NERISSA From both, my lord. [Presenting letter.] Bellario greets your grace.
BASSANIO Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?66
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66. Why are you sharpening your knife so eagerly?
SHYLOCK To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.
GRATIANO Not on thy sole67 but on thy soul, harsh Jew, Thou mak’st thy knife keen.68 But no metal can, No, not the hangman’s axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy.69 Can no prayers pierce thee?
SHYLOCK No, none that thou hast wit70 enough to make.
GRATIANO O, be thou damned, inexecrable71 dog, And for thy life72 let justice be accused! Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith
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68. sharp 69. malice/spite
67. Shylock is sharpening the knife on the sole of his shoe.
