Enter BASSANIO With SHYLOCK the Jew
SHYLOCK.Three thousand ducats- well.BASSANIO.Ay, sir, for three months.SHYLOCK.For three months- well.BASSANIO.For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.SHYLOCK.Antonio shall become bound- well.BASSANIO.May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer? SHYLOCK.Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.BASSANIO.Your answer to that.SHYLOCK.Antonio is a good man.BASSANIO.Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? SHYLOCK.Ho, no, no, no, no; my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient; yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England- and other ventures he hath, squand'red abroad.But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves- I mean pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks.The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient.Three thousand ducats- I think I may take his bond.BASSANIO.Be assur'd you may.SHYLOCK.I will be assur'd I may; and, that I may be assured, I will bethink me.May I speak with Antonio? BASSANIO.If it please you to dine with us.SHYLOCK.Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the Nazarite, conjured the devil into! I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?
Enter ANTONIO