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Karnataka State Syllabus Class 10 English Poem Chapter 2 Quality of Mercy
Quality of Mercy Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes
Understand the poem:
Question 1.
Mercy is compared to something in the first two lines of the poem. What is it? How is this comparison apt? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Mercy is compared to gentle rain showered from heaven. This comparison is suitable or more apt because mercy also flows like a drop in the hearts of the person.
Question 2.
The speaker says that mercy is twice blessed. What does she mean by this?
Answer:
When mercy is (given) shown to somebody it is blessed and it comes back from the others. So mercy is twice blessed according to the speaker. Her Portia’s view is correct.
Question 3.
‘Sceptre shows the force of temporal power’. In contrast, what or whose quality does mercy stand for?
Answer:
Sceptre shows the force of temporal power, In contrast, mercy is divine quality and it stands for Divine power.
Question 4.
Some traits or qualities are mentioned below. Classify them into two categories of temporal power and divine (Godly) attributes.
(love, revenge, sympathy, tyranny, cruelty, miserliness, mercy, hatred, tit-for-tat attitude, compassion)
Answer:
| Temporal Power | Divine Attributes |
| Revenge, tyranny, cruelty, miserliness, hatred, tit-for-tat attitude | Love, sympathy, mercy, compassion |
Read and appreciate:
Work in pairs/groups and answer the following questions.
Question 1.
Read the first two lines. Explain the simile (comparison) briefly.
Answer:
Here the comparison is direct and used the word ‘as’. So it is a simile. Here the quality of mercy is compared to gentle rain which is showered from heaven like drops.
Question 2.
How do you interpret the speaker’s interpretation of mercy as twice blessed?
OR
What makes mercy twice-blessed?
Answer:
When the speaker says that mercy is twice blessed, she draws the attention of the giver to the fact that even as he gives, he receives because mercy blesses not only the receiver but also the giver. The speaker tries to show that if the receiver of mercy is blessed with a sense of gratitude, the giver has the sense of fulfillment of being God’s messenger as he has acted with divinity.
Question 3.
The speaker compares the power of the king with the power of mercy, saying that mercy is the mightiest of the mightiest. How does she justify this?
Answer:
If the scepter shows the force of temporal power, mercy shows the permanent worth of a king because it flows from his heart and makes him Godlike. It is only when the monarch has the quality of mercy that he can do justice to the concept of the king is divine. Mercy and forgiveness are enduring themes that pervade Shakespeare’s works. The poem is an example of the esteem in which Shakespeare held those who showed mercy. Shakespeare presented mercy as a quality most valuable to the most powerful, strongest, and highest people in society.
Question 4.
Can you think of any story wherein such virtues as mercy, compassion or sacrifice are highlighted? If so, narrate them in the class.
Answer:
The story posted on Mail Online on Sunday, April 27th, 2014 is an amazing story of mercy and forgiveness. A mother whose only child was shot dead showed the ultimate forgiveness – by inviting her son’s killer to live next door. Mary Johnson, 59, now lives in the apartment adjoining the home of 34-year-old Oshea Israel and they share a porch. In February 1993, Mrs. Johnson’s son, Laramiun Byrd, 20, was shot in the head by 16-year-old Israel after an argument at a party in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Israel, who was involved with drugs and gangs, was tried as an adult and sentenced to 25 and a half years. He served 17 before being released.
He now lives back in the neighbourhood where he grew up – next door to the mother of the young man he murdered. Mrs. Johnson said she originally wanted justice and to see Israel locked up for what he had done. However, later she decided to found a support group and counselled mothers whose children had been killed and encouraged them to reach out to the families of their murderers, who were victims of another kind. Then, just a few years ago, the 59-year-old teacher and devout Christian, asked if she could meet Israel at Minnesota’s Stillwater State Prison. She said she felt compelled to see if there was a way in which she could forgive her son’s killer.
