Quote 1
LORENZO
Beshrew me but I love her heartily,
For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself.
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair and true,
Shall she be placèd in my constant soul. (2.6.54-59)
From the looks of this passage, Lorenzo seems to genuinely love Jessica, who is in the process of running off to marry him. Still, we can't help but notice that the marriage is a lucrative hookup for Lorenzo. When Jessica sneaks out of her dad's house, she steals a bunch of gold and says, "I will make fast the doors and gild myself / With some more ducats" (2.6.5). So even if Lorenzo doesn't just marry Jessica for her money, the play certainly makes her out to be, like Portia, a meal ticket.
Quote 2
LORENZO
I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed
How I shall take her from her father's house,
What gold and jewels she is furnished with,
What page's suit she hath in readiness. (2.4.33-36)
Lorenzo, like every other man in the play, conflates love with money. He's just praised Jessica for being beautiful, but what's important to tell his boys is that the girl is ready to go. She brings more than just her love, though; she's got her father's money, which seems as important to Lorenzo as the girl herself.
Quote 3
LORENZO
Beshrew me but I love her heartily,
For she is wise, if I can judge of her,
And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true,
And true she is, as she hath proved herself.
And therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,
Shall she be placèd in my constant soul. (2.6.54-59)
Lorenzo gives us a rare mention of love here that has nothing to do with money or religion.
LORENZO
The moon shines bright. In such a night as this,
When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees,
And they did make no noise- in such a night,
Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls,
And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents,
Where Cressid lay that night.
JESSICA
In such a night
Did Thisby fearfully o'ertrip the dew,
And saw the lion's shadow ere himself,
And ran dismayed away.
LORENZO
In such a night
Stood Dido with a willow in her hand
Upon the wild sea-banks, and waft her love
To come again to Carthage.
JESSICA
In such a night
Medea gathered the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Aeson.
LORENZO
In such a night
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew,
And with an unthrift love did run from Venice
As far as Belmont.
JESSICA
In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith,
And ne'er a true one.
LORENZO
In such a night
Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew,
Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
JESSICA
I would out-night you, did no body come;
But, hark, I hear the footing of a man. (5.1.1)
Each of these allusions is to a love story that ended in betrayal or grief. It's a loaded set of references, especially when contrasted with the light, joking way Lorenzo and Jessica compare themselves to the lovers they've listed. Jessica doesn't seem to have dealt with the seriousness of what she's done: betraying her father and renouncing her past. Now she's entirely entrusted to Lorenzo's care. We hope that goes well for them.
Based on precedent, we think Shakespeare is making a clever little literary nod to the fact that sometimes love doesn't conquer all.