The Quality of MercyBy William ShakespeareThe quality of mercy is not strain’ d .It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath .It is twice blest :It blesseth him that gives ,and him that takes .’ Tis mightiest in the mightiest ;it becomesThe 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 to God himself ;And earthly power doth then show likest God’sWhen mercy seasons justice .仁慈之美德Willian Shakespare 威廉·莎士比亚。本篇可谓《威尼斯商人》中最精彩的一段独白。在威尼斯的法庭上，化装成律师的鲍西亚试图用慈悲的美德感化放高利贷的夏洛克不要因安东尼奥无法偿还债务而割去他的一磅肉。鲍西亚说道：“慈悲不是出于勉强，它像甘霖一样从天下世；它不但给幸福于受施的人，也同样给幸福于施与的人；它有超乎一切的无上威力，比皇冠更足以显出一个帝王的高贵。……”慈悲像甘霖一样从天上降下尘世，它不但给幸福于受施人，也同样给幸福于施与的人；它有超乎一切都无上威力，比皇冠更足以显出一个帝王的高贵：御杖不过象征着俗世的威权，使人民对君上的尊严凛然生畏；慈悲的力量却高于权力之上，它深藏在上帝的内心，是一种属于上帝的德性，执法的人倘能把慈悲调剂着公道，人间的权力就和上帝的神力没有差别。