Portia S Speech About Mercy

The Merchant of Venice Portia’s Speech about Mercy

The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven It drops like the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest; On the place below; it is blessed twice It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes; It blesses him that gives and him that takes 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes It is the greatest of all qualities; it suits The throned monarch better than his crown. The king better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, His staff of office symbolizes his earthly power, The attribute to awe and majesty, And the respect that is due to a king, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; And this is where we fear kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; But mercy is above this power; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It sits in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God himself; It is something God has; And earthly power doth then show likest God's And we become like God When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, When mercy softens justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this: Though you want justice, think about this: That in the course of justice none of us If we just had to depend upon justice Should see salvation; we do pray for mercy, None of us would be saved from damnation; we pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render And that prayer teaches us all to be The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much Merciful. I have spoken so much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, To soften that part of your suit which asks for pure justice, Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice If you follow this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. We have to give a sentence that condemns the merchant over there.

Instructions

Match the original lines with the modern version. What does this speech tell us about mercy? What do we learn about the character of Portia? What do we learn about justice?

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 sceptre 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 sceptred 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 spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which, if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. You cannot force someone to be merciful It drops like the gentle rain from heaven On the place below; it is blessed twice It blesses him that gives and him that takes It is the greatest of all qualities; it suits The king better than his crown. His staff of office symbolizes his earthly power, And the respect that is due to a king, And this is where we fear kings; But mercy is above this power; It sits in the hearts of kings; It is something God has; And we become like God When mercy softens justice. Therefore, Jew, Though you want justice, think about this: If we just had to depend upon justice None of us would be saved from damnation; we pray for mercy, And that prayer teaches us all to be Merciful. I have spoken so much To soften that part of your suit which asks for pure justice, If you follow this strict court of Venice We have to give a sentence that condemns the merchant over there.

Instructions

Match the original lines with the modern version. What does this speech tell us about mercy? What do we learn about the character of Portia? What do we learn about justice?