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for a lo an of money, he has been enabled to furnish himself with an appearance befitting the lover of so rich a lady.

Portia is one of the most sympathetic characters in the play. She is distinguished for her beauty, but what is still better: she possesses wonderful virtues. And as she also is a rich heiress it is not strange that many renowned suitors should come in order to propose to her. Portia herself declares that when they shut the gates upon one wooer another knocks at the door. But it is not so easy to win Portia as many of the suitors have expected. Her father had before his death resolved that she was to be gained in a sort of lottery. Three caskets had been prepared one of gold, one of silver and one of lead in one of which Portia's picture had been concealed. He who succeeded in choosing the right casket was to become her husband. But the conditions to which the suitors had to submit were very hard. They had to swear an oath engaging themselves to observe the following three things: First never to reveal to any one which casket they had chosen, secondly immediately to leave Portia and Belmont if they were unsuccesful and lastly never to propose to any lady if they did not succeed in their choice. These conditions seemed too hard to the majority of the suitors. Only two of them tried their luck, but chose the wrong caskets.

But now Bassanio appears in Belmont. He is anxious to decide his fate at once, Portia on the other hand tries to prolong the time, to keep him back from choosing, being afraid that he may be unsuccessful and she thereby be obliged to lose his company according to the conditions of the lottery. To tell him which casket he is to choose she cannot because she will then have committed a sin, have become a perjurer; and at last she yields to Bassanio's wish of venturing at once. While a soft, dulcet music fills the room, Bassanio approaches the caskets, and Portia stands aside in the greatest suspense and excitement. Bassanio

says to himself that it is a common thing that the world is deceived with ornaments, that appearances are deceitful. Therefore he will have neither the gaudy gold nor the silver, the common drudge between man and man. But the paleness of the lead touches him and he chooses the casket of this metal. Here he finds Portia's picture. Portia feels quite overwhelmed with her happiness and unworthy of his love. As compared with him she is only an unlessoned girl, she says, and her only consolation is, thas she is not so old but she may learn. She presents him with a ring as a token of her love, and Bassanio accepts it with many fair words assuring her that if ever this ring parts from his finger, she may freely say that her lover is dead.

S. tf.

2.

Portia was a rich and beautiful heiress; but she was not happy. Her father who was a very wise old man had prepared three caskets, one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. In one of them he hid the portrait of Portia, and he determined that every person who came to propose to her, had to choose one of these caskets; but only he who choose the casket containing Portia's portrait, was allowed to marry her.

Of course, there came many suitors to the lady, but she disliked all of them, and was always much afraid that one of these arrogant and conceited persons should succeed in winning her. However, she had met one person, whom she wished to marry, a young scolar from Venice, a very sympathetic man, who had once visited her father; but he had not proposed to her, and she had heard nothing about him after her father's death.

This young man, Bassanio, had not forgotten the beautiful lady. He thought very much of going to Belmont and propose to her. Like most of his friends in Venice he

was a gay and careless fellow, a spendthrift, who had squandered his great fortune. Now he was a poor gentleman who could not think of rivalling with the rich suitors. Having a presage that he might succeed, he at last applied to his bosom friend, Antonio, a very rich merchant, in order to borrow from him. The goodhearted Antonio instantly was willing to lend him the sum he needed, and soon after he set out for Belmont.

After his arrival at Belmont Bassanio visited Portia, who, of course, received him with great joy, seeing that he was just the person whom she longed for. They soon found out that they loved each other. Portia openly confessed her affection for him, and asked him to pause some weeks before he chose; for if he was misfortunate, he was bound to leave her and she lost his company. She could tell him in which casket her portrait was, but she would be faithful to her father's will. Bassanio however wished to have his fate settled as soon as possible. At last Portia was obliged to agree to his wishes. Her servants prepared the room containing the three caskets, and Bassanio entered it, while Portia anxiously stood behind the curtain. A song was heard, but Bassanio who was occupied with studying the outward appearance of the caskets, did not listen to it.

He had made up his mind that ornaments should not deceive him, and after having closely examined the caskets he made his choice, which fell neither upon the "gaudy gold", nor the "common drudge", the silver, but upon the "pale and meager lead". He opened the casket, and found Portia's portrait in it.

Portia had stood near in great excitement, listening to his speech. Now her happiness almost overwhelmed her, and when Bassanio, after having read the little poem which was also hidden in the casket, claimed her as his wife, she considered herself too unworthy for him. She was neither rich nor beautiful enough, she was not so clever, as she

wished to be, but she was glad that she was young enough to learn from him. She had been the head of her house and her own mistress for a long time, but now she gladly made him the master of her home and presented him with all her fortune.

The old man had hoped that by his scheme only he would choose the right casket, who really deserved to win his daughter for his wife. Now Portia understood that her father was right, and though she had often found it unjust that he had curbed her will in the way mentioned, she was now glad because she had obeyed him, and all was happiness and joy.

M. tf.

3.

Portia is the only child and heiress of a rich, Italian gentleman: She is a beautiful young woman with a strong natural sense, a quick comprehension and, what is best of all, the kindest heart. On her father's death a lot of suitors come the propose to her. She may not choose whom she likes among them, being bound by her father's last will. Before he died he had decided that she was to be won in a sort of lottery. Each suitor must, according to his dicision, make his choice among three caskets of gold, silver and lead, one of which contains Portia's picture; if succeeding in finding out the chest, wherein her portrait is hidden, he has gained her hand. But before choosing, the suitors must promise to leave her house immediately in case of their failing iu winning her, and never to return in the capacity of suitors. They must also oblige themselves to obstain from marrying any other woman. Many of those who have come to propose to Portia think these conditions too hard and depart without trying their luck. And she is only glad at getting rid of them, their courtship being a nuisance to her. While her father was still alive, a young

Venetian gentleman, named Bassanio, who used now and then to pay a visit at their home, has gained her love, for which so many others were contending. Having made up her mind to be obedient to her father's will, Portia lives in the greatest suspense, fearing to be compelled to marry any other than him. Bassanio is a representative of the Renaissance with its light joy of life. He has received a military education and is at the same time in possession of the liberal culture of a scholar. Returning Portia's love he has no more sincere wish than to win her for his wife. But having lived in too expensive a manner for his slender means he has wasted his patrimony and contracted a heavy debt. In all his pecuniary difficulties he has been supported by Antonio, a wealthy merchant and the greatest friend of his who loves Bassanio with all his heart. Also in this case he applies to him for help, asking Antonio to furnish. him in a befitting way to go as a suitor to Belmont, Portia's grand estate. He hopes not to be indifferent to her, having in former days received "fair, speechless messages", from her eyes, and is quite convinced, that fortune will go with him. By gaining the rich heiress he will be enabled to repay what he already owes Antonio, as well as the money he wants him to lend him at present. His friend complies with his demand; but, as he has not the sufficient sum in cash, he binds himself to a Jewish usurer, borrowing the money from him. Bassanio leaves Venice in high glee. He arrives at Belmont just as the door has been shut on another wooer. Portia wants to detain him some short time from choosing, fearing to lose his company. She dares not tell him that she loves him, because it does not become a lady to betray her feelings; but she asks him to tarry a little and to wait a few days, before he hazards. Bassanio, however, cannot bear to live in uncertainty any longer. Portia yields to his wish of trying his luck at once and accompanies him to the room where

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