TITANIA PLACED UNDER A SPELL . . . . . . . . . 30 TITANIA AWAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 PRINCE FERDINAND IN THE SEA . . . . . . . . . . 36 PRINCE FERDINAND SEES MIRANDA . . . . . . . . . 39 PLAYING CHESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 ROSALIND AND CELIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 ROSALIND GIVES ORLANDO A CHAIN . . . . . . . . 47 GANYMEDE FAINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 LEFT ON THE SEA-COAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 THE KING WOULD NOT LOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 LEONTES RECEIVING FLORIZEL AND PERDITA . . . . 60 FLORIZEL AND PERDITA TALKING . . . . . . . . . 62 HERMOINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 CORDELIA AND THE KING OF FRANCE . . . . . . . . 67 GONERIL AND REGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 CORDELIA IN PRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 VIOLA AND THE CAPTAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 VIOLA AS “CESARIO” MEETS OLIVIA . . . .

. . . . 76 “YOU TOO HAVE BEEN IN LOVE” . . . . . . . . . . 78 CLAUDIA AND HERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 HERO AND URSULA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 BENEDICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 FRIAR FRANCIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 ROMEO AND TYBALT FIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 ROMEO DISCOVERS JULIET . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 MARRIAGE OF ROMEO AND JULIET . . . . . . . . . 111 THE NURSE THINKS JULIET DEAD . . . . . . . . . 115 ROMEO ENTERING THE TOMB . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 PERICLES WINS IN THE TOURNAMENT . . . . . . . . 122 PERICLES AND MARINA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 THE KING'S GHOST APPEARS . . . . . . . . . . . 131 POLONIUS KILLED BY HAMLET . . . . . . . . . . . 135 DROWNING OF OPHELIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 IACHIMO AND IMOGEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 IACHIMO IN THE TRUNK . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 IMOGEN STUPEFIED . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . 150 IMOGEN AND LEONATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 THE THREE WITCHES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 FROM “MACBETH” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 LADY MACBETH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 KING AND QUEEN MACBETH . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 MACBETH AND MACDUFF FIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . 163 ANTIPHOLUS AND DROMIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 LUCIANA AND ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE . . . . . . 175 THE GOLDSMITH AND ANTIPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE . . . 178 AEMILIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 THE PRINCE OF MOROCCO . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 ANTONIO SIGNS THE BOND . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 JESSICA LEAVING HOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 BASSANIO PARTS WITH THE RING . . . . . . . . . 192 POET READING TO TIMON . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 PAINTER SHOWING TIMON A PICTURE . . . . . . . 197 “NOTHING BUT AN EMPTY BOX” . . . . . . . . . . 200 TIMON GROWS SULLEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 OTHELLO TELLING DESDEMONA HIS ADVENTURES . . . 211 OTHELLO . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . 213 THE DRINK OF WINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 CASSIO GIVES THE HANDKERCHIEF . . . . . . . . 222 DESDEMONA WEEPING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 THE MUSIC MASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 KATHARINE BOXES THE SERVANT'S EARS . . . . . . 232 PETRUCHIO FINDS FAULT WITH THE SUPPER . . . . 235 THE DUKE IN THE FRIAR'S DRESS . . . . . . . . 244 ISABELLA PLEADS WITH ANGELO . . . . . . . . . 247 “YOUR FRIAR IS NOW YOUR PRINCE” . . . . . . . 253 VALENTINE WRITES A LETTER FOR SILVIA . . . . . 258 SILVIA READING THE LETTER . . . . . . . . . . 259 THE SERENADE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 ONE OF THE OUTLAWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 HELENA AND BERTRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 HELENA AND THE KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 READING BERTRAM'S LETTER . . . . . . . . . . . 281 HELENA AND THE WIDOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284LIST OF FOUR-COLOR PLATES PAGE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece TITANIA AND THE CLOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 FERDINAND AND MIRANDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 PRINCE FLORIZEL AND PERDITA . . . .

. . . . . . 54 ROMEO AND JULIET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 IMOGEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 CHOOSING THE CASKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 PETRUCHIO AND KATHERINE . . . . . . . . . . . 228A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAMHermia and Lysander were lovers; but Hermia's father wished her to marryanother man, named Demetrius. Now, in Athens, where they lived, there was a wicked law, by which anygirl who refused to marry according to her father's wishes, might be putto death. Hermia's father was so angry with her for refusing to do ashe wished, that he actually brought her before the Duke of Athens toask that she might be killed, if she still refused to obey him. The Dukegave her four days to think about it, and, at the end of that time, ifshe still refused to marry Demetrius, she would have to die. Lysander of course was nearly mad with grief, and the best thing todo seemed to him for Hermia to run away to his aunt's house at a placebeyond the reach of that cruel law; and there he would come to her andmarry her. But before she started, she told her friend, Helena, what shewas going to do. Helena had been Demetrius' sweetheart long before his marriage withHermia had been thought of, and being very silly, like all jealouspeople, she could not see that it was not poor Hermia's fault thatDemetrius wished to marry her instead of his own lady, Helena. She knewthat if she told Demetrius that Hermia was going, as she was, to thewood outside Athens, he would follow her, “and I can follow him, andat least I shall see him,” she said to herself. So she went to him, andbetrayed her friend's secret. Now this wood where Lysander was to meet Hermia, and where the other twohad decided to follow them, was full of fairies, as most woods are, ifone only had the eyes to see them, and in this wood on this night werethe King and Queen of the fairies, Oberon and Titania. Now fairiesare very wise people, but now and then they can be quite as foolish asmortal folk. Oberon and Titania, who might have been as happy as thedays were long, had thrown away all their joy in a foolish quarrel. Theynever met without saying disagreeable things to each other, and scoldedeach other so dreadfully that all their little fairy followers, forfear, would creep into acorn cups and hide them there. So, instead of keeping one happy Court and dancing all night through inthe moonlight as is fairies' use, the King with his attendants wanderedthrough one part of the wood, while the Queen with hers kept state inanother. And the cause of all this trouble was a little Indian boy whomTitania had taken to be one of her followers. Oberon wanted the child tofollow him and be one of his fairy knights; but the Queen would not givehim up. On this night, in a mossy moonlit glade, the King and Queen of thefairies met. “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania,” said the King. “What! jealous, Oberon? ” answered the Queen. “You spoil everything withyour quarreling. Come, fairies, let us leave him. I am not friends withhim now. ”“It rests with you to make up the quarrel,” said the King. “Give me that little Indian boy, and I will again be your humble servantand suitor. ”“Set your mind at rest,” said the Queen. “Your whole fairy kingdom buysnot that boy from me. Come, fairies. ”And she and her train rode off down the moonbeams. “Well, go your ways,” said Oberon. “But I'll be even with you before youleave this wood. ”Then Oberon called his favorite fairy, Puck. Puck was the spirit ofmischief. He used to slip into the dairies and take the cream away, andget into the churn so that the butter would not come, and turn the beersour, and lead people out of their way on dark nights and then laugh atthem, and tumble people's stools from under them when they were going tosit down, and upset their hot ale over their chins when they were goingto drink. “Now,” said Oberon to this little sprite, “fetch me the flower calledLove-in-idleness. The juice of that little purple flower laid on theeyes of those who sleep will make them, when they wake, to love thefirst thing they see. I will put some of the juice of that flower onmy Titania's eyes, and when she wakes she will love the first thing shesees, were it lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, or meddling monkey, or abusy ape. ”While Puck was gone, Demetrius passed through the glade followed by poorHelena, and still she told him how she loved him and reminded him of allhis promises, and still he told her that he did not and could not loveher, and that his promises were nothing. Oberon was sorry for poorHelena, and when Puck returned with the flower, he bade him followDemetrius and put some of the juice on his eyes, so that he might loveHelena when he woke and looked on her, as much as she loved him. SoPuck set off, and wandering through the wood found, not Demetrius, butLysander, on whose eyes he put the juice; but when Lysander woke, he sawnot his own Hermia, but Helena, who was walking through the wood lookingfor the cruel Demetrius; and directly he saw her he loved her and lefthis own lady, under the spell of the purple flower. When Hermia woke she found Lysander gone, and wandered about the woodtrying to find him. Puck went back and told Oberon what he had done,and Oberon soon found that he had made a mistake, and set about lookingfor Demetrius, and having found him, put some of the juice on his eyes. And the first thing Demetrius saw when he woke was also Helena. So nowDemetrius and Lysander were both following her through the wood, and itwas Hermia's turn to follow her lover as Helena had done before. Theend of it was that Helena and Hermia began to quarrel, and Demetrius andLysander went off to fight. Oberon was very sorry to see his kind schemeto help these lovers turn out so badly. So he said to Puck--“These two young men are going to fight. You must overhang the nightwith drooping fog, and lead them so astray, that one will never find theother. When they are tired out, they will fall asleep. Then drop thisother herb on Lysander's eyes. That will give him his old sight and hisold love. Then each man will have the lady who loves him, and they willall think that this has been only a Midsummer Night's Dream. Then whenthis is done, all will be well with them. ”So Puck went and did as he was told, and when the two had fallen asleepwithout meeting each other, Puck poured the juice on Lysander's eyes,and said:-- “When thou wakest, Thou takest True delight In the sight Of thy former lady's eye: Jack shall have Jill; Nought shall go ill. ”Meanwhile Oberon found Titania asleep on a bank where grew wild thyme,oxlips, and violets, and woodbine, musk-roses and eglantine. ThereTitania always slept a part of the night, wrapped in the enameled skinof a snake. Oberon stooped over her and laid the juice on her eyes,saying:-- “What thou seest when thou wake, Do it for thy true love take. ”Now, it happened that when Titania woke the first thing she saw was astupid clown, one of a party of players who had come out into the woodto rehearse their play. This clown had met with Puck, who had clappedan ass's head on his shoulders so that it looked as if it grew there. Directly Titania woke and saw this dreadful monster, she said, “Whatangel is this? Are you as wise as you are beautiful? ”“If I am wise enough to find my way out of this wood, that's enough forme,” said the foolish clown. “Do not desire to go out of the wood,” said Titania. The spell of thelove-juice was on her, and to her the clown seemed the most beautifuland delightful creature on all the earth. “I love you,” she went on. “Come with me, and I will give you fairies to attend on you. ”So she called four fairies, whose names were Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth,and Mustardseed. “You must attend this gentleman,” said the Queen. “Feed him withapricots and dewberries, purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries. Steal honey-bags for him from the bumble-bees, and with the wings ofpainted butterflies fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes. ”“I will,” said one of the fairies, and all the others said, “I will. ”“Now, sit down with me,” said the Queen to the clown, “and let me strokeyour dear cheeks, and stick musk-roses in your smooth, sleek head, andkiss your fair large ears, my gentle joy. ”“Where's Peaseblossom? ” asked the clown with the ass's head. He did notcare much about the Queen's affection, but he was very proud of havingfairies to wait on him. “Ready,” said Peaseblossom. “Scratch my head, Peaseblossom,” said the clown. “Where's Cobweb? ” “Ready,” said Cobweb. “Kill me,” said the clown, “the red bumble-bee on the top of the thistleyonder, and bring me the honey-bag. Where's Mustardseed? ”“Ready,” said Mustardseed. “Oh, I want nothing,” said the clown. “Only just help Cobweb to scratch. I must go to the barber's, for methinks I am marvelous hairy about theface. ”“Would you like anything to eat? ” said the fairy Queen. “I should like some good dry oats,” said the clown--for his donkey'shead made him desire donkey's food--“and some hay to follow. ”“Shall some of my fairies fetch you new nuts from the squirrel's house? ” asked the Queen. “I'd rather have a handful or two of good dried peas,” said the clown. “But please don't let any of your people disturb me; I am going tosleep. ”Then said the Queen, “And I will wind thee in my arms. ”And so when Oberon came along he found his beautiful Queen lavishingkisses and endearments on a clown with a donkey's head. And before he released her from the enchantment, he persuaded her togive him the little Indian boy he so much desired to have. Then he tookpity on her, and threw some juice of the disenchanting flower on herpretty eyes; and then in a moment she saw plainly the donkey-headedclown she had been loving, and knew how foolish she had been. Oberon took off the ass's head from the clown, and left him to finishhis sleep with his own silly head lying on the thyme and violets. Thus all was made plain and straight again. Oberon and Titania lovedeach other more than ever. Demetrius thought of no one but Helena, andHelena had never had any thought of anyone but Demetrius. As for Hermia and Lysander, they were as loving a couple as you couldmeet in a day's march, even through a fairy wood. So the four mortal lovers went back to Athens and were married; and thefairy King and Queen live happily together in that very wood at thisvery day. THE TEMPESTProspero, the Duke of Milan, was a learned and studious man, who livedamong his books, leaving the management of his dukedom to his brotherAntonio, in whom indeed he had complete trust. But that trust wasill-rewarded, for Antonio wanted to wear the duke's crown himself, and,to gain his ends, would have killed his brother but for the love thepeople bore him. However, with the help of Prospero's great enemy,Alonso, King of Naples, he managed to get into his hands the dukedomwith all its honor, power, and riches. For they took Prospero to sea,and when they were far away from land, forced him into a little boatwith no tackle, mast, or sail. In their cruelty and hatred they put hislittle daughter, Miranda (not yet three years old), into the boat withhim, and sailed away, leaving them to their fate. But one among the courtiers with Antonio was true to his rightfulmaster, Prospero. To save the duke from his enemies was impossible, butmuch could be done to remind him of a subject's love. So this worthylord, whose name was Gonzalo, secretly placed in the boat some freshwater, provisions, and clothes, and what Prospero valued most of all,some of his precious books. The boat was cast on an island, and Prospero and his little one landedin safety. Now this island was enchanted, and for years had lain underthe spell of a fell witch, Sycorax, who had imprisoned in the trunksof trees all the good spirits she found there. She died shortly beforeProspero was cast on those shores, but the spirits, of whom Ariel wasthe chief, still remained in their prisons. Prospero was a great magician, for he had devoted himself almostentirely to the study of magic during the years in which he allowedhis brother to manage the affairs of Milan. By his art he set free theimprisoned spirits, yet kept them obedient to his will, and they weremore truly his subjects than his people in Milan had been. For hetreated them kindly as long as they did his bidding, and he exercisedhis power over them wisely and well. One creature alone he found itnecessary to treat with harshness: this was Caliban, the son of thewicked old witch, a hideous, deformed monster, horrible to look on, andvicious and brutal in all his habits. When Miranda was grown up into a maiden, sweet and fair to see, itchanced that Antonio and Alonso, with Sebastian, his brother, andFerdinand, his son, were at sea together with old Gonzalo, and theirship came near Prospero's island. Prospero, knowing they were there,raised by his art a great storm, so that even the sailors on board gavethemselves up for lost; and first among them all Prince Ferdinand leapedinto the sea, and, as his father thought in his grief, was drowned. ButAriel brought him safe ashore; and all the rest of the crew, althoughthey were washed overboard, were landed unhurt in different parts ofthe island, and the good ship herself, which they all thought had beenwrecked, lay at anchor in the harbor whither Ariel had brought her. Suchwonders could Prospero and his spirits perform. While yet the tempest was raging, Prospero showed his daughter the braveship laboring in the trough of the sea, and told her that it was filledwith living human beings like themselves. She, in pity of their lives,prayed him who had raised this storm to quell it. Then her father badeher to have no fear, for he intended to save every one of them. Then, for the first time, he told her the story of his life and hers,and that he had caused this storm to rise in order that his enemies,Antonio and Alonso, who were on board, might be delivered into hishands. When he had made an end of his story he charmed her into sleep, forAriel was at hand, and he had work for him to do. Ariel, who longedfor his complete freedom, grumbled to be kept in drudgery, but on beingthreateningly reminded of all the sufferings he had undergone whenSycorax ruled in the land, and of the debt of gratitude he owed to themaster who had made those sufferings to end, he ceased to complain, andpromised faithfully to do whatever Prospero might command. “Do so,” said Prospero, “and in two days I will discharge thee. ”Then he bade Ariel take the form of a water nymph and sent him in searchof the young prince. And Ariel, invisible to Ferdinand, hovered nearhim, singing the while-- “Come unto these yellow sands And then take hands: Court'sied when you have, and kiss'd (The wild waves whist), Foot it featly here and there; And, sweet sprites, the burden bear! ”And Ferdinand followed the magic singing, as the song changed to asolemn air, and the words brought grief to his heart, and tears to hiseyes, for thus they ran-- “Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made. Those are pearls that were his eyes, Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell. Hark! now I hear them,-- ding dong bell! ”And so singing, Ariel led the spell-bound prince into the presence ofProspero and Miranda. Then, behold! all happened as Prospero desired. For Miranda, who had never, since she could first remember, seenany human being save her father, looked on the youthful prince withreverence in her eyes, and love in her secret heart. “I might call him,” she said, “a thing divine, for nothing natural Iever saw so noble! ”And Ferdinand, beholding her beauty with wonder and delight, exclaimed--“Most sure the goddess on whom these airs attend! ”Nor did he attempt to hide the passion which she inspired in him, forscarcely had they exchanged half a dozen sentences, before he vowed tomake her his queen if she were willing. But Prospero, though secretlydelighted, pretended wrath. “You come here as a spy,” he said to Ferdinand. “I will manacle yourneck and feet together, and you shall feed on fresh water mussels,withered roots and husk, and have sea-water to drink. Follow. ”“No,” said Ferdinand, and drew his sword. But on the instant Prosperocharmed him so that he stood there like a statue, still as stone; andMiranda in terror prayed her father to have mercy on her lover. But heharshly refused her, and made Ferdinand follow him to his cell. Therehe set the Prince to work, making him remove thousands of heavy logs oftimber and pile them up; and Ferdinand patiently obeyed, and thought histoil all too well repaid by the sympathy of the sweet Miranda. She in very pity would have helped him in his hard work, but he wouldnot let her, yet he could not keep from her the secret of his love, andshe, hearing it, rejoiced and promised to be his wife. Then Prospero released him from his servitude, and glad at heart, hegave his consent to their marriage. “Take her,” he said, “she is thine own. ”In the meantime, Antonio and Sebastian in another part of the islandwere plotting the murder of Alonso, the King of Naples, for Ferdinandbeing dead, as they thought, Sebastian would succeed to the throne onAlonso's death. And they would have carried out their wicked purposewhile their victim was asleep, but that Ariel woke him in good time. Many tricks did Ariel play them. Once he set a banquet before them, andjust as they were going to fall to, he appeared to them amid thunderand lightning in the form of a harpy, and immediately the banquetdisappeared. Then Ariel upbraided them with their sins and vanished too. Prospero by his enchantments drew them all to the grove without hiscell, where they waited, trembling and afraid, and now at last bitterlyrepenting them of their sins. Prospero determined to make one last use of his magic power, “And then,” said he, “I'll break my staff and deeper than did ever plummet soundI'll drown my book. ”So he made heavenly music to sound in the air, and appeared to them inhis proper shape as the Duke of Milan. Because they repented, heforgave them and told them the story of his life since they had cruellycommitted him and his baby daughter to the mercy of wind and waves. Alonso, who seemed sorriest of them all for his past crimes, lamentedthe loss of his heir. But Prospero drew back a curtain and showed themFerdinand and Miranda playing at chess. Great was Alonso's joy to greethis loved son again, and when he heard that the fair maid with whomFerdinand was playing was Prospero's daughter, and that the young folkshad plighted their troth, he said--“Give me your hands, let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart thatdoth not wish you joy.

