The Merchant of Venice Act 2
The Merchant of Venice Act 2
The Merchant of Venice Act 2
1Summary
There
is a flourish of trumpets, and the Prince
of Morocco enters. Portia, along with her
confidante, Nerissa, and several ladies-inwaiting are present, and the prince, knowing
that he is only one of many suitors who seek
Portia's hand in marriage, begins his
courtship straightforwardly that is, he
initiates the subject of the color of his skin.
Being from Morocco, he comes "in the
shadowed livery of the burnished sun." He
has a very dark complexion, and he begs
Portia to "mislike [him] not for [his]
complexion." Despite the color of his skin,
however, his blood is as red as any of Portia's