A gamble on trading ships at sea, a pound of flesh as the penalty, a contest to win the hand of a rich heiress, and the final rescue in a court of law--<i>The Merchant of Venice </i>has all the ingredients required which make it one of Shakespeare's most dramatic romantic comedies.<br><br>Antonio is the merchant of Venice who borrows money to help his friend Bassanio win Portia in marriage. He borrows the money from Shylock, a shrewd moneylender who devises a retribution unprecedented in the annals of law...<br><br>...till a young lawyer defeats him in his own game. Who is this young lawyer? What is the clinching argument? <i>The Merchant of Venice</i> is memorable as much for its dramatic scenes as for its strong characters, all of which remain etched in the mind long after the story has been read.