John Genest

“ The Prologue was spoken by the Ghosts of Dryden and Shakspeare—a good thought if it had been properly pursued.
Dryden says that the generality of people
“Our scenes desert, some wretched Farce to see,
They know not nature, for they taste not thee.” ”

“ Act 1st—the first scene is greatly curtailed and altered for the worse—the scene between Portia and Nerissa is likewise badly altered—one of Granville’s elegant additions deserves to be quoted—Portia says if she should be forced to marry the Dutchman she should become “La Signora Gutts! oh hideous! what a sound will that be in the mouth of an Italian?”—when Shylock enters the scene is not materially altered. ”