    In the city of Venice Italy, there lived a young generous and kind-hearted merchant named Antonio, he always loan money to the poor but never charged them interest. Therefore the common people loved and respected him very much. 
One day, Bassanio, Antonio's most intimate friend, rushed in to see him. He had fallen in love with Portia, the daughter of a wealthy family in Belmont. However, he needed a large sum of money to make an offer of marriage to her. Although Bassanio was born of noble family, he had wasted all his wealth in riotous living. Now he could not afford payment to Belmont. Therefore he had come to Antonio for help.
    Antonio was very upset when he knew why his friend had come to him. He would like to help his friend with the marriage. But all his resources were tied up in the investments. At that very moment ships loaded with his goods were sailing out of the harbour to the open sea. It would be some time before he realizes the return of his investment. He wondered, what he could do for his good friend in this time of need? After much thought he decided to see Shylock, a well-known usurer in that area.
