Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/215

Rh Nerissa, indeed, who loved Portia dearly, and was the partner of her plans and wishes, suspected, with the cunning of her sex, that Bassanio’s image lay nearest her mistress’s heart; but even she dared not hint this, and rarely mentioned his name to Portia when they were most alone.

In the mean time Bassanio lived in the city of Venice. Although of good birth, he was impoverished in his fortunes, and had been from early youth an orphan. He was from childhood much endeared to a wealthy merchant named Antonio, many years his senior, who seemed to him to unite the double relations of friend and parent. To Bassanio, Antonio’s purse was always open, and with such lavish generosity had he given to him that his means had been somewhat shaken by his young friend’s extravagance.

Bassanio did not realize this, and truly loved Antonio with no less love than he was worthy of, but he accepted all his friend’s favors with the graceful carelessness of a son, who finds the same joy in receiving that the indulgent parent finds in giving. Latterly, however, Bassanio had begun to brood a little over his obligations. He saw that Antonio wore a clouded brow which betokened business troubles, and he heard it whispered on the Rialto, which was the business exchange of Venice, that Antonio’s fortunes