thinks he deserves more than he actually does. Instead of finding a portrait of Portia inside the casket, he instead finds a portrait of a fool or “idiot” (53). The proud Prince is shockedbywhat he finds and asks, “Are my deserts no better?” (59). The worddesertshere means what he deserves. And, as Shakespeare reveals, what he deserves for his foolish pride is a portrait of afool.
Along with the portrait of the fool is an inscription. It begins with the following words:
The fire seven times tried this; Seven times tried that judgement is
That did never choose amiss.(62-64)
The wordthisrefers to the silver metal, and the wordtriedmeans purified. In order for the metal used on the casket to become one hundred percent pure silver, it had to be heated and melted many times to remove all of the impurities. The silver is thus a metaphor for judgment. One gains sound and unerring judgment only after many experiences and trials. The inscription thus indicates that the Prince of Aragon was lacking in judgment. He is not wise enough to make the rightdecision.
The next two lines of the inscription are as follows:
Some there be that shadows kiss,
Such have but a shadow’s bliss.(65-66)