PORTIA OF BELMONT IS AN HEIRESS.

BEFORE HER FATHER DIED,HR PREPARED A WILL WITH A FEW CONDITIONS FOR PORTIA'S MARRIAGE.

THIS WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT ONLY A MAM WHO LOVED PORYIA FOR WHO SHE WAS,AND NOT FOR HER WEALTH,WOULD MARRY HER.ACCORDING TO THE WILL,THERE WERE THREE CASKET--ONE OF GOLD,ONE OF SILVER AND THE OTHER ONE OF LEAD,WHICH HAD INSCRIPTIONS ON THEM.

ONE OF THEM HAD A PORTRATE OF PORTIA HIDDEN INSIDE.

ONLY A SUITOR WHO CHOSE THE CASKET WITH PORTIA'S PORTRAIT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO MARRY HER.

IN ADDITION,ALL SUITORS WERE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN OATH--IF THEY CHOSE THE WRONG CWSKET,THEY WOULD NEVERMARRY,AND THEY WOULD LEAVE BELMONT,HONOURABLE STRAIGHT AWAY.

THEY CHALLENGE WAS NOT ONLY A TEST OF WISDOM BUT ALSO OF CHARACTER. IT ENSURED THAT ONLY THE BEST MAN WOULD MARRY PORTIA.