A pound of flesh
PORTIA:
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
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.
SHYLOCK:
My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond. . . .
PORTIA:
And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:
The law allows it, and the court awards it.
SHYLOCK:
Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!
PORTIA:
Tarry a little; there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:'
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.
GRATIANO:
O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!
SHYLOCK:
Is that the law?
PORTIA:
Thyself shalt see the act:
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.
The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, scene 1
Though the mention of God by Shakespeare doubtless diminishes him in your eyes, be aware of what he shows us. He is one of our greatest geniuses in depicting the human condition. Who adds to the total of mercy in the world, however much he (like Shylock earlier in the play) has been wronged, contributes to merciful understanding.
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.