At first he refused but then nine months later, changed his mind. Israel said he was shocked by the fact she wanted to meet him. He said: ‘I believe the first thing she said to me was, “Look, you don’t know me. I don’t know you. Let’s just start with right now.” ‘And I was befuddled myself.’ The pair met regularly after that. When Israel was released from prison around 18 months ago, Mrs. Johnson introduced him to her landlord – who with her blessing, invited Israel to move into the building. Mrs. Johnson and Israel are now close friends, a situation that she puts down to her strong religious beliefs but says she also has a selfish motive. She said: ‘Unforgivingness is like cancer. It will eat you from the inside out.
It’s not about that other person, me forgiving him does not diminish what he’s done. Yes, he murdered my son – but the forgiveness is for me.’ Mary Johnson even wears a necklace with a two-sided locket – on one side are photos of herself and her son; the other has a picture of Israel. Israel admits he still struggles with the extraordinary situation he finds himself in. He said: ‘I haven’t totally forgiven myself yet, I’m learning to forgive myself. And I’m still growing toward trying to forgive myself.’ Israel now hopes to prove himself to the mother of the man he killed. He works at a recycling plant during the day and goes to college at night. He says he’s determined to pay back Mrs. Johnson’s clemency by contributing to society. He visits prisons and churches to talk about forgiveness and reconciliation. Mrs. Johnson often joins him and they tell their story together. He added: ‘A conversation can take you a long way.’
Question 5.
This poem has fourteen lines. But it is not a sonnet. Look at the ending of the lines and justify the above statement.
Answer:
Though the extract consists of 14 lines, it is not a sonnet. The sonnet should contain rhyming words at the ending of the lines. Here in the given extract no rhyming words at the ending of the lines. Therefore it is not a sonnet.
Quality of Mercy Additional Questions and Answers
Answer the following questions in a word or a sentence each:
Question 1.
Why does mercy drop like rain from heaven, according to Portia?
Answer:
According to Portia, mercy is never forced or compelled and so it drops freely like rain from heaven.
Question 2.
What simile does the speaker use to show that mercy is not strained?
Answer:
The speaker compares mercy with the gentle rain that drops from heaven.
Question 3.
How is mercy ‘twice blessed’?
Answer:
Mercy is twice blessed because it blesses the one showing mercy and the one receiving mercy.
Question 4.
What does the crown stand for?
Answer:
The crown symbolizes the temporal, worldly power of the king.
Question 5.
What does show the force of temporal power?
Answer:
The scepter.
Question 6.
What is an attribute to awe and majesty?
Answer:
The sceptre.
Question 7.
What attributes does the speaker liken to the sceptre?
Answer:
The speaker attributes awe and majesty to the sceptre.
Question 8.
What does temporal power bring to one who holds the sceptre?
Answer:
Temporal power brings dread and fear of kings.
Question 9.
How is mercy above the sceptred sway?
Answer:
Mercy is divine and hence its power is superior to the earthly power of kings symbolized by the sceptre.
Question 10.
Why is mercy enthroned in the heart of kings?
Answer:
Good kings have mercy in their hearts and so the speaker says that mercy is enthroned in the heart of kings; even they acknowledge the importance of this virtue.
Question 11.
What is the earthly power referred to?
Answer:
The speaker refers to authority that is vested in mortal beings like judges or kings as earthly power.
Question 12.
What is an attribute to God Himself?
Answer:
Mercy.
Question 13.
How is mercy an attribute of God Himself?
Answer:
Mercy is an attribute of God Himself as it is a divine quality, superior to all other human qualities, justifying the idea that God has created man in His own image.
Question 14.
How is mercy superior to justice?
Answer:
Mercy is superior to justice as it seasons justice and makes justice more meaningful.
Question 15.
When do you find earthly power resembling God’s power?
Answer:
We find earthly power resembling God’s power when the quality of mercy is enthroned in the heart of kings.
Question 16.
What kind of justice does the poet recommend?
Answer:
The poet recommends justice that is seasoned with mercy.
Question 17.
What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Answer:
When mercy seasons justice, the giver of justice gets blessed and becomes divine.
Question 18.
What power of the king does the sceptre stand for?
Answer:
The sceptre stands for both earthly power – the symbol of royal authority and temporal power – the symbol of awe and majesty.
Question 19.
Mention the three things of temporal power of a king.
Answer:
Throne, Crown and Scepter.
Question 20.
