In Venice, there lived a very rich merchant named Antonio. His ships carried merchandise to Portugal, Mexico and India. He had many friends, but the dearest was Bassanio, a relative of his. Bassanio was a cheerful fellow who loved to spend his money freely.
Bassanio wished to marry a very beautiful lady named Portia living in Belmont. She had a large fortune left by her father and was known to be intelligent and good too. So, many suitors came to woo her. “But I do not have enough money to travel to Belmont,” said Bassanio.
Antonio’s ships had not returned from their last voyage. So, he didn’t have enough money with him to lend to his friend immediately. “But I can borrow from someone in the city. They all respect me and know me for being an honest and rich merchant,” explained Antonio. He wished to help Bassanio to marry the lady he loved.
In Venice, there lived a moneylender named Shylock. Antonio disliked him very much because he gave money at a very high rate of interest to people, whereas Antonio was very generous. Antonio treated Shylock very harshly. But he went with Bassanio to borrow money from Shylock. He knew that Shylock would agree to give the loan if Antonio took the guarantee of repaying it to him.
Shylock hated Antonio and now he got a chance to take revenge. So, he agreed to give three thousand ducats on Antonio’s surety. But, smiling at Antonio, he added, “There will be no interest but we shall sign a bond. If you don’t repay my money in three months, I shall have the right to a pound of flesh from any part of your body I choose.”
Antonio agreed, expecting his ships to return in a month. Then, Bassanio left for Belmont. That night, however, two things happened. Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, took some money and jewels from her father’s house and ran away with her lover, Lorenzo! Shylock was shocked and grieved, but was consoled by the second news that Antonio’s ships had been lost in a storm at sea.
At Belmont, Bassanio found other suitors wooing Portia too. But she had decided to do what her father had wished. There were three caskets of gold, silver and lead. She would marry whoever selected the one with Portia’s portrait in it. Bassanio fortunately selected the lead casket and found Portia’s portrait in it!
Portia gave him her ring and said, “Keep it as a token of my love and never part with it.” The news of Antonio’s disaster reached Belmont. Bassanio wished to return to Venice, for it was for him that Antonio had borrowed money. He and Portia were married and he left with enough money to repay Antonio’s debt to Shylock.
Shylock demanded the pound of flesh from Antonio! Portia decided to follow Bassanio to Venice. She took her maid, Nerissa, along with her. She also took a letter from Bellario, a very famous lawyer of Belmont. The Duke of Venice had called him to decide the case between Antonio and Shylock.
Portia disguised herself as a lawyer so that even Bassanio could not recognise the young lawyer. She appeared in the Duke’s court on behalf of Bellario! Nerissa was disguised as the lawyer’s clerk. The Duke was holding Court and Bassanio offered double the amount of money borrowed from Shylock. But Shylock refused it.
Portia presented Bellario’s letter to the Duke and he permitted her to decide the case. She heard both sides and then pleaded for mercy from Shylock. But he was stubborn and insisted on having the pound of flesh. Portia had to accept his view as Antonio had signed the bond.
Shylock praised Portia’s sense of justice and felt that the judgement she gave was perfect. He rubbed his hands gleefully as a weighing scale and a knife were arranged. He wanted to cut a pound of flesh from near Antonio’s heart. Antonio stood, silent and brave, ready to face torture and death.
Suddenly, Portia spoke. “Wait a moment,” she said, “According to the bond you are allowed to take a pound of this man’s flesh. But be careful that you do not spill a drop of his blood. Also, you cannot take even a small fragment of flesh more than a pound, for that is not written in the bond!”
Shylock stepped back in fright. This was impossible. “Give me three thousand ducats that I gave him!” he begged, “And let me go!” But he tried to kill an honest Venetian citizen, and according to the law, half his wealth was taken by the State. The other half was offered to Antonio, but he returned it to be given to Jessica and Lorenzo.
When Antonio and Bassanio thanked the young lawyer, she asked for Bassanio’s ring. Very sadly, Bassanio gave the lawyer, the ring which was his wife’s gift. He returned to Belmont and told Portia all about the case and about having given away her ring. After teasing him for some time, Portia told him that she was the lawyer!
Bassanio got back his ring from Portia and realised how his wonderful wife had saved his friend. And his happiness was complete when he learnt that Antonio’s ships had come safely home too!
