Quote 7
PORTIA
First go with me to church and call me wife,
And then away to Venice to your friend!
For never shall you lie by Portia's side
With an unquiet soul. (3.2.316-319)
Portia's a clever girl. She knows Bassanio is going to leave her to help his BFF, but she insists that they get hitched first. This way she seals Bassanio to her. When he goes to Antonio, he'll go as her husband, not merely as Antonio's friend.
PORTIA [as Balthazar]
Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK
On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
PORTIA
The quality of mercy is not strained.
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.
[...]
But mercy is above this sceptered 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. (4.1.188-193; 199-212)
Portia insists that Shylock should be merciful because God is. We also notice that the notion of mercy in this passage is associated with the Christian concept of salvation.
Quote 9
PORTIA [as Balthazar]
Tarry a little; there is something else.
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood.
The words expressly are "a pound of flesh."
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are by the laws of Venice confiscate
Unto the state of Venice. (4.1.318-325)
Up until this point, it seems like Venice's strict adherence to the law is going to have a terrible outcome: Shylock will indeed get his "pound of flesh" and, in the process, Antonio will likely bleed to death. But here, Portia manipulates the law and saves the day.