if he wait two months until Antonio's ships return it may be too
late, and Portia may be married to another. So to supply his
friend's need Antonio decides to borrow the money, and soon a Jew
named Shylock is found who is willing to lend it. For Shylock
was a money-lender. He lent money to people who had need of it
and charged them interest. That is, besides having to pay back
the full sum they had borrowed they had also to pay some extra
money in return for the loan.

In those days Jews were ill-treated and despised, and there was
great hatred between them and Christians. And Shylock especially
hated Antonio, because not only did he rail against Jews and
insult them, but he also lent money without demanding interest,
thereby spoiling Shylock's trade. So now the Jew lays a trap for
Antonio, hoping to catch him and be revenged upon his enemy. He
will lend the money, he says, and he will charge no interest, but
if the loan be not repaid in three months Antonio must pay as
forfeit a pound of his own flesh, which Shylock may cut from any
part of his body that he chooses.

To this strange bargain Antonio consents. It is but a jest, he
thinks.

"Content in faith, I'll seal to such a bond,
And say, there is much kindness in the Jew."

But Bassanio is uneasy. "I like not fair terms," he says, "and a
villain mind. You shall not seal to such a bond for me." But
Antonio insists and the bond is sealed.