Shy. For three months; well?
Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio 4
shall be bound.
Shy. Antonio shall become bound; well?
Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure
me? Shall I know your answer? 8
Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three
months, and Antonio bound.
Bass. Your answer to that.
Shy. Antonio is a good man. 12
Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the
contrary?
Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying
he is a good man is to have you understand me 16
that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in sup-
position: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis,
another to the Indies; I understand moreover
upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a 20
fourth for England, and other ventures he hath,
squandered abroad. But ships are but boards,
sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-
rats, land-thieves, and water-thieves,—I mean 24
pirates,—and then there is the peril of waters,
winds, and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding,
sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think, I
may take his bond. 28
Bass. Be assured you may.
Shy. I will be assured I may; and, that I may
be assured, I will bethink me. May I speak with
Antonio? 32
Bass. If it please you to dine with us.
Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habita-
7 stead: assist
17 supposition: not in cash or in the bank
20 Rialto: the Exchange
21 for: bound for
22 squandered: scattered
