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-soft;

no haste;

The Jew shall have all justice;
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Gra. O Jew! an upright judge, a learnëd judge!
Por. Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh;
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh: if thou takʼst more,
Or less, than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part

Of one poor scruple, — nay, if the scales do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,

Thou diest, and all thy goods are con ́fiscate.

Gra. A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!

Now infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go. Bass. I have it ready for thee; here it is. Por. He hath refused it in the open court; He shall have merely justice, and his bond.

Gra. A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel! I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

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Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal?
Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

Shy. Why then

I'll stay no longer question.

Por. Tarry, Jew;

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The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive,
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the state;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy

Of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke.

Duke. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit,

I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:
For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's ;
The other half comes to the general state,
Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

Shy. Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:
You take my house when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life
When you do take the means whereby I live.

Ant. So please my lord the Duke, and all the court,
To quit the fine for one half of his goods;

I am content, so he will let me have

The other half in use, to render it,

Upon his death, unto the gentleman

That lately stole his daughter.

Duke. He shall do this; or else I do recant

The pardon that I late pronounced here.

Por. Art thou contented, Jew; what dost thou say?

Shy. I am content.

I pray you give me leave to go from hence:

I am not well: send the deed after me,

And I will sign it.

Duke. Get thee gone, but do it.

LX. OUR PARAMOUNT ALLEGIANCE.

MITCHELL.

The following remarks were made by Gen. O. M. Mitchell, the astronomer, at a war meeting in the city of New York in 1861. They breathe the true spirit of an exalted patriotism, and, in order to render them suitably, the reader should, by his tones, show his sympathy with their feeling and their teachings.

See in Index, DEFENSE or DEFENCE, SACRIFICE, MITCHELL.

1. I HAVE been announced to you as a citizen of Kentucky. Once I was, because I was born there. I love my native State, as you love your native State. I love my adopted State of Ohio, as you love your adopted

State, if such you have; but, my friends, I am not a citizen now of any State. I owe allegiance to no State, and never did, and, Heaven helping me, I never will. I owe allegiance to the government of the United States.

2. A poor boy, at the age of twelve turned out to take care of myself as best I could, and beginning by earning four dollars per month, I worked my way onward until this glorious government gave me a chance at the military academy at West Point. There I landed with a knapsack on my back, and just a quarter of a dollar in my pocket. There I swore allegiance to the government of the United States. I did not abjure the love of my own State, nor of my adopted State, but, over all that, rose proudly triumphant and predominant my love for our common country.

3. And now to-day that common country is assailed, andalas alas that I am compelled to say it!—it is assailed in some sense by my own countrymen. My father and my mother were from old Virginia, and my brothers and sisters from old Kentucky. I love them all; I love them dearly. I have my brothers and friends down in the South now, united to me by the fondest ties of love and affection. I would take them in my arms to-day with all the love that God has put into this heart. But if I found them in arms against the flag of the United States, I would be compelled to smite them down.

4. You have found officers of the army who have been educated by the government, who have drawn their support from the government for long years, who, when called upon by their country to stand for the Constitution and for the right, have basely, ignominiously, and traitorously either resigned their commissions, or deserted to traitors, and rebels, and enemies. What means all this? How can it be that men should act in this way? There is one only question. If we ever

had a government and constitution, or if we ever lived under such, have we ever recognized the supremacy of right? Then why not recognize it now? Why not today? Why not forever?

5. Suppose those friends of ours from old Ireland, suppose he who has made himself one of us, if a war should break out against his former country, should say, "I cannot fight against my own countrymen." Is he a citizen of the United States? If so, then he can have no divided allegiance, when war breaks out. The rebels and the traitors in the South we must set aside; they are not our friends. When they come to their senses, we will receive them with open arms; but till that time, while they are trailing our glorious banner in the dust, when they scorn it, condemn it, curse it, and trample it under foot, then I must smite. In heaven's name, I will smite, and as long as I have strength I will do it.

6. Oh, listen to me, listen to me! I know these men; I have been reared with them; they have courage; do not pretend to think they have not. It is no child's play you are entering upon. They will fight,— fight with determination and power. Make up your mind to it. But let every man put his life in his hand and say, "There is the altar of my country; there ] will sacrifice my life." I for one will lay my life down. It is not mine any longer. Lead me to the conflict. Place me where I can do my duty. There I am ready to go, I care not where it leads me.

7. My friends, that is the spirit that was in this city yesterday. I was told of an incident which drew the tears to my eyes, and yet I am not much used to the melting mood. I was told of a man who has a beloved wife and two children, depending upon his personal labor day by day for their support. He went home and said, "Wife, I feel it is my duty to enlist and fight for my country." "That's just what I've been thinking

of, too," said she; "God bless you, and may you come back without harm; but if you die in defense of the country, the God of the widow and the fatherless will take care of me and my children."

8. That same wife came to your city. She knew precisely where her husband was to pass as he marched away. She took her position on the pavement, and finding a flag she begged leave just to stand beneath those sacred folds and take a last fond look of him whom she, by possibility, might never see again. The husband marched down the street; their eyes met; a sympathetic flash went from heart to heart; she gave one shout and fell senseless upon the pavement, and there she lay for not less than thirty minutes in a It seemed to be the departing of her life. her sensibility had been sealed up. She was ready to meet this tremendous sacrifice upon which we have entered, and I trust you are all ready.

swoon.

All

9. I am ready. Heaven help me to do my duty. I am ready to fight in the ranks or out of the ranks. Haying been educated in the academy, having been in the army seven years, having served as commander of a volunteer company for ten years, and having served as an adjutant-general, I feel I am ready for something. I only ask to be permitted to act. Give me something to do!

LXI. THE FOURTH OF JULY.

CHARLES SPRAGUE.

See in Index, BEACON, GLORY, HERO, STORY, SPRAGUE.

I.

To the sages who spoke, to the heroes who bled,

To the day and the deed, strike the harp-strings of glory!

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