_Lear._ You do me wrong to take me out o’ the grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. _Cordelia._ Sir, do you know me? _Lear._ You are a spirit, I know: when did you die? _Cordelia._ Still, still, far wide! _Doctor._ He’s scarce awake: let him alone awhile. _Lear._ Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused. I should e’en die with pity, To see another thus. I know not what to say. I will not swear these are my hands: let’s see; I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured Of my condition! _King Lear_ (2) _Portia._ It must not be. There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: ’Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error by the same example Will rush into the state. It cannot be. _Shylock._ A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee! _Portia._ I pray you, let me look upon the bond. _Shylock._ Here ’tis, most reverend doctor, here it is. _Portia._ Shylock, there’s thrice thy money offered thee. _Shylock._ An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven. Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice. _Portia._ Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant’s heart.--Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond. _The Merchant of Venice_ 8. Explain and discuss the following statements concerning Shakespeare. Whenever you can, illustrate with examples from the plays. (1) He was not of an age, but for all time.--JONSON. (2) Panting time toiled after him in vain.--JOHNSON. (3) The genius of Shakespeare was an innate universality. KEATS. (4) His plays are distinguished by signal adherence to the great laws of nature, that all opposites tend to attract and temper each other.--COLERIDGE. (5) The striking peculiarity of Shakespeare’s mind was its power of communicating with other minds, so that it contained a universe of thought and feeling within itself.--HAZLITT. 9. What were the signs of the “dramatic decline” that set in after Shakespeare? Mention some dramatists whose plays show this decline. 10. Try to account for the weakness of English prose when compared with the poetry of the time. (1) No single prose writer of the time, not even Hooker, holds the same rank that Spenser holds in poetry.--SAINTSBURY.