”So all ended happily. The ship was safe in the harbor, and next day theyall set sail for Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda were to be married. Ariel gave them calm seas and auspicious gales; and many were therejoicings at the wedding. Then Prospero, after many years of absence, went back to his owndukedom, where he was welcomed with great joy by his faithful subjects. He practiced the arts of magic no more, but his life was happy, and notonly because he had found his own again, but chiefly because, when hisbitterest foes who had done him deadly wrong lay at his mercy, he tookno vengeance on them, but nobly forgave them. As for Ariel, Prospero made him free as air, so that he could wanderwhere he would, and sing with a light heart his sweet song-- “Where the bee sucks, there suck I: In a cowslip's bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After summer, merrily: Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. ”AS YOU LIKE ITThere was once a wicked Duke named Frederick, who took the dukedom thatshould have belonged to his brother, sending him into exile. Hisbrother went into the Forest of Arden, where he lived the life of a boldforester, as Robin Hood did in Sherwood Forest in merry England. The banished Duke's daughter, Rosalind, remained with Celia, Frederick'sdaughter, and the two loved each other more than most sisters. One daythere was a wrestling match at Court, and Rosalind and Celia went to seeit. Charles, a celebrated wrestler, was there, who had killed many menin contests of this kind. Orlando, the young man he was to wrestle with,was so slender and youthful, that Rosalind and Celia thought he wouldsurely be killed, as others had been; so they spoke to him, and askedhim not to attempt so dangerous an adventure; but the only effect oftheir words was to make him wish more to come off well in the encounter,so as to win praise from such sweet ladies. Orlando, like Rosalind's father, was being kept out of his inheritanceby his brother, and was so sad at his brother's unkindness that, untilhe saw Rosalind, he did not care much whether he lived or died. But nowthe sight of the fair Rosalind gave him strength and courage, so thathe did marvelously, and at last, threw Charles to such a tune, that thewrestler had to be carried off the ground. Duke Frederick was pleasedwith his courage, and asked his name. “My name is Orlando, and I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys,” said the young man. Now Sir Rowland de Boys, when he was alive, had been a good friend tothe banished Duke, so that Frederick heard with regret whose son Orlandowas, and would not befriend him. But Rosalind was delighted to hear thatthis handsome young stranger was the son of her father's old friend, andas they were going away, she turned back more than once to say anotherkind word to the brave young man. “Gentleman,” she said, giving him a chain from her neck, “wear this forme. I could give more, but that my hand lacks means. ”Rosalind and Celia, when they were alone, began to talk about thehandsome wrestler, and Rosalind confessed that she loved him at firstsight. “Come, come,” said Celia, “wrestle with thy affections. ”“Oh,” answered Rosalind, “they take the part of a better wrestler thanmyself. Look, here comes the Duke. ”“With his eyes full of anger,” said Celia. “You must leave the Court at once,” he said to Rosalind. “Why? ” sheasked. “Never mind why,” answered the Duke, “you are banished. If within tendays you are found within twenty miles of my Court, you die. ”So Rosalind set out to seek her father, the banished Duke, in the Forestof Arden. Celia loved her too much to let her go alone, and as it wasrather a dangerous journey, Rosalind, being the taller, dressed up asa young countryman, and her cousin as a country girl, and Rosalind saidthat she would be called Ganymede, and Celia, Aliena. They were verytired when at last they came to the Forest of Arden, and as they weresitting on the grass a countryman passed that way, and Ganymedeasked him if he could get them food. He did so, and told them thata shepherd's flocks and house were to be sold. They bought these andsettled down as shepherd and shepherdess in the forest. In the meantime, Oliver having sought to take his brother Orlando'slife, Orlando also wandered into the forest, and there met with therightful Duke, and being kindly received, stayed with him. Now, Orlandocould think of nothing but Rosalind, and he went about the forestcarving her name on trees, and writing love sonnets and hanging them onthe bushes, and there Rosalind and Celia found them. One day Orlando metthem, but he did not know Rosalind in her boy's clothes, though he likedthe pretty shepherd youth, because he fancied a likeness in him to herhe loved. “There is a foolish lover,” said Rosalind, “who haunts these woods andhangs sonnets on the trees. If I could find him, I would soon cure himof his folly. ”Orlando confessed that he was the foolish lover, and Rosalind said--“Ifyou will come and see me every day, I will pretend to be Rosalind, and Iwill take her part, and be wayward and contrary, as is the way of women,till I make you ashamed of your folly in loving her. ”And so every day he went to her house, and took a pleasure in saying toher all the pretty things he would have said to Rosalind; and she hadthe fine and secret joy of knowing that all his love-words came to theright ears. Thus many days passed pleasantly away. One morning, as Orlando was going to visit Ganymede, he saw a man asleepon the ground, and that there was a lioness crouching near, waiting forthe man who was asleep to wake: for they say that lions will not prey onanything that is dead or sleeping. Then Orlando looked at the man, andsaw that it was his wicked brother, Oliver, who had tried to take hislife. He fought with the lioness and killed her, and saved his brother'slife. While Orlando was fighting the lioness, Oliver woke to see his brother,whom he had treated so badly, saving him from a wild beast at the riskof his own life. This made him repent of his wickedness, and he beggedOrlando's pardon, and from thenceforth they were dear brothers. Thelioness had wounded Orlando's arm so much, that he could not go on tosee the shepherd, so he sent his brother to ask Ganymede to come to him. Oliver went and told the whole story to Ganymede and Aliena, and Alienawas so charmed with his manly way of confessing his faults, that shefell in love with him at once. But when Ganymede heard of the dangerOrlando had been in she fainted; and when she came to herself, saidtruly enough, “I should have been a woman by right. ”Oliver went back to his brother and told him all this, saying, “I loveAliena so well that I will give up my estates to you and marry her, andlive here as a shepherd. ”“Let your wedding be to-morrow,” said Orlando, “and I will ask the Dukeand his friends. ”When Orlando told Ganymede how his brother was to be married on themorrow, he added: “Oh, how bitter a thing it is to look into happinessthrough another man's eyes. ”Then answered Rosalind, still in Ganymede's dress and speaking with hisvoic--“If you do love Rosalind so near the heart, then when your brothermarries Aliena, shall you marry her. ”Now the next day the Duke and his followers, and Orlando, and Oliver,and Aliena, were all gathered together for the wedding. Then Ganymede came in and said to the Duke, “If I bring in your daughterRosalind, will you give her to Orlando here? ” “That I would,” said theDuke, “if I had all kingdoms to give with her. ”“And you say you will have her when I bring her? ” she said to Orlando. “That would I,” he answered, “were I king of all kingdoms. ”Then Rosalind and Celia went out, and Rosalind put on her pretty woman'sclothes again, and after a while came back. She turned to her father--“I give myself to you, for I am yours. ” “Ifthere be truth in sight,” he said, “you are my daughter. ”Then she said to Orlando, “I give myself to you, for I am yours. ” “Ifthere be truth in sight,” he said, “you are my Rosalind. ”“I will have no father if you be not he,” she said to the Duke, and toOrlando, “I will have no husband if you be not he. ”So Orlando and Rosalind were married, and Oliver and Celia, and theylived happy ever after, returning with the Duke to the kingdom. ForFrederick had been shown by a holy hermit the wickedness of his ways,and so gave back the dukedom of his brother, and himself went into amonastery to pray for forgiveness. The wedding was a merry one, in the mossy glades of the forest. Ashepherd and shepherdess who had been friends with Rosalind, when shewas herself disguised as a shepherd, were married on the same day, andall with such pretty feastings and merrymakings as could be nowherewithin four walls, but only in the beautiful green wood. THE WINTER'S TALELeontes was the King of Sicily, and his dearest friend was Polixenes,King of Bohemia. They had been brought up together, and only separatedwhen they reached man's estate and each had to go and rule overhis kingdom. After many years, when each was married and had a son,Polixenes came to stay with Leontes in Sicily. Leontes was a violent-tempered man and rather silly, and he took it intohis stupid head that his wife, Hermione, liked Polixenes better thanshe did him, her own husband. When once he had got this into his head,nothing could put it out; and he ordered one of his lords, Camillo, toput a poison in Polixenes' wine. Camillo tried to dissuade him from thiswicked action, but finding he was not to be moved, pretended to consent. He then told Polixenes what was proposed against him, and they fled fromthe Court of Sicily that night, and returned to Bohemia, where Camillolived on as Polixenes' friend and counselor. Leontes threw the Queen into prison; and her son, the heir to thethrone, died of sorrow to see his mother so unjustly and cruellytreated. While the Queen was in prison she had a little baby, and a friend ofhers, named Paulina, had the baby dressed in its best, and took it toshow the King, thinking that the sight of his helpless little daughterwould soften his heart towards his dear Queen, who had never done himany wrong, and who loved him a great deal more than he deserved; but theKing would not look at the baby, and ordered Paulina's husband to takeit away in a ship, and leave it in the most desert and dreadful placehe could find, which Paulina's husband, very much against his will, wasobliged to do. Then the poor Queen was brought up to be tried for treason in preferringPolixenes to her King; but really she had never thought of anyone exceptLeontes, her husband. Leontes had sent some messengers to ask the god,Apollo, whether he was not right in his cruel thoughts of the Queen. Buthe had not patience to wait till they came back, and so it happened thatthey arrived in the middle of the trial. The Oracle said--“Hermione is innocent, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject,Leontes a jealous tyrant, and the King shall live without an heir, ifthat which is lost be not found. ”Then a man came and told them that the little Prince was dead. Thepoor Queen, hearing this, fell down in a fit; and then the King saw howwicked and wrong he had been. He ordered Paulina and the ladies who werewith the Queen to take her away, and try to restore her. But Paulinacame back in a few moments, and told the King that Hermione was dead. Now Leontes' eyes were at last opened to his folly. His Queen was dead,and the little daughter who might have been a comfort to him he had sentaway to be the prey of wolves and kites. Life had nothing left for himnow. He gave himself up to his grief, and passed in any sad years inprayer and remorse. The baby Princess was left on the seacoast of Bohemia, the very kingdomwhere Polixenes reigned. Paulina's husband never went home to tellLeontes where he had left the baby; for as he was going back to theship, he met a bear and was torn to pieces. So there was an end of him. But the poor deserted little baby was found by a shepherd. She wasrichly dressed, and had with her some jewels, and a paper was pinned toher cloak, saying that her name was Perdita, and that she came of nobleparents. The shepherd, being a kind-hearted man, took home the little baby tohis wife, and they brought it up as their own child. She had no moreteaching than a shepherd's child generally has, but she inherited fromher royal mother many graces and charms, so that she was quite differentfrom the other maidens in the village where she lived. One day Prince Florizel, the son of the good King of Bohemia, wasbunting near the shepherd's house and saw Perdita, now grown up to acharming woman. He made friends with the shepherd, not telling him thathe was the Prince, but saying that his name was Doricles, and that hewas a private gentleman; and then, being deeply in love with the prettyPerdita, he came almost daily to see her. The King could not understand what it was that took his son nearly everyday from home; so he set people to watch him, and then found out thatthe heir of the King of Bohemia was in love with Perdita, the prettyshepherd girl. Polixenes, wishing to see whether this was true,disguised himself, and went with the faithful Camillo, in disguisetoo, to the old shepherd's house. They arrived at the feast ofsheep-shearing, and, though strangers, they were made very welcome. There was dancing going on, and a peddler was selling ribbons and lacesand gloves, which the young men bought for their sweethearts. Florizel and Perdita, however, were taking no part in this gay scene,but sat quietly together talking. The King noticed the charming mannersand great beauty of Perdita, never guessing that she was the daughter ofhis old friend, Leontes. He said to Camillo--“This is the prettiest low-born lass that ever ran on the greensward. Nothing she does or seems but smacks of something greater thanherself--too noble for this place. ”And Camillo answered, “In truth she is the Queen of curds and cream. ”But when Florizel, who did not recognize his father, called upon thestrangers to witness his betrothal with the pretty shepherdess, the Kingmade himself known and forbade the marriage, adding that if ever she sawFlorizel again, he would kill her and her old father, the shepherd; andwith that he left them. But Camillo remained behind, for he was charmedwith Perdita, and wished to befriend her. Camillo had long known how sorry Leontes was for that foolish madness ofhis, and he longed to go back to Sicily to see his old master. He nowproposed that the young people should go there and claim the protectionof Leontes. So they went, and the shepherd went with them, takingPerdita's jewels, her baby clothes, and the paper he had found pinned toher cloak. Leontes received them with great kindness. He was very polite to PrinceFlorizel, but all his looks were for Perdita. He saw how much she waslike the Queen Hermione, and said again and again--“Such a sweet creature my daughter might have been, if I had not cruellysent her from me. ”When the old shepherd heard that the King had lost a baby daughter, whohad been left upon the coast of Bohemia, he felt sure that Perdita, thechild he had reared, must be the King's daughter, and when he toldhis tale and showed the jewels and the paper, the King perceived thatPerdita was indeed his long-lost child. He welcomed her with joy, andrewarded the good shepherd. Polixenes had hastened after his son to prevent his marriage withPerdita, but when he found that she was the daughter of his old friend,he was only too glad to give his consent. Yet Leontes could not be happy. He remembered how his fair Queen,who should have been at his side to share his joy in his daughter'shappiness, was dead through his unkindness, and he could say nothing fora long time but--“Oh, thy mother! thy mother! ” and ask forgiveness of the King ofBohemia, and then kiss his daughter again, and then the Prince Florizel,and then thank the old shepherd for all his goodness. Then Paulina, who had been high all these years in the King's favor,because of her kindness to the dead Queen Hermione, said--“I have astatue made in the likeness of the dead Queen, a piece many years indoing, and performed by the rare Italian master, Giulio Romano. I keepit in a private house apart, and there, ever since you lost your Queen,I have gone twice or thrice a day. Will it please your Majesty to go andsee the statue? ”So Leontes and Polixenes, and Florizel and Perdita, with Camillo andtheir attendants, went to Paulina's house where there was a heavy purplecurtain screening off an alcove; and Paulina, with her hand on thecurtain, said--“She was peerless when she was alive, and I do believe that her deadlikeness excels whatever yet you have looked upon, or that the handof man hath done. Therefore I keep it lonely, apart. But here itis--behold, and say, 'tis well. ”And with that she drew back the curtain and showed them the statue. TheKing gazed and gazed on the beautiful statue of his dead wife, but saidnothing. “I like your silence,” said Paulina; “it the more shows off your wonder. But speak, is it not like her? ”“It is almost herself,” said the King, “and yet, Paulina, Hermione wasnot so much wrinkled, nothing so old as this seems. ”“Oh, not by much,” said Polixenes. “Al,” said Paulina, “that is the cleverness of the carver, who shows herto us as she would have been had she lived till now. ”And still Leontes looked at the statue and could not take his eyes away. “If I had known,” said Paulina, “that this poor image would so havestirred your grief, and love, I would not have shown it to you. ”But he only answered, “Do not draw the curtain. ”“No, you must not look any longer,” said Paulina, “or you will think itmoves. ”“Let be! let be! ” said the King. “Would you not think it breathed? ”“I will draw the curtain,” said Paulina; “you will think it livespresently. ”“Ah, sweet Paulina,” said Leontes, “make me to think so twenty yearstogether. ”“If you can bear it,” said Paulina, “I can make the statue move, makeit come down and take you by the hand. Only you would think it was bywicked magic. ”“Whatever you can make her do, I am content to look on,” said the King. And then, all folks there admiring and beholding, the statue moved fromits pedestal, and came down the steps and put its arms round the King'sneck, and he held her face and kissed her many times, for this wasno statue, but the real living Queen Hermione herself. She had livedhidden, by Paulina's kindness, all these years, and would not discoverherself to her husband, though she knew he had repented, because shecould not quite forgive him till she knew what had become of her littlebaby. Now that Perdita was found, she forgave her husband everything, and itwas like a new and beautiful marriage to them, to be together once more. Florizel and Perdita were married and lived long and happily. To Leontes his many years of suffering were well paid for in the momentwhen, after long grief and pain, he felt the arms of his true lovearound him once again. KING LEARKing Lear was old and tired. He was aweary of the business of hiskingdom, and wished only to end his days quietly near his threedaughters. Two of his daughters were married to the Dukes of Albanyand Cornwall; and the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France were bothsuitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter. Lear called his three daughters together, and told them that he proposedto divide his kingdom between them. “But first,” said he, “I should liketo know much you love me. ”Goneril, who was really a very wicked woman, and did not love her fatherat all, said she loved him more than words could say; she loved himdearer than eyesight, space or liberty, more than life, grace, health,beauty, and honor. “I love you as much as my sister and more,” professed Regan, “since Icare for nothing but my father's love. ”Lear was very much pleased with Regan's professions, and turned to hisyoungest daughter, Cordelia. “Now, our joy, though last not least,” hesaid, “the best part of my kingdom have I kept for you. What can yousay? ”“Nothing, my lord,” answered Cordelia. “Nothing can come of nothing. Speak again,” said the King. And Cordelia answered, “I love your Majesty according to my duty--nomore, no less. ”And this she said, because she was disgusted with the way in which hersisters professed love, when really they had not even a right sense ofduty to their old father. “I am your daughter,” she went on, “and you have brought me up and lovedme, and I return you those duties back as are right and fit, obey you,love you, and most honor you. ”Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more extravagantprofessions of love than her sisters. “Go,” he said, “be for ever astranger to my heart and me. ”The Earl of Kent, one of Lear's favorite courtiers and captains, triedto say a word for Cordelia's sake, but Lear would not listen. He dividedthe kingdom between Goneril and Regan, and told them that he should onlykeep a hundred knights at arms, and would live with his daughters byturns. When the Duke of Burgundy knew that Cordelia would have no share of thekingdom, he gave up his courtship of her. But the King of France waswiser, and said, “Thy dowerless daughter, King, is Queen of us--of ours,and our fair France. ”“Take her, take her,” said the King; “for I will never see that face ofhers again. ”So Cordelia became Queen of France, and the Earl of Kent, for havingventured to take her part, was banished from the kingdom. The King nowwent to stay with his daughter Goneril, who had got everything from herfather that he had to give, and now began to grudge even the hundredknights that he had reserved for himself. She was harsh and undutifulto him, and her servants either refused to obey his orders or pretendedthat they did not hear them. Now the Earl of Kent, when he was banished, made as though he wouldgo into another country, but instead he came back in the disguise ofa servingman and took service with the King. The King had now twofriends--the Earl of Kent, whom he only knew as his servant, and hisFool, who was faithful to him. Goneril told her father plainly that hisknights only served to fill her Court with riot and feasting; and so shebegged him only to keep a few old men about him such as himself. “My train are men who know all parts of duty,” said Lear. “Goneril, Iwill not trouble you further--yet I have left another daughter. ”And his horses being saddled, he set out with his followers for thecastle of Regan. But she, who had formerly outdone her sister inprofessions of attachment to the King, now seemed to outdo her inundutiful conduct, saying that fifty knights were too many to wait onhim, and Goneril (who had hurried thither to prevent Regan showing anykindness to the old King) said five were too many, since her servantscould wait on him. Then when Lear saw that what they really wanted was to drive him away,he left them. It was a wild and stormy night, and he wandered about theheath half mad with misery, and with no companion but the poor Fool. But presently his servant, the good Earl of Kent, met him, and at lastpersuaded him to lie down in a wretched little hovel. At daybreak theEarl of Kent removed his royal master to Dover, and hurried to the Courtof France to tell Cordelia what had happened. Cordelia's husband gave her an army and with it she landed at Dover. Here she found poor King Lear, wandering about the fields, wearing acrown of nettles and weeds. They brought him back and fed and clothedhim, and Cordelia came to him and kissed him. “You must bear with me,” said Lear; “forget and forgive. I am old andfoolish. ”And now he knew at last which of his children it was that had loved himbest, and who was worthy of his love. Goneril and Regan joined their armies to fight Cordelia's army, and weresuccessful; and Cordelia and her father were thrown into prison. ThenGoneril's husband, the Duke of Albany, who was a good man, and had notknown how wicked his wife was, heard the truth of the whole story; andwhen Goneril found that her husband knew her for the wicked woman shewas, she killed herself, having a little time before given a deadlypoison to her sister, Regan, out of a spirit of jealousy. But they had arranged that Cordelia should be hanged in prison, andthough the Duke of Albany sent messengers at once, it was too late. Theold King came staggering into the tent of the Duke of Albany, carryingthe body of his dear daughter Cordelia, in his arms. And soon after, with words of love for her upon his lips, he fell withher still in his arms, and died. TWELFTH NIGHTOrsino, the Duke of Illyria, was deeply in love with a beautifulCountess named Olivia. Yet was all his love in vain, for she disdainedhis suit; and when her brother died, she sent back a messenger from theDuke, bidding him tell his master that for seven years she would notlet the very air behold her face, but that, like a nun, she would walkveiled; and all this for the sake of a dead brother's love, which shewould keep fresh and lasting in her sad remembrance. The Duke longed for someone to whom he could tell his sorrow, and repeatover and over again the story of his love. And chance brought him such acompanion. For about this time a goodly ship was wrecked on the Illyriancoast, and among those who reached land in safety were the captain anda fair young maid, named Viola. But she was little grateful for beingrescued from the perils of the sea, since she feared that her twinbrother was drowned, Sebastian, as dear to her as the heart in herbosom, and so like her that, but for the difference in their manner ofdress, one could hardly be told from the other. The captain, for hercomfort, told her that he had seen her brother bind himself “to a strongmast that lived upon the sea,” and that thus there was hope that hemight be saved. Viola now asked in whose country she was, and learning that the youngDuke Orsino ruled there, and was as noble in his nature as in his name,she decided to disguise herself in male attire, and seek for employmentwith him as a page. In this she succeeded, and now from day to day she had to listen to thestory of Orsino's love. At first she sympathized very truly with him,but soon her sympathy grew to love. At last it occurred to Orsino thathis hopeless love-suit might prosper better if he sent this pretty ladto woo Olivia for him. Viola unwillingly went on this errand, but whenshe came to the house, Malvolio, Olivia's steward, a vain, officiousman, sick, as his mistress told him, of self-love, forbade the messengeradmittance. Viola, however (who was now called Cesario), refused to take any denial,and vowed to have speech with the Countess. Olivia, hearing how herinstructions were defied and curious to see this daring youth, said,“We'll once more hear Orsino's embassy. ”When Viola was admitted to her presence and the servants had been sentaway, she listened patiently to the reproaches which this bold messengerfrom the Duke poured upon her, and listening she fell in love with thesupposed Cesario; and when Cesario had gone, Olivia longed to send somelove-token after him. So, calling Malvolio, she bade him follow the boy. “He left this ring behind him,” she said, taking one from her finger. “Tell him I will none of it. ”Malvolio did as he was bid, and then Viola, who of course knew perfectlywell that she had left no ring behind her, saw with a woman's quicknessthat Olivia loved her. Then she went back to the Duke, very sad at heartfor her lover, and for Olivia, and for herself. It was but cold comfort she could give Orsino, who now sought to easethe pangs of despised love by listening to sweet music, while Cesariostood by his side. “Ah,” said the Duke to his page that night, “you too have been in love. ”“A little,” answered Viola. “What kind of woman is it? ” he asked. “Of your complexion,” she answered.

