Gave the newly-made Bridegroom a fit of "the Blues,' Especially, too, as it came from the pen

"

Of his poor friend himself on the wedding-day, then, When the Parson had scarce shut his book up, and

when

The Clerk was yet uttering the final Amen.

"Dear Friend," it continued, "all's up with me-I

Have nothing on earth now to do but to die!

And, as death clears all scores, you're no longer my

debtor;

I should take it as kind Could you come-never

mind

If your love don't persuade you, why, don't let this letter!"

I hardly need say this was scarcely read o'er

Ere a post-chaise and four Was brought round to the door,

And Bassanio, though, doubtless, he thought it a bore, Gave his Lady one kiss, and then started at score.

But scarce in his flight Had he got out of sight, Ere Portia, addressing a groom, said, "My lad, you a Journey must take on the instant to Padua; Find out there Bellario, a Doctor of Laws, Who, like Follett, is never left out of a cause,

And give him this note,

Which I've hastily wrote, then push for the ferry

Take the papers he'll give you
Below, where I'll meet you, you'll do't in a wherry,

If you can't find a boat on the Brenta with sails to it -Stay, bring his gown too, and wig with three tails

to it."

Giovanni (that's Jack) Brought out his hack,
Made a bow to his mistress, then jump'd on its back,
Put his hand to his hat, and was off in a crack.
The Signora soon follow'd herself, taking as her
Own escort Nerissa her maid, and Balthasar.

"The Court is prepared, the Lawyers are met,

The Judges all ranged, a terrible show!" As Captain Macheath says, and when one's in debt, The sight's as unpleasant a one as I know, Yet still not so bad after all, I suppose, As if, when one cannot discharge what one owes, They should bid people cut off one's toes or one's nose;

Yet here, a worse fate, Stands Antonio, of late A Merchant, might vie e'en with Princes in state, With his waistcoat unbutton'd, prepared for the knife,. Which, in taking a pound of flesh, must take his life; -On the other side Shylock, his bag on the floor, And three shocking bad hats on his head, as before,

Imperturbable stands, As he waits their commands

With his scales and his great snicker-snee in his hands: -Between them, equipt in a wig, gown and bands, With a very smooth face, a young dandified Lawyer, Whose air, ne'ertheless, speaks him quite a top-sawyer,

Though his hopes are but feeble, Does his possible To made the hard Hebrew to mercy incline, And in lieu of his three thousand ducats take nine, Which Bassanio, for reasons we well may divine, Shows in so many bags all drawn up in a line. But vain are all efforts to soften him-still

He points to the bond He so often has conn'd, And says in plain terms he'll be shot if he will. So the dandified Lawyer, with talking grown hoarse, Says, "I can say no more-let the law take its course."

Just fancy the gleam of the eye of the Jew,
As he sharpen'd his knife on the sole of his shoe

From the toe to the heel, And grasping the steel, With a business-like air was beginning to feel Whereabouts he should cut, as a butcher would veal, When the dandified Judge puts a spoke in his wheel.

"Stay, Shylock," says he, "Here's one thing-you

see

This bond of yours gives you here no jot of blood! -The words are 'A pound of flesh,'-that's clear as

mud

Slice away, then, old fellow-but mind!-if you spill
One drop of his claret that's not in your bill,
I'll hang you, like Haman!-By Jingo I will!"

When apprised of this flaw, You never yet saw Such an awfully mark'd elongation of jaw