UMENT

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 LIEVRE

(Fourth Reader, page 228)

ASSIGNMENT

1. The teacher should explain to the pupils that the Lievre River
(pronounced Lee-eh-vr) runs through a deep gorge in the height of land
on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, into which it flows not far from
the Capital. In some places, the banks of the Lievre rise abruptly to a
great height; at others more gradually, the slope being covered with a
thick forest gro