They  say  we  are  a  scatter'd  nation  ;
I  cannot  tell ;  but  we  have  scrambled  up
More  wealth  by  far  than  those  that  brag  of  faith.
B  ARAB  AS  AND  SHY  LOCK.  651

There's  Kirriah  Jairim,  the  great  Jew  of  Greece,
Obed  in  Bairseth,  Nones  in  Portugal,
Myself  in  Malta,  some  in  Italy,
Many  in  France,  and  wealthy  every  one  ;
Ay,  wealthier  far  than  any  Christian.
Up  to  this  point  Barabas  is  not  unworthy  of  Shy-
lock.  But  it  would  be  a  waste  of  labour  to  prolong
the  comparison  of  two  pictures  so  differently  executed.
The  one  is  a  powerful  but  rough  draft.  The  other  is
a  finely  finished  portrait.  Shylock  disappears  together
with  the  storm  and  passion  he  has  stirred.  And  round
him  Shakspere  grouped  some  of  our  dearest  friends —
noble  Bassanio,  devoted  Antonio,  witty  Gratiano,  the
dignity  of  Portia,  the  tenderness  of  Jessica,  the  merri-
ment of  Nerissa.  These  remain  ;  and  over  them,  at
last,  is  shed  an  atmosphere  of  peace  and  music  in  that
moonlight  act,  the  loveliest  Shakspere  ever  wrote.  Its
beauty  never  dies.  Jessica  still  sits  upon  the  bank,
and  Lorenzo  whispers  to  her  of  '  the  young-eyed
cherubin.'  We  hear  the  voices  of  Portia  and  Nerissa
coming  through  the  twilight  of  the  garden.  The
music,  sweeter  by  night  than  day,  still  lingers  in  our
ears.  The  lovers'  quarrel,  so  artfully  contrived  and
so  delightfully  concluded,  still  enchants  our  sympathy.
