third plate of Taylor's work; and from that prefixed to the edition of Lowndes. Perhaps the Habiti della donne Venetiane, by Giacomo Franco, published in 1606, might be useful in referring to for the article of drefs. I have fomewhere read, that the Venetian school painted most of their historical figures in their own habits, thinking them more noble and picturesque than any other. The countenance of Anthonio fhould be marked with an embraced heaviness.

Page 187.

THIS is the first page in which Shylock might be well introduced.

The paffages (throughout the course of this play) from whence he might be drawn to moft advantage, in my humble opinion, are at the following pages.

Page 146. If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the antient grudge I bear him.

Page 159. Though the whole of this page is attended to with great attention in the Theatre, particularly when Macklin with a peculiar firm look,) fays,

Hath a dog money? is it poffible

A cur can lend three thousand ducats?

OR,

† A VERY good subject offers itself in A&t 1. Sc. 1. when Morochius fays:

Even for that I thank you.

But this play will offer a fufficient number of engravings without this-and yet one is loth te overlook it.

OR, when he afterwards fays,

Fair Sir, you fpit on me on Wednesday last.-

Yet, as a great part of the beauty of this page depends on the tone of voice in which it is delivered, it would of course be loft in engraving. *

Page 169. Let not the found of shallow foppery enter

Page 202. I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak.
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.

Page 213-217-220-223-225-226.

Page 228. In christening thou shalt have two godfathers.

As the above pages are too numerous to reprefent Shylock in each of them; I will endeavour to select fuch fituations as may be deemed most proper for the bringing forward fo celebrated a character.

IN the scene at page 187, there are many fituations, in each of which Mr. Macklin exhibits fuch infernal beauties, that it is impoffible to fay, from which particular line Shylock should be drawn. This prefent scene is certainly one of the master strokes of Shakespeare; and Mr. Macklin (even now in his advanced age) wonderfully supports the fudden tranfitions from one paffion to another-from distraction bordering on despair,

for

* I HAVE very frequently attended the theatre at Mr. Macklin's performance of Shylock; and I have always waited with impatience for his fpeaking one fhort line in the next page, which he delivers with a tone of voice so suited to the occafion, as to impress every auditor with a high sense of his masterly conception of this character. It is the line of:

This is kind I offer,

for the lofs of his jewels-to joy, malevolence, and vindicative revenge, at the news of Anthonio's loffes. It is impoffible to fay which particular situation in this present scene with Tubal would furnish the best painting, and I will therefore only add the following paffages which strike me as the

MR. MACKLIN was born in the last century. His age therefore creates wonder, when we reflect upon his vigour of body and ftrength of intellectual faculties. The boxes are crowded with perfons of the first distinction, on each night of this veteran's appearance in a character in which he never had an equal. It is unaccountable to many of Mr. Garrick's friends, why he never attempted this part; and whoever perufes the above fcene with Tubal, must think it written almost purposely to call forth fuch powers as he poffeffed. And this indeed is the opinion of Wilkes, who in his general view of the ftage, page 260, fays, "I have heard one of the best judges of the Drama, I ever knew, fay, that if he were to perform Shylock only, it would furpass all his other characters."-I find no mention in any of the old books, written on the subject of the theatre, of any other perfon excelling in the part of Shylock ; but we may fuppofe the excellent actor, Sandford performed it, from Colley Cibber terming him the Spagnoletto of the theatre.. Mr. King has received much applaufe in this part, and on the decease of Macklin will stand unrivalled. Those who have seen the late Mr. Henderson in this part, will bear teftimony of his excelling powers. In a prologue written for Mr. Macklin's comedy of the Man of the World, is the following tribute to it's author:

In days long paft our bard- your fathers knew.

Who has not heard of Shakespear's matchless jew?
Still like an oak in green old age he thrives,
Fanu'd by your breath, the fire of youth furvives.
His fpring was fofter'd by a genial ray,

Till time had ripe'd him to his fummer's day.
Now winter's come, protect him from the blast,
And shield a vet'ran genius to the last!

The Dramatic Cenfor pays him the following compliment :-There is no doubt but Mr. Macklin looks the part as much better than any other person as he plays it; in the level fcenes his voice is moft happily fuited to that fententious gloominefs of expreffion the author intended; which, with a fullen folemnity of deportment, marks the character ftrongly; in his malevolence, there is a forcible and terrifying ferocity; in the third act fcene, where alternate paffions reign, he breaks the tones of utterance, and'varies his countenance admirably; in the dumb action of the trial fcene, he is amazingly defcriptive; and through the whole difplays fuch unequalled merit, as justly entitles him to that very com prehenfive, though concife compliment paid him many years ago, "This is the Jew, that Shakef paid_him peare drew."

AND

the most proper to exhibit Shylock; and in each of these fituations, he should be accompanied by Tubal.

I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear! would she were hears'd at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! No news of them?-Why so:

and no fatisfaction, no revenge: nor no ill luck ftirring, but what lights o' my fhoulders; no fighs, but o' my breathing; no tears, but o' my shedding.

I thank thee, good Tubal;-Good news, good news: ha! ha!-Where? in Genoa? *

I am glad of it; I'll plague him; I'll torture him; I am glad of it.

I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies.

I will have the heart of him, if he forfeit; for were he out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will:

Page 190.

AND the author of the New Rofciad, fpeaks thus of his Shylock;

How does chill horror all the foul invade,
When Shylock, unrelenting, whets his blade!
What rooted rancour, and what steadfast hate,
Appears to urge the unhappy merchant's fate;
Whilft in the Jew's keen vifage is expreft,
Whate'er fpite, envy, malice can fuggeft!
In future times when Shakespeare fhall be read,
When Shylock is no more-when Macklin's dead-
Then fhall pofterity revere thy name'

And future Shylocks wish to match thy fame.

AT the words ah! ab! the countenance of Macklin discovers fuch a mixture of vindictive joy, and deadly revenge, as can never be conceived by those who have not seen him. And he speaks the line of: I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkies, with a fpirit of wildness which terrifies the audience.

Page 190.

I WILL felect for my reader those paffages throughout the course of this play, which appear to me, the most favourable for the exhibiting Bassanio in company with Portia. They are these :