"Signor, you have called me a dog, and an unbeliever. Is it for these
courtesies I am to lend you money?"

"Lend it not as a friend," said Antonio; "rather lend it to me as an
enemy, so that you may the better exact the penalty if I fail."

Then Shylock thought he would pretend to feel more kindly.

"I would be friends with you," he said. "I will forget your treatment
of me, and supply your wants without taking interest for my money."

Antonio was, of course, very much surprised at such words. But Shylock
repeated them; only requiring that they should go to some lawyer,
before whom--as a jest--Antonio should swear, that if by a certain day
he did not repay the money, he would forfeit a pound of flesh, cut from
any part of his body which the Jew might choose.

"I will sign to this bond," said Antonio; "and will say there is much
kindness in a Jew."

But Bassanio now interfered, declaring that never should Antonio put
his name to such a bond for his sake. Yet the young merchant insisted;
for he said he was quite sure of his ships returning long before the
day of payment.

Meanwhile Shylock was listening eagerly; and feigning surprise, he
exclaimed: "Oh, what suspicious people are these Christians! It is
because of their own hard dealings that they doubt the truth of
others.--Look here, my lord Bassanio. Suppose Antonio fail in his
bond, what profit would it be to me to exact the penalty? A pound of