When does earthly power show divine power?
Answer:
When kings season mercy with justice.
Question 21.
What does the speaker compare the power of the king to?
Answer:
The speaker compares the power of the king to the temporal power of the scepter.
Question 22.
In. the poem ‘Quality of Mercy’, what is above the sceptred sway?
Answer:
Mercy is above the sceptred sway.
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each:
Question 1.
Why does the speaker say, ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’?
Answer:
The speaker says the quality of mercy is not strained because he is of the opinion that mercy is a natural attribute of human beings. That is why he compares mercy with the gentle rain from heaven.
Question 2.
When can earthly power become divine power?
Answer:
Earthly power can become divine power when mercy seasons justice.
Question 3.
What is meant by ‘mercy seasons justice’?
OR
What happens when mercy is tempered with justice?
Answer:
The phrase ‘mercy seasons justice’ can be interpreted in different ways as the word ‘seasons’ has different meanings. It can mean flavours, tempers, enhances etc. Interestingly all meanings fit the context. It can be said that justice gets enhanced and becomes more attractive if it goes hand-in-hand with mercy. If the judgement, even if it is the right one, is too harsh, it should be made more moderate or temperate with mercy.
Question 4.
What does the sceptre show?
Answer:
A sceptre is a decorated rod carried by a king as a symbol of power. It represents his earthly power, the symbol of majesty, the focus of royal authority. The sceptre shows the level of his temporal power – the symbol of awe and majesty in which lies the source of the dread and fear that kings command.
Question 5.
‘Mercy is the mightiest of the mightiest’. How does the poet justify this?
Answer:
Mercy is the mightiest of the mightiest because its power is mightier than all the other powers that a king can boast of. The throne, the crown and the scepter are all symbols of power of the king. But all these signs of power lose their importance as they speak of merely earthly power. The earthly power is short-lived. Mercy should have its place of prominence in the heart of the king as it makes the king God-like.
Answer the following questions in 5-6 / 6-8 sentences each:
Question 1.
Describe how Shakespeare depicts the quality of mercy.
OR
What are the qualities of mercy?
Answer:
The Christian spirit of forgiveness is highlighted in the poem ‘Quality of Mercy’. Shakespeare seems to uphold the notion that if man is the true image of God, then he should be Godlike in his behaviour. One of the qualities that would make man divine is the quality of mercy enshrined in his heart. The quality of mercy comes to everyone naturally like the gentle rain from heaven. Its importance is heightened in the case of a ruler because he needs to temper justice with mercy.
Question 2.
Explain the central idea of ‘Quality of Mercy’.
OR
How does the speaker in the court try to convince Shylock that mercy is twice blessed and is a divine quality?
Answer:
The poem ‘Quality of Mercy’ is an extract from Act IV Scene 1 of‘The Merchant of Venice’, a famous Shakespearean comedy. In these lines, Portia, the protagonist of the play, pleads with Shylock the value of mercy. As a human virtue, mercy not only transcends the worldly power, but also becomes divine grace when combined with justice. It glorifies the giver and taker alike.
No one shows mercy because he has to. It just happens, the way gentle rain drops from heaven. Mercy is a double blessing. It blesses the one who gives it and the one who receives it. It is strongest in the strongest people. It looks better in a king than his own crown looks on him. The king’s sceptre represents his earthly power, the symbol of majesty, the focus of royal authority. But, mercy is higher than the sceptre. It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, a quality of God Himself. Kingly power seems most like God’s power when the king mixes mercy with justice.
Question 3.
What does qualify a monarch more – mercy or throne? Why?
Answer:
If the sceptre shows the force of temporal power, mercy shows the permanent worth of a king because it flows from his heart and makes him Godlike. It is only when the monarch has the quality of mercy that he can do justice to the concept of the king being divine. It looks better in a king than his own crown looks on him. The sceptre is a symbol of awe and majesty in which lies the source of the dread and fear that kings command. But mercy is above that sceptred power. It is enthroned in the hearts of kings. Hence mercy qualifies a monarch more than his throne.
Question 4.
How does the speaker in the court try to convince Shylock that mercy is twice blessed and is a divine quality?
