The Merchant of Venice

Temple School Shakespeare

This series, published by arrangement with
Messrs. J. W. Dent & Co., of London, is de-
signed primarily for class use, and bears no
direct relation to the widely known "Temple
Shakespeare."

Edited by F. ARMYTAGE-MORLEY, M.A.

As You Like It.

Hamlet.

Edited by FLORA MASSON

Edited by OLIPHANT SMEATON, M.A.

Richard II.

Edited by W. Keith Leask, M.A.

~ The Merchant of Venice.

Edited by R. M'WILLIAM, M.A.

A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Edited by Rev. W. H. FLECKER, M.A.

Henry V.

Edited by R. H. Case, M.A.

THE

MERCHANT OF VENICE

WITH NOTES, INTRODUCTION AND GLOSSARY

EDITED BY

R. M WILLIAM, B.A.

WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS

BY

DORA CURTIS

Also Many Illustrations in the Introduction and Glcssary from Contemporary Prints

HENRY HOLT

Οὐ πολλὰ
αλλά πολύ

NEW YORK

AND COMPANY

J

4-15

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

Introduction.

Life of Shakespeare-Birth and Parentage.-The play of The Merchant of Venice was written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, who was born at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, on the 22nd or 23rd April 1564. The latter date has been accepted as the more likely, an old tradition stating that he died on the anniversary

The Village of Wilmecote or Wincot in 1852.

of his birth, and we know beyond question his death occurred on.
April 23rd, 1616. His father, John Shakespeare, belonged to a
family which had given generations of substantial yeomen to the Mid-
land districts of England. At the time of the poet's birth John
was a prosperous "general merchant" in agricultural produce.
Corn, malt, hides, wool, leather, hay are named among the wares in
which he dealt. Aubrey, the first biographer of Shakespeare, styled
the father of the latter " a butcher." Öthers have classed him as
a "glover." Possibly, like colonial storekeepers of the present day,
he
may have united many branches of trade in himself, so as to
consult the convenience of rural customers coming from a distance.