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OBSERVATIONS

ON THE FABLE AND COMPOSITION OF THE

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

IT has been lately discovered, that this fable is taken from a story in the Pecorne of Ser Giovanni Fiorentino, a novelift, who wrote in 1378. The ftory has been published in English, and I have epitomized the tranflation. The tranflator is of opinion, that the choice of the caskets is borrowed from a tale of Boccace, which I have likewife abridged, though I believe that Shakespeare must have had some other novel in view.

JOHNSON. "There lived at Florence, a merchant whofe name was Bindo. He was rich, and had three fons. Being near his end, he called for the two eldeft, and left them heirs to the youngest he left nothing. This youngest, whofe name was Giannetto, went to his father, and faid, What has my father done? The father replied, Dear Giannetto, there is none to whom I wish better than to you. Go to Venice, to your godfather, whose name is Anfaldo: he has no child, and has wrote to me often to fend you thither to him. He is the richeft merchant amongst the Chriftians: if you behave well, you will be certainly a rich man. The fon anfwered, I am ready to do whatever my dear father shall command: upon which he gave him his benediction, and in a few days died.

"Giannetto went to Anfaldo, and prefented the letler given by the father before his death. Anfaldo reading the letter, cried out, My deareft godfon is welcome to my arms. He then asked news of his father. Giannetto replied, He is dead. I am much grieved, replied Anfaldo, to hear of the death of Bindo; but the joy I feel, in feeing you, mitigates my forrow. He conducted

conducted him to his house, and gave orders to his fervants, that Giannetto fhould be obeyed, and ferved with more attention than had been paid to himself. He then delivered him the keys of his ready money; and told him, Son, fpend this money, keep a table, and make yourself known: remember, that the more you gain the good-will of every body, the more you will be dear to me.

"Giannetto now began to give entertainments. He was more obedient and courteous to Anfaldo, than if he had been an hundred times his father. Every body in Venice was fond of him. Anfaldo could think of nothing but him; fo much was he pleased with his good manners and behaviour.

"It happened, that two of his moft intimate acquaintance defigned to go with two thips to Alexandria, and told Giannetto, he would do well to take a voyage, and see the world. I would go willingly, faid he, if my father Anfaldo will give leave. His companions go to Anfaldo, and beg his permiflion for Giannetto to go in the fpring with them to Alexandria; and defire him to provide him a fhip. Anfaldo immediately procured a very fine fhip, loaded it with merchandize, adorned it with streamers, and furnished it with arms; and, as foon as it was ready, he gave orders to the captain and failors to do every thing that Giannetto commanded. It happened one morning early, that Giannetto saw à gulph, with a fine port, and afked the captain how the port was called? He replied, That place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many gentlemen. In what manner fays Giannetto. He answered, This lady is a fine and beautiful woman, and has made a law, that whoever arrives here is obliged to go to bed with her, and if he can have the enjoyment of her, he must take her for his wife, and be lord of all the country; but if he cannot enjoy her, he lofes every thing he has brought with him. Giannetto, after a little reflection, tells the captain to get into the port. He was obeyed; and in an inftant they flide into the port fo cafily that the other fhips perceived nothing.

"The

"The lady was foon informed of it, and fent for Giannetto, who waited on her immediately. She, taking him by the hand, asked him who he was? whence he came? and if he knew the custom of the country? He anfwered, That the knowledge of that custom was his only reason for coming. The lady paid him great honours, and fent for barons, counts, and knights in great numbers, who were her fubjects, to keep Giannetto company. These nobles were highly delighted with the good breeding and manners of Giannetto; and all would have rejoiced to have,him for their lord.

"The night being come, the lady faid, it feems to be time to go to bed: Giannetto told the lady, he was entirely devoted to her service; and immediately two damfels enter with wine and fweetmeats. The lady entreats him to tafte the wine: he takes the fweetmeats, and drinks fome of the wine, which was prepared with ingredients to caufe fleep. He then goes into the bed, where he inftantly falls afleep, and never vakes till late in the morning; but the lady rofe with the fun, and gave orders to unload his veffel, which The found full of rich merchandize. After nine o'clock the women-fervants go to the bed-fide, order Giannetto to rife and be gone, for he had loft the fhip. The lady gave him a horfe and money, and he leaves the place very melancholy, and goes to Venice. When he arrives, he dares not return home for fhame: but at night goes to the houfe of a friend, who is furprised to fee him, and enquires of him the cause of his return? He anfwers, his hip had ftruck on a rock in the night, and was broke in pieces.

"This friend, going one day to make a vifit to Anfaldo, found him very difconfolate. I fear, fays An-, faldo, fo much that this fon of mine is dead, that I have no reft. His friend told him, that he had been hipwrecked, and had loft his all, but that he himself was fafe. Anfaldo inftantly gets up, and runs to find him. My dear fon, faid he, you need not fear my dif pleafure; it is a common accident; trouble yourself

no

no further. He takes him home, all the way telling him to be cheerful and eafy.

"The news was foon known all over Venice, and every one was concerned for Giannetto. Some time after his companions arriving from Alexandria very rich, demanded what was become of their friend, and having heard the ftory, ran to fee him, and rejoiced with him for his fafety; telling him, that next spring he might gain as much as he had loft the laft. But Giannetto had no other thoughts than of his return to the lady; and was refolved to marry her, or die. Anfaldo told him frequently, not to be caft down. Giannetto faid, he fhould never be happy, till he was at liberty to make another voyage. Anfaldo provided another thip of more value than the firft. He again entered the port of Belmonte, and the lady looking on the port from her bed-chamber, and feeing the fhip, afked her maid, if the knew the ftreamers; the maid faid, it was the thip of the young man who arrived latt year. You are in the right, anfwered the lady; he muft furely have a great regard for me, for never any one came a fecond time: the maid faid, the had never feen a more agreeable man. He went to the caftle, and prefented himself to the lady; who as foon as the faw him, embraced him, and the day was paffed in joy and revels. Bed-time being come, the lady entreated him to go to ref: when they were feated in the chamber, the two damfels enter with wine and fweet-meats; and having eat and drank of them, they go to bed, and immediately Giannetto falls asleep, the lady undreffed, and lay down by his fide; but he waked not the whole night. In the morning, the lady rifes, and gives orders to ftrip the fhip. He has a horfe and money given to him, and away he goes, and never ftops till he gets to Venice; and at night goes to the fame friend, who with aftonishment afked him what was the matter? I am undone, fays Giannetto. His friend anfwered, You are the caufe of the ruin of Anfaldo, and your fhame ought to be greater than the lofs you have fuffered. Giannetto lived privately many

days.

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