Today's Thought - Shakespeare

Tuesday 4 March, 2008 subscribe | unsubscribe | respond | prayer | archive

Shakespeare

I am a Shakespeare fan! I know you will say I am crazy but I really enjoy the meaning behind his words. There is so much depth and truth.

One of my favourite plays is “The Merchant of Venice”. The plot involves a vengeful, greedy creditor money-lender, Shylock, who seeks a literal pound of flesh from the generous, faithful Antonio. The play's heroine, Portia, successfully defends Antonio from Shylock's horrid legal suit.

One of my favourite scenes is in the court house, where Portia, dressed as a lawyer, speaks to Shylock about Mercy. She says:

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.

“Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy.”

Psalms 28:6

TODAY... Show mercy!