TheMerchantofVenicePortiawasarichman'sdaughter.Accordingtoherfather‘swill,shegotthreeboxes:agoldbox,asilverone,andaleadone（铅盒）.Ifsomebodychosedtheboxcontainedherportrait,thenshewouldmarrytheman.Then,suitor（求婚者）fromallcornersoftheworldgatheredheretomarrythisfairymaiden.Venice:inthetown,ayoungmannamedBassaniowhohearedaboutthisnewsdeterminedtowinPortia.However,heneededthreethousandducat（硬币）toreachhisgoal.Forlackofmoney,hehadtoturntohisgoodfriend,richmerchantAntonioforhelp.Unfortunately,atthistime,Antonio’smoneywasputintothebusiness,hecouldnotwithdrawitrightnoTohelphisbestfriend,AntoniowasforcedtoborrowmoneyfromawealthyJewishscrivener(放债人)Shylock.Shylockwasausury（高利贷）.DifferentfromShylock,Antoniolentmoneytopeopleandneveracceptedinterest.Butthistime,ShylockagreedtolendAntoniomoneywithoutinterest.Heputforwardastrangerequest.IfAntoniocouldnotrepaythedebtontime,hecouldcutapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbody.AndAntoniosignedthecontact.Withmoney,BassaniowenttochasePortia.Luckily,hechosetheleadboxequippedwithPortia’sportrait.Atthismoment,BassaniohearedaboutAntonio‘slawsuit.Soheholdaweddingceremonyinahurry.Meanwhile,Portiamaid,NarisaalsoacceptedBassanio’smaidproposal.Shylock'sdaughter,JessicaelopedatthehelpofAntonioandstoledherfather'smoneyandjewelry.SoShylockhatedAntonioverymuch.WhenhelearnedthatAntonio’slossofoffshoreinvestment,hedecidedtorevenge.HesuedAntonio.Incourt,ShylockaskedAntoniotoperformthecontract.Inotherwords,Antoniomustcutonepoundoffleshfromhisownbody.ThejudgeshadnocluestodowithShylock.Atthelastminute,anewjudgedisguisedbyPortiacametotacklethematter.Accordingtothecontract,PortiaagreedShylocktocutmeatfromAntonio,buthemustmastertheweight,neithermorenorless,justtherightamount,andhemustpromisecutwithoutadropofbloodandAntonio’slifesafety.Shylockcouldn'tdoitandhadtothrowinthetowel.Inthisway,PortiaskillfullysaveAntonio'slife.Finally,everythingwasilluminated,Bassanioknewhiswifewasthegreatjudge.HefeltverythankfulforPortia’shelpandlovedhermuchmore.Antoniogothisownproperty.Happyending!---本文来源于网络，仅供参考，勿照抄，如有侵权请联系删除---