Jeff—Saturday
Who among us has not heard at least part of Portia’s “The
quality of mercy is not strained” speech in Act IV, Scene 1, of William
Shakespeare’s, The Merchant of Venice?
It may be his most well known speech. At
least up until now, when my parody will no doubt supplant it.
All of this was inspired by two articles I read Friday
morning in The New York Times. The
first reported that three billion (29%)
of North American birds have vanished over the past fifty years. The second described “monumental climate
protests” spanning the globe.
When I thought about what to write, those subjects hit me as
the obvious choice, but how to do so was the question. I’ve been re-reading Shakespeare
recently and wondered what I could “borrow” from the Bard to make my point.
Then it hit me, like a flowerpot off Juliet’s balcony.
[N.B. Before “certain folks” point out to me that a monarch
is a butterfly, not a bird, and mercury isn't the central villain, it just works better this way, so live with it. :)]
Here it is … with my sincerest apologies to Billy …
followed by his original.
The toxicity of mercury is not constrained;
It droppeth in the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the face beneath. It is twice pest;
It pests him that gives and them that takes:
'T is mightiest in the flightiest; it succumbs
The winged monarch faster than a frown:
Its spectre shows the farce of temporal power,
That contributes with saw and fantasy,
To wearing down the spread and soar of wings;
Though mercury is behind this horrid sway;
It and its like provide the funds for kings,
It is an attribute to Greed itself;
And earthly power doth then show slightest nods
When money seasons justice. Therefore, You,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, if in seeking justice, none of us
Should glimpse salvation: do not pray for mercy;
For while you pray, others tear all asunder,
Feigning deeds of mercy that are not such.
You must find stronger ways to make thy plea;
That man not allow courtiers of menace
To sentence death to all God’s creatures here.
It droppeth in the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the face beneath. It is twice pest;
It pests him that gives and them that takes:
'T is mightiest in the flightiest; it succumbs
The winged monarch faster than a frown:
Its spectre shows the farce of temporal power,
That contributes with saw and fantasy,
To wearing down the spread and soar of wings;
Though mercury is behind this horrid sway;
It and its like provide the funds for kings,
It is an attribute to Greed itself;
And earthly power doth then show slightest nods
When money seasons justice. Therefore, You,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, if in seeking justice, none of us
Should glimpse salvation: do not pray for mercy;
For while you pray, others tear all asunder,
Feigning deeds of mercy that are not such.
You must find stronger ways to make thy plea;
That man not allow courtiers of menace
To sentence death to all God’s creatures here.
The Original Version
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:
'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 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.
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:
'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 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.
 |
| Portia |
—Jeff
My Upcoming Events
Saturday, November 2, 4:00-5:00 PM
Dallas, TX
BOUCHERCON–Hyatt Regency Dallas, Room - Reunion C
Moderating, “If I Could Turn Back Time,” with
Joe Clifford, Laura McHugh, Hannah McKinnon, Lissa Marie Redmond, and Scott Von
Doviak
Sunday, November 3, 8:30-9:30 AM
Dallas, TX
BOUCHERCON –Hyatt Regency Dallas, Room - Reunion E
Panelist, “Detectives Overseas” with Ian
Hamilton, Ragnar Jonasson, Michael Sears, and Stanley Trollip, moderated by
Nancy Tingley
Posts
I have to say I much prefer the Billy version. Not because of the writing, but because of the content. Sadly, your point is well made indeed, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteNo problem about using the monarch. The insect populations have been as badly devastated as the birds - in fact, causing much of the decline of insectivorous species of the latter. And that devastation will hit us even harder.
I understand how you can prefer the "other" version to mine, Michael, for it's your right to have it as you like it.
DeleteAs for your point that all shall not end well for our birds and butterflies, I sadly share your fear, but on a large scale George Carlin's iconic line keeps running through my mind: "The planet is fine. The people are f***ed."