The quality of mercy ...

[kiramdear]

All good news is not necessarily fiction. Here's a story worthy of Victor Hugo. I found it inspirational, and wanted to follow it with some choice words from the old Bard ...

So cheer up, already!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090603/ap_ ... d_be_thief

From Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice:

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 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 enthroned 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.

[jingle_jangle]

Does this also apply to Guitar Center?

[kiramdear]

I dunno, but I'd read the fine print before signing any agreement ...

[jingle_jangle]

O the sisters of mercy they are not
Departed or gone,
They were waiting for me when I thought
That I just can't go on,
And they brought me their comfort
And later they brought me this song.
O I hope you run into them
You who've been traveling so long.

Yes, you who must leave everything
That you cannot control;
It begins with your family,
But soon it comes round to your soul.
Well, I've been where you're hanging
I think I can see how you're pinned.
When you're not feeling holy,
Your loneliness says that you've sinned.

Well they lay down beside me
I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes
And I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf
That the seasons tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love
That is graceful and green as a stem.

When I left they were sleeping,
I hope you run into them soon.
Don't turn on the light
You can read their address by the moon;
And you won't make me jealous
If I hear that they sweeten your night
We weren't lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right

[kiramdear]

Yes, very apt ... Cohen cuts to the heart.

(Which smilie do I use for "Bliss"?)

[wayang]

Cohen's playing Red Rocks tonight...

(uh...that's gonna get pulled, mateybob...)

[winston]

The thread was cleaned up as predicted. This sort of thing has to stop. Carry on with your discussion.

[britinvasion]

Thanks for that Kira, I had forgotten that piece! And Paul , thanks for your post, I wasn't familiar with that- very touching.
And thank you Winston, for restoring the feel of the thread.

[admin]

Thanks for your edit, Brian.

[kiramdear]

And Paul , thanks for your post, I wasn't familiar with that- very touching.

That's from The Sisters Of Mercy by Leonard Cohen. Well worth checking out all his early work if you are not already familiar. His late work is great, too.

I still keep thinking about that guy leading the robber in prayer - it chokes me up every time. He's officially my Man Of The Year personal first pick.

[jingle_jangle]

Yeah, my choice for winner of "7-11's Got Talent!!!".