What plan does Bassanio have to pay Antonio back?

We can find the answer to this question in the very first scene of the play. Bassanio says that he has already borrowed a lot of money from Antonio, and apologizes for being in debt to him—it is evident that Bassanio spends more money than he earns and that Antonio has been endlessly generous with him, perhaps unwisely. Bassanio's scheme in this scene is to pursue Portia, of whom "the wide world" is not "ignorant of her worth." That is, Portia is a rich woman, and Bassanio feels that if he had "but the means" to court Portia, he would be able to win her. Having won her hand, then, he would "questionless be fortunate." What Bassanio is saying is that, if Antonio would only lend him some money, just one more time, Bassanio feels sure he would be able to win Portia's hand, become her husband, and therefore pay Antonio back all his debts out of the money of which he would then have access. It is not a plan which casts Bassanio in a very good light. It seems as if he has spent much time living off Antonio's money, and his next plan is simply to marry a rich wife and then proceed to live off hers. Antonio, however, readily agrees that Bassanio may use his credit to do what he needs.

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