‘The quality of mercy is not strain’d’
The quality of mercy is not strain’d
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoken thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict course of Venice
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.
Our performance of “Shakespeare Vignettes” will be staged at the end of the month, and I am to give a dramatic recitation of Portia’s speech from Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice was actually the first Shakespeare play I ever read, but I had already been familiar with the famous court scene. Disguised as a lawyer, Portia argues against Shylock’s vicious claim for a pound of Antonio’s flesh, first by appealing to mercy and then to the exactest justice.
Painting: Portia and Shylock. Thomas Sully.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012