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.

To hide the fault I see:
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

To hide the fault I see:
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy.

Fire, water and government know nothing of mercy.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

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?

Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

Of all the characters of cruelty, I consider the most despicable the one that cloaks himself in a garb of read more

Of all the characters of cruelty, I consider the most despicable the one that cloaks himself in a garb of mercy.

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it

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.