Title page
The Merchant of Venice, A COMEDY, by SHAKESPEARE, AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Regulated from the PROMPT-BOOK, With PERMISSION of the MANAGERS, By Mr. HOPKINS, Prompter.
An INTRODUCTION, and NOTES Critical and Illustrative, ARE ADDED BY THE AUTHORS of the DRAMATIC CENSOR.
LONDON:
Printed for JOHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand; and C. ETHERINGTON, at York.
MDCCLXXIII.
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INTRODUCTION.
The Merchant of Venice.
It is said, that Shakespeare took his hint of this play, from
an old ballad. Be it so: no matter whence a Dramatic
author takes his plot, so he plans it well, and makes
good use of it after. It is also said, that the cruel
character was a christian: now though we are totally
against giving prejudiced ideas against any set of people,
especially a race so rejected as the Jews have been,
and are yet; still as among their tribes, in common
with the rest of mankind, several Shylocks no doubt
have been, our author judiciously saw, that making
his principal an Israelite, would place him in a stronger
point of view; and such successful pains has tehe bard
taken with this horrid picture of depraved natur, that
we scruple not to pronounce him, as original and high-finished
a character, as we can conceive, furnished with
a most suitable peculiarity of stile. All the other characters
are well drawn, and well supported; wherefore,
notwithstanding several breaches of time and
place, we may venture to pronounce this to be a piece of
very singular merit. It would be want of gratitude,
for the great satisfaction Mr. Macklin has often given
us in the Jew, not to pronounce his performance remarkably
correct, feeling, and forceable.
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DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
Drury Lane.
Covent-Garden.
Duke,
Mr. Bransby.
Mr. Morris.
Anthonio, [Antonio]
Mr. Reddish.
Mr. Clarke.
Bassanio,
Mr. Cautherly.
Mr. Bensley.
Gratiano,
Mr. Dodd.
Mr. Dyer.
Lorenzo,
Mr. Vernon.
Mr. Mattocks.
Solarino, [Salerio]
Mr. J. Aickin.
Mr. Davis.
Salanio [Solanio],
Mr. Fawcet.
Mr. Gardner.
Shylock,
Mr. King.
Mr. Macklin.
Tubal,
Mr. Messink.
Mr. Bates.
Launcelot,
Mr. W. Palmer.
Mr. Shuter.
Gobbo,
Mr. Parsons.
Mr. Saunders.
Leonardo,
Balthazar [Balthasar],
Stephano,
Portia,
Mrs. Abington.
Miss Macklin.
Jessica,
Miss Jarrat.
Mrs. Baker.
Nerissa,
Miss Ambrose.
Mrs. Lessingham.
Senators of Venice, Officers, Jailer, Servants, and other Attendants.
SCENE, partly at Venice, and partly at Belmont, the Seat of Portia, upon the Continent.