“What years, i' faith? ” was his next question. To this came the pretty answer, “About your years, my lord. ”“Too old, by Heaven! ” cried the Duke. “Let still the woman take an elderthan herself. ”And Viola very meekly said, “I think it well, my lord. ”By and by Orsino begged Cesario once more to visit Olivia and to pleadhis love-suit. But she, thinking to dissuade him, said--“If some lady loved you as you love Olivia? ”“Ah! that cannot be,” said the Duke. “But I know,” Viola went on, “what love woman may have for a man. Myfather had a daughter loved a man, as it might be,” she added blushing,“perhaps, were I a woman, I should love your lordship. ”“And what is her history? ” he asked. “A blank, my lord,” Viola answered. “She never told her love, but letconcealment like a worm in the bud feed on her damask cheek: shepined in thought, and with a green and yellow melancholy she sat, likePatience on a monument, smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed? ”“But died thy sister of her love, my boy? ” the Duke asked; and Viola,who had all the time been telling her own love for him in this prettyfashion, said--“I am all the daughters my father has and all the brothers-- Sir, shallI go to the lady? ”“To her in haste,” said the Duke, at once forgetting all about thestory, “and give her this jewel. ”So Viola went, and this time poor Olivia was unable to hide her love,and openly confessed it with such passionate truth, that Viola left herhastily, saying--“Nevermore will I deplore my master's tears to you. ”But in vowing this, Viola did not know the tender pity she would feelfor other's suffering. So when Olivia, in the violence of her love,sent a messenger, praying Cesario to visit her once more, Cesario had noheart to refuse the request. But the favors which Olivia bestowed upon this mere page aroused thejealousy of Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish, rejected lover of hers, whoat that time was staying at her house with her merry old uncle Sir Toby. This same Sir Toby dearly loved a practical joke, and knowing Sir Andrewto be an arrant coward, he thought that if he could bring off a duelbetween him and Cesario, there would be rare sport indeed. So he inducedSir Andrew to send a challenge, which he himself took to Cesario. Thepoor page, in great terror, said--“I will return again to the house, I am no fighter. ”“Back you shall not to the house,” said Sir Toby, “unless you fight mefirst. ”And as he looked a very fierce old gentleman, Viola thought it best toawait Sir Andrew's coming; and when he at last made his appearance, ina great fright, if the truth had been known, she tremblingly drew hersword, and Sir Andrew in like fear followed her example. Happily forthem both, at this moment some officers of the Court came on the scene,and stopped the intended duel. Viola gladly made off with what speed shemight, while Sir Toby called after her--“A very paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare! ”Now, while these things were happening, Sebastian had escaped allthe dangers of the deep, and had landed safely in Illyria, where hedetermined to make his way to the Duke's Court. On his way thither hepassed Olivia's house just as Viola had left it in such a hurry, andwhom should he meet but Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. Sir Andrew, mistakingSebastian for the cowardly Cesario, took his courage in both hands, andwalking up to him struck him, saying, “There's for you. ”“Why, there's for you; and there, and there! ” said Sebastian, bittingback a great deal harder, and again and again, till Sir Toby came tothe rescue of his friend. Sebastian, however, tore himself free from SirToby's clutches, and drawing his sword would have fought them both, butthat Olivia herself, having heard of the quarrel, came running in, andwith many reproaches sent Sir Toby and his friend away. Then turningto Sebastian, whom she too thought to be Cesario, she besought him withmany a pretty speech to come into the house with her. Sebastian, half dazed and all delighted with her beauty and grace,readily consented, and that very day, so great was Olivia's baste,they were married before she had discovered that he was not Cesario, orSebastian was quite certain whether or not he was in a dream. Meanwhile Orsino, hearing how ill Cesario sped with Olivia, visited herhimself, taking Cesario with him. Olivia met them both before herdoor, and seeing, as she thought, her husband there, reproached him forleaving her, while to the Duke she said that his suit was as fat andwholesome to her as howling after music. “Still so cruel? ” said Orsino. “Still so constant,” she answered. Then Orsino's anger growing to cruelty, he vowed that, to be revenged onher, he would kill Cesario, whom he knew she loved. “Come, boy,” he saidto the page. And Viola, following him as he moved away, said, “I, to do you rest, athousand deaths would die. ”A great fear took hold on Olivia, and she cried aloud, “Cesario,husband, stay! ”“Her husband? ” asked the Duke angrily. “No, my lord, not I,” said Viola. “Call forth the holy father,” cried Olivia. And the priest who had married Sebastian and Olivia, coming in, declaredCesario to be the bridegroom. “O thou dissembling cub! ” the Duke exclaimed. “Farewell, and take her,but go where thou and I henceforth may never meet. ”At this moment Sir Andrew came up with bleeding crown, complaining thatCesario had broken his head, and Sir Toby's as well. “I never hurt you,” said Viola, very positively; “you drew your sword onme, but I bespoke you fair, and hurt you not. ”Yet, for all her protesting, no one there believed her; but all theirthoughts were on a sudden changed to wonder, when Sebastian came in. “I am sorry, madam,” he said to his wife, “I have hurt your kinsman. Pardon me, sweet, even for the vows we made each other so late ago. ”“One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons! ” cried the Duke,looking first at Viola, and then at Sebastian. “An apple cleft in two,” said one who knew Sebastian, “is not more twinthan these two creatures. Which is Sebastian? ”“I never had a brother,” said Sebastian. “I had a sister, whom the blindwaves and surges have devoured. ” “Were you a woman,” he said to Viola,“I should let my tears fall upon your cheek, and say, 'Thrice welcome,drowned Viola! '”Then Viola, rejoicing to see her dear brother alive, confessed that shewas indeed his sister, Viola. As she spoke, Orsino felt the pity that isakin to love. “Boy,” he said, “thou hast said to me a thousand times thou nevershouldst love woman like to me. ”“And all those sayings will I overswear,” Viola replied, “and all thoseswearings keep true. ”“Give me thy hand,” Orsino cried in gladness. “Thou shalt be my wife,and my fancy's queen. ”Thus was the gentle Viola made happy, while Olivia found in Sebastiana constant lover, and a good husband, and he in her a true and lovingwife. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINGIn Sicily is a town called Messina, which is the scene of a curiousstorm in a teacup that raged several hundred years ago. It began with sunshine. Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, in Spain, hadgained so complete a victory over his foes that the very land whencethey came is forgotten. Feeling happy and playful after the fatigues ofwar, Don Pedro came for a holiday to Messina, and in his suite were hisstepbrother Don John and two young Italian lords, Benedick and Claudio. Benedick was a merry chatterbox, who had determined to live a bachelor. Claudio, on the other hand, no sooner arrived at Messina than he fell inlove with Hero, the daughter of Leonato, Governor of Messina. One July day, a perfumer called Borachio was burning dried lavender ina musty room in Leonato's house, when the sound of conversation floatedthrough the open window. “Give me your candid opinion of Hero,” Claudio, asked, and Borachiosettled himself for comfortable listening. “Too short and brown for praise,” was Benedick's reply; “but alter hercolor or height, and you spoil her. ”“In my eyes she is the sweetest of women,” said Claudio. “Not in mine,” retorted Benedick, “and I have no need for glasses. Sheis like the last day of December compared with the first of May if youset her beside her cousin. Unfortunately, the Lady Beatrice is a fury. ”Beatrice was Leonato's niece. She amused herself by saying witty andsevere things about Benedick, who called her Dear Lady Disdain. Shewas wont to say that she was born under a dancing star, and could nottherefore be dull. Claudio and Benedick were still talking when Don Pedro came up and saidgood-humoredly, “Well, gentlemen, what's the secret? ”“I am longing,” answered Benedick, “for your Grace to command me totell. ”“I charge you, then, on your allegiance to tell me,” said Don Pedro,falling in with his humor. “I can be as dumb as a mute,” apologized Benedick to Claudio, “but hisGrace commands my speech. ” To Don Pedro he said, “Claudio is in lovewith Hero, Leonato's short daughter. ”Don Pedro was pleased, for he admired Hero and was fond of Claudio. WhenBenedick had departed, he said to Claudio, “Be steadfast in your lovefor Hero, and I will help you to win her. To-night her father gives amasquerade, and I will pretend I am Claudio, and tell her how Claudioloves her, and if she be pleased, I will go to her father and ask hisconsent to your union. ”Most men like to do their own wooing, but if you fall in love with aGovernor's only daughter, you are fortunate if you can trust a prince toplead for you. Claudio then was fortunate, but he was unfortunate as well, for hehad an enemy who was outwardly a friend. This enemy was Don Pedro'sstepbrother Don John, who was jealous of Claudio because Don Pedropreferred him to Don John. It was to Don John that Borachio came with the interesting conversationwhich he had overheard. “I shall have some fun at that masquerade myself,” said Don John whenBorachio ceased speaking. On the night of the masquerade, Don Pedro, masked and pretending he wasClaudio, asked Hero if he might walk with her. They moved away together, and Don John went up to Claudio and said,“Signor Benedick, I believe? ” “The same,” fibbed Claudio. “I should be much obliged then,” said Don John, “if you would use yourinfluence with my brother to cure him of his love for Hero. She isbeneath him in rank. ”“How do you know he loves her? ” inquired Claudio. “I heard him swear his affection,” was the reply, and Borachio chimed inwith, “So did I too. ”Claudio was then left to himself, and his thought was that his Princehad betrayed him. “Farewell, Hero,” he muttered; “I was a fool to trustto an agent. ”Meanwhile Beatrice and Benedick (who was masked) were having a briskexchange of opinions. “Did Benedick ever make you laugh? ” asked she. “Who is Benedick? ” he inquired. “A Prince's jester,” replied Beatrice, and she spoke so sharply that “Iwould not marry her,” he declared afterwards, “if her estate were theGarden of Eden. ”But the principal speaker at the masquerade was neither Beatrice norBenedick. It was Don Pedro, who carried out his plan to the letter, andbrought the light back to Claudio's face in a twinkling, by appearingbefore him with Leonato and Hero, and saying, “Claudio, when would youlike to go to church? ”“To-morrow,” was the prompt answer. “Time goes on crutches till I marryHero. ”“Give her a week, my dear son,” said Leonato, and Claudio's heartthumped with joy. “And now,” said the amiable Don Pedro, “we must find a wife for SignorBenedick. It is a task for Hercules. ”“I will help you,” said Leonato, “if I have to sit up ten nights. ”Then Hero spoke. “I will do what I can, my lord, to find a good husbandfor Beatrice. ”Thus, with happy laughter, ended the masquerade which had given Claudioa lesson for nothing. Borachio cheered up Don John by laying a plan before him with which hewas confident he could persuade both Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero wasa fickle girl who had two strings to her bow. Don John agreed to thisplan of hate. Don Pedro, on the other hand, had devised a cunning plan of love. “If,” he said to Leonato, “we pretend, when Beatrice is near enough tooverhear us, that Benedick is pining for her love, she will pity him,see his good qualities, and love him. And if, when Benedick thinks wedon't know he is listening, we say how sad it is that the beautifulBeatrice should be in love with a heartless scoffer like Benedick, hewill certainly be on his knees before her in a week or less. ”So one day, when Benedick was reading in a summer-house, Claudio satdown outside it with Leonato, and said, “Your daughter told me somethingabout a letter she wrote. ”“Letter! ” exclaimed Leonato. “She will get up twenty times in the nightand write goodness knows what. But once Hero peeped, and saw the words'Benedick and Beatrice' on the sheet, and then Beatrice tore it up. ”“Hero told me,” said Claudio, “that she cried, 'O sweet Benedick! '”Benedick was touched to the core by this improbable story, which he wasvain enough to believe. “She is fair and good,” he said to himself. “I must not seem proud. I feel that I love her. People will laugh, ofcourse; but their paper bullets will do me no harm. ”At this moment Beatrice came to the summerhouse, and said, “Against mywill, I have come to tell you that dinner is ready. ”“Fair Beatrice, I thank you,” said Benedick. “I took no more pains to come than you take pains to thank me,” was therejoinder, intended to freeze him. But it did not freeze him. It warmed him. The meaning he squeezed out ofher rude speech was that she was delighted to come to him. Hero, who had undertaken the task of melting the heart of Beatrice, tookno trouble to seek an occasion. She simply said to her maid Margaret oneday, “Run into the parlor and whisper to Beatrice that Ursula and I aretalking about her in the orchard. ”Having said this, she felt as sure that Beatrice would overhear what wasmeant for her ears as if she had made an appointment with her cousin. In the orchard was a bower, screened from the sun by honeysuckles, andBeatrice entered it a few minutes after Margaret had gone on her errand. “But are you sure,” asked Ursula, who was one of Hero's attendants,“that Benedick loves Beatrice so devotedly? ”“So say the Prince and my betrothed,” replied Hero, “and they wished meto tell her, but I said, 'No! Let Benedick get over it. '”“Why did you say that? ”“Because Beatrice is unbearably proud. Her eyes sparkle with disdain andscorn. She is too conceited to love. I should not like to see her makinggame of poor Benedick's love. I would rather see Benedick waste awaylike a covered fire. ”“I don't agree with you,” said Ursula. “I think your cousin is tooclear-sighted not to see the merits of Benedick. ” “He is the one man inItaly, except Claudio,” said Hero. The talkers then left the orchard, and Beatrice, excited and tender,stepped out of the summer-house, saying to herself, “Poor dear Benedick,be true to me, and your love shall tame this wild heart of mine. ”We now return to the plan of hate. The night before the day fixed for Claudio's wedding, Don John entereda room in which Don Pedro and Claudio were conversing, and asked Claudioif he intended to be married to-morrow. “You know he does! ” said Don Pedro. “He may know differently,” said Don John, “when he has seen what I willshow him if he will follow me. ”They followed him into the garden; and they saw a lady leaning out ofHero's window talking love to Borachio. Claudio thought the lady was Hero, and said, “I will shame her for itto-morrow! ” Don Pedro thought she was Hero, too; but she was not Hero;she was Margaret. Don John chuckled noiselessly when Claudio and Don Pedro quitted thegarden; he gave Borachio a purse containing a thousand ducats. The money made Borachio feel very gay, and when he was walking in thestreet with his friend Conrade, he boasted of his wealth and the giver,and told what he had done. A watchman overheard them, and thought that a man who had been paid athousand ducats for villainy was worth taking in charge. He thereforearrested Borachio and Conrade, who spent the rest of the night inprison. Before noon of the next day half the aristocrats in Messina were atchurch. Hero thought it was her wedding day, and she was there in herwedding dress, no cloud on her pretty face or in her frank and shiningeyes. The priest was Friar Francis. Turning to Claudio, he said, “You come hither, my lord, to marry thislady? ” “No! ” contradicted Claudio. Leonato thought he was quibbling over grammar. “You should have said,Friar,” said he, “'You come to be married to her. '”Friar Francis turned to Hero. “Lady,” he said, “you come hither to bemarried to this Count? ” “I do,” replied Hero. “If either of you know any impediment to this marriage, I charge you toutter it,” said the Friar. “Do you know of any, Hero? ” asked Claudio. “None,” said she. “Know you of any, Count? ” demanded the Friar. “I dare reply for him,'None,'” said Leonato. Claudio exclaimed bitterly, “O! what will not men dare say! Father,” he continued, “will you give me your daughter? ” “As freely,” repliedLeonato, “as God gave her to me. ”“And what can I give you,” asked Claudio, “which is worthy of thisgift? ” “Nothing,” said Don Pedro, “unless you give the gift back to thegiver. ”“Sweet Prince, you teach me,” said Claudio. “There, Leonato, take herback. ”These brutal words were followed by others which flew from Claudio, DonPedro and Don John. The church seemed no longer sacred. Hero took her own part as long asshe could, then she swooned. All her persecutors left the church, excepther father, who was befooled by the accusations against her, and cried,“Hence from her! Let her die! ”But Friar Francis saw Hero blameless with his clear eyes that probed thesoul. “She is innocent,” he said; “a thousand signs have told me so. ”Hero revived under his kind gaze. Her father, flurried and angry, knewnot what to think, and the Friar said, “They have left her as one deadwith shame. Let us pretend that she is dead until the truth is declared,and slander turns to remorse. ”“The Friar advises well,” said Benedick. Then Hero was led away into aretreat, and Beatrice and Benedick remained alone in the church. Benedick knew she had been weeping bitterly and long. “Surely I dobelieve your fair cousin is wronged,” he said. She still wept. “Is it not strange,” asked Benedick, gently, “that I love nothing in theworld as well as you? ”“It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing as well as you,” saidBeatrice, “but I do not say it. I am sorry for my cousin. ”“Tell me what to do for her,” said Benedick. “Kill Claudio. ”“Ha! not for the wide world,” said Benedick.

