The Greenville times., 1877-03-31

=" i~>s"AN - hfAhSs = hvASS-
sor Samfield Jewish Rabbi, re-
lated the following curious origin
ofShakespeares merchat of Venice.
"The following is the account of
the true story OF "Shylock - as
given in the work of the Italian
historian Gregoria Lctti, who
wrote the biography ofPope Six
tus V. prior to Shakespcare's ver-
sion OF "Shylock," which drama
was frst printed in the yerr 1900,
and is first mentioned by Mercs in
1898. Pope Sixtus, when he as
cendcd the 'pontiticial chair, found
Rome in a very dcmoralized con-
dition and Immediately commenced
to metc out exact and swift pun-
ishment to every offender. Moth
ing could move him from decis-
ion once made, or persuade him to
waive the strictest Interpretation
OF the law. In the year 1887 (thus
twenty years before the Merchant
Venice was written) Paul Mario
Sechi, a respectable and rich Ro-
man merchant, gained information
that Admiral Francis Drake had
conquered Santo Domingo and had
secured great booty and obtain
cd heap of gold aud jewels. This
news he communicated toa jew.
ish merchant, Simon Cencde by
name, to whom this event rs re.
lated appeared incredible. The
Hebrew merchant disputed the
truth of the report in the most de-
termined manner, aud IN the
warmth Of the debate hc said: 81
bet a pound Of my flesh that the re-
port is untrue" Sand | lay q
thousand scudi against IT," re-
joined Paul Mario. Sechi. And
within few minutes after the bet
was made they caused a bond to be
drawn up. signed by two witnesses
"A jew and . christian-to the
effect that IN case the report should
prove true, then the christian
merchant, Signor Paul Mario
Sechi, is bound to pay 10 the jew
ish merchant, Simon Cenedc, the
sum of one thousand scudi and
on the other hand, II tho news
should be confirmed, the christian
merchant Is justified and cmpow-
cred to cut, with his own hand,
with n wcll-sharpencd knife, a
pound of he jews fair flesh, from
such part Of the body as might
please him. The truth of the re-
port concerning Sir Francis
brakes achievement was, before
many days had elapsed, established
on the most indisputable grounds,
and the christian merchant insisted
upon the fuliillment OF his bond.
In vain did Cenfde offer the chris
tian merchant one thousand scudi
in lieu of that which he had staked.
Sechi was immovable and relemt-
less. lie swore that nothing would
satisfy him but the literal fulfill
ment Of the bond, aud he had al.
ready chosen the part Of the body
from which to take the pound Of
flesh. In the anguish Of his soul
the jew ran to the governor, who
communicated this remarkable
case to Pope Sixtus, aud the latter,
taking the part Of judge In the
controversy, condemned them
both to the galleys for having en-
tered into such an agreement, and
they were only released upon pay
ing a fine of two thousand scudi
each to the hospital Of the Sixtine
bridge. So far the account given
by Gregoria Letti of the affair.
One of the best German commenta-
tors of Shakespeare, Prof Ulrici, in
speaking Of this, remarks that
Shakespeare had in mind this event,
which had but recently taken
place, and which is so closely con-
nected with an event Of signill-
canoe to his country, and in which
Sir Francis Drake, one Of the
heroes Of the land, played so prom
inent part. There was constant
communication between England
and Rome at that time, and such a
remarkable occtrrnce could not
have escaped the notice Of the
English people. Rabbi Sannfield
said that If one read the drama Of
"Shylock" by the lights Of know
ledge which the original source Of
the plot throws upon 1t, he will
hear, as it were, the voice Of
Shakspearean geniun, is whis-
2or: That which you believe as
possible in . Jew, a christian in
tended TO do" He dissepted with
1fr. Warton IN referring tho mould
of ehakspesre's "6hylock" to al
old English ballad, q the latter
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