K. Hen. Still all look strangely on me;-and you [To the CHIEF JUSTICE.

most; You are, I think, assur'd I love you not.

Ch. Just. I am assur'd, if I be measur'd rightly,

Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
K. Hen. No?

How might a prince of my great hopes forget
So great indignities you laid upon me?
What! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison,
The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten i

Ch. Just. I then did use the person of your fa

ther;

The image of his power lay then in me:
And, in the administration of his law,
Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth,
Your highness pleased to forget my place,
The majesty and power of law and justice,
The image of the king whom I presented,
And struck me in my very seat of judgment;
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority,

And did commit you.

Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
Be now the father, and propose a son :
Hear your own dignity so much profan'd,
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd;
And then imagine me taking your part,
And, in your power, so silencing your son:-
After this cold considerance, sentence me;
And, as you are a king, speak in your state,-
What I have done, that misbecame my place,
My person, or my liege's sovereignty.

K. Hen. You are right, Justice, and you weigh this

well;

Therefore still bear the balance, and the sword:
And I do wish your honours may increase,

H

Till you do live to see a son of mine
Offend you, and obey you, as I did.
You did commit me:

For which, I do commit into your hand
The unstained sword that you have us'd to bear;
With this remembrance, -That you use the same
With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit,
As you have done 'gainst me. There is my hand:
You shall be as a father to my youth:
My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear;
And I will stoop and humble my intents'
To your well-practis'd wise directions.
Now call we our high court of parliament:
And let us chuse such limbs of noble counsel,
That the great body of our state may go
In equal rank with the best govern'd nation!
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us;--
In which you, father, shall have foremost hand.

[To the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.

Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before remember'd, all our state :

And (Heaven consigning to my good intents,)

No prince, nor peer, shall have just cause to say,

Heaven shorten Harry's happy life one day.

Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.

THE END.

[Exeunt.

Drawn by Loudherbourg RA. Bublishd by Longman & C. March 1816. Engrav'd by CHeath.

1

THE

MERCHANT OF VENICE;

A COMEDY,

IN FIVE ACTS;

BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN.

PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS

FROM THE PROMPT BOOK.

WITH REMARKS

BY MRS. INCHBALD.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME,

PATERNOSTER ROw.