“Your refusal kills me,” said Beatrice. “Farewell. ”“Enough! I will challenge him,” cried Benedick. During this scene Borachio and Conrade were in prison. There they wereexamined by a constable called Dogberry. The watchman gave evidence to the effect that Borachio had said that hehad received a thousand ducats for conspiring against Hero. Leonato was not present at this examination, but he was nevertheless nowthoroughly convinced Of Hero's innocence. He played the part of bereavedfather very well, and when Don Pedro and Claudio called on him in afriendly way, he said to the Italian, “You have slandered my child todeath, and I challenge you to combat. ”“I cannot fight an old man,” said Claudio. “You could kill a girl,” sneered Leonato, and Claudio crimsoned. Hot words grew from hot words, and both Don Pedro and Claudio werefeeling scorched when Leonato left the room and Benedick entered. “The old man,” said Claudio, “was like to have snapped my nose off. ”“You are a villain! ” said Benedick, shortly. “Fight me when and withwhat weapon you please, or I call you a coward. ”Claudio was astounded, but said, “I'll meet you. Nobody shall say Ican't carve a calf's head. ”Benedick smiled, and as it was time for Don Pedro to receive officials,the Prince sat down in a chair of state and prepared his mind forjustice. The door soon opened to admit Dogberry and his prisoners. “What offence,” said Don Pedro, “are these men charged with? ”Borachio thought the moment a happy one for making a clean breast of it. He laid the whole blame on Don John, who had disappeared. “The lady Herobeing dead,” he said, “I desire nothing but the reward of a murderer. ”Claudio heard with anguish and deep repentance. Upon the re-entrance of Leonato be said to him, “This slave makes clearyour daughter's innocence. Choose your revenge. “Leonato,” said Don Pedro, humbly, “I am ready for any penance you mayimpose. ”“I ask you both, then,” said Leonato, “to proclaim my daughter'sinnocence, and to honor her tomb by singing her praise before it. As foryou, Claudio, I have this to say: my brother has a daughter so like Herothat she might be a copy of her. Marry her, and my vengeful feelingsdie. ”“Noble sir,” said Claudio, “I am yours. ” Claudio then went to his roomand composed a solemn song. Going to the church with Don Pedro and hisattendants, he sang it before the monument of Leonato's family. When hehad ended he said, “Good night, Hero. Yearly will I do this. ”He then gravely, as became a gentleman whose heart was Hero's, madeready to marry a girl whom he did not love. He was told to meet her inLeonato's house, and was faithful to his appointment. He was shown into a room where Antonio (Leonato's brother) and severalmasked ladies entered after him. Friar Francis, Leonato, and Benedickwere present. Antonio led one of the ladies towards Claudio. “Sweet,” said the young man, “let me see your face. ”“Swear first to marry her,” said Leonato. “Give me your hand,” said Claudio to the lady; “before this holy friar Iswear to marry you if you will be my wife. ”“Alive I was your wife,” said the lady, as she drew off her mask. “Another Hero! ” exclaimed Claudio. “Hero died,” explained Leonato, “only while slander lived. ”The Friar was then going to marry the reconciled pair, but Benedickinterrupted him with, “Softly, Friar; which of these ladies isBeatrice? ”Hereat Beatrice unmasked, and Benedick said, “You love me, don't you? ”“Only moderately,” was the reply. “Do you love me? ”“Moderately,” answered Benedick. “I was told you were well-nigh dead for me,” remarked Beatrice. “Of you I was told the same,” said Benedick. “Here's your own hand in evidence of your love,” said Claudio, producinga feeble sonnet which Benedick had written to his sweetheart. “Andhere,” said Hero, “is a tribute to Benedick, which I picked out of thepocket of Beatrice. ”“A miracle! ” exclaimed Benedick. “Our hands are against our hearts! Come, I will marry you, Beatrice. ”“You shall be my husband to save your life,” was the rejoinder. Benedick kissed her on the mouth; and the Friar married them after hehad married Claudio and Hero. “How is Benedick the married man? ” asked Don Pedro. “Too happy to be made unhappy,” replied Benedick. “Crack what jokes youwill. As for you, Claudio, I had hoped to run you through the body, butas you are now my kinsman, live whole and love my cousin. ”“My cudgel was in love with you, Benedick, until to-day,” said Claudio;but, “Come, come, let's dance,” said Benedick. And dance they did. Not even the news of the capture of Don John wasable to stop the flying feet of the happy lovers, for revenge is notsweet against an evil man who has failed to do harm. ROMEO AND JULIETOnce upon a time there lived in Verona two great families named Montaguand Capulet. They were both rich, and I suppose they were as sensible,in most things, as other rich people. But in one thing they wereextremely silly. There was an old, old quarrel between the two families,and instead of making it up like reasonable folks, they made a sort ofpet of their quarrel, and would not let it die out. So that a Montaguwouldn't speak to a Capulet if he met one in the street--nor a Capuletto a Montagu--or if they did speak, it was to say rude and unpleasantthings, which often ended in a fight. And their relations andservants were just as foolish, so that street fights and duels anduncomfortablenesses of that kind were always growing out of theMontagu-and-Capulet quarrel. Now Lord Capulet, the head of that family, gave a party-- a grand supperand a dance--and he was so hospitable that he said anyone might come toit except (of course) the Montagues. But there was a young Montagu namedRomeo, who very much wanted to be there, because Rosaline, the lady heloved, had been asked. This lady had never been at all kind to him, andhe had no reason to love her; but the fact was that he wanted to lovesomebody, and as he hadn't seen the right lady, he was obliged to lovethe wrong one. So to the Capulet's grand party he came, with his friendsMercutio and Benvolio. Old Capulet welcomed him and his two friends very kindly--and youngRomeo moved about among the crowd of courtly folk dressed in theirvelvets and satins, the men with jeweled sword hilts and collars, andthe ladies with brilliant gems on breast and arms, and stones of priceset in their bright girdles. Romeo was in his best too, and though hewore a black mask over his eyes and nose, everyone could see by hismouth and his hair, and the way he held his head, that he was twelvetimes handsomer than anyone else in the room. Presently amid the dancers he saw a lady so beautiful and so lovablethat from that moment he never again gave one thought to that Rosalinewhom he had thought he loved. And he looked at this other fair lady, asshe moved in the dance in her white satin and pearls, and all the worldseemed vain and worthless to him compared with her. And he was sayingthis, or something like it, when Tybalt, Lady Capulet's nephew, hearinghis voice, knew him to be Romeo. Tybalt, being very angry, went atonce to his uncle, and told him how a Montagu had come uninvited to thefeast; but old Capulet was too fine a gentleman to be discourteous toany man under his own roof, and he bade Tybalt be quiet. But this youngman only waited for a chance to quarrel with Romeo. In the meantime Romeo made his way to the fair lady, and told her insweet words that he loved her, and kissed her. Just then her mother sentfor her, and then Romeo found out that the lady on whom he had set hisheart's hopes was Juliet, the daughter of Lord Capulet, his sworn foe. So he went away, sorrowing indeed, but loving her none the less. Then Juliet said to her nurse:“Who is that gentleman that would not dance? ”“His name is Romeo, and a Montagu, the only son of your great enemy,” answered the nurse. Then Juliet went to her room, and looked out of her window, over thebeautiful green-grey garden, where the moon was shining. And Romeo washidden in that garden among the trees--because he could not bear to goright away without trying to see her again. So she--not knowing him tobe there--spoke her secret thought aloud, and told the quiet garden howshe loved Romeo. And Romeo heard and was glad beyond measure. Hidden below, he lookedup and saw her fair face in the moonlight, framed in the blossomingcreepers that grew round her window, and as he looked and listened, hefelt as though he had been carried away in a dream, and set down by somemagician in that beautiful and enchanted garden. “Ah--why are you called Romeo? ” said Juliet. “Since I love you, whatdoes it matter what you are called? ”“Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized--henceforth I never will beRomeo,” he cried, stepping into the full white moonlight from the shadeof the cypresses and oleanders that had hidden him. She was frightened at first, but when she saw that it was Romeo himself,and no stranger, she too was glad, and, he standing in the garden belowand she leaning from the window, they spoke long together, each onetrying to find the sweetest words in the world, to make that pleasanttalk that lovers use. And the tale of all they said, and the sweet musictheir voices made together, is all set down in a golden book, where youchildren may read it for yourselves some day. And the time passed so quickly, as it does for folk who love each otherand are together, that when the time came to part, it seemed as thoughthey had met but that moment-- and indeed they hardly knew how to part. “I will send to you to-morrow,” said Juliet. And so at last, with lingering and longing, they said good-bye. Juliet went into her room, and a dark curtain bid her bright window. Romeo went away through the still and dewy garden like a man in a dream. The next morning, very early, Romeo went to Friar Laurence, a priest,and, telling him all the story, begged him to marry him to Julietwithout delay. And this, after some talk, the priest consented to do. So when Juliet sent her old nurse to Romeo that day to know what hepurposed to do, the old woman took back a a message that all was well,and all things ready for the marriage of Juliet and Romeo on the nextmorning. The young lovers were afraid to ask their parents' consent to theirmarriage, as young people should do, because of this foolish old quarrelbetween the Capulets and the Montagues. And Friar Laurence was willing to help the young lovers secretly,because he thought that when they were once married their parentsmight soon be told, and that the match might put a happy end to the oldquarrel. So the next morning early, Romeo and Juliet were married at FriarLaurence's cell, and parted with tears and kisses. And Romeo promised tocome into the garden that evening, and the nurse got ready a rope-ladderto let down from the window, so that Romeo could climb up and talk tohis dear wife quietly and alone. But that very day a dreadful thing happened. Tybalt, the young man who had been so vexed at Romeo's going to theCapulet's feast, met him and his two friends, Mercutio and Benvolio, inthe street, called Romeo a villain, and asked him to fight. Romeo had nowish to fight with Juliet's cousin, but Mercutio drew his sword, andhe and Tybalt fought. And Mercutio was killed. When Romeo saw that thisfriend was dead, he forgot everything except anger at the man who hadkilled him, and he and Tybalt fought till Tybalt fell dead. So, on the very day of his wedding, Romeo killed his dear Juliet'scousin, and was sentenced to be banished. Poor Juliet and her younghusband met that night indeed; he climbed the rope-ladder among theflowers, and found her window, but their meeting was a sad one, and theyparted with bitter tears and hearts heavy, because they could not knowwhen they should meet again. Now Juliet's father, who, of course, had no idea that she was married,wished her to wed a gentleman named Paris, and was so angry when sherefused, that she hurried away to ask Friar Laurence what she should do. He advised her to pretend to consent, and then he said:“I will give you a draught that will make you seem to be dead for twodays, and then when they take you to church it will be to bury you, andnot to marry you. They will put you in the vault thinking you are dead,and before you wake up Romeo and I will be there to take care of you. Will you do this, or are you afraid? ”“I will do it; talk not to me of fear! ” said Juliet. And she went homeand told her father she would marry Paris. If she had spoken out andtold her father the truth . . . well, then this would have been adifferent story. Lord Capulet was very much pleased to get his own way, and set aboutinviting his friends and getting the wedding feast ready. Everyonestayed up all night, for there was a great deal to do, and very littletime to do it in. Lord Capulet was anxious to get Juliet married becausehe saw she was very unhappy. Of course she was really fretting about herhusband Romeo, but her father thought she was grieving for the death ofher cousin Tybalt, and he thought marriage would give her something elseto think about. Early in the morning the nurse came to call Juliet, and to dress herfor her wedding; but she would not wake, and at last the nurse cried outsuddenly--“Alas! alas! help! help! my lady's dead! Oh, well-a-day that ever I wasborn! ”Lady Capulet came running in, and then Lord Capulet, and Lord Paris, thebridegroom. There lay Juliet cold and white and lifeless, and all theirweeping could not wake her. So it was a burying that day instead of amarrying. Meantime Friar Laurence had sent a messenger to Mantua with aletter to Romeo telling him of all these things; and all would have beenwell, only the messenger was delayed, and could not go. But ill news travels fast. Romeo's servant who knew the secret of themarriage, but not of Juliet's pretended death, heard of her funeral, andhurried to Mantua to tell Romeo how his young wife was dead and lying inthe grave. “Is it so? ” cried Romeo, heart-broken. “Then I will lie by Juliet's sideto-night. ”And he bought himself a poison, and went straight back to Verona. Hehastened to the tomb where Juliet was lying. It was not a grave, but avault. He broke open the door, and was just going down the stone stepsthat led to the vault where all the dead Capulets lay, when he heard avoice behind him calling on him to stop. It was the Count Paris, who was to have married Juliet that very day. “How dare you come here and disturb the dead bodies of the Capulets, youvile Montagu? ” cried Paris. Poor Romeo, half mad with sorrow, yet tried to answer gently. “You were told,” said Paris, “that if you returned to Verona you mustdie. ”“I must indeed,” said Romeo. “I came here for nothing else. Good, gentleyouth--leave me! Oh, go--before I do you any harm! I love you betterthan myself--go--leave me here--”Then Paris said, “I defy you, and I arrest you as a felon,” and Romeo,in his anger and despair, drew his sword. They fought, and Paris waskilled. As Romeo's sword pierced him, Paris cried--“Oh, I am slain! If thou be merciful, open the tomb, and lay me withJuliet! ”And Romeo said, “In faith I will. ”And he carried the dead man into the tomb and laid him by the dearJuliet's side. Then he kneeled by Juliet and spoke to her, and heldher in his arms, and kissed her cold lips, believing that she was dead,while all the while she was coming nearer and nearer to the time of herawakening. Then he drank the poison, and died beside his sweetheart andwife. Now came Friar Laurence when it was too late, and saw all that hadhappened--and then poor Juliet woke out of her sleep to find her husbandand her friend both dead beside her. The noise of the fight had brought other folks to the place too, andFriar Laurence, hearing them, ran away, and Juliet was left alone. Shesaw the cup that had held the poison, and knew how all had happened, andsince no poison was left for her, she drew her Romeo's dagger and thrustit through her heart--and so, falling with her head on her Romeo'sbreast, she died. And here ends the story of these faithful and mostunhappy lovers. * * * * * * *And when the old folks knew from Friar Laurence of all that hadbefallen, they sorrowed exceedingly, and now, seeing all the mischieftheir wicked quarrel had wrought, they repented them of it, and over thebodies of their dead children they clasped hands at last, in friendshipand forgiveness. PERICLESPericles, the Prince of Tyre, was unfortunate enough to make an enemy ofAntiochus, the powerful and wicked King of Antioch; and so great was thedanger in which he stood that, on the advice of his trusty counselor,Lord Helicanus, he determined to travel about the world for a time. Hecame to this decision despite the fact that, by the death of his father,he was now King of Tyre. So he set sail for Tarsus, appointing HelicanusRegent during his absence. That he did wisely in thus leaving hiskingdom was soon made clear. Hardly had he sailed on his voyage, when Lord Thaliard arrived fromAntioch with instructions from his royal master to kill Pericles. Thefaithful Helicanus soon discovered the deadly purpose of this wickedlord, and at once sent messengers to Tarsus to warn the King of thedanger which threatened him. The people of Tarsus were in such poverty and distress that Pericles,feeling that he could find no safe refuge there, put to sea again. Buta dreadful storm overtook the ship in which he was, and the good vesselwas wrecked, while of all on board only Pericles was saved. Bruisedand wet and faint, he was flung upon the cruel rocks on the coast ofPentapolis, the country of the good King Simonides. Worn out as he was,he looked for nothing but death, and that speedily. But some fishermen,coming down to the beach, found him there, and gave him clothes and badehim be of good cheer. “Thou shalt come home with me,” said one of them, “and we will haveflesh for holidays, fish for fasting days, and moreo'er, puddings andflapjacks, and thou shalt be welcome. ”They told him that on the morrow many princes and knights were goingto the King's Court, there to joust and tourney for the love of hisdaughter, the beautiful Princess Thaisa. “Did but my fortunes equal my desires,” said Pericles, “I'd wish to makeone there. ”As he spoke, some of the fishermen came by, drawing their net, and itdragged heavily, resisting all their efforts, but at last they hauled itin, to find that it contained a suit of rusty armor; and looking at it,he blessed Fortune for her kindness, for he saw that it was his own,which had been given to him by his dead father. He begged the fishermento let him have it that he might go to Court and take part in thetournament, promising that if ever his ill fortunes bettered, he wouldreward them well. The fishermen readily consented, and being thus fullyequipped, Pericles set off in his rusty armor to the King's Court. In the tournament none bore himself so well as Pericles, and he won thewreath of victory, which the fair Princess herself placed on his brows. Then at her father's command she asked him who he was, and whence hecame; and he answered that he was a knight of Tyre, by name Pericles,but he did not tell her that he was the King of that country, for heknew that if once his whereabouts became known to Antiochus, his lifewould not be worth a pin's purchase. Nevertheless Thaisa loved him dearly, and the King was so pleased withhis courage and graceful bearing that he gladly permitted his daughterto have her own way, when she told him she would marry the strangerknight or die. Thus Pericles became the husband of the fair lady for whose sake hehad striven with the knights who came in all their bravery to joust andtourney for her love. Meanwhile the wicked King Antiochus had died, and the people in Tyre,hearing no news of their King, urged Lord Helicanus to ascend the vacantthrone. But they could only get him to promise that he would becometheir King, if at the end of a year Pericles did not come back. Moreover, he sent forth messengers far and wide in search of the missingPericles. Some of these made their way to Pentapolis, and finding their Kingthere, told him how discontented his people were at his long absence,and that, Antiochus being dead, there was nothing now to hinder him fromreturning to his kingdom. Then Pericles told his wife and father-in-lawwho he really was, and they and all the subjects of Simonides greatlyrejoiced to know that the gallant husband of Thaisa was a King in hisown right. So Pericles set sail with his dear wife for his native land. But once more the sea was cruel to him, for again a dreadful storm brokeout, and while it was at its height, a servant came to tell him thata little daughter was born to him. This news would have made his heartglad indeed, but that the servant went on to add that his wife--hisdear, dear Thaisa--was dead. While he was praying the gods to be good to his little baby girl,the sailors came to him, declaring that the dead Queen must be thrownoverboard, for they believed that the storm would never cease so longas a dead body remained in the vessel. So Thaisa was laid in a big chestwith spices and jewels, and a scroll on which the sorrowful King wrotethese lines: “Here I give to understand (If e'er this coffin drive a-land), I, King Pericles, have lost This Queen worth all our mundane cost. Who finds her, give her burying; She was the daughter of a King; Besides this treasure for a fee, The gods requite his charity! ”Then the chest was cast into the sea, and the waves taking it, by andby washed it ashore at Ephesus, where it was found by the servants of alord named Cerimon. He at once ordered it to be opened, and when hesaw how lovely Thaisa looked, he doubted if she were dead, and tookimmediate steps to restore her. Then a great wonder happened, for she,who had been thrown into the sea as dead, came back to life. But feelingsure that she would never see her husband again, Thaisa retired from theworld, and became a priestess of the Goddess Diana. While these things were happening, Pericles went on to Tarsus with hislittle daughter, whom he called Marina, because she had been born atsea. Leaving her in the hands of his old friend the Governor of Tarsus,the King sailed for his own dominions. Now Dionyza, the wife of the Governor of Tarsus, was a jealous andwicked woman, and finding that the young Princess grew up a moreaccomplished and charming girl than her own daughter, she determined totake Marina's life. So when Marina was fourteen, Dionyza ordered one ofher servants to take her away and kill her. This villain would have doneso, but that he was interrupted by some pirates who came in and carriedMarina off to sea with them, and took her to Mitylene, where they soldher as a slave. Yet such was her goodness, her grace, and her beauty,that she soon became honored there, and Lysimachus, the young Governor,fell deep in love with her, and would have married her, but that hethought she must be of too humble parentage to become the wife of one inhis high position. The wicked Dionyza believed, from her servant's report, that Marina wasreally dead, and so she put up a monument to her memory, and showed itto King Pericles, when after long years of absence he came to seehis much-loved child. When he heard that she was dead, his grief wasterrible to see. He set sail once more, and putting on sackcloth, vowednever to wash his face or cut his hair again. There was a pavilionerected on deck, and there he lay alone, and for three months he spokeword to none. At last it chanced that his ship came into the port of Mitylene, andLysimachus, the Governor, went on board to enquire whence the vesselcame. When he heard the story of Pericles' sorrow and silence, hebethought him of Marina, and believing that she could rouse the Kingfrom his stupor, sent for her and bade her try her utmost to persuadethe King to speak, promising whatever reward she would, if shesucceeded. Marina gladly obeyed, and sending the rest away, she sat andsang to her poor grief-laden father, yet, sweet as was her voice, hemade no sign. So presently she spoke to him, saying that her grief mightequal his, for, though she was a slave, she came from ancestors thatstood equal to mighty kings. Something in her voice and story touched the King's heart, and he lookedup at her, and as he looked, he saw with wonder how like she was to hislost wife, so with a great hope springing up in his heart, he bade hertell her story. Then, with many interruptions from the King, she told him who she wasand how she had escaped from the cruel Dionyza.

