Oh yes Antonio and Bassanio *nods*. Even my high school teacher (a nun) allowed that they may have had "an unusual" relationship :)

I'm never sure about Shylock. Of course Shakespeare was writing for his (then) audience, and Jews were often portrayed as morally ambiguous. I've always thought the speech was his way of softening that. But, I think, like in all literature, people can interpret his speech anyway they wish and do so :D