"Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Psalm 85:10
At the end of February, I finished a class I was taking on Shakespeare's early works. With Easter approaching, I was thinking of this quote from The Merchant of Venice which I had copied into my commonplace. The first few lines are well known but I think the whole thing is beautiful. Of course, if you have a few hours, the whole play is wonderful and you will understand the full force of the lines in a richer way.
"Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained;
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 eathly 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......"
The Merchant of Venice 4.1:182-200
Psalm 85:10
At the end of February, I finished a class I was taking on Shakespeare's early works. With Easter approaching, I was thinking of this quote from The Merchant of Venice which I had copied into my commonplace. The first few lines are well known but I think the whole thing is beautiful. Of course, if you have a few hours, the whole play is wonderful and you will understand the full force of the lines in a richer way.
"Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
 |
| A Resurrection Garden my kids made one year. |
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 eathly 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......"
The Merchant of Venice 4.1:182-200
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