"*This is one of the most famous speeches in all of Shakespeare."
" "
"*Portia attempts, in vain, to persuade Shylock to show mercy towards Antonio."
"*Compare the noble sentiments she expresses here with those shown earlier by the other characters who attempt the same thing."
" "
"*The speech is worth learning by heart, both for exam purposes, and as a moral lesson which we can use in our own lives, whenever we are in a situation where we have some power over another person."
14
13
"The quality of mercy is not __?_?_?__;"
"It __?_?_?__ as the gentle rain from heaven"
"Upon the place beneath; it is twice __?_?_?__;"
"It blesseth him that __?_?_?__, and him that takes;"
"'Tis __?_?_?__ in the mightiest. It becomes"
"The throned __?_?_?__ better than his crown."
"His sceptre shows the __?_?_?__ of temporal power,"
"The attribute to awe and __?_?_?__,"
"Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of __?_?_?__;"
"But mercy is __?_?_?__ this sceptred sway;"
"It is enthroned in the __?_?_?__ of kings;"
"It is an attribute to God himself;"
"And __?_?_?__ power doth then show likest God's"
"When mercy __?_?_?__ justice."
STRAINED,7,38
DROPPETH,8,13
BLEST,9,46
GIVES,10,31
MIGHTIEST,11,15
MONARCH,12,22
FORCE,13,32
MAJESTY,14,35
KINGS,15,49
ABOVE,16,23
HEARTS,17,33
EARTHLY,19,14
SEASONS,20,21
9
8
" Therefore, Jew,"
"Though __?_?_?__ be thy plea, consider this,"
"That in the __?_?_?__ of justice none of us"
"Should see __?_?_?__; we do pray for mercy,"
"And that same prayer doth __?_?_?__ us all to render"
"The __?_?_?__ of mercy. I have spoke thus much"
"To __?_?_?__ the justice of thy plea,"
"Which, if thou follow, this __?_?_?__ court of Venice"
"Must needs give sentence 'gainst the __?_?_?__ there."
