In the Sixteenth Century, there was a great intolerance against Jews. In 1596, in the liberal Venice, Bassanio asks for a large amount to his friend, the merchant Antonio, to travel to Belmont and propose the gorgeous Portia. Antonio has invested all his money in his ships and borrows from the usurer Shylock, who proposes an unusual bond: if Antonio does not pay the money without any interest three months later, he might receive one pound of his flesh instead, at his choice. When Shylock’s daughter Jessica runs away home with all his money and jewels, he becomes furious. Meanwhile, the load of Antonio sinks with three different vessels and he is not able to pay his debts with Shylock, and the Jew goes to court of Venice claiming the execution of his deal. In spite of many requests, his tough heart does not accept any other agreement further than the one established in their contract.
—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
参考翻译：
在16世纪，人们对犹太人极不宽容。1596年，在自由派的威尼斯，巴萨尼奥向他的朋友、商人安东尼奥索要一大笔钱，让他前往贝尔蒙特，向美丽的波西亚求婚。安东尼奥把所有的钱都投资在他的船上，并向高利贷者夏洛克借钱，夏洛克提出了一个不同寻常的保证：如果安东尼奥三个月后不支付没有任何利息的钱，他可能会得到一磅肉，由他选择。当夏洛克的女儿杰西卡带着他所有的钱和珠宝跑回了家时，他勃然大怒。与此同时，安东尼奥的船载着三艘不同的船只沉没，他无力偿还与夏洛克的债务，犹太人向威尼斯法院要求执行他的交易。尽管有许多要求，但除了合同中规定的协议外，他那颗坚韧的心不接受任何其他协议。-克劳迪奥·卡瓦略，巴西里约热内卢
重点词汇释义：
travel to朝…方向旅行
usurer放高利贷者
with all尽管
he is他是; 他比我大两岁; 通常为形容词
able to可以; 有能力; 原来能够按时完成
