meaning of fair speechless message and nothing undervalued in the Merchant of Venice
Answers
In the Merchant of Venice, Bassanio wishes to stand an equal chance to win Portia’s hand, but for that he needs money and financial assistance from Antonio.
Here he tells Antonia:
In Belmont is a lady richly left;
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued
To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia:
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, ...
Through these lines, Bassanio explains about the interest of Portia and she had given him some speechless messages with her eyes.
When Bassanio comes to know about Portia who is a rich lady and who is searching for a husband, he too wishes to stand in the queue to woo her. He asks monetary help from his friend Antonio. He didn't want him to showcase before Portia that he is poor and 'undervalued.' The lack of money had made him 'undervalued.' Also, he says that he had a sense some hidden 'messages' 'from her eyes.'