(aside) How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a Christian,
But more for that in low simplicity
He lends out money gratis and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls "interest." Cursèd be my tribe
If I forgive him!
This, from ACT 1 SCENE 3, is what Shylock said as soon as Antonio enters. This is funny because he slanders Antonio's name, Christian beliefs (by extension, his disdain for Jews), and his lack of interest use disrupting the lending market. While said "to himself," he still said all this out loud in the middle of conversation with Bassanio, which is strange. However, it only led to Bassanio and Antonio requesting Shylock's attention, and not about what he said.