劳拉·卡尔迈克尔 | 声演《威尼斯商人》鲍西亚

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; 

慈悲不是出于勉强，它是像甘霖一样从天上降下尘世；它不但给幸福于受施的人，也同样给幸福于施与的人；它有超乎一切的无上威力，比皇冠更足以显出一个帝王的高贵：御杖不过象征着俗世的威权，使人民对于君上的尊严凛然生畏。

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.

慈悲的力量却高出于权力之上，它深藏在帝王的内心，是一种属于上帝的德性，执法的人倘能把慈悲调剂着公道，人间的权力就和上帝的神力没有差别。

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.

所以，犹太人，虽然你所要求的是公道，可是请你想一想，要是真的按照公道执行起赏罚来，谁也没有死后得救的希望；我们既然祈祷着上帝的慈悲，就应该按照祈祷的指点，自己做一些慈悲的事。

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.

我说了这一番话，为的是希望你能够从你的法律的立场上作几分让步；可是如果你坚持着原来的要求，那么威尼斯的法庭是执法无私的，只好把那商人宣判定罪了。