Page:Merchant of Venice (1923) Yale.djvu/27

The Merchant of Venice, I. iii

Shy. For three months; well?

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio

shall be bound.

Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well?

Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure

me? Shall I know your answer?

Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three

months, and Antonio bound.

Bass. Your answer to that.

Shy. Antonio is a good man.

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the

contrary?

Shy. 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 sup-

position: 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,

squandered abroad. But ships are but boards,

sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-

rats, land-thieves, and water-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.

Bass. Be assured you may.

Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may

be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with

Antonio?

Bass. If it please you to dine with us.

Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habita-

 7 stead: assist

17 supposition: not in cash or in the bank

20 Rialto: the Exchange

21 for: bound for

22 squandered: scattered 