Monday, April 23, 2012

happy birthday, Will

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 blesses him that gives and him that takes



'Tis mightiest in the mightiest

It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown:  his scepter 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 scepter'd sway - it is enthroned in the heart of kings, it is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
when mercy seasons justice.

                                                                 -    The Merchant of Venice


by William Shakespeare, believed to have been born on this date, in 1564

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