Antonio, a merchant-shipper of Venice, has met with
financial losses. Shylock, his grasping creditor
and competitor, demands in court the fulfillment of
Antonio's bond, which states that Antonio has
forfeited a pound of his own flesh to Shylock.
Portia, a young woman who plays the part of
attorney for Antonio, makes the following appeal to
Shylock for mercy.
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 5
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 scepter'd sway; 10
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,-- 15
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.
--_The Merchant of Venice._
1. Read this extract line by line, and interpret
its meaning. Then read the whole of it aloud as
Portia spoke it.