Before Shylock cuts Antonio with his knife, Portia asks the merchant if he has any final words to say. The melancholy merchant states that DameFortune(or fate) is actually being kind to him, for most men lead a long life into an age of poverty and misery (lines 262-67). At least, Antonio somberly asserts, he does not have to worry about being old and poor and miserable.
Antonio also comments about his affection for his friend, Bassanio; and he is grateful that his death at least served a useful purpose in helping Bassanio to win a good and loving wife (lines 268- 76). Antonio has no regrets. He does not care much for life, and he certainly cares little for themisfortunethat men suffer while onearth.
Bassanio is deeply moved by Antonio’s words and declares that he would gladly sacrifice his own wife and even his own life in order to save Antonio.
Portia, still disguised as Balthasar, injects a humorousasideat this point in the play: “Your wife would give you little thanks for that if she were by to hear you make the offer” (283-84). The aside is a stage convention: Bassanio does not hear the words although the audience does. Of course, all wives wish for their husbands to value them over their male friends. And the line is humorous because the audience is on the joke: they know that Balthasar is Portia; they know that Bassanio’s wife is nearby to hear him make the offer. The lines functionto