d to lend money to people
in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent;
therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the
generous merchant Antonio. Whenever Antonio met Shylock on the Rialto
(or Exchange), he used to reproach him with his usuries and hard
dealings, which the Jew would bear with seeming patience, while he
secretly meditated revenge.

Antonio was the kindest man that lived, the best conditioned, and had
the most unwearied spirit in doing courtesies; indeed, he was one in
whom the ancient Roman honour more appeared than in any that drew breath
in Italy. He was greatly beloved by all his fellow-citizens; but the
friend who was nearest and dearest to his heart was Bassanio, a noble
Venetian, who, having but a small patrimony, had nearly exhausted his
little fortune by living in too expensive a manner for his slender
means, as young men of high rank with small fortunes are too apt to do.
Whenever Bassanio wanted money, Antonio assisted him; and it seemed as
if they had but one heart and one purse between them.

One day Bassanio came to Antonio, and told him that he wished to repair
his fortune by a wealthy marriage with a lady whom he dearly loved,
whose father, that was lately dead, had left her sole heiress to a large
estate; and that in her father's lifetime he used to visit at her house,
when he thought he had observed this lady had sometimes from her eyes
sent speechless messages, that seemed to say he would be no unwelcome
suitor; but not having money to furnish himself with an appearance
befitting the lover of so rich an heiress, he besought Antonio to add to
the many favours he had shown him, by lending him three thousand ducats.

Antonio had no money by him at that time to lend his friend; but
expecting soon to have some ships come home laden with merchandise, he
said he would go to Shylock, the rich money-lender, and borrow the money
upon the credit of those ships.

Antonio and Bassanio went together to Shylock, and Antonio asked the Jew
to lend him three thousand ducats upon any interest he should require,
to be paid out of the merchandise contained in his ships at sea. On
this, Shylock thought within himself, "If I can once catch him on the
hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him; he hates our Jewish
nation; he lends out money gratis, and among the merchants he rails at
me and my well-earned bargains, which he calls interest. Cursed be my
tr