repay Antonio all the money that he owes to him.
Antonio agrees to help Bassanio, and then Bassanio explains the details of his plan. He describes Portia of Belmont as a beautiful and virtuous lady whom he has visited in the past. Bassanio adds that “sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages” (163-64). Bassanio means that Portia was attracted to him and interested in his being a suitor to her. However, other suitors also hope to win the hand of Portia in marriage. Bassanio describes the beautiful blond locks of Portia's hair as being like thegolden fleece. In Greek mythology the golden fleece was the wool of a magical golden ram that possessed wondrous qualities. In the story ofJason and the Argonauts(sailors on board the ship Argo), Jason encounters many dangers and risks his life to obtain the fleece. Thesimilethus suggests that Portia herself is a treasure that is worth the risk of one's very life. At least Bassanio thinks so. Bassanio likens the other suitors as being so “many Jasons come in quest of her” (172). However, Bassanio is confident that he will be the “Jason” who will successfully win the golden fleece.
Antonio has no hesitation in agreeing to help out his friend. However, since all of his money is currently invested in his several merchant enterprises, he tells Bassanio to find a money-lender and borrow the money in Antonio's name: “Try what my credit can in Venice do” (180). Because Antonio is a well-known and successful merchant in Venice, he knows that Bassanio can borrowany