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hears Shylock quoted in anything but this, which numerous Jewish writers delight to quote?—
- “I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?”
To effect its purpose the Anti-Defamation League will have to perform an excision on our common English tongue. The wise and witty sayings of this Shakespearean play have passed into the permanent coinage of daily speech.
- “I hold the world a stage where every man must play his part; and mine a sad one.”
- “* * * * I am Sir Oracle,
- And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!”
- “If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men’s cottages princes’ palaces.”
- “The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
- “A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
- O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!”
- “Truth will come to sight; murder cannot be hid long.”
- “All that glitters is not gold.”
- “A harmless necessary cat.”
- “The quality of mercy is not strained,
- It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
- Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
- It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
- * * * * * * * * * * * * *
- It is an attribute of God himself;
- And earthly power doth then show likest God’s,
- When mercy seasons justice.”
This is beyond the power of the Anti-Defamation League to destroy. Shylock may be forgotten, but not these living lines. It is true, however, that in 150 American cities, according to the league’s claim, school children are prevented reading and hearing these words in school.
But is it worth it? Is it a part of “Jewish Rights” that an admittedly great play, taught in all the English
