The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-11-28
Written for tho Cincinnati Times.
Our Shakesperian Gallery.
BY THE "FAT CONTRIBUTOR"
SHYLOCK

bHl LOCh.
Sbylock was a Jew, who kept a
second.h hand clothing store in We
nice. BY buying low and selling
tor all that he could get, doing his
own cooking by gas stove, having
no washing donc and never spend.
ing a cent, he had accumulated nu-
merous ducats, which be WASH t
avcrse to lending on collateral,
providing the borrower hadn't any
foolish scruplcs about paying
twenty per cent. a month, or such
a mattor, for the accommodation -
Antonio was merchant of Venice
who accumulated a good deal and
owned numerous canal boats. He
had bosom friend named Bas-
sanio, who was in love with rich
widow, Portia; but having lived q
free life, driving fast horses, dining
extensively at the st. Lawrence,
very often he hadn't the ready
cash wherowith 10 compete with
his more wealthy rivals.
His father, tired OF paying for
his extravagances, refused him any
more money. "Go to the ant, thou
sluggard,' the parent said. He
did; he went to Antonio, being as
willing to (AnD owe nio as any
body. Now Antonio had invested
nearly all that he possessed in
wheat, the market being low, bnt as
soon as his canal boats arrived, he
expected to sell at great advance,
and bo fixed But being anxious
that his friend should have q stake,
he agreed to borrow some ducats
for him, if his credit would admit.
The next day, meeting Shylock
on the Rialto, (Which differs some
what from the modern alto heard
at concert saloons, not having so
much rye in it), he asked loan of
three thousand ducats.
Shylock bore no love to Antonio,
nor to any of his tribe in fact, on
account of the scorn they had heap.
ed upon him. lie disscmblcd,
however, and said he would like to
accommodate, but hadn't the money
ready-he would like to see his
brother.in-l law. He at length
agreed to provide the three thou
sand ducats orthree months, face.
tiously stipulating that Antonio
should sign q bond Git was such
jokeD agreeing to forfeit a pound
of flesh, (the Jew could hardly tell
it for laughing, to be cut off when
ever he, tho jew decided, in case
he failed to pay the money when
due, 80 help mo graciousl" An
tonic, believing in the success of
his wheat speculation, and having
heard that his boats were well on
the way from Chicago, accepted
the conditions and signed The bond.
Bassanio took the three thousand
ducats and proceed 10 lay siege to
the heart (and purse) of the young
widow. lie was most assiduous in
his attentions. He brought her
peppermint drops, lozengcs, &C.,
whenever he came, went buggy
riding ia the afternoons, and took
her to tho German beer gardens in
tho evening, to hear the music.
In the sweet delirium of love the
days and ducats sped swiftly away.
Bassanio became tho accepted
suitor Of Portia, Notwithstanding his
rivals were opulent-one of them
owning q silver mine in Colorado,
and another being n conductor on
q good paying railroad. In the
midst of his congratulations Bas-
sanio received q letter from An
tonic, informing him that all his
boats were lost in a fearful gale on
tho Maumee canal, and he was re
duced to boggary. Ho had for.
fcitcd his bond to the Jew, and
was only waiting to know what
portion Of his body Sbylock would
select from which to cut his pound
of steak. Ho invited Bassanio to
he present at the funeral, which
would be held at the house. No
cards. Bassanio took the first train
for Venice, filled with romorso, -,
The temper of Shylock had not
been improved any by his daugh-
ter running away with a negro
minstrel named Lorenzo, particu-
Iarly as they carried away n stock
ing full of ducats, jcwels of much
value, and u lot Of seven-thirty
bonds. ~
He caused the arrest of Antonio,
positively refusing to receive any
thing but the pound of flesh that he
had forfeited. The case was bro't
before Venetian Justice of the
Peace for adjudication. Bassanio
had made q lucky bit at keno the
night before, and no offered to pay
the Jew 5000 ducats in place Of
1900, if he would retire from the
meat business and let Antonio go.
The Jew was obdurate--,not hing
but pound of Antonio's flesh, cut
thin, would satisfy him. He pro-
duced a butchers knife in court,
and began to whct it, showing that
he meant business.
The Justice had sent to Padua
for a learned doctor to determine
the case, which was ono of consid-
cradle interest, especially to An
tonic.
Tho learned doctor pleaded ILL
ness, and sent another doctor moro
learned than himself, and better
doctored, whom he recommended,
He was admitted TO the court, and
on account of his very youthful
appearance was viewed with deris-
ion by a lot of "shystcr" lawyers
from the Police Court, who were