subtle and speaking sarcastically here. Obviously, the Prince does not have light skin. Moreover, as noted in an earlier scene, Portia does not find any of her other suitors to be attractive or beautiful. Portia does not really hope the Prince will choose the right casket.
The Prince asserts his bravery once again; but he then realizes that even a brave man likeHercules(a mythological allusion to the half- human, half-God hero of the ancient Romans) could lose in a game of chance, like dice, to a lowly servant (line 32). No amount of bravery can alter one’sfateor destiny. The Prince refers to fate as “blind Fortune” (36) because fate would just as easily destroy a good man or a bad man, a rich man or a poor man, or a king or a slave. Fate or Fortune does not bother to look at the person it hurts. The Prince realizes that his extensive bravery will not be a factor as to whether he wins Portia or not.
Portia warns him that if he chooses the wrong casket, he has taken a vow that he will never speak to any other lady afterwards. That is, if he chooses incorrectly, he can never marry any woman. The Prince, however, decides that the chance to win Portia is worth therisk.