And so our greatest poet lies not beneath the great arch of Westminster but in the quiet church of the little country town in which he was born.

Chapter LXVII SHAKESPEARE—­“THE MERCHANT OF VENICE”

IN this chapter I am going to tell you in a few words the story of one of Shakespeare’s plays called The Merchant of Venice.  It is founded on an Italian story, one of a collection made by Ser Giovanni Fiorentino.

The merchant of Venice was a rich young man called Antonio.  When the story opens he had ventured all his money in trading expeditions to the East and other lands.  In two months’ time he expects the return of his ships and hopes then to make a great deal of money.  But meantime he has none to spare, and when his great friend Bassanio comes to borrow of him he cannot give him any.

Bassanio’s need is urgent, for he loves the beautiful lady Portia and desires to marry her.  This lady was so lovely and so rich that her fame had spread over all the world till “the four winds blow in from every coast renowned suitors.”  Bassanio would be among these suitors, but alas he has no money, not even enough to pay for the journey to Belmont where the lovely lady lived.  Yet 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.

All being settled, Bassanio receives the money, and before he sets off to woo his lady he gives a supper to all his friends, to which he also invites Shylock.  Shylock goes to this supper although to his daughter Jessica he says,