In the beautiful Italian city of Venice there dwelt in former times a
Jew, by name Shylock, who had grown rich by lending money at high
interest to Christian merchants. No one liked Shylock, he was so hard
and so cruel in his dealings; but perhaps none felt such an abhorrence
of his character as a young man of Venice named Antonio.

This hatred was amply returned by the Jew; for Antonio was so kind to
people in distress that he would lend them money without taking
interest. Besides, he used to reproach Shylock for his hard dealings,
when they chanced to meet. Apparently the Jew bore such reproaches
with wonderful patience; but could you have looked into his heart, you
would have seen it filled with longing for revenge.

It is not strange to find that Antonio was greatly loved by his
fellow-countrymen; but dearest of all his friends was Bassanio, a young
man of high rank, though possessed of but small fortune.

One day Bassanio came to tell Antonio that he was about to marry a
wealthy lady, but to meet the expense of wedding such an heiress, he
needed the loan of three thousand ducats.

Just at that time Antonio had not the money to lend his friend, but he
was expecting home some ships laden with merchandise; and he offered to
borrow the required sum of Shylock upon the security of these vessels.

Together they repaired to the Jewish money-lender; and Antonio asked
for three thousand ducats, to be repaid from the merchandise contained
in his ships. Shylock remembered now all that Antonio had done to
offend him. For a few moments he remained silent; then he said: