A Drop of Blood

This was set up to fit the challenge of the day for the Shakespeare play 'A Merchant of Venice'. It needed some blood and, not surprisingly, there were no volunteers despite my assurance that it wouldn't hurt very much! So... it's my finger with the blood although the rest is drops on red paper, so partly cheating.

The Merchant of Venice

Portia asks Shylock for mercy
Antonio's ship is lost so he cannot pay his debt. Shylock brings Antonio to court for his pound of flesh as agreed in the bond. Portia, dressed up as a lawyer to defend Antonio, begs Shylock for mercy. (It is such a beautiful piece of writing so I've popped it at the end if you want to read that far.) Shylock refuses mercy and so Portia points out that while he is entitled to remove the flesh, no drop of Antonio's blood can be spilled or Shylock's "lands and goods" would be forfeited under Venetian laws.
"if the scale do turn, But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate."

Portia: 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.