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No Fear Shakespheare

The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 3

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Enter BASSANIO and SHYLOCK
BASSANIO and SHYLOCK enter.

SHYLOCK
Three thousand ducats, well.
 SHYLOCK
Three thousand ducats, hmmm.

BASSANIO
Ay, sir, for three months.
 BASSANIO
Yes, for three months.

SHYLOCK
For three months, well.
 SHYLOCK
For three months, hmmm.

BASSANIO
For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.
 BASSANIO
As I said before, Antonio will guarantee the loan. If I default, he’ll pay you.

5		 SHYLOCK
Antonio shall become bound, well.
 SHYLOCK
Antonio will guarantee it, hmmm.


BASSANIO
May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know
your answer?
 BASSANIO
Can you help me? What’s your answer?


SHYLOCK
Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio
bound.
 SHYLOCK
Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio will guarantee it.

10		 BASSANIO
Your answer to that?
 BASSANIO
Your answer?

SHYLOCK
Antonio is a good man.
 SHYLOCK
Antonio’s a good man.

BASSANIO
Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?
 BASSANIO
Have you heard anything to the contrary?



15


 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 squandered abroad.
 SHYLOCK
What? No, no, no, no. What I meant in saying he’s a good man is that he has enough money to guarantee the loan. But his investments are uncertain right now. He has one ship bound for Tripoli, another heading for the Indies. What’s more, people at the Rialto tell me he has a third ship in Mexico, and a fourth in England, as well as other business ventures throughout the world.
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