Merchant of Venice. - Repositories
Merchant of Venice. - Repositories Merchant of Venice. - Repositories
xiv INTROD UCTION making was abroad from morning till night. The queen entered heartily into the happy enthusiasm of her people, and led them in it. " Merrie England" justified its name. Peace. — After the defeat of the Armada years of peace came to England. For a while no foreign foe dared molest this country; the dangers of civil disorder, both political and religious, were deftly avoided by the firm yet gentle guidance of the queen. When life was so full, when there was so much to think about that was new, so many new things to do, peace was most welcome. Chief blessing of all, the energy and charm of this age was to be forever enshrined in its literature, a literature made immortal by the genius of a Spenser, and that of a Shakespeare. THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEAKE Birthplace and Parents. — In the very heart of old England is a village known and loved to-day all over the world — Stratford-on-Avon. The river that flows by its church has lost none of its beauty since William Shakespeare wandered along its banks, nor has the surrounding country become greatly altered. John Shakespeare, father of the poet, was apparently a humble tradesman, a glover, in this village. In 1557 he married Mary Arden, the heiress of a wealthy
INTROD UCTION XV farmer in the vicinity, and in consequence of the marriage a change seems to have taken place in his fortunes. This union not only brought him prosperity and wealth, but it seems to have advanced his political standing, and we find him in 1568 the High Bailiff, or Mayor, of Stratford. It is difficult to appreciate the social conditions of those days. The one-roomed farmhouse from which Mary Arden came was such a one as would be considered to-day better suited to animals than to men. There were no pictures, although their place was supplied by a few painted cloths, on which scenes from the Bible were rudely depicted. A book, unless a copy of the catechism or a prayer-book, was never seen within that house. There was no crockery, forks had not yet been introduced into England, and table-knives and spoons were very scarce. The conditions in Stratford were probably a little better; the house to which John Shakespeare brought his bride was divided into several rooms, was well lighted, and was comparatively comfortable. Yet so poor was the drainage in this town, that here, as in the cities, the plague made frequent and fearful ravages. If in the homes of the nobility and in the queen's palace there was more of wealth and display, it cannot be said that even there the ordinary conveniences of existence were any greater than in the houses of the townspeople.
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xiv<br />
INTROD UCTION<br />
making was abroad from morning till night. The<br />
queen entered heartily into the happy enthusiasm <strong>of</strong><br />
her people, and led them in it. " Merrie England"<br />
justified its name.<br />
Peace. — After the defeat <strong>of</strong> the Armada years <strong>of</strong><br />
peace came to England. For a while no foreign foe<br />
dared molest this country; the dangers <strong>of</strong> civil disorder,<br />
both political and religious, were deftly avoided<br />
by the firm yet gentle guidance <strong>of</strong> the queen. When<br />
life was so full, when there was so much to think<br />
about that was new, so many new things to do, peace<br />
was most welcome. Chief blessing <strong>of</strong> all, the energy<br />
and charm <strong>of</strong> this age was to be forever enshrined<br />
in its literature, a literature made immortal by the<br />
genius <strong>of</strong> a Spenser, and that <strong>of</strong> a Shakespeare.<br />
THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEAKE<br />
Birthplace and Parents. — In the very heart <strong>of</strong> old<br />
England is a village known and loved to-day all over<br />
the world — Stratford-on-Avon. The river that flows<br />
by its church has lost none <strong>of</strong> its beauty since William<br />
Shakespeare wandered along its banks, nor has the<br />
surrounding country become greatly altered. John<br />
Shakespeare, father <strong>of</strong> the poet, was apparently a<br />
humble tradesman, a glover, in this village. In 1557<br />
he married Mary Arden, the heiress <strong>of</strong> a wealthy
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