Introduction
In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio has helped his friend Bassanio by borrowing from a Jewish moneylender named Shylock. Antonio has always treated Shylock with disgusting scorn, so when he defaults on his bond Shylock goes gleefully to court to enforce the grisly penalty agreed: a pound of flesh — unaware that Bassanio’s wife Portia has pulled some strings and will judge the case herself, in disguise of course.
Portia. Do you confess the bond?
Antonio. I do.
Portia. Then must the Jew be merciful.
Shylock. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Portia. The quality of mercy is not strain’d
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 thronèd 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 enthronèd 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. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this, —
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation:* we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.* I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ’gainst the merchant there.
Shylock. My deeds upon my head!* I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
Abridged
* See Psalm 130:3: “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”
* Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Christians have behaved in a supercilious and hypocritical fashion to poor Shylock, and this may seem like another example, loftily recommending the spirit of the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer to a Jew smarting at shocking ill use. See Matthew 5:7 and Matthew 6:9-15. Yet the sentiment is thoroughly Jewish. See for example Sirach 28:2: “Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.”
* See Matthew 27:25, when the crowd shouts out at Jesus’s trial: “His blood be on us, and on our children.”
Précis
In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, moneylender Shylock bridled when the judge implied that he ‘must’ show mercy to his debtor Antonio. In a famous reply the judge, Portia in disguise, acknowledged that mercy cannot be forced: but for that very reason, held it superior to coercion, more truly kingly and more godly; but Shylock insisted on his rights. (60 / 60 words)
In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, moneylender Shylock bridled when the judge implied that he ‘must’ show mercy to his debtor Antonio. In a famous reply the judge, Portia in disguise, acknowledged that mercy cannot be forced: but for that very reason, held it superior to coercion, more truly kingly and more godly; but Shylock insisted on his rights.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, just, may, otherwise, since, unless, whereas, who.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Deed. Not. Salvation.
2 Good. Have. Upon.
3 King. Majesty. Sentence.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Show. 2 Force. 3 Sentence. 4 Place. 5 Power. 6 Court. 7 Course. 8 Season. 9 Fear.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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