OR
What does Portia tell Shylock about the quality of mercy?
Answer:
Portia appeals to Shylock to show mercy to Antonio and save his life. But Shylock refuses to heed her appeal and asks rudely on what compulsion he has to show mercy. In reply, Portia argues why mercy is the greatest virtue of all. She compares mercy to the gentle rain that falls from heaven to the ground. Mercy blesses both the giver and the receiver. It is the most powerful of all virtues and enhances the glory of a king more than his crown. The scepter of a monarch is a symbol of worldly power. It controls people through fear. The power of mercy is divine and has its seat in the heart. The power of a man who shows mercy along with justice would be God-like in nature.
Question 5.
How does Portia describe the quality of mercy?
Answer:
Portia describes the quality of mercy using different analogies. To show that mercy is natural for a human being, she compares it with the natural and gentle rain that drops from above. To show that mercy is divine, she contrasts it against the throne, the crown and the scepter which are all symbols of a king’s earthly power. She says that mercy is twice blessed. It blesses both the giver and the receiver. Mercy becomes an attribute of God Himself if mercy seasons justice. ‘
Read the following extracts and answer the questions given below them:
Question 1.
The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.
a) What does the poet mean by the word ‘strained’?
b) Explain the simile in the second line of the passage.
Answer:
a) Mercy is not mercy when pressure is put upon a person to show mercy, when he is under strain to show mercy.
b) True mercy comes spontaneously from the merciful person to the offender. It comes as quietly and naturally as the rain comes gently and freely to the place beneath the sky. Here the poet compares mercy and the gentle rain that drops from heaven.
Question 2.
‘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 sceptred sway.
a) How does mercy become the mightiest in the mightiest?
b) What does the word ‘becomes’ mean?
Answer:
a) Mercy always comes from the one above to the one below. When the mightiest of the mightiest, a king who has absolute powers, does not use that power to overpower his subjects, but is merciful instead – mercy then becomes the mightiest and the most effective way of winning over his subjects.
b) ‘Becoming’ means suitable or appropriate or fitting. Mercy is more ‘becoming’, that is, it is more fitting with kingly power than strength and might. In other words, mercy is a more suitable symbol of kingly authority than his crown and sceptre – symbols of his strength.
Question 3.
‘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;
a) What do the crown and sceptre symbolize?
b) What is temporal power?
Answer:
a) Crown and sceptre symbolize kingly power. The crown is worn by the king. A new king is always crowned. Sceptre is an ornamental staff held by the king. It again is a symbol of his authority.
b) Temporal power is earthly power.
Question 4.
But mercy is above this sceptred 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.
a) What is implied by ‘It is enthroned in the hearts of kings’?
b) How is mercy‘an attribute of God Himself?
c) What happens when mercy is seasoned with justice?
Answer:
a) Kingly authority has outward symbols like sceptre and crown. Mercy has no such outward symbols. It is a quality issuing from within. So, when a king is merciful, his mercy has an exalted seat in his heart.
b) When a king is merciful, he reveals a quality which can be attributed to or assigned to God Himself. That is, mercy is a God-like quality. God is merciful for though he is omnipotent, omniscient and is everywhere, he deals mercifully with all.
c) When mercy is seasoned with justice, kingly power seems most like God’s power.
Question 5.
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
a) When do you find earthly power resembling God’s power?
b) What kind of justice does the poet recommend?
c) What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Answer:
a) We find earthly power resembling God’s power when the quality of mercy is enthroned in the hearts of kings.
b) The poet recommends justice that is seasoned with mercy. He means that justice that is too harsh is not justified even if the wrongdoer deserves punishment.
c) When mercy seasons justice, the giver of justice gets blessed and becomes divine.
Question 6.
But mercy is above this sceptred sway.
a) What is meant by ‘sceptred sway’?
b) In what way is mercy above the ‘sceptred sway’?
Answer:
a) When a king shows mercy, it enables him to rise above considerations of awe and majesty, fear and dread – all of which come through ‘sceptred sway’ or kingly rule. This way mercy is above the sceptred sway.
b) The ‘sceptred sway’ succeeds merely at invoking the fear and dread of common people towards their king. But if the ruler has the quality of mercy in his heart, he is sure to win the hearts of his subjects.
