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:
'T is 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 scepter 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 they plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'against the merchant there.
~William Shakespeare
When we judge others, or ourselves, we place ourselves in lower mental and emotional worlds. We go so low that the higher, G-d, cannot reach us. Basically we damm ourselves, we go into “hell.” Through Portia, Shakespeare is exhorting not only Shylock, but all of us, to forgive others, to be merciful. Those who seek justice will receive no salvation, because mercy is God like. When we show mercy we become more God like, or in work terms, we enter into higher worlds. Note that Portia makes no comments on the validity of Shylock’s accusations,
because they had wronged him.
Nevertheless she still exhorts him to be merciful.
~J
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