So Pericles knew thatthis was indeed his daughter, and he kissed her again and again, cryingthat his great seas of joy drowned him with their sweetness. “Give me myrobes,” he said: “O Heaven, bless my girl! ”Then there came to him, though none else could hear it, the sound ofheavenly music, and falling asleep, he beheld the goddess Diana, in avision. “Go,” she said to him, “to my temple at Ephesus, and when my maidenpriests are met together, reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife. ”Pericles obeyed the goddess and told his tale before her altar. Hardlyhad he made an end, when the chief priestess, crying out, “You are--youare--O royal Pericles! ” fell fainting to the ground, and presentlyrecovering, she spoke again to him, “O my lord, are you not Pericles? ” “The voice of dead Thaisa! ” exclaimed the King in wonder. “That Thaisaam I,” she said, and looking at her he saw that she spoke the verytruth. Thus Pericles and Thaisa, after long and bitter suffering, foundhappiness once more, and in the joy of their meeting they forgot thepain of the past. To Marina great happiness was given, and not onlyin being restored to her dear parents; for she married Lysimachus, andbecame a princess in the land where she had been sold as a slave. HAMLETHamlet was the only son of the King of Denmark. He loved his father andmother dearly--and was happy in the love of a sweet lady named Ophelia. Her father, Polonius, was the King's Chamberlain. While Hamlet was away studying at Wittenberg, his father died. YoungHamlet hastened home in great grief to hear that a serpent had stungthe King, and that he was dead. The young Prince had loved his father sotenderly that you may judge what he felt when he found that the Queen,before yet the King had been laid in the ground a month, had determinedto marry again--and to marry the dead King's brother. Hamlet refused to put off mourning for the wedding. “It is not only the black I wear on my body,” he said, “that proves myloss. I wear mourning in my heart for my dead father. His son at leastremembers him, and grieves still. ”Then said Claudius the King's brother, “This grief is unreasonable. Ofcourse you must sorrow at the loss of your father, but--”“Ah,” said Hamlet, bitterly, “I cannot in one little month forget thoseI love. ”With that the Queen and Claudius left him, to make merry over theirwedding, forgetting the poor good King who had been so kind to themboth. And Hamlet, left alone, began to wonder and to question as to what heought to do. For he could not believe the story about the snake-bite. It seemed to him all too plain that the wicked Claudius had killed theKing, so as to get the crown and marry the Queen. Yet he had no proof,and could not accuse Claudius. And while he was thus thinking came Horatio, a fellow student of his,from Wittenberg. “What brought you here? ” asked Hamlet, when he had greeted his friendkindly. “I came, my lord, to see your father's funeral. ”“I think it was to see my mother's wedding,” said Hamlet, bitterly. “Myfather! We shall not look upon his like again. ”“My lord,” answered Horatio, “I think I saw him yesternight. ”Then, while Hamlet listened in surprise, Horatio told how he, with twogentlemen of the guard, had seen the King's ghost on the battlements. Hamlet went that night, and true enough, at midnight, the ghost of theKing, in the armor he had been wont to wear, appeared on the battlementsin the chill moonlight. Hamlet was a brave youth. Instead of runningaway from the ghost he spoke to it--and when it beckoned him he followedit to a quiet place, and there the ghost told him that what he hadsuspected was true. The wicked Claudius had indeed killed his goodbrother the King, by dropping poison into his ear as he slept in hisorchard in the afternoon. “And you,” said the ghost, “must avenge this cruel murder-- on my wickedbrother. But do nothing against the Queen-- for I have loved her, andshe is your mother. Remember me. ”Then seeing the morning approach, the ghost vanished. “Now,” said Hamlet, “there is nothing left but revenge. Remember thee--Iwill remember nothing else--books, pleasure, youth--let all go--and yourcommands alone live on my brain. ”So when his friends came back he made them swear to keep the secret ofthe ghost, and then went in from the battlements, now gray with mingleddawn and moonlight, to think how he might best avenge his murderedfather. The shock of seeing and hearing his father's ghost made him feel almostmad, and for fear that his uncle might notice that he was not himself,he determined to hide his mad longing for revenge under a pretendedmadness in other matters. And when he met Ophelia, who loved him--and to whom he had given gifts,and letters, and many loving words--he behaved so wildly to her, thatshe could not but think him mad. For she loved him so that she could notbelieve he would be as cruel as this, unless he were quite mad. So shetold her father, and showed him a pretty letter from Hamlet. And in theletter was much folly, and this pretty verse-- “Doubt that the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. ”And from that time everyone believed that the cause of Hamlet's supposedmadness was love. Poor Hamlet was very unhappy. He longed to obey his father's ghost--andyet he was too gentle and kindly to wish to kill another man, even hisfather's murderer. And sometimes he wondered whether, after all, theghost spoke truly. Just at this time some actors came to the Court, and Hamlet ordered themto perform a certain play before the King and Queen. Now, this playwas the story of a man who had been murdered in his garden by a nearrelation, who afterwards married the dead man's wife. You may imagine the feelings of the wicked King, as he sat on histhrone, with the Queen beside him and all his Court around, and saw,acted on the stage, the very wickedness that he had himself done. Andwhen, in the play, the wicked relation poured poison into the ear of thesleeping man, the wicked Claudius suddenly rose, and staggered from theroom--the Queen and others following. Then said Hamlet to his friends--“Now I am sure the ghost spoke true. For if Claudius had not done thismurder, he could not have been so distressed to see it in a play. ”Now the Queen sent for Hamlet, by the King's desire, to scold himfor his conduct during the play, and for other matters; and Claudius,wishing to know exactly what happened, told old Polonius to hide himselfbehind the hangings in the Queen's room. And as they talked, the Queengot frightened at Hamlet's rough, strange words, and cried for help, andPolonius behind the curtain cried out too. Hamlet, thinking it was theKing who was hidden there, thrust with his sword at the hangings, andkilled, not the King, but poor old Polonius. So now Hamlet had offended his uncle and his mother, and by bad hapkilled his true love's father. “Oh! what a rash and bloody deed is this,” cried the Queen. And Hamlet answered bitterly, “Almost as bad as to kill a king, andmarry his brother. ” Then Hamlet told the Queen plainly all his thoughtsand how he knew of the murder, and begged her, at least, to have no morefriendship or kindness of the base Claudius, who had killed the goodKing. And as they spoke the King's ghost again appeared before Hamlet,but the Queen could not see it. So when the ghost had gone, they parted. When the Queen told Claudius what had passed, and how Polonius was dead,he said, “This shows plainly that Hamlet is mad, and since he has killedthe Chancellor, it is for his own safety that we must carry out ourplan, and send him away to England. ”So Hamlet was sent, under charge of two courtiers who served the King,and these bore letters to the English Court, requiring that Hamletshould be put to death. But Hamlet had the good sense to get at theseletters, and put in others instead, with the names of the two courtierswho were so ready to betray him. Then, as the vessel went to England,Hamlet escaped on board a pirate ship, and the two wicked courtiers lefthim to his fate, and went on to meet theirs. Hamlet hurried home, but in the meantime a dreadful thing had happened. Poor pretty Ophelia, having lost her lover and her father, lost her witstoo, and went in sad madness about the Court, with straws, and weeds,and flowers in her hair, singing strange scraps of songs, and talkingpoor, foolish, pretty talk with no heart of meaning to it. And oneday, coming to a stream where willows grew, she tried to bang a flowerygarland on a willow, and fell into the water with all her flowers, andso died. And Hamlet had loved her, though his plan of seeming madness had madehim hide it; and when he came back, he found the King and Queen, and theCourt, weeping at the funeral of his dear love and lady. Ophelia's brother, Laertes, had also just come to Court to ask justicefor the death of his father, old Polonius; and now, wild with grief, heleaped into his sister's grave, to clasp her in his arms once more. “I loved her more than forty thousand brothers,” cried Hamlet, and leaptinto the grave after him, and they fought till they were parted. Afterwards Hamlet begged Laertes to forgive him. “I could not bear,” he said, “that any, even a brother, should seem tolove her more than I. ”But the wicked Claudius would not let them be friends. He told Laerteshow Hamlet had killed old Polonius, and between them they made a plot toslay Hamlet by treachery. Laertes challenged him to a fencing match, and all the Court werepresent. Hamlet had the blunt foil always used in fencing, but Laerteshad prepared for himself a sword, sharp, and tipped with poison. And thewicked King had made ready a bowl of poisoned wine, which he meantto give poor Hamlet when he should grow warm with the sword play, andshould call for drink. So Laertes and Hamlet fought, and Laertes, after some fencing, gaveHamlet a sharp sword thrust. Hamlet, angry at this treachery--forthey had been fencing, not as men fight, but as they play--closed withLaertes in a struggle; both dropped their swords, and when they pickedthem up again, Hamlet, without noticing it, had exchanged his own bluntsword for Laertes' sharp and poisoned one. And with one thrust of it hepierced Laertes, who fell dead by his own treachery. At this moment the Queen cried out, “The drink, the drink! Oh, my dearHamlet! I am poisoned! ”She had drunk of the poisoned bowl the King had prepared for Hamlet, andthe King saw the Queen, whom, wicked as he was, he really loved, falldead by his means. Then Ophelia being dead, and Polonius, and the Queen, and Laertes, andthe two courtiers who had been sent to England, Hamlet at last foundcourage to do the ghost's bidding and avenge his father's murder--which,if he had braced up his heart to do long before, all these liveshad been spared, and none had suffered but the wicked King, who welldeserved to die. Hamlet, his heart at last being great enough to do the deed he ought,turned the poisoned sword on the false King. “Then--venom--do thy work! ” he cried, and the King died. So Hamlet in the end kept the promise he had made his father. And allbeing now accomplished, he himself died. And those who stood by saw himdie, with prayers and tears, for his friends and his people loved himwith their whole hearts. Thus ends the tragic tale of Hamlet, Prince ofDenmark. CYMBELINECymbeline was the King of Britain. He had three children. The two sonswere stolen away from him when they were quite little children, and hewas left with only one daughter, Imogen. The King married a secondtime, and brought up Leonatus, the son of a dear friend, as Imogen'splayfellow; and when Leonatus was old enough, Imogen secretly marriedhim. This made the King and Queen very angry, and the King, to punishLeonatus, banished him from Britain. Poor Imogen was nearly heart-broken at parting from Leonatus, and he wasnot less unhappy. For they were not only lovers and husband and wife,but they had been friends and comrades ever since they were quite littlechildren. With many tears and kisses they said “Good-bye. ” They promisednever to forget each other, and that they would never care for anyoneelse as long as they lived. “This diamond was my mother's, love,” said Imogen; “take it, my heart,and keep it as long as you love me. ”“Sweetest, fairest,” answered Leonatus, “wear this bracelet for mysake. ”“Ah! ” cried Imogen, weeping, “when shall we meet again? ”And while they were still in each other's arms, the King came in, andLeonatus had to leave without more farewell. When he was come to Rome, where he had gone to stay with an old friendof his father's, he spent his days still in thinking of his dear Imogen,and his nights in dreaming of her. One day at a feast some Italian andFrench noblemen were talking of their sweethearts, and swearing thatthey were the most faithful and honorable and beautiful ladies in theworld. And a Frenchman reminded Leonatus how he had said many times thathis wife Imogen was more fair, wise, and constant than any of the ladiesin France. “I say so still,” said Leonatus. “She is not so good but that she would deceive,” said Iachimo, one ofthe Italian nobles. “She never would deceive,” said Leonatus. “I wager,” said Iachimo, “that, if I go to Britain, I can persuade yourwife to do whatever I wish, even if it should be against your wishes. ”“That you will never do,” said Leonatus. “I wager this ring upon myfinger,” which was the very ring Imogen had given him at parting, “thatmy wife will keep all her vows to me, and that you will never persuadeher to do otherwise. ”So Iachimo wagered half his estate against the ring on Leonatus'sfinger, and started forthwith for Britain, with a letter of introductionto Leonatus's wife. When he reached there he was received with allkindness; but he was still determined to win his wager. He told Imogen that her husband thought no more of her, and went on totell many cruel lies about him. Imogen listened at first, but presentlyperceived what a wicked person Iachimo was, and ordered him to leaveher. Then he said--“Pardon me, fair lady, all that I have said is untrue. I only told youthis to see whether you would believe me, or whether you were as much tobe trusted as your husband thinks. Will you forgive me? ”“I forgive you freely,” said Imogen. “Then,” went on Iachimo, “perhaps you will prove it by taking charge ofa trunk, containing a number of jewels which your husband and I and someother gentlemen have bought as a present for the Emperor of Rome. ”“I will indeed,” said Imogen, “do anything for my husband and a friendof my husband's. Have the jewels sent into my room, and I will take careof them. ”“It is only for one night,” said Iachimo, “for I leave Britain againto-morrow. ”So the trunk was carried into Imogen's room, and that night she went tobed and to sleep. When she was fast asleep, the lid of the trunk openedand a man got out. It was Iachimo. The story about the jewels was asuntrue as the rest of the things he had said. He had only wished to getinto her room to win his wicked wager. He looked about him and noticedthe furniture, and then crept to the side of the bed where Imogenwas asleep and took from her arm the gold bracelet which had been theparting gift of her husband. Then he crept back to the trunk, and nextmorning sailed for Rome. When he met Leonatus, he said--“I have been to Britain and I have won the wager, for your wife nolonger thinks about you. She stayed talking with me all one night in herroom, which is hung with tapestry and has a carved chimney-piece, andsilver andirons in the shape of two winking Cupids. ”“I do not believe she has forgotten me; I do not believe she stayedtalking with you in her room. You have heard her room described by theservants. ”“Ah! ” said Iachimo, “but she gave me this bracelet. She took it fromher arm. I see her yet. Her pretty action did outsell her gift, and yetenriched it too. She gave it me, and said she prized it once. ”“Take the ring,” cried Leonatus, “you have won; and you might havewon my life as well, for I care nothing for it now I know my lady hasforgotten me. ”And mad with anger, he wrote letters to Britain to his old servant,Pisanio, ordering him to take Imogen to Milford Haven, and to murderher, because she had forgotten him and given away his gift. At the sametime he wrote to Imogen herself, telling her to go with Pisanio, his oldservant, to Milford Haven, and that he, her husband, would be there tomeet her. Now when Pisanio got this letter he was too good to carry out itsorders, and too wise to let them alone altogether. So he gave Imogen theletter from her husband, and started with her for Milford Haven. Beforehe left, the wicked Queen gave him a drink which, she said, would beuseful in sickness. She hoped he would give it to Imogen, and thatImogen would die, and the wicked Queen's son could be King. For theQueen thought this drink was a poison, but really and truly it was onlya sleeping-draft. When Pisanio and Imogen came near to Milford Haven, he told her what wasreally in the letter he had had from her husband. “I must go on to Rome, and see him myself,” said Imogen. And then Pisanio helped her to dress in boy's clothes, and sent heron her way, and went back to the Court. Before he went he gave her thedrink he had had from the Queen. Imogen went on, getting more and more tired, and at last came to a cave. Someone seemed to live there, but no one was in just then. So she wentin, and as she was almost dying of hunger, she took some food she sawthere, and had just done so, when an old man and two boys came into thecave. She was very much frightened when she saw them, for she thoughtthat they would be angry with her for taking their food, though shehad meant to leave money for it on the table. But to her surprise theywelcomed her kindly. She looked very pretty in her boy's clothes and herface was good, as well as pretty. “You shall be our brother,” said both the boys; and so she stayed withthem, and helped to cook the food, and make things comfortable. But oneday when the old man, whose name was Bellarius, was out hunting withthe two boys, Imogen felt ill, and thought she would try the medicinePisanio had given her. So she took it, and at once became like a deadcreature, so that when Bellarius and the boys came back from hunting,they thought she was dead, and with many tears and funeral songs, theycarried her away and laid her in the wood, covered with flowers. They sang sweet songs to her, and strewed flowers on her, paleprimroses, and the azure harebell, and eglantine, and furred moss, andwent away sorrowful. No sooner had they gone than Imogen awoke, and notknowing how she came there, nor where she was, went wandering throughthe wood. Now while Imogen had been living in the cave, the Romans had decided toattack Britain, and their army had come over, and with them Leonatus,who had grown sorry for his wickedness against Imogen, so had comeback, not to fight with the Romans against Britain, but with the Britonsagainst Rome. So as Imogen wandered alone, she met with Lucius, theRoman General, and took service with him as his page. When the battle was fought between the Romans and Britons, Bellarius andhis two boys fought for their own country, and Leonatus, disguised asa British peasant, fought beside them. The Romans had taken Cymbelineprisoner, and old Bellarius, with his sons and Leonatus, bravely rescuedthe King. Then the Britons won the battle, and among the prisonersbrought before the King were Lucius, with Imogen, Iachimo, and Leonatus,who had put on the uniform of a Roman soldier. He was tired of his lifesince he had cruelly ordered his wife to be killed, and he hoped that,as a Roman soldier, he would be put to death. When they were brought before the King, Lucius spoke out--“A Roman with a Roman's heart can suffer,” he said. “If I must die, sobe it. This one thing only will I entreat. My boy, a Briton born, lethim be ransomed. Never master had a page so kind, so duteous, diligent,true. He has done no Briton harm, though he has served a Roman. Savehim, Sir. ”Then Cymbeline looked on the page, who was his own daughter, Imogen, indisguise, and though he did not recognize her, he felt such a kindnessthat he not only spared the boy's life, but he said--“He shall have any boon he likes to ask of me, even though he ask aprisoner, the noblest taken. ”Then Imogen said, “The boon I ask is that this gentleman shall say fromwhom he got the ring he has on his finger,” and she pointed to Iachimo. “Speak,” said Cymbeline, “how did you get that diamond? ”Then Iachimo told the whole truth of his villainy. At this, Leonatus wasunable to contain himself, and casting aside all thought of disguise, hecame forward, cursing himself for his folly in having believed Iachimo'slying story, and calling again and again on his wife whom he believeddead. “Oh, Imogen, my love, my life! ” he cried. “Oh, Imogen! Then Imogen, forgetting she was disguised, cried out, “Peace, mylord--here, here! ”Leonatus turned to strike the forward page who thus interfered in hisgreat trouble, and then he saw that it was his wife, Imogen, and theyfell into each other's arms. The King was so glad to see his dear daughter again, and so grateful tothe man who had rescued him (whom he now found to be Leonatus), that hegave his blessing on their marriage, and then he turned to Bellarius,and the two boys. Now Bellarius spoke--“I am your old servant, Bellarius. You accused me of treason when I hadonly been loyal to you, and to be doubted, made me disloyal. So I stoleyour two sons, and see,--they are here! ” And he brought forward the twoboys, who had sworn to be brothers to Imogen when they thought she was aboy like themselves. The wicked Queen was dead of some of her own poisons, and the King, withhis three children about him, lived to a happy old age. So the wicked were punished, and the good and true lived happy everafter. So may the wicked suffer, and honest folk prosper till theworld's end. MACBETHWhen a person is asked to tell the story of Macbeth, he can tell twostories. One is of a man called Macbeth who came to the throne ofScotland by a crime in the year of our Lord 1039, and reigned justlyand well, on the whole, for fifteen years or more. This story is partof Scottish history. The other story issues from a place calledImagination; it is gloomy and wonderful, and you shall hear it. A year or two before Edward the Confessor began to rule England, abattle was won in Scotland against a Norwegian King by two generalsnamed Macbeth and Banquo. After the battle, the generals walked togethertowards Forres, in Elginshire, where Duncan, King of Scotland, wasawaiting them. While they were crossing a lonely heath, they saw three bearded women,sisters, hand in hand, withered in appearance and wild in their attire. “Speak, who are you? ” demanded Macbeth. “Hail, Macbeth, chieftain of Glamis,” said the first woman. “Hail, Macbeth, chieftain of Cawdor,” said the second woman. “Hail, Macbeth, King that is to be,” said the third woman. Then Banquo asked, “What of me? ” and the third woman replied, “Thoushalt be the father of kings. ”“Tell me more,” said Macbeth. “By my father's death I am chieftain ofGlamis, but the chieftain of Cawdor lives, and the King lives, and hischildren live. Speak, I charge you! ”The women replied only by vanishing, as though suddenly mixed with theair. Banquo and Macbeth knew then that they had been addressed by witches,and were discussing their prophecies when two nobles approached.

