surprised with the sight of the Duke of Milan and Thurio, who came there
in pursuit of Silvia.

Thurio first approached, and attempted to seize Silvia, saying, "Silvia
is mine." Upon this Valentine said to him in a very spirited manner,
"Thurio, keep back: if once again you say that Silvia is yours, you
shall embrace your death. Here she stands, take but possession of her
with a torch! I dare you but to breathe upon my love." Hearing this
threat, Thurio, who was a great coward, drew back, and said he cared not
for her, and that none but a fool would fight for a girl who loved him
not.

The duke, who was a very brave man himself, said now in great anger,
"The more base and degenerate in you to take such means for her as you
have done, and leave her on such slight conditions." Then turning to
Valentine, he said, "I do applaud your spirit, Valentine, and think you
worthy of an empress' love. You shall have Silvia, for you have well
deserved her." Valentine then with great humility kissed the duke's
hand, and accepted the noble present which he had made him of his
daughter with becoming thankfulness: taking occasion of this joyful
minute to entreat the good-humoured duke to pardon the thieves with whom
he had associated in the forest, assuring him, that when reformed and
restored to society, there would be found among them many good, and fit
for great employment; for the most of them had been banished, like
Valentine, for state offences, rather than for any black crimes they had
been guilty of. To this the ready duke consented: and now nothing
remained but that Proteus, the false friend, was ordained, by way of
penance for his love-prompted faults, to be present at the recital of
the whole story of his loves and falsehoods before the duke; and the
shame of the recital to his awakened conscience was judged sufficient
punishment: which being done, the lovers, all four, returned back to
Milan, and their nuptials were solemnised in the presence of the duke,
with high triumphs and feasting.

[Illustration]

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Shylock, the Jew, lived at Venice: he was an usurer, who had amassed an
immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian
merchants. Shylock, being a hard-hearted man, exacted the payment of the
money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all good
men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and
Shylock as much hated Antonio, because he use