"No," cried Bassanio to his friend, "you shall run no such risk for me."

"Why, fear not," said Antonio, "my ships will be home a month before the
time. I will sign the bond."

Thus Bassanio was furnished with the means to go to Belmont, there to
woo the lovely Portia. The very night he started, the money-lender's
pretty daughter, Jessica, ran away from her father's house with her
lover, and she took with her from her father's hoards some bags of
ducats and precious stones. Shylock's grief and anger were terrible to
see. His love for her changed to hate. "I would she were dead at my
feet and the jewels in her ear," he cried. His only comfort now was in
hearing of the serious losses which had befallen Antonio, some of whose
ships were wrecked. "Let him look to his bond," said Shylock, "let him
look to his bond."

Meanwhile Bassanio had reached Belmont, and had visited the fair Portia.
He found, as he had told Antonio, that the rumor of her wealth and
beauty had drawn to her suitors from far and near. But to all of them
Portia had but one reply. She would only accept that suitor who would
pledge himself to abide by the terms of her father's will. These were
conditions that frightened away many an ardent wooer. For he who would
win Portia's heart and hand, had to guess which of three caskets held
her portrait. If he guessed aright, then Portia would be his bride; if
wrong, then he was bound by oath never to reveal which casket he chose,
never to marry, and to go away at once.

The caskets were of gold, silver, and lead. The gold one bore this
inscription:--"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;"
the silver one had this:--"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he
deserves;" while on the lead one were these words:--"Who chooseth me
must give and hazard all he hath." The Prince of Morocco, as brave as he
was black, was among the first to submit to this test. He chose the
gold casket, for he said neither base lead nor silver could contain her
picture. So be chose the gold casket, and found inside the likeness of
what many men desire--death.

After him came the haughty Prince of Arragon, and saying, "Let me have
what I deserve--surely I deserve the lady," he chose the silver one, and
found inside a fool's head. "Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?"
he cried.

Then at last came Bassanio, and Portia would have delayed him from
making his choice from very fear of his choosing wrong. For she loved
him dearl