Tales from Shakespeare | Page 2

in this way will be much better relished and understood
from their having some notion of the general story from one of these
imperfect abridgments;--which if they be fortunately so done as to
prove delightful to any of the young readers, it is hoped that no worse
effect will result than to make them wish themselves a little older, that
they may be allowed to read the Plays at full length (such a wish will
be neither peevish nor irrational). When time and leave of judicious
friends shall put them into their hands, they will discover in such of
them as are here abridged (not to mention almost as many more, which
are left untouched) many surprising events and turns of fortune, which
for their infinite variety could not be contained in this little book,
besides a world of sprightly and cheerful characters, both men and
women, the humour of which it was feared would be lost if it were
attempted to reduce the length of them.
What these Tales shall have been to the young readers, that and much
more it is the writers' wish that the true Plays of Shakespeare may
prove to them in older years--enrichers of the fancy, strengtheners of
virtue, a withdrawing from all selfish and mercenary thoughts, a lesson
of all sweet and honourable thoughts and actions, to teach courtesy,
benignity, generosity, humanity: for of examples, teaching these virtues,
his pages are full.

CONTENTS
PAGE
THE TEMPEST 1
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM 14
THE WINTER'S TALE 27
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 39
AS YOU LIKE IT 53

THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA 71
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 85
CYMBELINE 102
KING LEAR 117
MACBETH 136
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 148
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW 162
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS 174
MEASURE FOR MEASURE 190
TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL 206
TIMON OF ATHENS 221
ROMEO AND JULIET 236
HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK 255
OTHELLO 272
PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE 287

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PERDITA
WHEN CALIBAN WAS LAZY AND NEGLECTED HIS WORK,
ARIEL WOULD COME SLILY AND PINCH HIM
WHERE IS PEASE-BLOSSOM?

PAULINA DREW BACK THE CURTAIN WHICH CONCEALED
THIS FAMOUS STATUE
GANYMEDE ASSUMED THE FORWARD MANNERS OFTEN
SEEN IN YOUTHS WHEN THEY ARE BETWEEN BOYS AND
MEN
IMOGEN'S TWO BROTHERS THEN CARRIED HER TO A SHADY
COVERT
CORDELIA
THEY WERE STOPPED BY THE STRANGE APPEARANCE OF
THREE FIGURES
PETRUCHIO, PRETENDING TO FIND FAULT WITH EVERY
DISH, THREW THE MEAT ABOUT THE FLOOR
SHE BEGAN TO THINK OF CONFESSING THAT SHE WAS A
WOMAN
AT THE CELL OF FRIAR LAWRENCE
TO THIS BROOK OPHELIA CAME

[Illustration]
THE TEMPEST
There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which
were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda,
a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young, that she
had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's.
They lived in a cave or cell, made out of a rock; it was divided into
several apartments, one of which Prospero called his study; there he
kept his books, which chiefly treated of magic, a study at that time

much affected by all learned men: and the knowledge of this art he
found very useful to him; for being thrown by a strange chance upon
this island, which had been enchanted by a witch called Sycorax, who
died there a short time before his arrival, Prospero, by virtue of his art,
released many good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the bodies
of large trees, because they had refused to execute her wicked
commands. These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of
Prospero. Of these Ariel was the chief.
[Illustration: WHEN CALIBAN WAS LAZY AND NEGLECTED HIS
WORK, ARIEL WOULD COME SLILY AND PINCH HIM]
The lively little sprite Ariel had nothing mischievous in his nature,
except that he took rather too much pleasure in tormenting an ugly
monster called Caliban, for he owed him a grudge because he was the
son of his old enemy Sycorax. This Caliban, Prospero found in the
woods, a strange misshapen thing, far less human in form than an ape:
he took him home to his cell, and taught him to speak; and Prospero
would have been very kind to him, but the bad nature which Caliban
inherited from his mother Sycorax, would not let him learn anything
good or useful: therefore he was employed like a slave, to fetch wood,
and do the most laborious offices; and Ariel had the charge of
compelling him to these services.
When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel (who was
invisible to all eyes but Prospero's) would come slily and pinch him,
and sometimes tumble him down in the mire; and then