THE QUALITY OF MERCY

THE QUALITY OF MERCY

            Dictionary defines ‘mercy’ as capacity for holding oneself back from punishing, or from causing suffering to, whom one has the right or power to punish.

            Some of the synonyms of ‘mercy’ are: leniency, pity, forgiveness, generosity, charity, sympathy, kindness, soft-heartedness and compassion.

             Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes (1547—1616) said among the attributes of God, although they are all equal, mercy shines with even more brilliance than justice.

             Probably, the best of all quotes on this subject is the sonnet written by the British dramatist and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616) which reads as follows:

            “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;

            ‘T is 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 sceptred sway.

            It is enthroned in the hearts of kings ,

            It is an attribute to God himself,

            An earthly power doth then show likest God’s

            When mercy seasons justice.

                                                                                                From: Merchant of Venice, Act 4.  

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G.R.KANWAL

7^TH JULY 2023