One ofthem thanked Macbeth, in the King's name, for his military services, andthe other said, “He bade me call you chieftain of Cawdor. ”Macbeth then learned that the man who had yesterday borne that titlewas to die for treason, and he could not help thinking, “The third witchcalled me, 'King that is to be. '”“Banquo,” he said, “you see that the witches spoke truth concerning me. Do you not believe, therefore, that your child and grandchild will bekings? ”Banquo frowned. Duncan had two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, and hedeemed it disloyal to hope that his son Fleance should rule Scotland. He told Macbeth that the witches might have intended to tempt themboth into villainy by their prophecies concerning the throne. Macbeth,however, thought the prophecy that he should be King too pleasant tokeep to himself, and he mentioned it to his wife in a letter. Lady Macbeth was the grand-daughter of a King of Scotland who had diedin defending his crown against the King who preceded Duncan, and bywhose order her only brother was slain. To her, Duncan was a reminderof bitter wrongs. Her husband had royal blood in his veins, and when sheread his letter, she was determined that he should be King. When a messenger arrived to inform her that Duncan would pass a night inMacbeth's castle, she nerved herself for a very base action. She told Macbeth almost as soon as she saw him that Duncan must spenda sunless morrow. She meant that Duncan must die, and that the dead areblind. “We will speak further,” said Macbeth uneasily, and at night,with his memory full of Duncan's kind words, he would fain have sparedhis guest. “Would you live a coward? ” demanded Lady Macbeth, who seems to havethought that morality and cowardice were the same. “I dare do all that may become a man,” replied Macbeth; “who dare domore is none. ”“Why did you write that letter to me? ” she inquired fiercely, and withbitter words she egged him on to murder, and with cunning words sheshowed him how to do it. After supper Duncan went to bed, and two grooms were placed on guard athis bedroom door. Lady Macbeth caused them to drink wine till they werestupefied. She then took their daggers and would have killed the Kingherself if his sleeping face had not looked like her father's. Macbeth came later, and found the daggers lying by the grooms; and soonwith red hands he appeared before his wife, saying, “Methought I heard avoice cry, 'Sleep no more! Macbeth destroys the sleeping. '”“Wash your hands,” said she. “Why did you not leave the daggers by thegrooms? Take them back, and smear the grooms with blood. ”“I dare not,” said Macbeth. His wife dared, and she returned to him with hands red as his own, but aheart less white, she proudly told him, for she scorned his fear. The murderers heard a knocking, and Macbeth wished it was a knockingwhich could wake the dead. It was the knocking of Macduff, the chieftainof Fife, who had been told by Duncan to visit him early. Macbeth went tohim, and showed him the door of the King's room. Macduff entered, and came out again crying, “O horror! horror! horror! ”Macbeth appeared as horror-stricken as Macduff, and pretending that hecould not bear to see life in Duncan's murderers, he slew the two groomswith their own daggers before they could proclaim their innocence. These murders did not shriek out, and Macbeth was crowned at Scone. One of Duncan's sons went to Ireland, the other to England. Macbeth wasKing. But he was discontented. The prophecy concerning Banquo oppressedhis mind. If Fleance were to rule, a son of Macbeth would not rule. Macbeth determined, therefore, to murder both Banquo and his son. Hehired two ruffians, who slew Banquo one night when he was on his waywith Fleance to a banquet which Macbeth was giving to his nobles. Fleance escaped. Meanwhile Macbeth and his Queen received their guests very graciously,and he expressed a wish for them which has been uttered thousands oftimes since his day--“Now good digestion wait on appetite, and health onboth. ”“We pray your Majesty to sit with us,” said Lennox, a Scotch noble; butere Macbeth could reply, the ghost of Banquo entered the banqueting halland sat in Macbeth's place. Not noticing the ghost, Macbeth observed that, if Banquo were present,he could say that he had collected under his roof the choicest chivalryof Scotland. Macduff, however, had curtly declined his invitation. The King was again pressed to take a seat, and Lennox, to whom Banquo'sghost was invisible, showed him the chair where it sat. But Macbeth, with his eyes of genius, saw the ghost. He saw it like aform of mist and blood, and he demanded passionately, “Which of you havedone this? ”Still none saw the ghost but he, and to the ghost Macbeth said, “Thoucanst not say I did it. ”The ghost glided out, and Macbeth was impudent enough to raise a glassof wine “to the general joy of the whole table, and to our dear friendBanquo, whom we miss. ”The toast was drunk as the ghost of Banquo entered for the second time. “Begone! ” cried Macbeth. “You are senseless, mindless! Hide in theearth, thou horrible shadow. ”Again none saw the ghost but he. “What is it your Majesty sees? ” asked one of the nobles. The Queen dared not permit an answer to be given to this question. Shehurriedly begged her guests to quit a sick man who was likely to growworse if he was obliged to talk. Macbeth, however, was well enough next day to converse with the witcheswhose prophecies had so depraved him. He found them in a cavern on a thunderous day. They were revolving rounda cauldron in which were boiling particles of many strange and horriblecreatures, and they knew he was coming before he arrived. “Answer me what I ask you,” said the King. “Would you rather hear it from us or our masters? ” asked the firstwitch. “Call them,” replied Macbeth. Thereupon the witches poured blood into the cauldron and grease into theflame that licked it, and a helmeted head appeared with the visor on, sothat Macbeth could only see its eyes. He was speaking to the head, when the first witch said gravely, “Heknows thy thought,” and a voice in the head said, “Macbeth, bewareMacduff, the chieftain of Fife. ” The head then descended Into thecauldron till it disappeared. “One word more,” pleaded Macbeth. “He will not be commanded,” said the first witch, and then a crownedchild ascended from the cauldron bearing a tree in his hand The childsaid-- “Macbeth shall be unconquerable till The Wood of Birnam climbs Dunsinane Hill. ”“That will never be,” said Macbeth; and he asked to be told if Banquo'sdescendants would ever rule Scotland. The cauldron sank into the earth; music was heard, and a procession ofphantom kings filed past Macbeth; behind them was Banquo's ghost. Ineach king, Macbeth saw a likeness to Banquo, and he counted eight kings. Then he was suddenly left alone. His next proceeding was to send murderers to Macduff's castle. Theydid not find Macduff, and asked Lady Macduff where he was. She gavea stinging answer, and her questioner called Macduff a traitor. “Thouliest! ” shouted Macduff's little son, who was immediately stabbed, andwith his last breath entreated his mother to fly. The murderers did notleave the castle while one of its inmates remained alive. Macduff was in England listening, with Malcolm, to a doctor's tale ofcures wrought by Edward the Confessor when his friend Ross came to tellhim that his wife and children were no more. At first Ross dared notspeak the truth, and turn Macduff's bright sympathy with sufferersrelieved by royal virtue into sorrow and hatred. But when Malcolm saidthat England was sending an army into Scotland against Macbeth, Rossblurted out his news, and Macduff cried, “All dead, did you say? All mypretty ones and their mother? Did you say all? ”His sorry hope was in revenge, but if he could have looked intoMacbeth's castle on Dunsinane Hill, he would have seen at work a forcemore solemn than revenge. Retribution was working, for Lady Macbeth wasmad. She walked in her sleep amid ghastly dreams. She was wont to washher hands for a quarter of an hour at a time; but after all her washing,would still see a red spot of blood upon her skin. It was pitiful tohear her cry that all the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten herlittle hand. “Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased? ” inquired Macbeth of thedoctor, but the doctor replied that his patient must minister to her ownmind. This reply gave Macbeth a scorn of medicine. “Throw physic to thedogs,” he said; “I'll none of it. ”One day he heard a sound of women crying. An officer approached him andsaid, “The Queen, your Majesty, is dead. ” “Out, brief candle,” mutteredMacbeth, meaning that life was like a candle, at the mercy of a puff ofair. He did not weep; he was too familiar with death. Presently a messenger told him that he saw Birnam Wood on the march. Macbeth called him a liar and a slave, and threatened to hang him if hehad made a mistake. “If you are right you can hang me,” he said. From the turret windows of Dunsinane Castle, Birnam Wood did indeedappear to be marching. Every soldier of the English army held aloft abough which he had cut from a tree in that wood, and like human treesthey climbed Dunsinane Hill. Macbeth had still his courage. He went to battle to conquer or die, andthe first thing he did was to kill the English general's son in singlecombat. Macbeth then felt that no man could fight him and live, and whenMacduff came to him blazing for revenge, Macbeth said to him, “Go back;I have spilt too much of your blood already. ”“My voice is in my sword,” replied Macduff, and hacked at him and badehim yield. “I will not yield! ” said Macbeth, but his last hour had struck. He fell. Macbeth's men were in retreat when Macduff came before Malcolm holding aKing's head by the hair. “Hail, King! ” he said; and the new King looked at the old. So Malcolm reigned after Macbeth; but in years that came afterwards thedescendants of Banquo were kings. THE COMEDY OF ERRORSAEGEON was a merchant of Syracuse, which is a seaport in Sicily. Hiswife was AEmilia, and they were very happy until AEgeon's manager died,and he was obliged to go by himself to a place called Epidamnum on theAdriatic. As soon as she could AEmilia followed him, and after they hadbeen together some time two baby boys were born to them. The babies wereexactly alike; even when they were dressed differently they looked thesame. And now you must believe a very strange thing. At the same inn wherethese children were born, and on the same day, two baby boys were bornto a much poorer couple than AEmilia and AEgeon; so poor, indeed, werethe parents of these twins that they sold them to the parents of theother twins. AEmilia was eager to show her children to her friends in Syracuse,and in treacherous weather she and AEgeon and the four babies sailedhomewards. They were still far from Syracuse when their ship sprang a leak, and thecrew left it in a body by the only boat, caring little what became oftheir passengers. AEmilia fastened one of her children to a mast and tied one of theslave-children to him; AEgeon followed her example with the remainingchildren. Then the parents secured themselves to the same masts, andhoped for safety. The ship, however, suddenly struck a rock and was split in two, andAEmilia, and the two children whom she had tied, floated away fromAEgeon and the other children. AEmilia and her charges were picked up bysome people of Epidamnum, but some fishermen of Corinth took thebabies from her by force, and she returned to Epidanmum alone, and verymiserable. Afterwards she settled in Ephesus, a famous town in AsiaMinor. AEgeon and his charges were also saved; and, more fortunate thanAEmilia, he was able to return to Syracuse and keep them till they wereeighteen. His own child he called Antipholus, and the slavechild hecalled Dromio; and, strangely enough, these were the names given to thechildren who floated away from him. At the age of eighteen the son who was with AEgeon grew restless with adesire to find his brother. AEgeon let him depart with his servant, andthe young men are henceforth known as Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromioof Syracuse. Let alone, AEgeon found his home too dreary to dwell in, and traveledfor five years. He did not, during his absence, learn all the news ofSyracuse, or he would never have gone to Ephesus. As it was, his melancholy wandering ceased in that town, where he wasarrested almost as soon as he arrived. He then found that the Duke ofSyracuse had been acting in so tyrannical a manner to Ephesians unluckyenough to fall into his hands, that the Government of Ephesus hadangrily passed a law which punished by death or a fine of a thousandpounds any Syracusan who should come to Ephesus. AEgeon was broughtbefore Solinus, Duke of Ephesus, who told him that he must die or pay athousand pounds before the end of the day. You will think there was fate in this when I tell you that the childrenwho were kidnaped by the fishermen of Corinth were now citizens ofEphesus, whither they had been brought by Duke Menaphon, an uncle ofDuke Solinus. They will henceforth be called Antipholus of Ephesus andDromio of Ephesus. Moreover, on the very day when AEgeon was arrested, Antipholus ofSyracuse landed in Ephesus and pretended that he came from Epidamnum inorder to avoid a penalty. He handed his money to his servant Dromio ofSyracuse, and bade him take it to the Centaur Inn and remain there tillhe came. In less than ten minutes he was met on the Mart by Dromio of Ephesus,his brother's slave, and immediately mistook him for his own Dromio. “Why are you back so soon? Where did you leave the money? ” askedAntipholus of Syracuse. This Drornio knew of no money except sixpence, which he had received onthe previous Wednesday and given to the saddler; but he did know thathis mistress was annoyed because his master was not in to dinner, and heasked Antipholus of Syracuse to go to a house called The Phoenix withoutdelay. His speech angered the hearer, who would have beaten him if hehad not fled. Antipholus of Syracuse them went to The Centaur, foundthat his gold had been deposited there, and walked out of the inn. He was wandering about Ephesus when two beautiful ladies signaled to himwith their hands. They were sisters, and their names were Adriana andLuciana. Adriana was the wife of his brother Antipholus of Ephesus, andshe had made up her mind, from the strange account given her by Dromioof Ephesus, that her husband preferred another woman to his wife. “Ay,you may look as if you did not know me,” she said to the man who wasreally her brother-in-law, “but I can remember when no words were sweetunless I said them, no meat flavorsome unless I carved it. ”“Is it I you address? ” said Antipholus of Syracuse stiffly. “I do notknow you. ”“Fie, brother,” said Luciana. “You know perfectly well that she sentDromio to you to bid you come to dinner;” and Adriana said, “Come, come;I have been made a fool of long enough. My truant husband shall dinewith me and confess his silly pranks and be forgiven. ”They were determined ladies, and Antipholus of Syracuse grew weary ofdisputing with them, and followed them obediently to The Phoenix, wherea very late “mid-day” dinner awaited them. They were at dinner when Antipholus of Ephesus and his slave Dromiodemanded admittance. “Maud, Bridget, Marian, Cecily, Gillian, Ginn! ” shouted Dromio of Ephesus, who knew all his fellow-servants' names byheart. From within came the reply, “Fool, dray-horse, coxcomb, idiot! ” It wasDromio of Syracuse unconsciously insulting his brother. Master and man did their best to get in, short of using a crowbar, andfinally went away; but Antipholus of Ephesus felt so annoyed with hiswife that he decided to give a gold chain which he had promised her, toanother woman. Inside The Phoenix, Luciana, who believed Antipholus of Syracuse to beher sister's husband, attempted, by a discourse in rhyme, when alonewith him, to make him kinder to Adriana. In reply he told her that hewas not married, but that he loved her so much that, if Luciana were amermaid, he would gladly lie on the sea if he might feel beneath him herfloating golden hair. Luciana was shocked and left him, and reported his lovemaking toAdriana, who said that her husband was old and ugly, and not fit to beseen or heard, though secretly she was very fond of him. Antipholus of Syracuse soon received a visitor in the shape of Angelothe goldsmith, of whom Antipholus of Ephesus had ordered the chain whichhe had promised his wife and intended to give to another woman. The goldsmith handed the chain to Antipholus of Syracuse, and treatedhis “I bespoke it not” as mere fun, so that the puzzled merchant tookthe chain as good-humoredly as he had partaken of Adriana's dinner. Heoffered payment, but Angelo foolishly said he would call again. The consequence was that Angelo was without money when a creditor of thesort that stands no nonsense, threatened him with arrest unless he paidhis debt immediately. This creditor had brought a police officer withhim, and Angelo was relieved to see Antipholus of Ephesus coming out ofthe house where he had been dining because he had been locked out of ThePhoenix. Bitter was Angelo's dismay when Antipholus denied receipt ofthe chain. Angelo could have sent his mother to prison if she had saidthat, and he gave Antipholus of Ephesus in charge. At this moment up came Dromio of Syracuse and told the wrong Antipholusthat he had shipped his goods, and that a favorable wind was blowing. To the ears of Antipholus of Ephesus this talk was simple nonsense. Hewould gladly have beaten the slave, but contented himself with crosslytelling him to hurry to Adriana and bid her send to her arrested husbanda purse of money which she would find in his desk. Though Adriana was furious with her husband because she thought he hadbeen making love to her sister, she did not prevent Luciana fromgetting the purse, and she bade Dromio of Syracuse bring home his masterimmediately. Unfortunately, before Dromio could reach the police station he met hisreal master, who had never been arrested, and did not understand whathe meant by offering him a purse. Antipholus of Syracuse was furthersurprised when a lady whom he did not know asked him for a chain that hehad promised her. She was, of course, the lady with whom Antipholus ofEphesus had dined when his brother was occupying his place at table. “Avaunt, thou witch! ” was the answer which, to her astonishment, shereceived. Meanwhile Antipholus of Ephesus waited vainly for the money which wasto have released him. Never a good-tempered man, he was crazy with angerwhen Dromio of Ephesus, who, of course, had not been instructed to fetcha purse, appeared with nothing more useful than a rope. He beat theslave in the street despite the remonstrance of the police officer;and his temper did not mend when Adriana, Luciana, and a doctor arrivedunder the impression that he was mad and must have his pulse felt. Heraged so much that men came forward to bind him. But the kindness ofAdriana spared him this shame. She promised to pay the sum demanded ofhim, and asked the doctor to lead him to The Phoenix. Angelo's merchant creditor being paid, the two were friendly again,and might soon have been seen chatting before an abbey about the oddbehavior of Antipholus of Ephesus. “Softly,” said the merchant at last,“that's he, I think. ”It was not; it was Antipholus of Syracuse with his servant Dromio,and he wore Angelo's chain round his neck! The reconciled pair fairlypounced upon him to know what he meant by denying the receipt of thechain he had the impudence to wear. Antipholus of Syracuse lost histemper, and drew his sword, and at that moment Adriana and severalothers appeared. “Hold! ” shouted the careful wife. “Hurt him not; he ismad. Take his sword away. Bind him--and Dromio too. ”Dromio of Syracuse did not wish to be bound, and he said to his master,“Run, master! Into that abbey, quick, or we shall be robbed! ”They accordingly retreated into the abbey. Adriana, Luciana, and a crowd remained outside, and the Abbess came out,and said, “People, why do you gather here? ”“To fetch my poor distracted husband,” replied Adriana. Angelo and the merchant remarked that they had not known that he wasmad. Adriana then told the Abbess rather too much about her wifely worries,for the Abbess received the idea that Adriana was a shrew, and thatif her husband was distracted he had better not return to her for thepresent. Adriana determined, therefore, to complain to Duke Solinus, and, lo andbehold! a minute afterwards the great man appeared with officers and twoothers. The others were AEgeon and the headsman. The thousand marks hadnot been found, and AEgeon's fate seemed sealed. Ere the Duke could pass the abbey Adriana knelt before him, and told awoeful tale of a mad husband rushing about stealing jewelry and drawinghis sword, adding that the Abbess refused to allow her to lead him home. The Duke bade the Abbess be summoned, and no sooner had he given theorder than a servant from The Phoenix ran to Adriana with the tale thathis master had singed off the doctor's beard. “Nonsense! ” said Adriana, “he's in the abbey. ”“As sure as I live I speak the truth,” said the servant. Antipholus of Syracuse had not come out of the abbey, before hisbrother of Ephesus prostrated himself in front of the Duke, exclaiming,“Justice, most gracious Duke, against that woman. ” He pointed toAdriana. “She has treated another man like her husband in my own house. ”Even while he was speaking AEgeon said, “Unless I am delirious, I see myson Antipholus. ”No one noticed him, and Antipholus of Ephesus went on to say how thedoctor, whom he called “a threadbare juggler,” had been one of a gangwho tied him to his slave Dromio, and thrust them into a vault whence hehad escaped by gnawing through his bonds. The Duke could not understand how the same man who spoke to him wasseen to go into the abbey, and he was still wondering when AEgeon askedAntipholus of Ephesus if he was not his son. He replied, “I never sawmy father in my life;” but so deceived was AEgeon by his likeness tothe brother whom he had brought up, that he said, “Thou art ashamed toacknowledge me in misery. ”Soon, however, the Abbess advanced with Antipholus of Syracuse andDromio of Syracuse. Then cried Adriana, “I see two husbands or mine eyes deceive me;” andAntipholus, espying his father, said, “Thou art AEgeon or his ghost.