Question 7.
“It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest”
a) What is compared to the gentle rain from heaven?
b) Why does the speaker feel it is twice blest?
c) ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven’.
What is the figure of speech used here?
Answer:
a) Mercy.
b) According to the speaker, not only the person who shows mercy but also the person who receives mercy is blest. Hence it is twice blest.
c) Simile.
Question 8.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty.
a) How does the scepter show temporal power?
b) In contrast, what quality does mercy stand for?
Answer:
a) The scepter creates dread and fear among people. ,
b) Mercy flows from the heart. Hence it stands for divine quality.
Question 9.
‘It’s mightiest in the mightiest’
a) Who is mighty?
b) How is it mighty?
Answer:
a) Mercy.
b) The quality of mercy is divine. Hence it is more powerful than all the symbols of power on earth.
Question 10.
It is an attribute to God himself.
a) What is ‘this’ attribute?
b) Why is it a quality of God?
Answer:
a) Mercy.
b) God is all-merciful. Mercy is a divine quality, superior to all other human qualities. Hence, anyone on earth who shows mercy is like God.
Question 11.
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
a) How does it bless the one who gives?
b) How does it bless the one who takes?
Answer:
a) The giver is blessed as he has the sense of fulfillment of being God’s messenger as he has acted with divinity.
b) The receiver is blessed with a sense of gratitude.
Question 12.
Mercy is above this sceptred sway.
a) What is a scepter?
b) How is mercy above the sceptred sway?
Answer:
a) It is a decorated rod carried by a king or a queen as a symbol of power.
b) Mercy is a divine quality that flows from the heart whereas scepter shows the force of temporal power. Hence the power of mercy is superior to the earthly power of kings symbolized by the scepter.
Question 13.
“And earthly power doth then show likest God’s When mercy seasons justice.”
a) When does earthly power become like divine power?
b) How should the king’s judgement be?
c) What happens when mercy seasons justice?
Answer:
a) When earthly power is filled with mercy it becomes divine power.
b) The king’s judgement should be seasoned with mercy.
c) When mercy seasons justice, kingly power seems most like God’s power.
Question 14.
“It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes,
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes.”
a) What does ‘it’ refer to?
b) How is he blessed?
c) What does ‘mighty’ mean in the context?
Answer:
a) Mercy.
b) The giver is blessed as he has the sense of fulfillment of being God’s messenger as he has acted with divinity while the receiver is blessed with a sense of gratitude.
c) Here ‘mighty’ means ‘powerful’, ‘divine’.
Question 15.
“The quality of mercy is not strain’d
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
a) What is ‘mercy’ compared to?
b) Why does the poet say that mercy is not strain’d?
c) What is the meaning of the word ‘strain’d’ in this context?
Answer:
a) Gentle rain from heaven.
b) Because it is divine power given by God.
c) Forced/compelled.
Question 16.
“It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.”
a) What is compared to the gentle rain?
b) What benefit does it bring to the people?
c) Why does the king need it in the context?
Answer:
a) Mercy.
b) Mercy is twice blessed – it blesses both the giver and the receiver.
c) His justice will be merciful.
Quote from memory:
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 sceptred 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.
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The quality of mercy is
A) strain’d
B) not train’d
C) train’d
D) not strain’d
Answer:
D) not strain’d
Question 2.
Mercy droppeth as the gentle rain from
A) the sky
B) heaven
C) clouds
D) the horizon
Answer:
B) heaven
Question 3.
Mercy droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
A) upon the heads of people
B) upon the ground
C) upon the place beneath
D) upon the trees and leaves
Answer:
C) upon the place beneath
Question 4.
The throned monarch better than his
A) queen
B) sceptre
C) prince
D) crown
Answer:
D) crown
Question 5.
The monarch’s sceptre shows the force of
A) temporal power
B) aural power
C) moral power
D) perpetual power
Answer:
A) temporal power
Question 6.
Mercy is enthroned in the hearts of
A) queens
B) men
C) Gods
D) kings
Answer:
D) kings
Question 7.
