The Three Caskets

Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia was welcoming the Prince of Morocco to her house. The Prince made a speech
when he arrived.
It's true that I have dark skin, he told her, but thats because I Iive near the sun and the sun is a close relative
of mine. Don't despise me for my colour.
Portia answered the Prince politely.
I am not the kind of person who judges by a man's appearance, she told him, and besides, I have no right to
choose my husband for myself. But if I did have that right, Prince, you are as good a man as any of those who
have come here to marry me.

Then she explained to the Prince what he had to do if he wanted to marry her. She told him about the three
caskets with the mysterious messages on them.
You must choose one of the caskets,' she said, 'and if you choose the right one I will marry you. If you choose
the wrong one you must leave Belmont without me and you can never propose to another woman in your
life. Do you accept these conditions, Prince?
I accept them, the Prince said solemnly. I have travelled here from my own kingdom to marry you, and I
accept them fully.'
Portia took the Prince into the room where the three caskets were. She told him to choose very carefully.

The Prince stepped forward and examined the caskets. The first one was made of gold. It had the following
words written on it:

The person who choses me will have what many men want.
The second casket was made of silver. It had these words on it:
The
person who chooses me will receive as much as he deserves.

Then the Prince looked at the third casket which was made of lead. It had these words on it:

The person who chooses me must risk everything he has.

Risk everything I have? The Prince asked himself. Risk everything I have for lead? I don't like this casket.
Why would a man like me risk everything for lead? I dont like this casket. Why would a man like me risk
everything for lead? Only a poor man would risk everything for lead I won't choose the lead casket.

He went back to the silver casket. 'The person who chooses me will receive as much as he deserves.

That's more like it, he said to himself. After all, I'm a prince, I'm wealthy. I deserve a lot. But do I deserve
enough to include the beautiful Portia? .

He thought about it intensely for a while.

'I'm a Prince, I'm wealthy. She comes from a good family, she's wealthy and beautiful. I deserve her! I'll
choose the silver casket .Then he looked again at the gold casket. The person who chooses me will have what
many men want.
Portia is what many men want, he thought. If I choose the gold casket, surely I'll get her. Her picture can't be
in the lead casket. Why would it be in the silver casket when she's so much more valuable than silver? It must
be the gold casket!'
The Prince opened the gold casket. He looked inside. lnstead of a picture of Portia he could only see some
lines of poetry. He pulled them out and read them:
 All thatglitters is not gold:
Not everything that shines is made of gold
As wise men have often told.
But manypeople think they've won when they see me shining brightly.
Goodbye, young sir, there's no love for you.

The Prince knew that he had made the wrong choice and sadly he thanked Portia for allowing him to try. Then
he said goodbye to her and left Belmont.

The Prince of Aragon

Salerio and Solanio were worried about Lorenzo. They did not know where he was. They knew that Shylock
wanted the Duke of Venice to search Bassanio's ship to see if his daughter was aboard. The Duke searched
the ships but his men did not find Jessica or Lorenzo. I've never seen anyone in such a state as Shylock was,
Solanio said. He didn't know if he was more upset about losing his money or his daughter. He ran about the
streets shouting out, My daughter! My ducats! My ducats! My daughter! It was the funniest thing.

Let's just hope that Antonio pays his debt to Shylock on time, Salerio said seriously. I think Shylock blames
him for what has happened and he'd like to take his revenge.

A Frenchman was talking about a disaster to a ship, Salerio said. He said that an Italian ship had sunk between
France and England. I hope it's not one of Antonio's.

Meanwhile another young man had arrived at Portia's house in Belmont. He was the Prince of Aragn. He, too, wanted to
marry her, and was prepared to choose one of the three caskets.

You remember the conditions, Prince? Portia asked him politely.

I remember them, the Prince told her. I must never tell anyone which casket I select; I must never propose to another
woman if I choose the wrong casket; I must leave Belmont immediately if I choose the wrong casket.

And are you ready to make your choice? Portia asked him.
I am ready, the Prince replied.

Portia took the Prince to the room with the caskets. He studied them carefully and read the words on each one. He looked
at the lead casket first.

The person who chooses me must risk everything he has.

No.' he thought. 'I won't risk evervthing for lead.

Then he looked at the gold casket.

The person who chooses me will receive as much as he deserves.

That's more like it, he though. I will choose what I deserve no less and no more

The Prince opened the silver casket. Portia's picture was not inside; there were only some lines of poetry. He took them
out and read them:
 Some people fall in love with a kiss;
That's all the happiness they know.
Some fools wear fine clothes, I know,
And you are like this.

The Prince was angry when he read the lines. He felt that the three caskets had made a fool of him. He said goodbye to
Portia and hurried away from Belmont.

A servant came into the room and told Portia that a young man from Venice was on his way to the house. The servant said
that the young man had sent valuable presents to the house.

It must be Bassanio! Nerissa said to Portia.