”It was a day of surprises, for the Abbess said, “I will free that man bypaying his fine, and gain my husband whom I lost. Speak, AEgeon, for Iam thy wife AEmilia. ”The Duke was touched. “He is free without a fine,” he said. So AEgeon and AEmilia were reunited, and Adriana and her husbandreconciled; but no one was happier than Antipholus of Syracuse, who, inthe Duke's presence, went to Luciana and said, “I told you I loved you. Will you be my wife? ”Her answer was given by a look, and therefore is not written. The two Dromios were glad to think they would receive no more beatings. THE MERCHANT OF VENICEAntonio was a rich and prosperous merchant of Venice. His ships wereon nearly every sea, and he traded with Portugal, with Mexico, withEngland, and with India. Although proud of his riches, he was verygenerous with them, and delighted to use them in relieving the wants ofhis friends, among whom his relation, Bassanio, held the first place. Now Bassanio, like many another gay and gallant gentleman, was recklessand extravagant, and finding that he had not only come to the end of hisfortune, but was also unable to pay his creditors, he went to Antoniofor further help. “To you, Antonio,” he said, “I owe the most in money and in love: and Ihave thought of a plan to pay everything I owe if you will but help me. ”“Say what I can do, and it shall be done,” answered his friend. Then said Bassanio, “In Belmont is a lady richly left, and from allquarters of the globe renowned suitors come to woo her, not only becauseshe is rich, but because she is beautiful and good as well. She lookedon me with such favor when last we met, that I feel sure that I shouldwin her away from all rivals for her love had I but the means to go toBelmont, where she lives. ”“All my fortunes,” said Antonio, “are at sea, and so I have no readymoney; but luckily my credit is good in Venice, and I will borrow foryou what you need. ”There was living in Venice at this time a rich money-lender, namedShylock. Antonio despised and disliked this man very much, and treatedhim with the greatest harshness and scorn. He would thrust him, like acur, over his threshold, and would even spit on him. Shylock submittedto all these indignities with a patient shrug; but deep in his heart hecherished a desire for revenge on the rich, smug merchant. For Antonioboth hurt his pride and injured his business. “But for him,” thoughtShylock, “I should be richer by half a million ducats. On the marketplace, and wherever he can, he denounces the rate of interest I charge,and--worse than that--he lends out money freely. ”So when Bassanio came to him to ask for a loan of three thousand ducatsto Antonio for three months, Shylock hid his hatred, and turning toAntonio, said--“Harshly as you have treated me, I would be friends withyou and have your love. So I will lend you the money and charge you nointerest. But, just for fun, you shall sign a bond in which it shall beagreed that if you do not repay me in three months' time, then I shallhave the right to a pound of your flesh, to be cut from what part ofyour body I choose. ”“No,” cried Bassanio to his friend, “you shall run no such risk for me. ”“Why, fear not,” said Antonio, “my ships will be home a month before thetime. I will sign the bond. ”Thus Bassanio was furnished with the means to go to Belmont, there towoo the lovely Portia. The very night he started, the money-lender'spretty daughter, Jessica, ran away from her father's house with herlover, and she took with her from her father's hoards some bags ofducats and precious stones. Shylock's grief and anger were terrible tosee. His love for her changed to hate. “I would she were dead at myfeet and the jewels in her ear,” he cried. His only comfort now was inhearing of the serious losses which had befallen Antonio, some of whoseships were wrecked. “Let him look to his bond,” said Shylock, “let himlook to his bond. ”Meanwhile Bassanio had reached Belmont, and had visited the fair Portia. He found, as he had told Antonio, that the rumor of her wealth andbeauty had drawn to her suitors from far and near. But to all of themPortia had but one reply. She would only accept that suitor who wouldpledge himself to abide by the terms of her father's will. These wereconditions that frightened away many an ardent wooer. For he who wouldwin Portia's heart and hand, had to guess which of three caskets heldher portrait. If he guessed aright, then Portia would be his bride; ifwrong, then he was bound by oath never to reveal which casket he chose,never to marry, and to go away at once. The caskets were of gold, silver, and lead. The gold one bore thisinscription:--“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;” the silver one had this:--“Who chooseth me shall get as much as hedeserves;” while on the lead one were these words:--“Who chooseth memust give and hazard all he hath. ” The Prince of Morocco, as brave as hewas black, was among the first to submit to this test. He chose thegold casket, for he said neither base lead nor silver could contain herpicture. So be chose the gold casket, and found inside the likeness ofwhat many men desire--death. After him came the haughty Prince of Arragon, and saying, “Let me havewhat I deserve--surely I deserve the lady,” he chose the silver one, andfound inside a fool's head. “Did I deserve no more than a fool's head? ” he cried. Then at last came Bassanio, and Portia would have delayed him frommaking his choice from very fear of his choosing wrong. For she lovedhim dearly, even as he loved her. “But,” said Bassanio, “let me choose atonce, for, as I am, I live upon the rack. ”Then Portia bade her servants to bring music and play while her gallantlover made his choice. And Bassanio took the oath and walked up to thecaskets--the musicians playing softly the while. “Mere outward show,” hesaid, “is to be despised. The world is still deceived with ornament, andso no gaudy gold or shining silver for me. I choose the lead casket;joy be the consequence! ” And opening it, he found fair Portia's portraitinside, and he turned to her and asked if it were true that she was his. “Yes,” said Portia, “I am yours, and this house is yours, and with themI give you this ring, from which you must never part. ”And Bassanio, saying that he could hardly speak for joy, found words toswear that he would never part with the ring while he lived. Then suddenly all his happiness was dashed with sorrow, for messengerscame from Venice to tell him that Antonio was ruined, and that Shylockdemanded from the Duke the fulfilment of the bond, under which he wasentitled to a pound of the merchant's flesh. Portia was as grieved asBassanio to hear of the danger which threatened his friend. “First,” she said, “take me to church and make me your wife, and thengo to Venice at once to help your friend. You shall take with you moneyenough to pay his debt twenty times over. ”But when her newly-made husband had gone, Portia went after him, andarrived in Venice disguised as a lawyer, and with an introduction froma celebrated lawyer Bellario, whom the Duke of Venice had called into decide the legal questions raised by Shylock's claim to a pound ofAntonio's flesh. When the Court met, Bassanio offered Shylock twice themoney borrowed, if he would withdraw his claim. But the money-lender'sonly answer was-- “If every ducat in six thousand ducats, Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them,--I would have my bond. ”It was then that Portia arrived in her disguise, and not even her ownhusband knew her. The Duke gave her welcome on account of the greatBellario's introduction, and left the settlement of the case to her. Then in noble words she bade Shylock have mercy. But he was deaf to herentreaties. “I will have the pound of flesh,” was his reply. “What have you to say? ” asked Portia of the merchant. “But little,” he answered; “I am armed and well prepared. ”“The Court awards you a pound of Antonio's flesh,” said Portia to themoney-lender. “Most righteous judge! ” cried Shylock. “A sentence: come, prepare. ”“Tarry a little. This bond gives you no right to Antonio's blood, onlyto his flesh. If, then, you spill a drop of his blood, all your propertywill be forfeited to the State. Such is the Law. ”And Shylock, in his fear, said, “Then I will take Bassanio's offer. ”“No,” said Portia sternly, “you shall have nothing but your bond. Takeyour pound of flesh, but remember, that if you take more or less, evenby the weight of a hair, you will lose your property and your life. ”Shylock now grew very much frightened. “Give me my three thousand ducatsthat I lent him, and let him go. ”Bassanio would have paid it to him, but said Portia, “No! He shall havenothing but his bond. ”“You, a foreigner,” she added, “have sought to take the life of aVenetian citizen, and thus by the Venetian law, your life and goods areforfeited. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke. ”Thus were the tables turned, and no mercy would have been shown toShylock had it not been for Antonio. As it was, the money-lenderforfeited half his fortune to the State, and he had to settle the otherhalf on his daughter's husband, and with this he had to be content. Bassanio, in his gratitude to the clever lawyer, was induced to partwith the ring his wife had given him, and with which he had promisednever to part, and when on his return to Belmont he confessed as much toPortia, she seemed very angry, and vowed she would not be friends withhim until she had her ring again. But at last she told him that it wasshe who, in the disguise of the lawyer, had saved his friend's life, andgot the ring from him. So Bassanio was forgiven, and made happierthan ever, to know how rich a prize he had drawn in the lottery of thecaskets. TIMON OF ATHENSFour hundred years before the birth of Christ, a man lived in Athenswhose generosity was not only great, but absurd. He was very rich, butno worldly wealth was enough for a man who spent and gave like Timon. Ifanybody gave Timon a horse, he received from Timon twenty better horses. If anybody borrowed money of Timon and offered to repay it, Timon wasoffended. If a poet had written a poem and Timon had time to read it, hewould be sure to buy it; and a painter had only to hold up his canvas infront of Timon to receive double its market price. Flavius, his steward, looked with dismay at his reckless mode of life. When Timon's house was full of noisy lords drinking and spilling costlywine, Flavius would sit in a cellar and cry. He would say to himself,“There are ten thousand candles burning in this house, and each of thosesingers braying in the concert-room costs a poor man's yearly income anight;” and he would remember a terrible thing said by Apemantus, one ofhis master's friends, “O what a number of men eat Timon, and Timon seesthem not! ”Of course, Timon was much praised. A jeweler who sold him a diamond pretended that it was not quite perfecttill Timon wore it. “You mend the jewel by wearing it,” he said. Timongave the diamond to a lord called Sempronius, and the lord exclaimed,“O, he's the very soul of bounty. ” “Timon is infinitely dear to me,” said another lord, called Lucullus, to whom he gave a beautiful horse;and other Athenians paid him compliments as sweet. But when Apemantus had listened to some of them, he said, “I'm going toknock out an honest Athenian's brains. ”“You will die for that,” said Timon. “Then I shall die for doing nothing,” said Apemantus. And now you knowwhat a joke was like four hundred years before Christ. This Apernantus was a frank despiser of mankind, but a healthy one,because he was not unhappy. In this mixed world anyone with a numberof acquaintances knows a person who talks bitterly of men, but does notshun them, and boasts that he is never deceived by their fine speeches,and is inwardly cheerful and proud. Apemantus was a man like that. Timon, you will be surprised to hear, became much worse than Apemantus,after the dawning of a day which we call Quarter Day. Quarter Day is the day when bills pour in. The grocer, the butcher, andthe baker are all thinking of their debtors on that day, and the wiseman has saved enough money to be ready for them. But Timon had not; andhe did not only owe money for food. He owed it for jewels and horses andfurniture; and, worst of all, he owed it to money-lenders, who expectedhim to pay twice as much as he had borrowed. Quarter Day is a day when promises to pay are scorned, and on that dayTimon was asked for a large sum of money. “Sell some land,” he saidto his steward. “You have no land,” was the reply. “Nonsense! I had ahundred, thousand acres,” said Timon. “You could have spent the price ofthe world if you had possessed it,” said Flavius. “Borrow some then,” said Timon; “try Ventidius. ” He thought of Ventidiusbecause he had once got Ventidius out of prison by paying a creditor ofthis young man. Ventidius was now rich. Timon trusted in his gratitude. But not for all; so much did he owe! Servants were despatched withrequests for loans of money to several friends:One servant (Flaminius) went to Lucullus. When he was announced Lucullussaid, “A gift, I warrant. I dreamt of a silver jug and basin lastnight. ” Then, changing his tone, “How is that honorable, free-hearted,perfect gentleman, your master, eh? ”“Well in health, sir,” replied Flaminius. “And what have you got there under your cloak? ” asked Lucullus,jovially. “Faith, sir, nothing but an empty box, which, on my master's behalf, Ibeg you to fill with money, sir. ”“La! la! la! ” said Lucullus, who could not pretend to mean, “Ha! ha! ha! ” “Your master's one fault is that he is too fond of giving parties. I've warned him that it was expensive. Now, look here, Flaminius, youknow this is no time to lend money without security, so suppose youact like a good boy and tell him that I was not at home. Here's threesolidares for yourself. ”“Back, wretched money,” cried Flaminius, “to him who worships you! ”Others of Timon's friends were tried and found stingy. Amongst them wasSempronius. “Hum,” he said to Timon's servant, “has he asked Ventidius? Ventidius isbeholden to him. ”“He refused. ”“Well, have you asked Lucullus? ”“He refused. ”“A poor compliment to apply to me last of all,” said Sempronius, inaffected anger. “If he had sent to me at first, I would gladly have lenthim money, but I'm not going to be such a fool as to lend him any now. ”“Your lordship makes a good villain,” said the servant. When Timon found that his friends were so mean, he took advantage ofa lull in his storm of creditors to invite Ventidius and Company to abanquet. Flavius was horrified, but Ventidius and Company, were not inthe least ashamed, and they assembled accordingly in Timon's house, andsaid to one another that their princely host had been jesting with them. “I had to put off an important engagement in order to come here,” saidLucullus; “but who could refuse Timon? ”“It was a real grief to me to be without ready money when he asked forsome,” said Sempronius. “The same here,” chimed in a third lord. Timon now appeared, and his guests vied with one another in apologiesand compliments. Inwardly sneering, Timon was gracious to them all. In the banqueting ball was a table resplendent with covered dishes. Mouths watered. These summer-friends loved good food. “Be seated, worthy friends,” said Timon. He then prayed aloud to thegods of Greece. “Give each man enough,” he said, “for if you, who areour gods, were to borrow of men they would cease to adore you. Let menlove the joint more than the host. Let every score of guests containtwenty villains. Bless my friends as much as they have blessed me. Uncover the dishes, dogs, and lap! ”The hungry lords were too much surprised by this speech to resent it. They thought Timon was unwell, and, although he had called them dogs,they uncovered the dishes. There was nothing in them but warm water. “May you never see a better feast,” wished Timon “I wash off theflatteries with which you plastered me and sprinkle you with yourvillainy. ” With these words he threw the water into his guests' faces,and then he pelted them with the dishes. Having thus ended the banquet,he went into an outhouse, seized a spade, and quitted Athens for ever. His next dwelling was a cave near the sea. Of all his friends, the only one who had not refused him aid was ahandsome soldier named Alcibiades, and he had not been asked because,having quarreled with the Government of Athens, he had left that town. The thought that Alcibiades might have proved a true friend did notsoften Timon's bitter feeling. He was too weak-minded to discernthe fact that good cannot be far from evil in this mixed world. Hedetermined to see nothing better in all mankind than the ingratitude ofVentidius and the meanness of Lucullus. He became a vegetarian, and talked pages to himself as he dug in theearth for food. One day, when he was digging for roots near the shore, his spade struckgold. If he had been a wise man he would have enriched himself quickly,and returned to Athens to live in comfort. But the sight of the goldvein gave no joy but only scorn to Timon. “This yellow slave,” he said,“will make and break religions. It will make black white and foul fair. It will buy murder and bless the accursed. ”He was still ranting when Alcibiades, now an enemy of Athens, approachedwith his soldiers and two beautiful women who cared for nothing butpleasure. Timon was so changed by his bad thoughts and rough life that Alcibiadesdid not recognize him at first. “Who are you? ” he asked. “A beast, as you are,” was the reply. Alcibiades knew his voice, and offered him help and money. But Timonwould none of it, and began to insult the women. They, however, whenthey found he had discovered a gold mine, cared not a jot for hisopinion of them, but said, “Give us some gold, good Timon. Have youmore? ”With further insults, Timon filled their aprons with gold ore. “Farewell,” said Alcibiades, who deemed that Timon's wits were lost; andthen his disciplined soldiers left without profit the mine which couldhave paid their wages, and marched towards Athens. Timon continued to dig and curse, and affected great delight when he dugup a root and discovered that it was not a grape. Just then Apemantus appeared. “I am told that you imitate me,” saidApemantus. “Only,” said Timon, “because you haven't a dog which I canimitate. ”“You are revenging yourself on your friends by punishing yourself,” saidApemantus. “That is very silly, for they live just as comfortably asthey ever did. I am sorry that a fool should imitate me. ”“If I were like you,” said Timon, “I should throw myself away. ”“You have done so,” sneered Apemantus. “Will the cold brook make you agood morning drink, or an east wind warm your clothes as a valet would? ”“Off with you! ” said Timon; but Apemantus stayed a while longer and toldhim he had a passion for extremes, which was true. Apemantus even made apun, but there was no good laughter to be got out of Timon. Finally, they lost their temper like two schoolboys, and Timon said hewas sorry to lose the stone which he flung at Apemantus, who left himwith an evil wish. This was almost an “at home” day for Timon, for when Apemantus haddeparted, he was visited by some robbers. They wanted gold. “You want too much,” said Timon. “Here are water, roots and berries. ”“We are not birds and pigs,” said a robber. “No, you are cannibals,” said Timon.

