The Merchant of Venice
Has not a Jew eyes? Has not a Jew hands? Organs, senses, passions?
Fed with the same food?
Hurt with the same weapons?
Healed by the same means?
If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
If you poison us, do we not die?
And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.
If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what is his answer? Revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his answer be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute.
The quality of mercy is not strained, It softly falls as the light rain from heaven upon the place beneath.
It is twice blessed -
It blesses him that gives and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest.
It becomes the thronèd monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty
Wherein does sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptred sway.
It is enthronèd in the
hearts of kings.
It is an attribute to God himself
And earthly power does then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Shylock,
Though justice be your plea, consider this.
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy
And that same prayer does teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.