tonio, was most cordially welcomed to Belmont by the Lady Portia. Nerissa and Gratiano were soon apparently involved in a quarrel; and when Portia inquired the cause, Nerissa poutingly declared her husband was faithless, for he had given away the ring she gave him before they parted, and which he had sworn to keep for ever. Gratiano made many excuses; but Portia gravely told him, there could be no excuse for so palpable a breach of faith-and poor Bassanio bewildered, knew now not what he should do, or what excuse advance for the loss of his own ring, which Portia, at first, appeared not to suspect, holding him up to Gratiano as an example which he ought to have copied; slily stating her belief that Bassanio would sooner part with life than with such a pledge of mutual affection and confidence !

Portia then appealed to Bassanio to justify her faith by the production of the ring which she had bestowed on him at parting; but when she found, or rather appeared to find that it was also gone, she seemed highly offended; and the two bridegrooms were soundly rated by their new made wives, for what they termed their infidelity. After teasing them for awhile, they at length laughingly acknowledged the cheat, and enhanced the joy of Antonio and Bassanio, by discovering that the skilful Doctor of Laws was the sweet Portia herself-whose ready wit had been the means of preserving Antonio's life, when probably every effort of law or authority would have failed in so doing.

Nothing now occurred to interrupt the mutual happiness of all parties, save that the gentle Jessica, though she had been tempted by love to forsake her father, yet was deeply afflicted when she heard of his death. Time, however, blunted the poignancy of her grief, and her future life was comfortable, though probably not happy; for the pain

ful remembrance of her disobedience could never entirely be obliterated from her heart.

For there are stings which never quit the mind;
The secret memory of deeds o'erpast,
Which in remembrance carry self reproof,
No present joys can e'er obliterate.
They rise like spectres to the mental view
To scare and fright us in our dreams of bliss-
To err is easy to recall our deed,

Alas!

impossible-Reflection then

Should be our guide, our constant monitor,
And save us from the pain of retrospection!

Portia had no drawback upon her peace; her life with Bassanio was one continued scene of happiness; and their milder joys were enlivened by the wit, vivacity, and perpetual good humour of Nerissa, and her madcap husband, Gratiano, who seemed as he were born for mirth alone, and that sorrow, or sadness had disclaimed him at his birth.

Antonio's misfortunes were only transient. Three of his argosies, richly laden, came unexpectedly into port, and all his previous losses were redeemed. Bassanio discharged every debt with large interest, suited to the circumstances of his creditors, and the extent of their kindness towards himself. The fame of his honour and integrity spread over the land, nor less the fame of Antonio's friendship. Their virtues were not merely nominal, they were solid and unchangeable; and when for ages after any one spoke of friendship-that of the merchant Antonio, for his kinsman the Lord Bassanio, was recorded as a precedent for all others.

Friendship fair virtue's favoured child and hope,
Source of delight, of happiness and peace;
Sweet, sacred, I lessed, ever varying theme,
Which the winged cherubims etherial race-
Might listen to with heaven-created rapture.
Power potent and supreme, chain indivisible,
Firm as a rock; yet scatter'd with a breath!
Friendship, by such nice particles is held,

To break one single tie, disjoins the rest;
"Tis friendship's very utmost joy and pride,
To view its object in the glare of day,
Advance its interest, and promote its fame,
Disdaining e'en the censures of the world;
If worldly censures should on friendship chance
To fall-or hint its object undeserving!
Then let the generous soul, which no distrust
Or base suspicion feels of kindred worth,
Circling its own bright lustre, round the bosom
Of a tried friend, retake it by reflection,
And let the beaming eye to all around
Proclaim-this is the friend I value;
Where such self love is grafted with the act
It scarcely needs the spur or meed of service.

1

Methinks, I hither hear your husband's drum
See him pluck down Aufidius by the hair;
Methinks, I see him stamp thus, and call thus,-
Come on, you cowards; you were got in fear,
Though you were born in Rome; his bloody brow
With his mail'd hand then wiping,-forth he goes;
Like to a harvest man, that's task'd to mOW
Or all, or loose his hire.

His bloody brow (exclaimed the timid Virgilia)
O Jupiter, no Llood! ***

Away you fool! it more Becomes a man,
Than guilt his trophy: the breasts of Hecu!
When she did snekle Hector, lock' not love..
Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth bloo l
At Grecian swords contending.* ***

replied Volumia-the valiant mother of the valiant Marcius, a noble Roman. She who had trained her son to war, and gloxied in his achievements: while his tender wife, whose love was truly feminine