CONTENTS. THE LIFE AND Works of SHAKESPEARE... INTRODUCTION TO THE MERCHANT OF Venice.......... I. THE HISTORY OF THE PLAY..... JOHN SHAKESPEARE'S HOUSE IN HENLEY STREET. View from an old Print. THE LIFE AND WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warwick, England, in April, 1564. The record of his baptism bears the date of April 26th, and as it was an old custom to christen children on the third day after birth, the tradition which makes his birthday the 23d has been commonly accepted. His father, John Shakespeare, seems to have belonged to the class of yeomen, and to have been a glover by trade. His mother, Mary Arderne, or Arden, came of a good old Warwickshire family, and brought her husband a considerable estate as dower. He was for many years an alderman, and twice filled the office of High Bailiff, or chief magistrate, but later in life he appears to have become quite poor. Of a family of four sons and four daughters, William' was the third child, but the eldest son. He was in all probability sent to the free-school of his native town, and after leaving school may have spent some time in an attorney's office. But in 1582, when he was only 18, he married Anne Hathaway, of the parish of Shottery, near Stratford, a woman some eight years older than himself. A daughter was soon born to him, and, two years later, twins-a boy and a girl. ROOM IN THE HOUSE IN HENLEY STREET, WHERE SHAKESPEARE WAS BORN. As nearly as can be made out, it was in the next year, 1586, that Shakespeare, then 22, went to London, where he became first an actor, then a writer for the stage. As an actor he seems to have made no special mark, but as a writer he very soon distinguished himself, and in a few years had won the foremost rank among the dramatists of his time. In 1598, Francis Meres, in his Wit's Treasury, speaks of him as the 66 most excellent among the English for both kinds of tragedy and comedy." His works became not only widely popular, but they brought him special marks of favor and approval from Queen Elizabeth and her successor, James, and gained for him the patronage and friendship of some of the most accomplished men of rank of that day. But while thus prosperous and honored in London, Shakespeare continued to look upon Stratford as his home. There he had left his wife and children, and thither, after he had secured a competency, he returned to spend the evening of |