Mercy is an attribute of……….. himself.
A) king
B) man
C) God
D) monarch
Answer:
C) God
Question 8.
Earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons
A) trust
B) honour
C) justice
D) majesty
Answer:
C) justice
Question 9.
‘Quality of Mercy’ is an extract from
A) The Merchant of Venice
B) A Midsummer Night’s Dream
C) Merry Wives of Windsor
D) Much Ado about Nothing
Answer:
A) The Merchant of Venice
Question 10.
The word ‘temporal’ means
A) Permanent
B) Worldly
C) Constant
D) Inconsistent
Answer:
B) Worldly
Question 11.
‘Quality of Mercy’ is
A) A sonnet
B) An extract
C) A lyric
D) An ode
Answer:
B) An extract
Question 12.
Where does the dread and fear of kings lie?
A) In their crown
B) In their throne
C) In their kingdom
D) In their sceptre
Answer:
D) In their sceptre
Question 13.
The poet says that the quality of mercy is twice blessed because
A) it is sent from heaven
B) it is the mightiest
C) it is an earthly power
D) it blesses both the giver and the taker.
Answer:
D) it blesses both the giver and the taker.
Question 14.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. Here ‘droppeth from heaven’ means
A) given from heaven
B) it rains from heaven
C) as pure as given from God
D) very impure.
Answer:
C) as pure as given from God
Question 15.
His scepter shows _________ Here ‘scepter’ can be identified with
A) a poor man
B) a teacher
C) a king
D) a minister.
Answer:
C) a king
Question 16.
A decorated rod carried by a king as a symbol of power is called a
A) throne
B) crown
C) robe
D) scepter.
Answer:
D) scepter.
Question 17.
According to the speaker, king’s mercy is seated in the
A) heart
B) head
C) shoulders
D) mouth.
Answer:
A) heart
Quality of Mercy Summary in English
Background:
The lines are taken from Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. The merchant of Venice is Antonio who to help his friend Bassanio court a wealthy lady Portia, borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, notorious for his antagonism towards Christians like Antonio. Shylock lends the money and makes Antonio sign a bond by which if he fails to return the loan by a certain date, Shylock would have the right to cut off a pound of flesh from his body.
Antonio fails to repay the loan on the stipulated date, and so is brought for trial at which Shylock demands his pound of flesh. Portia, now married to Bassanio, disguises herself as a lawyer and appears in defence of Antonio. Portia tells Shylock that by justice, by law he can claim the pound of flesh, but appeals to him to show mercy to Antonio and save his life, especially since Antonio now has the money to pay off the loan. But Shylock refuses to heed her appeal and asks rudely on what ‘compulsion’ he has to show mercy. The poem prescribed gives Portia’s famous reply describing the quality of mercy.
Summary:
Mercy is not mercy if it is forced from anyone. True mercy comes naturally to the merciful person, and the person to whom mercy is shown feels the mercy come as naturally to him as the rain comes gently down from heaven. Mercy carries a two-fold blessing with it. The person who shows mercy is blessed for having such God-like charity. The person who receives mercy is blessed, for he is spared the punishment prescribed by the law or justice. Mercy is most powerful when shown by those who have powers of life and death over all.
Mercy is a much better symbol of a king’s power than his crown and sceptre. The crown and sceptre reveal only his earthly power. Such earthly power is a quality associated with the veneration a king commands and the majesty he possesses. This crown and sceptre is used by the king to strike fear in the hearts of his subjects. But mercy is superior to the force the crowned and sceptred king possesses. It has no outward symbol, for it issues from within the heart, and since mercy is a special quality of God Himself, a merciful king becomes God-like. The earthly power a king wields becomes most similar to God’s power when the monarch tempers justice with mercy.
Quality of Mercy Summary in Kannada
Glossary:
- strain’d: forced, compelled
- droppeth: drops
- blest: blessed
- sceptre: a decorated rod carried by a king or a queen as a symbol of power
- temporal: worldly power
- majesty: royal power
- doth: does
- dread: threat
- enthroned: seated
- attribute: quality, character
- likest God’s: like that of God
- seasons: tempers