We have brought together in one slipcase two of William Shakespeare's finest tragicomedies, a highly original blend of comic, tragic, romantic, and lyrical elements that foreshadows the supreme maturity of his later works.

The Merchant of Venice: To woo the rich and beautiful Portia, Bassanio asks his friend Antony, the Merchant of Venice, for three thousand ducats. But Antony will not have the cash until his ships return from the sea, and to help his friend, he is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender famous for his exorbitant interest rates. Shylock lends him the money on one condition: if Antony does not repay the loan by the agreed date, he will be entitled to a pound of his flesh.

Antony and Cleopatra: After the assassination of Julius Caesar and the Battle of Philippi, Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus divide the known world among themselves. However, Antony is captivated by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and neglects his political responsibilities to spend time with her in Alexandria. The ensuing scandal becomes a topic of gossip in Rome and causes a rift between Antony and the young Caesar Octavian. With the death of Antony's wife and Pompey's challenge to the triumvirate's power, events unfold rapidly: Antony is forced to return to Rome to resume his duties and, to solidify his alliance with Caesar, marries his sister Octavia. The union ignites a furious fit of jealousy in Cleopatra.