THE ARGUMENT
There is no compulsion in mercy. Its course is always from the higher to the lower. It is a blessing to both giver and receiver. The greater the mercy shown, the greater will be the giver. To show mercy does more to make a monarch kingly than does his crown. The one stands for the exercise of authority and power commanding obedience and awe; the other comes from the heart and reveals the character. It is more than kingly, it is God-like; for in exercising it, man's power becomes more like God's than in any other way.
Develop the above argument by questioning. Sum up the result by requiring the whole argument to be given by a pupil orally in his own language. Finally, require the pupils to write, as forcibly as they can, the whole of Portia's argument.
The remainder of Portia's speech as given in the play may also be given to the pupils. In that case, the remainder of the argument should be given as follows:
You demand justice, Jew. Even so, require it as you hope Heaven may require it of you. Consider that mercy is necessary to salvation, and remember that, as we all pray for mercy, that fact itself requires us all to show the deeds of mercy.
The speech containing this part of the argument is as follows:
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.
"We do pray for mercy", refers to the general prayer of humanity for mercy. To have limited its reference to the petition for mercy in the Lord's Prayer would have weakened its force to the Jew.
MORNING ON THE LIÈVRE
(Fourth Reader, page 228)