Of the thirty-seven (or thirty-eight if we include the _Two Noble Kinsmen_) plays in the standard editions of Shakespeare, twenty at least are suitable for use in "mixed" schools. Among the "comedies" are _The Merchant of Venice_, _A Midsummer-Night's Dream_, _As You Like It_, _Twelfth Night_, _Much Ado About Nothing_, _The Tempest_, _The Winter's Tale_, and _The Taming of the Shrew_; among the "tragedies," _Macbeth_, _Hamlet_, _Lear_, and _Romeo and Juliet_; and among the historical plays, _Julius Cæsar_, _Coriolanus_, _King John_, _Richard II._, _Henry IV. Part I._, _Henry V._, _Richard III._, and _Henry VIII._ Certain plays, like _Cymbeline_, _Othello_, and _Antony and Cleopatra_, are not, in my opinion, to be commended for "mixed" schools or classes, but may be used in others at the discretion of the teacher. If but one play is read, my own choice would be _The Merchant of Venice_; except for _classical_ schools, where _Julius Cæsar_ is to be preferred. All the leading colleges now require one or more plays of Shakespeare as part of the preparation in English, and _Julius Cæsar_ is almost invariably included for every year. If _two_ plays can be read, the _Merchant_ and _Julius Cæsar_ may be commended; or either of these with _As You Like It_, or with _Macbeth_, if a tragedy is desired. _Macbeth_ is the shortest of the great tragedies (only a trifle more than half the length of _Hamlet_, for instance), and seems to me unquestionably the best for an ordinary school course. For a selection of _three_ plays, we may take the _Merchant_ (or _Julius Cæsar_), _As You Like It_ (or _Twelfth Night_ or _Much Ado_--the other two of the trio of "Sunny or Sweet-Time Comedies," as Furnivall calls them), and _Macbeth_. An English historical play (_King John_, _Richard II._, _Henry IV. Part I._, or _Henry V._) may be substituted for the comedy, if preferred; and _Hamlet_ for _Macbeth_, if time permits and the teacher chooses. As I have said, _Hamlet_ is about twice as long as _Macbeth_, and should have at least treble the time devoted to it. If a _fourth_ play is wanted, add _The Tempest_ to the list. _Macbeth_ and _The Tempest_ together (4061 lines, as given in the "Globe" edition) are but little longer than _Hamlet_ (3929 lines), and can be read in less time than the latter.