Question

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Read Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice , Act 4, Scene 1, lines 184-197 below.

Write an outline of the main points of the passage from the Merchant of Venice: Topic: Mercy.

I. Mercy is not strained.
A.
B. It blessed the taker of mercy.
II. Mercy is mightiest.
III.

Answer 1

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.