of immortality from the god Apollo but did not receive the gift of eternal youth). Portia worries that she will spend many long yearsalone.
Nerissa then mentionsBassanio, who had visited Portia in the past. Of all of the many men who had visited Belmont, Portia mentions only Bassanio in a positive manner: she finds only him to be “worthy” (100).
But before Portia and Nerissa can discuss the suitors any further, a servant interrupts and informs her that yet another suitor has arrived: the Prince of Morocco. However, Portia is not happy to hear about hisarrival:
If he have the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil,
I had rather he should shrive me than wive me.
(109-10)
In Christian lore, the devil was frequently depicted as being black. The Moors were also people with very dark or black skin. Portia acknowledges that a black person from Morocco may be very kind or even saint-like despite the color of his skin. However, she is not attracted to Moors. So, she jokingly rhymes that instead of marrying her (“wive” her), she would rather that the Prince of Morocco shouldshriveher.InChristianity a saint, aholyperson,likeapriest,hastheabilitytoshrive
– to grant God’s forgiveness – to a sinner. Unfortunately for Portia, though, she has no control over which suitors shall accept the challengeof