Back in Venice Solanio and Salerio are discussing arumorthat another of Antonio’s ships has crashed. If the rumor is true, that will cause Antonio severe financial difficulties; and he may not be able to pay back Shylock the money that he hadborrowed.
Shylock then approaches them. He is still complaining about how his daughter ran away with his money and jewels. Solanio and Salerio tease Shylock because they feel that he deserves the discomfort that he is experiencing. When Shylock mentions his “daughter’s flight” (22), that is, his daughter’s running away, Salerio jokes that he “knew the tailor that made the wings” which helped her to fly away (23-24). This is a pun. On the one hand, the wordwingsrefers to a decorative flap on the sleeves of clothing. But Salerio is also suggesting that he knew the person who helped or who caused Jessica to run away.
Solanio also picks up on the bird metaphor and informs Shylock that there comes a time when all fledglings (young birds) must leave the nest and their “dam” (meaning mother).
Shylock then uses a pun on the worddam, but his meaning is a spiteful condemnation of his own daughter: