Bass. Your answer to that.
Shy. Antonio is a good man.
Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?
[014] Shy. Ho, no, no, no, no: my meaning, in saying he is 015 a good man, is to have you understand me, that he is sufficient. Yet his means are in supposition: he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand, [018] moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a [019] fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squandered 020 abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be [021] land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I mean 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.
025 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?
Bass. If it please you to dine with us.
[029] Shy. Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation 030 which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink [033] with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? [034] Who is he comes here?
Enter Antonio.
035 Bass. This is Signior Antonio.