Tuesday, January 06, 2009

When Mercy Seasons Justice

The seniors are learning Shakespeare quotes this week. They have to learn five, including one soliloquoy. They have several options, so it was a surprise to me that everyone who came to say a soliloquoy had chosen this beautiful treatise on mercy from The Merchant of Venice. I was surprised because usually I have several who choose the most famous "To be or not to be." Not this year. Interesting!

The Quality of Mercy

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 of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice.

1 comment:

Beth said...

It is very interesting that they chose that soliloquoy in these times. Good for you for encouraging memorization of significant works, I don't see that too much in the schools in our area.