Act 1, Scene 2

"Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations. Therefore the lottery that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you, will no doubt never be chosen by any rightly but one who shall rightly love. But what warmth is there in your affection towards any of these princely suitors that are already come?"

He comes up with the idea of the three caskets on his deathbed.

on his death bed

Why is this scene in prose ?