The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it read more

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

Who will not mercie unto others show,
How can he mercie ever hope to have?

Who will not mercie unto others show,
How can he mercie ever hope to have?

Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy.

Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy.

They are immobile and voiceless,
and cannot ask for the mercy of water,
those trapped caged house plants.
In the read more

They are immobile and voiceless,
and cannot ask for the mercy of water,
those trapped caged house plants.
In the winter they feel no breeze
nor are they touched by a hand which frees.

'Tis vain to flee; till gentle Mercy show
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The read more

'Tis vain to flee; till gentle Mercy show
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The swing of Justice deals the mightier blow.

Teach me to feel another's woe, To hide the fault I see: That mercy I to others show, read more

Teach me to feel another's woe, To hide the fault I see: That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me.

Think not the good,
The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done,
Shall die forgotten all; the read more

Think not the good,
The gentle deeds of mercy thou hast done,
Shall die forgotten all; the poor, the prisoner,
The fatherless, the friendless, and the widow,
Who daily owe the bounty of thy hand,
Shall cry to Heaven, and pull a blessing on thee.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the read more

The quality of mercy is not strained;
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 scept'red 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.