Eighteenth-century England: A riddle with a revenge

• Into silver casket: “Exactly who chooseth myself should acquire exactly what many men interest.”
• Towards silver casket: “Which chooseth myself should rating as much as he is worth.”
• With the head casket: “Exactly who chooseth me must give and you can danger the he hath.”

The lead casket includes Portia’s photo. The first suitor opens new silver casket, only to select a head inside and you will a note discovering “All of that glisters [glitters] is not gold,” caution your you to respecting things only by the the beauty are good error. New suitor which determines the fresh gold casket finds out only a picture regarding a trick, “what the guy is really worth” since the he need to be a fool to believe he was instantly “deserving” of Portia’s hand. New notice in this you to reads: “Which have that fool’s direct We came to woo, / However, I-go away which have two.” Fundamentally, the brand new suitor which chooses the lead casket is actually betrothed in order to Portia. Just like the riddle said that this new chooser off lead “have to provide and threat every the guy hath,” Portia’s father understands that it boy will be prepared to generate sacrifices and you may bust your tail on marriage.