You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, Such as I am: though, for myself alone, I would not be ambitious in my wish, To wish myself much better; yet, for you, I would be trebled twenty times myself; A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich; That, only to stand high on your account, I might in virtues, beauties, livings, friends, Exceed account: but the full sum of me Is sum of--something; which, to term in gross, Is an unlesson’d girl, unschool’d, unpracticed: Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn; then happier in this, She is not bred so dull but she can learn; Happiest of all, in that her gentle spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed, As from her lord, her governor, her king. Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now converted: but now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now, This house, these servants, and this same myself, Are yours, my lord; I give them with this ring; Which when you part from, lose, or give away, Let it presage the ruin of your love, And be my vantage to exclaim on you. _From “The Merchant of Venice.”_ QUOTATIONS FROM SHAKESPEARE. ADVERSITY. SWEET are the uses of adversity; Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head: And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything. “_As You Like It._” REPUTATION. GOOD name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. “_Othello._” FEAR OF DEATH. COWARDS die many times before their death; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. “_Julius Cæsar._” SHAKESPEARE’S POETRY. FRANCIS JEFFREY. FRANCIS JEFFREY was born in Edinburgh in 1773 and died in 1850. He attended the schools of his native city and completed his education in the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, preparing himself for the pursuit of law. He was also a writer of essays and criticisms and attained high rank as a judge and writer. He was at one time editor of the famous “Edinburgh Review.”