Friday, June 18, 2004
[1942 - First African-American officer, Bernard W. Robinson, commissioned in Naval Reserve]
The Quality of Justice
In The Merchant of Venice the Bard tell us that:
The quality of mercy is not strained,
It falleth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
. . .
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy,
As usual William Shakespeare has said it better than Poor William could. Nevertheless, Poor William cannot resist:
The quality of justice is so sadly stained,It falleth more harshly on the poor, and
Upon the downtrodden: it is twice cursed;
It curseth him that metes it out and him that gets.
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the pursuit of justice, none of us
Could find salvation: we do pay for mercy.
If mercy be not strained than justice surely is,
Tis sifted through the filter of the purse
Upon the poor pours through mesh of chicken wire;
The rich sheltered by so fine a sieve as any man desire.
So pilgrim come not naively to the bar,
And seek ye justice from those who dwell
In court anon. Rather catch a legal star,
And plead the bargain pays him very well.
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