“Take the gold, then, and may itpoison you! Henceforth rob one another. ”He spoke so frightfully to them that, though they went away with fullpockets, they almost repented of their trade. His last visitor on thatday of visits was his good steward Flavius. “My dearest master! ” criedhe. “Away! What are you? ” said Timon. “Have you forgotten me, sir? ” asked Flavius, mournfully. “I have forgotten all men,” was the reply; “and if you'll allow that youare a man, I have forgotten you. ”“I was your honest servant,” said Flavius. “Nonsense! I never had an honest man about me,” retorted Timon. Flavius began to cry. “What! shedding tears? ” said Timon. “Come nearer, then. I will love youbecause you are a woman, and unlike men, who only weep when they laughor beg. ”They talked awhile; then Timon said, “Yon gold is mine. I will make yourich, Flavius, if you promise me to live by yourself and hate mankind. I will make you very rich if you promise me that you will see the fleshslide off the beggar's bones before you feed him, and let the debtor diein jail before you pay his debt. ”Flavius simply said, “Let me stay to comfort you, my master. ”“If you dislike cursing, leave me,” replied Timon, and he turned hisback on Flavius, who went sadly back to Athens, too much accustomed toobedience to force his services upon his ailing master. The steward had accepted nothing, but a report got about that a mightynugget of gold had been given him by his former master, and Timontherefore received more visitors. They were a painter and a poet, whomhe had patronized in his prosperity. “Hail, worthy Timon! ” said the poet. “We heard with astonishment howyour friends deserted you. No whip's large enough for their backs! ”“We have come,” put in the painter, “to offer our services. ”“You've heard that I have gold,” said Timon. “There was a report,” said the painter, blushing; “but my friend and Idid not come for that. ”“Good honest men! ” jeered Timon. “All the same, you shall have plenty ofgold if you will rid me of two villains. ”“Name them,” said his two visitors in one breath. “Both of you! ” answered Timon. Giving the painter a whack with a big stick, he said,“Put that into your palette and make money out of it. ” Then he gave awhack to the poet, and said, “Make a poem out of that and get paid forit. There's gold for you. ”They hurriedly withdrew. Finally Timon was visited by two senators who, now that Athens wasthreatened by Alcibiades, desired to have on their side this bitternoble whose gold might help the foe. “Forget your injuries,” said the first senator. “Athens offers youdignities whereby you may honorably live. ”“Athens confesses that your merit was overlooked, and wishes to atone,and more than atone, for her forgetfulness,” said the second senator. “Worthy senators,” replied Timon, in his grim way, “I am almost weeping;you touch me so! All I need are the eyes of a woman and the heart of afool. ”But the senators were patriots. They believed that this bitter man couldsave Athens, and they would not quarrel with him. “Be our captain,” they said, “and lead Athens against Alcibiades, who threatens to destroyher. ”“Let him destroy the Athenians too, for all I care,” said Timon; andseeing an evil despair in his face, they left him. The senators returned to Athens, and soon afterwards trumpets were blownbefore its walls. Upon the walls they stood and listened to Alcibiades,who told them that wrong-doers should quake in their easy chairs. Theylooked at his confident army, and were convinced that Athens must yieldif he assaulted it, therefore they used the voice that strikes deeperthan arrows. “These walls of ours were built by the hands of men who never wrongedyou, Alcibiades,” said the first senator. “Enter,” said the second senator, “and slay every tenth man, if yourrevenge needs human flesh. ”“Spare the cradle,” said the first senator. “I ask only justice,” said Alcibiades. “If you admit my army, I willinflict the penalty of your own laws upon any soldier who breaks them. ”At that moment a soldier approached Alcibiades, and said, “My noblegeneral, Timon is dead. ” He handed Alcibiades a sheet of wax, saying,“He is buried by the sea, on the beach, and over his grave is a stonewith letters on it which I cannot read, and therefore I have impressedthem on wax. ”Alcibiades read from the sheet of wax this couplet-- “Here lie I, Timon, who, alive, all living men did hate. Pass by and say your worst; but pass, and stay not here your gait. ”“Dead, then, is noble Timon,” said Alcibiades; and be entered Athenswith an olive branch instead of a sword. So it was one of Timon's friends who was generous in a greater matterthan Timon's need; yet are the sorrow and rage of Timon remembered as awarning lest another ingratitude should arise to turn love into hate. OTHELLOFour hundred years ago there lived in Venice an ensign named Iago, whohated his general, Othello, for not making him a lieutenant. Instead ofIago, who was strongly recommended, Othello had chosen Michael Cassio,whose smooth tongue had helped him to win the heart of Desdemona. Iagohad a friend called Roderigo, who supplied him with money and felt hecould not be happy unless Desdemona was his wife. Othello was a Moor, but of so dark a complexion that his enemies calledhim a Blackamoor. His life had been hard and exciting. He had beenvanquished in battle and sold into slavery; and he had been a greattraveler and seen men whose shoulders were higher than their heads. Brave as a lion, he had one great fault--jealousy. His love was aterrible selfishness. To love a woman meant with him to possess her asabsolutely as he possessed something that did not live and think. Thestory of Othello is a story of jealousy. One night Iago told Roderigo that Othello had carried off Desdemonawithout the knowledge of her father, Brabantio. He persuaded Roderigoto arouse Brabantio, and when that senator appeared Iago told himof Desdemona's elopement in the most unpleasant way. Though he wasOthello's officer, he termed him a thief and a Barbary horse. Brabantio accused Othello before the Duke of Venice of using sorcery tofascinate his daughter, but Othello said that the only sorcery he usedwas his voice, which told Desdemona his adventures and hair-breadthescapes. Desdemona was led into the council-chamber, and she explainedhow she could love Othello despite his almost black face by saying, “Isaw Othello's visage in his mind. ”As Othello had married Desdemona, and she was glad to be his wife, therewas no more to be said against him, especially as the Duke wished him togo to Cyprus to defend it against the Turks. Othello was quite ready togo, and Desdemona, who pleaded to go with him, was permitted to join himat Cyprus. Othello's feelings on landing in this island were intensely joyful. “Oh,my sweet,” he said to Desdemona, who arrived with Iago, his wife, andRoderigo before him, “I hardly know what I say to you. I am in love withmy own happiness. ”News coming presently that the Turkish fleet was out of action, heproclaimed a festival in Cyprus from five to eleven at night. Cassio was on duty in the Castle where Othello ruled Cyprus, so Iagodecided to make the lieutenant drink too much. He had some difficulty,as Cassio knew that wine soon went to his head, but servants broughtwine into the room where Cassio was, and Iago sang a drinking song, andso Cassio lifted a glass too often to the health of the general. When Cassio was inclined to be quarrelsome, Iago told Roderigo to saysomething unpleasant to him. Cassio cudgeled Roderigo, who ran into thepresence of Montano, the ex-governor. Montano civilly interceded forRoderigo, but received so rude an answer from Cassio that he said,“Come, come, you're drunk! ” Cassio then wounded him, and Iago sentRoderigo out to scare the town with a cry of mutiny. The uproar aroused Othello, who, on learning its cause, said, “Cassio, Ilove thee, but never more be officer of mine. ”On Cassio and Iago being alone together, the disgraced man moaned abouthis reputation. Iago said reputation and humbug were the same thing. “O God,” exclaimed Cassio, without heeding him, “that men should put anenemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! ”Iago advised him to beg Desdemona to ask Othello to pardon him. Cassiowas pleased with the advice, and next morning made his request toDesdemona in the garden of the castle. She was kindness itself, andsaid, “Be merry, Cassio, for I would rather die than forsake yourcause. ”Cassio at that moment saw Othello advancing with Iago, and retiredhurriedly. Iago said, “I don't like that. ”“What did you say? ” asked Othello, who felt that he had meant somethingunpleasant, but Iago pretended he had said nothing. “Was not that Cassiowho went from my wife? ” asked Othello, and Iago, who knew that it wasCassio and why it was Cassio, said, “I cannot think it was Cassio whostole away in that guilty manner. ”Desdemona told Othello that it was grief and humility which made Cassioretreat at his approach. She reminded him how Cassio had taken his partwhen she was still heart-free, and found fault with her Moorish lover. Othello was melted, and said, “I will deny thee nothing,” but Desdemonatold him that what she asked was as much for his good as dining. Desdemona left the garden, and Iago asked if it was really true thatCassio had known Desdemona before her marriage. “Yes,” said Othello. “Indeed,” said Iago, as though something that had mystified him was nowvery clear. “Is he not honest? ” demanded Othello, and Iago repeated the adjectiveinquiringly, as though he were afraid to say “No. ”“What do you mean? ” insisted Othello. To this Iago would only say the flat opposite of what he said to Cassio. He had told Cassio that reputation was humbug. To Othello he said, “Whosteals my purse steals trash, but he who filches from me my good nameruins me. ”At this Othello almost leapt into the air, and Iago was so confidentof his jealousy that he ventured to warn him against it. Yes, it was noother than Iago who called jealousy “the green-eyed monster which dothmock the meat it feeds on. ”Iago having given jealousy one blow, proceeded to feed it with theremark that Desdemona deceived her father when she eloped with Othello. “If she deceived him, why not you? ” was his meaning. Presently Desdemona re-entered to tell Othello that dinner was ready. She saw that he was ill at ease. He explained it by a pain in hisforehead. Desdemona then produced a handkerchief, which Othellohad given her. A prophetess, two hundred years old, had made thishandkerchief from the silk of sacred silkworms, dyed it in aliquid prepared from the hearts of maidens, and embroidered it withstrawberries. Gentle Desdemona thought of it simply as a cool, softthing for a throbbing brow; she knew of no spell upon it that would workdestruction for her who lost it. “Let me tie it round your head,” shesaid to Othello; “you will be well in an hour. ” But Othello pettishlysaid it was too small, and let it fall. Desdemona and he then wentindoors to dinner, and Emilia picked up the handkerchief which Iago hadoften asked her to steal. She was looking at it when Iago came in. After a few words about it hesnatched it from her, and bade her leave him. In the garden he was joined by Othello, who seemed hungry for the worstlies he could offer. He therefore told Othello that he had seen Cassiowipe his mouth with a handkerchief, which, because it was spotted withstrawberries, he guessed to be one that Othello had given his wife. The unhappy Moor went mad with fury, and Iago bade the heavens witnessthat he devoted his hand and heart and brain to Othello's service. “Iaccept your love,” said Othello. “Within three days let me hear thatCassio is dead. ”Iago's next step was to leave Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's room. Cassio saw it, and knew it was not his, but he liked the strawberrypattern on it, and he gave it to his sweetheart Bianca and asked her tocopy it for him. Iago's next move was to induce Othello, who had been bullying Desdemonaabout the handkerchief, to play the eavesdropper to a conversationbetween Cassio and himself. His intention was to talk about Cassio'ssweetheart, and allow Othello to suppose that the lady spoken of wasDesdemona. “How are you, lieutenant? ” asked Iago when Cassio appeared. “The worse for being called what I am not,” replied Cassio, gloomily. “Keep on reminding Desdemona, and you'll soon be restored,” said Iago,adding, in a tone too low for Othello to hear, “If Bianca could set thematter right, how quickly it would mend! ”“Alas! poor rogue,” said Cassio, “I really think she loves me,” and likethe talkative coxcomb he was, Cassio was led on to boast of Bianca'sfondness for him, while Othello imagined, with choked rage, that heprattled of Desdemona, and thought, “I see your nose, Cassio, but notthe dog I shall throw it to. ”Othello was still spying when Bianca entered, boiling over with the ideathat Cassio, whom she considered her property, had asked her to copy theembroidery on the handkerchief of a new sweetheart. She tossed him thehandkerchief with scornful words, and Cassio departed with her. Othello had seen Bianca, who was in station lower, in beauty and speechinferior far, to Desdemona and he began in spite of himself to praisehis wife to the villain before him. He praised her skill with theneedle, her voice that could “sing the savageness out of a bear,” herwit, her sweetness, the fairness of her skin. Every time he praisedher Iago said something that made him remember his anger and utter itfoully, and yet he must needs praise her, and say, “The pity of it,Iago! O Iago, the pity of it, Iago! ”There was never in all Iago's villainy one moment of wavering. If therehad been he might have wavered then. “Strangle her,” he said; and “Good, good! ” said his miserable dupe. The pair were still talking murder when Desdemona appeared with arelative of Desdemona's father, called Lodovico, who bore a letterfor Othello from the Duke of Venice. The letter recalled Othello fromCyprus, and gave the governorship to Cassio. Luckless Desdemona seized this unhappy moment to urge once more the suitof Cassio. “Fire and brimstone! ” shouted Othello. “It may be the letter agitates him,” explained Lodovico to Desdemona,and he told her what it contained. “I am glad,” said Desdemona. It was the first bitter speech thatOthello's unkindness had wrung out of her. “I am glad to see you lose your temper,” said Othello. “Why, sweet Othello? ” she asked, sarcastically; and Othello slapped herface. Now was the time for Desdemona to have saved her life by separation, butshe knew not her peril--only that her love was wounded to the core. “Ihave not deserved this,” she said, and the tears rolled slowly down herface. Lodovico was shocked and disgusted. “My lord,” he said, “this would notbe believed in Venice. Make her amends;” but, like a madman talking inhis nightmare, Othello poured out his foul thought in ugly speech, androared, “Out of my sight! ”“I will not stay to offend you,” said his wife, but she lingered even ingoing, and only when he shouted “Avaunt! ” did she leave her husband andhis guests. Othello then invited Lodovico to supper, adding, “You are welcome, sir,to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys! ” Without waiting for a reply he left thecompany. Distinguished visitors detest being obliged to look on at familyquarrels, and dislike being called either goats or monkeys, and Lodovicoasked Iago for an explanation. True to himself, Iago, in a round-about way, said that Othello was worsethan he seemed, and advised them to study his behavior and save him fromthe discomfort of answering any more questions. He proceeded to tell Roderigo to murder Cassio. Roderigo was out of tunewith his friend. He had given Iago quantities of jewels for Desdemonawithout effect; Desdemona had seen none of them, for Iago was a thief. Iago smoothed him with a lie, and when Cassio was leaving Bianca'shouse, Roderigo wounded him, and was wounded in return. Cassio shouted,and Lodovico and a friend came running up. Cassio pointed out Roderigoas his assailant, and Iago, hoping to rid himself of an inconvenientfriend, called him “Villain! ” and stabbed him, but not to death. At the Castle, Desdemona was in a sad mood. She told Emilia that shemust leave her; her husband wished it. “Dismiss me! ” exclaimed Emilia. “It was his bidding, said Desdemona; we must not displease him now. ”She sang a song which a girl had sung whose lover had been base toher--a song of a maiden crying by that tree whose boughs droop as thoughit weeps, and she went to bed and slept. She woke with her husband's wild eyes upon her. “Have you prayedto-night? ” he asked; and he told this blameless and sweet woman to askGod's pardon for any sin she might have on her conscience. “I would notkill thy soul,” he said. He told her that Cassio had confessed, but she knew Cassio had nought toconfess that concerned her. She said that Cassio could not say anythingthat would damage her. Othello said his mouth was stopped. Then Desdemona wept, but with violent words, in spite of all herpleading, Othello pressed upon her throat and mortally hurt her. Then with boding heart came Emilia, and besought entrance at the door,and Othello unlocked it, and a voice came from the bed saying, “Aguiltless death I die. ”“Who did it? ” cried Emilia; and the voice said, “Nobody--I myself. Farewell! ”“'Twas I that killed her,” said Othello. He poured out his evidence by that sad bed to the people who camerunning in, Iago among them; but when he spoke of the handkerchief,Emilia told the truth. And Othello knew. “Are there no stones in heaven but thunderbolts? ” heexclaimed, and ran at Iago, who gave Emilia her death-blow and fled. But they brought him back, and the death that came to him later on was arelief from torture. They would have taken Othello back to Venice to try him there, but heescaped them on his sword. “A word or two before you go,” he said to theVenetians in the chamber. “Speak of me as I was--no better, no worse. Say I cast away the pearl of pearls, and wept with these hard eyes; andsay that, when in Aleppo years ago I saw a Turk beating a Venetian, Itook him by the throat and smote him thus. ”With his own hand he stabbed himself to the heart; and ere he died hislips touched the face of Desdemona with despairing love. THE TAMING OF THE SHREWThere lived in Padua a gentleman named Baptista, who had two fairdaughters. The eldest, Katharine, was so very cross and ill-tempered,and unmannerly, that no one ever dreamed of marrying her, while hersister, Bianca, was so sweet and pretty, and pleasant-spoken, that morethan one suitor asked her father for her hand. But Baptista said theelder daughter must marry first. So Bianca's suitors decided among themselves to try and get some one tomarry Katharine--and then the father could at least be got to listen totheir suit for Bianca. A gentleman from Verona, named Petruchio, was the one they thoughtof, and, half in jest, they asked him if he would marry Katharine, thedisagreeable scold. Much to their surprise he said yes, that was justthe sort of wife for him, and if Katharine were handsome and rich, hehimself would undertake soon to make her good-tempered. Petruchio began by asking Baptista's permission to pay court to hisgentle daughter Katharine--and Baptista was obliged to own that shewas anything but gentle. And just then her music master rushed in,complaining that the naughty girl had broken her lute over his head,because he told her she was not playing correctly. “Never mind,” said Petruchio, “I love her better than ever, and long tohave some chat with her.